Kumo Sushi

Someone once said, "variety is the spice of life" and to be totally honest, I don't know who said it. I also do not really know what that really means, since taken out of context it can mean just about anything. Ok, I'll stop playing dumb and make this a bit educational. The actual quote is, "Variety's the spice of life, that gives it all its flavour." This quote comes to us from English poet William Cowper and it's a perfect fit for Kumo Sushi.

I know a lot of people cringe when they hear of buffets or the term "all you can eat" but I offer the following thoughts: 1 - not all buffets are created equally (read: while some buffets may in fact be sketchy, there are others that are bigger and better and certainly worth your attention. 2 - you do not need to go to Vegas to enjoy a good buffet. 3 - Just because the buffet is in Vegas, doesn't make it all that special. Trust me, I've had my fair share and they can be brutal.

Kumo Roll (L), Spicy Salmon Roll (R)

Anyway, that's enough digressing. Let's focus on the subject at hand, Kumo Sushi (72nd St between Columbus and Amsterdam). More importantly, let's focus on the fact that they offer an all you can eat sushi option for about $27 which naturally intrigued me from afar. After drawing me in and perusing their extensive menu, I was impressed by the value they were offering since there are a number of specialty rolls that can be had as part of this special (some specialty rolls have a menu price of $8-15 and it's important to point out that these rolls are delivered fast, fresh, and at full size - since some places will scale back the size of dishes in these prix fixe type situations.)

Diamond Roll with a side of eel

The photo at left is of the Kumo Roll, having carte blanche to eat just about any roll on the menu, I figured I had to try their namesake and it was an excellent choice. The shrimp tempura was light and delicious and the eel/avocado pairing at top was full of flavor. I also kicked things off with the spicy salmon roll and wish I had another sitting beside me as I type up this review. I also wish I had one of these diamond rolls, partly because it just looks nice and reminds me of the winter and partly because it just tasted so good and I'm quite hungry right now.

I'm not sure how things were way back when and I'm not a big fan of delivery (especially pizza and sushi is a close 2nd!) but I can tell you that if you venture to the UWS for some really good sushi, Kumo will hit the spot. If you are foodventurous and want to try a bunch of different rolls, go for the AYCE option. If your appetite is not that hearty, there are a couple of lunch special options that may fit the bill and fill your belly.

Rating - 4.5/5 - I do enjoy a good buffet and this, while not typically a buffet, is a good AYCE. I found it to be fresh food and a really good value for my food dollar. I also would like to point out that I almost took a full day vacation from eating after visiting Kumo!

Their site - I can't seem to find one so I'll give you this information instead. 165 West 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023 (212) 580-5900. That's a short walk from the 1, 2, 3 line which stops right at the corner of 72nd. Now you have no excuses not to go and enjoy yourselves!

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