Haru Sake Bar

Although it is a chain, I really like Haru. They have a great selection of sushi, rolls and other great dishes as well as great Sake. The portions of food and drinks are very generous too! staff is very friendly. more

The service was great, as well as our orders, a brisket sandwich and crab cake sandwich... The complimentary clam chowder was some of the best I've had. more

I used to dine at another Haru location, just for the convenience. It was the closest sushi restaurant to my apartment at the time. The quality of the food is not great. I tried to dine at the Third Ave location one Sunday afternoon with my family. There were 6 of us and the place was empty, so I assumed that walk-ins were okay. The tables that were available could not situate a total of 6 people. The problem could've been easily solved if the staff added another table to the bigger table, but the manager wanted to keep a table for only two open for other customers instead of trying to accomodate our needs. Not a smart choice on his part. We were all trying to be patient with the manager and his stubborn attitude. We tried to fit into a table that only seated four, and it was too tight. So we decided to leave without giving the restaurant a try, due to the poor customer service. This happened a while ago so I don't know if the restaurant is still under the same management, but they sure left a bad impression on my family. more

Pretty yummy sushi for a casual lunch place, and good prices too. Try the "special fantasy" roll - it's... more

We have frequented Haru in the past and return for their great sushi - if you like salmon - try the spicy titanic roll - its fabulous! The sushi is always fresh and the decor is fun. We have tried Nobu in several cities and we think this sushi is as fresh - although the menu is certainly less creative. The service at Haru- however - is incredibly spotty. We have literally found ourselves in a an argument with a server on more than one occasion (this is certainly not our style!) over removing items from a dish (due to a nut allergy)...leaving us vowing to never return...until, of course, we give into our craving for a spicy titanic roll! Pros: Great sushi Cons: Spotty service more

Good crowd, good outdoor seating, with a hip japanese vibe. Staff was cool enough to exlplain all the different sakes (they have a small but delicious selection) and make amazing recommendations. There's something smooth about sipping sake upper east side style. I brought some buddies from CA and they loved it. Pros: Outdoor seating Cons: Cramped inside more

We ate outside at Haru's Sake bar because Haru's restaurant next door was overflowing. What's the difference between the two? Their sake list was extensive, but we were looking for Purple Haze, which wasn't listed but made for us upon request! The spicy tuna roll was unusually good and the rock shrimp tempura was awesome, great appetizer to share! We went around 9:30 on a Friday and it had died down a bit by then so the service was great! Pros: Service, Sake, Affordable more

Don't let my rating mislead you......their sake choices aren't as numerous as others but the QUALITY is on point! If you're looking for a place that has GREAT sake and pretty unique sushi choices, this is where you should go. It is CRAMPED, though, so unless you plan on taking over the joint, bring only one friend. more

Tasty sushi / appetizers...overall the food is quality ...varied saki selection, too. Good, dark atmosphere and the music is a nice touch. My only problem is that you are literally sitting on top of the people next to you! I know this is the case in many nyc eateries, but here, they really cram you in to the point where it's borderline uncomfortable. It ain't cheap either, but then again, cheap food ain't good and good food ain't cheap. more

If you're craving for Haru's great food, especially the House Roll, but can't stand the wait building outisde, head across the street to their Sake Bar! They offer the same menu but have creative drinks that are loaded with alcohol and cheeky names -- but they do cost you. Their sushi, Kamikaze and other Rolls are fresh and well presented. Though the Spider Roll may look like a challenge to eat, with soft shell crab hanging out of the roll, it is well worth the price you pay for them. Pros: Fun Drinks, Same great food, Hip joint on the UES Cons: Drinks are pricey, They may hurry you more

I went with a friend of mine and spent about $100 on drinks and when we got the check, I noticed that they charged us 50cents for the rocks (ice) per drink. When the waiter noticed that we were talking how ridiculous that was, he commented that he worked in several bars and that charging for ice was common practice. I have no problem paying a lot for drinks, but I feel their practice is terrible. I WILL NEVER RETURN to their restaurant or their bar. Cons: Ripoff, Expensive, Average Bar more