Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Against the Grain yields to sustainable omakase restaurant on 6th Street



Against the Grain, the beer annex of Grape and Grain on Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C, has closed to make way for Mayanoki, a sustainable omakase restaurant that has been operating as a pop-up spot in Brooklyn the past five years.

According to Eater, Mayanoki co-owners Josh Arak and David Torchiano are subletting the small space "with the expectation that it will become a long-term arrangement."

Per Eater:

Mayanoki’s $95, 15-course menu will serve varieties such as squid, black sea bass from New Jersey, Spanish mackerel, scallops, oysters, albacore tuna, grouper from Florida, and more. The varieties will change based on what is in season and sustainably available, and the restaurant will work with organizations such as Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and Ocean Wise to guide sustainability choices. To fit in with the local theme, there’s also an all-New York wine and beer list, though sake will be flown in from Japan.

The restaurant officially debuts tonight on Sixth Street. (They had a soft opening this past weekend.) Mayanoki is open Wednesday-Sunday, with seatings at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another "destination" restaurant is opening in our neighborhood, please alert the foodies.

Anonymous said...

I would ask you reserve judgement until you can come by the shop and chat with us. Our mission is to be a positive element in the neighborhood and good neighbor as well as be as approachable for as many people as possible.

-The Mayanoki Team

Anonymous said...

If there is alcohol being served was this approved by CB 3?

Anonymous said...

"If there is alcohol being served was this approved by CB 3"

Why not? It's one restaurant/bar replacing another.

Anonymous said...

I am positive that the neighborhood doesn't need another restaurant that contributes to the overall decline of character to this neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

$95 tasting menu is all I need to hear to make my "judgment" if this is good for the neighborhood. Please move uptown or to Brooklyn.

Anonymous said...

Sad to see Against the Grain close down, but excited to try you guys! Welcome to the neighborhood.

Ruwan said...

*Man I scooped Grieve on this news of Mayanoki displacing Against the Grain by weeks on Twitter weeks ago! No credit, medal, cookie, or T-Shirt for this feat? Outrageous! Jokes--calm down.

*I ran into Michael (or was it Mike) -- the omakase chef...supernice dude, just moved here and had a great energy. He brings a good vibe to the neighborhood and hopefully the sustainable omakase concept works.

* It's a two-turn omakase restaurant with 8 seats that closes relatively early--not sure how this degrades the neighborhood? It's not like there is an after-hours element to Mayanoki. When Against the Grain operated it closed at 1 or 2 am with drunken spillover...don't think this will be the case here.

*For those bemoaning the death of Against the Grain, the annex beer bar hasn't been open for almost a year (infrequently open at best). It has largely been used for private events and such. Mayanoki brings something new to the table and hopefully succeeds where ATG faded to black.

*What truly in decline is sites like Thrillist, Eater, etc. that cover food & bev news becoming a bulletin board for rewritten press releases with quotes.

SHAME! lol

Anonymous said...

a $95-reservation-only meal is approachable?

Anonymous said...

I'm cool with this. The people running the omakase are real laid back, good people. I probably won't go cause of the price, but this is as low key as it gets.