Sushi Reunion

Matt and I lived on W. 4th Street for over 10 years, and our favorite place to eat was a hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant called Cotan, just around the corner from us, on W. 3rd St. It was a magical place. We ate there probably three times a week, and became friends with the owner, Miki, and the staff. When Matt would go fishing, he'd bring back a striped bass to Miki, who would show him how to cut it up, and would serve it in the restaurant. We spent the night of the blackout there, with candles, helping him eat through as much fish as we could, since it wouldn't last without refrigeration. There was the Tuesday night group, made up of several people who didn't come together, but just knew they would all be there on Tuesdays, enjoying Miki's amazing fish. Then one day, after 25 years of business, Miki decided he didn't want to do it anymore, and he closed. And we moved to Brooklyn shortly thereafter. Now it's been five years that he hasn't had Cotan, and he worked in some fusion place in Midtown. We went to see him, but it just wasn't the same.  But, just last week, he called us up, and asked us to come to Cotan, just re-opened, in the East Village, on 1st Avenue. We went immediately, and it was just as we remembered. Yes, it's in a different location, and the awning has a new logo, but it was just as remembered i. The fish is the perfect temperature, cut perfectly...the yellowtail is still the best we've ever had. He has his chef Shige reunited with him, and one of his waitresses, who hadn't seen Clara since she was two. It's one of these places that doesn't look like it's special or charming, but it really is. 

P.S.  (If you go, the tempura udon was a big hit with Clara,  and Matt suggests you get the sushi omakase.

P.S.S.  Tell the staff that Yolanda, Matt, and Clara sent you.