Ajisai

Do the patrons of this Midtown Japanese restaurant know what down here before there was sashimi? This spot was formerly the notorious Midtown dive bar Circus. The clowns who used to drink away the afternoons there would be shocked to see the sleek redo. With a large sushi bar and trendy black fixtures, the new owners have come a long way from the spot's derelict past. There's nary a spilled beer in sight. Better yet, the crowd is there to enjoy sushi rolls (grab an Alaska roll for $5) and dishes like pad Thai ($14). While those prices are reasonable for most diners, they're high enough to keep the Port Authority hobos at bay. If you're in the hood during the day, the lunch specials will easily fill you up for under $10. Still want a little neighborhood grit after your raw fish? Head to Port 41 across the street and get some free hot dogs for dessert.

See more: Hell's Kitchen restaurants, Midtown restaurants, Midtown West restaurants, Japanese restaurants, Sushi restaurants