Sake Hana

Unfortunately, after speaking with the owner about a month ago, Sake Hana is closed. I am very dissapointed as this was a staple in the upper east side. Sushi Hana next door is also very good and if you are in the area, this is a nice place to stop for some sushi/​sake but not as unique of atmosphere as Sake Hana.

I’ve been to a few sake tasting events at Sake Hana and they’ve always been great fun, so I’m sad to report that Sake Hana will be closing on December 12^th, 2009. :(
The email with the news is below.
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From: Sake Hana
Subject: Sake Hana close
Date: December 8, 2009 11:57:39 PM EST
To all Sake Hana lovers.
How are you everyone? Everyone are getting busy to Christmas holiday seasons.
I have to tell everyone one thing today.
We, Sake Hana, close the door on December 12^th (Sat) after 10 years lease.
We’ve tried to take over the lease, but contract is not worth it. So we decided to close.
Thank you for this 10 years.
Until Saturday we promote 20% discount when pay by cash.
Toshi, Sake Hana

This place has great atmosphere and very good sushi! We’ve come here late at night and they’re usually always open. Never too crowded, great drinks, very laid back. They also have great food from the kitchen, other than sushi and seem to change up the menu every once in a while making it always fun to come back.

I went to this sake bar more than a year ago, and it still sticks out in my mind. In a good way. So I figured I would write a review about my experience. Please forgive me if I miss some things, I have early onset dementia. LOL. I remember coming here on a rainy night, and when we stepped in, the place was darkly lit (appropriately so) and cozy. We sat in the corner, which we had all to ourselves ;-) I remember getting sushi rolls, but it wasn’t that impressive. What was impressive was the vast selection of sakes. I had a nigori sake (milky) and it was excellent! This is a great date place. My BF took me here a year ago, and needless to say, he did a good job impressing me ;-)

ahh-​hhh, you are in Heaven when the Sushi is good. It’s like non-​prescribed Prozac and I got a shot last nigh
My friend brought me to Sake Hana for a casual drink-​food-​girls-​talk night… well, not that girly at all: we order the 6 sample Sake tasting from around 30 different. The selection was really really good, high quality and for all kind of taste: 3 dry/​3 fruity and both kind paired 2 to 2 in a progression from light to strong… all Sakes, all different, all good, and all for $ 33 coming as a regular glass size… such a deal. They also have an smaller sake tasting: 3 for $ 18.
We also order some food, and with my judgment completely intact whatever the Sake, I can tell you that is was amazing. Quail eggs Yakitori and Squid Yakitori. Very tasty, soy flavorful and juicy. I just got a bit of the Quail egg and I love the feeling when you crash the white and the whole cooked but still soft yolk comes out .
But coming back to the I’m in Heaven scene… Shiitake and cucumber sushi roll and Yellowtail jalapeño sushi roll. What make it different from average Sushi is unquestionable fresh ingredients, very thin layer of a juicy rice and independent flavors perfectly defined. The yellowtail jalapeño bite will give you an intense spiciness that goes away quickly, tasting then the juiciness of the raw yellowtail that literally will melt in your mouth. And they use a piece of jalapeño pepper, not sauce. The Shiitake is not cooked, just marinated and coming colder than the rest of the roll. Delicious
The ambiance is quiet, nice to bring a date or stop by with a small group of friends. Just a bad note for them. the service is so so and very slow.

It is great place to enjoy sakes in american bar/​lounge style. Dimmed lightings are warm and inviting w/​small tables. or you can sit at the bar. It used to have the imported Japanese writting fabrics covering over the celing when opened but, it is now changed.
It is quiet so you can chill unlike those other loud sake bars with street food. This place is more meant to eat with sushi rather than street foods and the next door sister restaurants, Sushi Hana provides great sushi, too. I thought this place was in Gossip Girl show once.
Highly Recommended.

I love this place. It’s quiet, a great date place or a place to go with friends. Small room, great sushi from next door, open late. The only thing is that you practically have to trip someone from the staff to get them to pay attention to you.

Best Sake selection in Manhattan. This is not a place for Sake bombs. It is a small lounge with a great staff that really knows Sake. The Japanese Tapas are also excellent.

Really awesome environment. dark, cozy, and vibrant, with walls filled with all kinds of knick knacks to look at.
Staff is very friendly. sake list is awesome… and the food was great… we had a bunch of the sushi specials with a crew of 6… preices may sem a bit steep, but its affordable being in nyc…
Come here with friends to catch up. Place is a bit limited on size, but the whole place can cram maybe 40 – 50 ppl…

Recommended for: sake, fun night w/​friends, a date.
Service 4, Drinks 4, Ambiance 5.
Had been meaning to try this sake place since I lived in the neighborhood and didn’t want to venture down to my «happy place». So, with friend (s) in tow we were off. The place is dimly lit, with candles and dark red drapes hanging from the ceiling… ideal for dates, but there were lots of small groups of people chatting it up and having a good time. Its not overly noisy either, so you can have a conversation and not have to shout to the person across from you.
Service is friendly, and the selection nice, but not as much as my «happy place». The sake is good, and definitely go with what is in season. Remember, with sake, you want to drink it while its young and aged sake isn’t very good. The food is good too, standard izakaya fare.
A staple place when I don’t want to venture out.
Sean Approved: Definitely Yes!

me haz a secret.
me loves sake, Junmai Dai Ginjo.
so, my secret is me loves sake forever.
this isn’t my best choice of sake bar. but still lovely.

I really like this spot because they do have pretty good sushi AND the ambiance is great. Whether you’re with girlfriends or there for an initimate date, its a super cute spot! Its a small spot and has great hot sake (not that its hard to screw up hot sake :-) !)

Favorite Place for Sake in the City. Amazing selection and service to match!

Sake? This place has a small book of Sakes to choose from, chilled or hot. Swank little spot, with tea lights and candles dotting the landscape. The sushi rolls are great and they offer a large assortment to choose from.

I love this place. The only thing is I hate to sit there. The seats suck. The food is great. It can get a bit loud for a small place, but it is probably a good thing. The place is so small that you really don’t want to hear your neighbors conversation. Well, maybe sometimes I go there to hear my neighbor’s conversation with friends. Oh yeah, the sushi is good too.

Situated in the city’s most affluent zip code, Sake Hana is an excellent place to grab your favorite sake or try the ricewine for the first time. As a sake/​sushi lounge, you can order delicious cuts of sushi or sample the Okinawan udon. At Sake Hana, you’ll find friendly service wrapped in a comfortable atmosphere, conducive for drinking the night away. A great place to catch up with old friends over some hot sake.