Owners Paul and Lilly Zhu were born in Shanghai, but their culinary background has always been Japanese food. That’s why they’ve turned a cozy little storefront on 39th Street into a venue that serves a wide variety of sushi, as well as noodle bowls and bento boxes. The bento, available for lunch or dinner, is a shiny lacquered wooden tray with five or six compartments, each boasting some dainty edible item: a jumble of salad, a mound of rice, a “cheese cracker” (a fried cream-cheese puff), fresh fruit, and one of seven entrées (shrimp tempura, breaded chicken cutlet, sushi, etc.). The ambience and service are quite charming. Unlike many Japanese restaurants, Friends serves dessert, including the almost indescribable rice pastry-wrapped ice cream treat called mochi. — Charles Ferruzza
Price: $$-$$$
Payment Type: All Major Credit Cards, Diners Club, cash
Parking: Free, Lot Available, Street
Reservations: Accepted, Recommended for Large Parties, Not Necessary
Attire: casual
Extra Info: also serves sake.
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Sushi isn't cheap...it really shouldn't be, so the fact that people keep saying that the prices at Friends are high should realize that they are actually quite reasonable. My husband and I have been patrons at Friends for about 2 years now...started going back when we were referred by another friend of ours to try them on Monday nights, since they have a $1 sushi special that night. (Certain rolls are available for $3.99 as well.) We were hooked! The sushi is delicious, the servers are reliable, and as long as you get there early on Mondays (before 6:30, I mean), the wait for the sushi isn't terrible. If you put in a second order, expect to wait a while. We order all our sushi at once now, since we're so used to what we want and how long it might take to get it. (Sushi isn't a burger you throw on a grill and cook for 8 minutes...it takes time to create it, so plan on waiting at least 20 minutes during a slow time if you order more than 10 pieces.)
Rating Detail:
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Value: 5
Overall: 5
My husband and I love Friends and have been back there many times for their sushi and their bento boxes. I recommend going for lunch as the pricing is more affordable. The staff is always prompt and courteous, and we like the simple and friendly decor.
Rating Detail:
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 5
Overall: 5
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