A new kosher restaurant is opening in midtown Manhattan this week: Bonito 47 is set to debut at 114 West 47th Street by Sixth Avenue near the Diamond District on June 5.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Bonito Downtown, by the same owner as upscale eatery Barnea Bistro, first debuted on 17th Street.
“Bonito was open for two-and-a-half years downtown and we quickly realized that we needed to expand the dining room,” recalls owner and chef Joshua Kessler. “There was tremendous demand for reservations and we were unable to accommodate our guests with the limited seating constraints.”
Fast-forward a few years and the team has taken over the space once occupied by Suzuki in midtown Manhattan. A victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, Suzuki was only able to stay open for 18 months.
“Barnea Group came in and redesigned the space and brought new life and vibe to the dining room,” says Kesller. “Our goal is to maintain the quality and traditions of the omakase experience as homage to Chef Suzuki.”
Speaking of the omakase: once open, Bonito 47 will be serving the only kosher meat omakase currently available in NYC. Although not exactly a beef version of the usually fish-based style of cuisine, the experience includes a pretty remarkable range of steaks, including a 30-day dry aged rib eye, a skirt steak and a wagyu strip.
A more traditional omakase option is also available, one featuring fish flown directly from Japan.
In addition to the omakase options, Bonito 47’s menu features a number of shareable appetizers (including the steak tartare served at Barnea Bistro), mains that range from a duck confit with potatoes to a pasta limone and a variety of different steaks, plus classic steakhouse sides (creamed spinach, hand-cut fries). Think of it as a high-end meat-focused restaurant that also prizes the excellency of Japanese cuisine.
“We are known as a full service fine dining restaurant that ‘just happens to be kosher,'” reflects the owner. “On any given night the dining is a multi cultural cross section of guests derived from the melting pot of NYC. Gone are the days of Kosher Cuisine being pigeonholed as matzoh ball soup and bagels with shmear.”
The name of the restaurant is also a play on the confluence of cultures highlighted in the menu.
“It means pretty in Spanish but Bonito is also a mackerel that we highlight on the omakase menu” says Kessler. “Our new location is on 47th Street, a direct connection to the Diamond District where many of our guests work and dine every day.” Here’s to hoping the new restaurant’s fanbase will expand far beyond 47th Street.
