Restaurant in New York City, United States
Seven seats. Hard to book. Worth the effort.
Noz 17 is a seven-seat omakase counter in Chelsea holding a Michelin star and an OAD top-50 ranking. Chef Junichi Matsuzaki's free-wheeling procession of otsumami, sashimi, and nigiri makes it one of New York's strongest serious sushi bookings. Book four weeks out minimum — this is a hard seat to get.
If you've already sat at Sushi Noz on the Upper East Side and want to go again, Noz 17 in Chelsea is the more accessible alternative — same chef, same philosophy, a slightly different room. If you're choosing between Noz 17 and Shota Omakase for your next omakase night, Noz 17 wins on prestige and accolades; Shota edges it on booking ease. Against Masa, Noz 17 is the more human-scale option at a lower price point with fewer hoops to jump through.
Noz 17 holds a Michelin star (2024) and ranked #38 on Opinionated About Dining's Leading Restaurants in North America in 2024, climbing from #63 in 2023 to #42 in 2025 — a trajectory that puts it firmly in the conversation for New York's leading omakase seats. The format is counter-only omakase at a seven-seat cypress bar, where Chef Junichi Matsuzaki runs a procession of otsumami, sashimi, and nigiri built around sourcing and technical control. The room itself , warm wood, calibrated lighting , is designed to direct attention to the plate, not to the décor. For a first-time visitor, that setting communicates clearly: this is a serious counter, not a showroom.
If you've been once, the question is what brings you back. The answer, based on the OAD rankings and Michelin recognition, is the product quality and the chef's style, which leans free-wheeling rather than rigidly classical. Matsuzaki's omakase keeps the pace interesting across its courses, and the acclaim suggests consistency rather than a single memorable dish. That's the right reason to return.
Noz 17 is an omakase counter. The entire value proposition is seated, sequential, and dependent on temperature, timing, and the chef's hand. Nigiri served minutes after it's formed is a fundamentally different product from nigiri that has travelled in a delivery bag. There is no version of this meal that works off-premise in any meaningful way. If your goal is high-quality Japanese food at home, a delivery order from a solid a la carte sushi spot in Chelsea will serve you better than attempting to translate Noz 17's format. The counter experience here is not separable from the food , it is the food. Book the seat or don't book at all.
Noz 17 is open Thursday through Saturday and Monday and Tuesday, with no service Wednesday or Sunday. Given the seven-seat counter, every session is effectively a private event regardless of which night you choose. That said, if you're a returning guest looking to book with a smaller group or have a quieter experience, Thursday is your leading entry point , it's the start of the service week after the Wednesday closure, and demand typically builds toward the weekend. Friday and Saturday are harder to get and carry more of a special-occasion energy even when that's not your intention. For a low-pressure return visit where the focus stays on the food, Thursday works in your favour.
This is a hard book. Seven seats across a limited weekly schedule means availability disappears fast. Plan for at least three to four weeks of lead time, and more if you're targeting a Friday or Saturday. The counter format means no walk-in culture here , there is no bar to sit at while you wait for a cancellation. If you're serious about going, set a reminder for when your booking window opens and treat it like a ticket release.
Reservations: Book well in advance , four weeks minimum for weekends, two to three for early-week seatings. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday–Saturday 5 PM–11 PM; closed Wednesday and Sunday. Budget: $$$$ (omakase pricing; expect top-tier tasting menu costs consistent with Michelin-starred counters at this level). Dress: No stated dress code, but the room's atmosphere calls for smart casual at minimum. Seats: Seven-seat counter only , no private dining rooms or large group options.
See the full peer comparison below.
Noz 17 sits at the concentrated end of New York's dining options. For the full picture of where it fits, browse our full New York City restaurants guide. If you're planning a wider trip, we also cover hotels, bars, wineries, and experiences across the city. For comparable counter-format omakase, Shota Omakase is the most direct local alternative. Bar Miller is worth knowing if you want something more casual in the same neighbourhood.
For serious tasting-menu dining elsewhere in the US, the reference points are Alinea in Chicago, The French Laundry in Napa, Lazy Bear in San Francisco, Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg, Providence in Los Angeles, and Emeril's in New Orleans. Internationally, Alain Ducasse at Louis XV in Monte Carlo and Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen represent the equivalent tier in Europe.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noz 17 | $$$$ · Japanese, Sushi | Noz 17 is a restaurant in New York City, USA. It was published on Star Wine List on November 22, 2024 and is a White Star.; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #42 (2025); This downtown sibling of the impressive Upper East original is elegant and inviting.The seven-seat cypress counter is the focal point of the intimate dining room, where an abundance of wood and gently calibrated lighting produce a serene setting.Chef Junichi Matsuzaki is highly skilled and talented. The omakase shows off the chef's free-wheeling style with a procession that keeps the palate stimulated. Otsumami, sashimi and nigiri all show off an impressive display of top-notch product that has been expertly treated and handled. A slice of pearlescent white cuttlefish, intricately scored so it practically melts in the mouth, accompanied by a mouth-coating demitasse of snapper bone broth, are just two of the delights presented to diners.; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #38 (2024); Michelin 1 Star (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #63 (2023) | Hard | — |
| Le Bernardin | French, Seafood | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Atomix | Modern Korean, Korean | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Eleven Madison Park | French, Vegan | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Masa | Sushi, Japanese | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Per Se | French, Contemporary | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Yes, if omakase at a Michelin-starred counter is the format you want. Noz 17 holds a Michelin star (2024) and ranked #38 on Opinionated About Dining's Top Restaurants in North America in 2024, which puts it among the most credentialed sushi counters in the city. At $$$$, it sits in the same price tier as Masa and Per Se, but the seven-seat counter and Chef Matsuzaki's hands-on involvement make the experience feel more direct than a larger dining room at a comparable price point.
Plan for at least three to four weeks of lead time, and longer if you need a specific date. Seven seats across a schedule that runs Thursday to Saturday and Monday to Tuesday means availability is thin under any circumstances. Do not count on short-notice openings unless you're willing to check repeatedly for cancellations.
Dietary restriction handling is not documented in available venue data, but omakase formats at this level generally require advance notice of restrictions at the time of booking — not on the night. Contact Noz 17 directly at 458 W 17th St, Chelsea before booking if you have specific requirements, as the sequenced format leaves limited room for mid-service substitutions.
It is a strong choice for a two-person occasion where the meal itself is the event. The seven-seat cypress counter creates an intimate setting, and the Michelin star and Opinionated About Dining #38 ranking give it the kind of credential that makes the occasion feel deliberate. It is not suited to groups larger than the full counter, and the omakase format means the evening runs on the kitchen's timing, not yours.
There is no ordering at Noz 17 — it is an omakase counter, meaning Chef Junichi Matsuzaki sets the full sequence. The format includes otsumami, sashimi, and nigiri, with the kitchen controlling pacing and selection throughout. If you prefer a la carte sushi, this is not the right venue; consider other options in the city where individual ordering is available.
Noz 17 does not serve lunch. Service runs from 5 PM on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday only, with no Wednesday or Sunday sessions. All bookings are dinner.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
