Megu (Tribeca)
62 Thomas St.
New York NY 10013
Official site
*This venue is now closed.
Located in the heart of Tribeca, Megu is an elegant and exotic restaurant that I would classify as semi trendy, one of hot places to be. Megu wowed me with its slick interior combining modern with traditional Japanese. The chairs, tables and wall units were more or less modern, whereas the Japanese flag, a huge ancient looking bell suspended above an awesome Buddha ice sculpture (the restaurant’s center piece) were among the ancient touches.
My first stop at Megu was the bar or the “M Lounge,” there I had a drink while waiting for my friend. The M Lounge is pretty cool with very dim lighting and walls decorated with Japanese wallpaper (rolls of wallpaper of various designs encased in a glass.) A side section of the M Lounge allows you to view the main dinning room below through a huge glass partition, a great view. While at the bar I had Megu’s signature cocktail called “Blessing” – ”Megu” is the Japanese word for “Blessing.”I was blessed by the taste: Russian Standard, strawberry, and pomegranate juice, a rich strawberry/pomegranate taste, slightly sweet and mildly tart with a zing – yummy. Definitely Bless yourself at the M Lounge.
When my friend arrived and we got to the main dining hall, we were amazed by the ice Buddha up-close. Glowing from the light reflected around it and seemingly hovering above its watery seat filled with red rose petals, you get the feeling that the spirit of the Buddha is alive.
While waiting for our food we noticed a lively group behind us who at closer inspection we realized were members of City Council, of course Megu is often visited by celebrities, political figures and the like.
Megu lived up to the hype when it came to its high-end modern Japanese cuisine – the food was great!!! I began with Madai oriental salad, and then followed with Silver cod for the entree, and finally the Matcha Greentea Crepe for dessert. Everything was delicious especially the cod which was incredibly soft and flavorful. My friend started with sautéed scallops, and then had the Kobe beef for the entrée and finished with chocolate cake for desert. My friend raved about everything. The Kobe beef served on a bed of stone was everything it was supposed to be, the tenderest, smoothest and most appetizing meat you will every sink your teeth into.
The serving sizes are very small, but if you order a three course meal, at the end you will be satisfied but not full. Hardy eaters with homegrown stomachs may have to get some pre or post eats…lol. Appetizers are about $15-$30, entrees will run about $30 and up, and drinks are $17 up depending on how high-end you want to go. It’s pricey but worth the experience.
Before you leave Megu make sure you pour water on the ice Buddha and make a wish or say a prayer. Overall I highly recommend Megu, food and ambiance are great for impressing a date or a client.
