Sushi Lab
Midtown-Times Square, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Compared with larger Theater District restaurants, Sushi Lab is the better fit when the table specifically wants a sushi-focused meal rather than a broad midtown menu. It has external recognition from Opinionated About Dining for 2026, which gives it a useful credibility signal, but the smarter booking is for small groups aligned on Japanese dining.
About Sushi Lab
Sushi Lab is a New York City venue with evening hours throughout the week, lunch hours on Wednesday through Saturday, a smart casual dress code. This guide focuses on when it is open, how to dress, how to compare it with other named options when planning a meal.
A New York City venue for lunch, dinner, smart casual dining
Sushi Lab's hours are Monday and Tuesday from 5–10 PM; Wednesday through Friday from 12–3 PM and 5–10 PM; Saturday from 12–3 PM and 4:30–10 PM; and Sunday from 4:30–10 PM. The dress code is smart casual.
Sushi Lab is also listed as Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Recommended for 2026. For details such as chef, menu structure, beverage program, seating count, dietary accommodations, takeout, delivery, or price, diners should confirm directly before booking.
Who should book, who should cross-shop
Sushi Lab makes the most sense for diners who are comfortable booking around its New York City location, posted hours, smart casual dress code, Opinionated About Dining recognition. If your group needs more certainty around menu breadth, room style, dietary handling, or a specific service format, confirm directly with the venue before committing.
If the booking does not fit, compare by occasion and practical need. Oceana and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse are other options to consider when your plans call for a different kind of dining room or a broader comparison set.
For a fuller dining search, also consider named alternatives such as Langan's, Sessions Restaurant & Bar, Utsav, depending on the occasion and the details you can confirm before reserving.
Planning details
- Location
- 132 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- sushilab.com
- Phone
- +12124320000
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Sushi Lab presents itself as a contemporary, chef-forward counter in Midtown that tilts toward a sophisticated, experimental side of Japanese dining. The write-up situates it among serious omakase counters—measured against benchmark houses—while noting a deliberate willingness to treat technique as a variable. That positioning keeps the restaurant in a modern, high-ambition register, but the Midtown context also layers in a briskness: the lunch and theater crowds shape service and pacing. The result reads as a refined, focused counter that balances adventurous flavors with the operational realities of a busy midtown location.
Best For
This is a good fit for diners seeking an elevated sushi counter experience—particularly date-night and special-occasion guests who want an omakase-driven tasting rather than casual rolls. The Midtown setting also makes it convenient for pre-theater meals or a business lunch from nearby offices: the description flags a strong lunch trade tied to Rockefeller Center and the theater district. Omakase enthusiasts who follow trained kitchen teams and contemporary Japanese techniques will find the restaurant most rewarding, while theatergoers and downtown workers will appreciate its central, accessible location.
Ordering Tips
Because the venue is framed around counters and the omakase format, guests curious about the restaurant's 'lab' ethos should sample the chef-led tasting to gauge how far experimentation runs through the menu. The write-up contrasts the Midtown lunch trade with downtown reservation-only counters, so expect a different pacing at lunch versus a full counter tasting; opt for lunch if you need a quicker service window, or choose the counter tasting to experience signature preparations. Highlight items to look for include the listed signatures—A5 Wagyu Lollipop, Hokkaido Uni & Crab, and Bluefin Toro Tartare—as touchstones of the kitchen's approach.
Venue details
Ambiance
Serene urban oasis with lush greenery, subtle city views, calming and relaxing atmosphere above the busy streets.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- A5 Wagyu Lollipop
- Hokkaido Uni & Crab
- Bluefin Toro Tartare
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Sessions Restaurant & Bar, Notable alternative
- Langan's, Notable alternative
- Oceana, Greek Seafood, Greek Seafood
- Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, Notable alternative
- Utsav, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How it compares with nearby midtown options
Choose Sushi Lab when sushi is the reason for dinner. Oceana is the stronger pick for Greek seafood and a broader midtown seafood meal, while Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse makes more sense for a steakhouse-style night with a bigger-room feel. Sushi Lab is the narrower bet, which is a positive only when the group wants that focus.
For mixed-preference tables, Utsav, Sessions Restaurant & Bar, Langan's are easier to justify because they read as more flexible group choices. Sushi Lab is better for a smaller party that wants a Japanese meal without turning dinner into a long negotiation over cuisine.
On booking difficulty, Sushi Lab is listed as easy, which makes it useful when a sushi plan needs to come together without a long lead time. For value, the decision comes down to format: a focused sushi dinner here is more compelling than paying for a broad restaurant when only one cuisine is desired, but Oceana or Del Frisco's will serve groups better when range, scale, a more conventional midtown dining room matter.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Sushi Lab guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Sushi Lab
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Lab | New York City | ; | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended |
| Sessions Restaurant & Bar | New York City | No published awards | ; |
| Langan's | New York City | No published awards | ; |
| Oceana | New York City | Greek Seafood | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #6692024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #5472023 OAD Casual in North America Recommended |
| Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse | New York City | 2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2025 Wine Spectator Grand Award | ; |
| Utsav | New York City | No published awards | ; |
How Sushi Lab New York City compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to Sushi Lab?
Sushi Lab's dress code is smart casual. Aim for polished clothing rather than very casual attire.
What should a first-timer know about Sushi Lab?
Plan around the hours: Monday and Tuesday 5–10 PM; Wednesday through Friday 12–3 PM and 5–10 PM; Saturday 12–3 PM and 4:30–10 PM; and Sunday 4:30–10 PM. Sushi Lab is also listed as Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Recommended for 2026.
