Closing notices: J-Spec Wagyu Dining and Esora Omakase on 5th Street

Photo from October 2020 by Jacob Ford 

The owners of J-Spec Wagyu Dining and Esora Omakase have announced that they are closing the 44-seat restaurant at 239 E. Fifth St. at the end of April. 

Here's part of an email they sent out last evening (thanks to the EVG reader for the tip)...

Regrettably, after careful consideration, we have come to the difficult conclusion that we will be closing our restaurant at the end of this month. This decision was not made lightly and comes after much reflection on various factors, BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE GONE FOREVER. 

We want to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for your continued support over the years. It has been our utmost pleasure to serve you, and we are truly grateful for the memories and experiences we have shared together.

As we approach the closing date, we will provide you with further details regarding any upcoming events, possible transition arrangements, and how we plan to bid farewell. 

While we embark on this new chapter, we will continue to strive to provide you with the best service possible until our last day of operation. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. 

We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your patronage and loyalty throughout the years. It has been an honor to serve you, and we will cherish the memories we've made together. 

J-Spec, an abbreviation for "Japan-Specification," opened here between Second Avenue and Cooper Square in November 2020 ... taking over part of the former Jewel Bako space. 

 Tomoe Food Services Inc., a Waygu supplier, owns and operates the restaurant. 

J-Spec, specializing in waygu beef, opening this evening on 5th Street

At the end of October we mentioned that J-Spec, which specializes in wagyu beef, is opening at 239 E. Fifth St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

Well, today is J-Spec's opening day.... and a rep shared more info about the owners and what to expect here:

We will be offering A5 rank wagyu at a more-affordable price point. J-Spec is the abbreviation for "Japan-Specification," a unique phrase created by the team.

This marks the first restaurant venture for Tomoe Food Services  a New York-based wholesale Japanese meat distributor that has been in business since 2014.
 
When the pandemic hit and many of their clients were forced to suspend services, the team decided to open their own restaurant so they could offer guests different varieties and cuts of Japanese beef at affordable prices, served and cooked by specialists who have studied the art and intricacies of these meats... 

For now, the restaurant will be open for dinner only with indoor dining (at 25 percent) and curbside seating available; take-out for lunch and dinner will be offered soon.

A few other things: the beer-wine license is pending. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5-10 p.m. You can find the menus here ... and the website here. 

This space was previously Jewel Bako, the sushi restaurant that maintained a Michelin star for the last 15 years. The Jewel Bako closure was made official in May.

Waygu spot J-Spec taking over Jewel Bako space on 5th Street

J-Spec, which will specialize in Wagyu beef, is opening soon at 239 E. Fifth St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. (Thanks to @unitof for the tip and photos!)

The signage went up this week... as did the under-construction curbside seating...

This space was previously Jewel Bako, the celebrated sushi restaurant that maintained a Michelin star for the last 15 years. The Jewel Bako closure was made official in May.

As for J-Spec, you can check out their menu that's already up on Seamless.