AKINA RESTAURANT: A BEAUTIFUL SPACE
ADDRESS:
424A EAST 14TH ST
NEW YORK NY 10009
TELEPHONE:
212-388-1127
FAX:
212-388-1135
ONLINE MENU:
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.OPEN HOURS:
MONDAY-THURSDAY
11:30 AM - 11:00 PM
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
11:30 AM - 11:30 PM
SUNDAY
12:00 NOON-11:00 PM
Dine in or Take Out
Delivery Available
Grand St. - 34th St.
Sixth Ave. - Avenue D
by Joel R. Simon
There are only twenty-three seats (including three at the sushi bar) in this long and narrow restaurant on the street floor of a modernized five story building, which was probably venerable a century ago. A total of twenty apartments house the lucky New Yorkers who can enjoy Akina fourteen times a week if they wish (and get a great manicure or pedicure without any travel as well, at Top A Nail Salon).The tables are traditional wooden "deuces" which can be combined if your party is larger than one or two (and if you have a large party, especially on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night, I strongly urge you to call ahead and make a reservation). A bench runs the length of the restaurant on the left (east) side. The most interesting table is by the window, where you can enjoy the passing parade of pedestrians and vehicles along bustling Fourteenth Street (keeping in mind that the pedestrians can watch you as well). On the right side, there are only two tables before you come to the waitress's station where Nicole or Tim organize the orders by computer. The sushi bar is further back on the left side, and the kitchen behind it. A long steep flight of steps leads to the basement where the tiny but extremely clean restroom is located. The predominant color of the dining area is red (emphasized by the fact that the lights are normally turned low at night). A brick wall rises on the left side above the bench.The wall on the right holds typical traditional Japanese poster art, but the left wall and the walls of the sushi bar hold works by various talented artists. A good sound system enables Tim and Nicole to play nice background music, of Chinese and Japanese origin. Once upon a time they played country music, which sounds incongruous but somehow worked (before that, the Spice Girls held forth...).Part of the ambiance is the customers themselves. There are of course lots of "young people," but there is a good mix of families with children, seniors, and every age in between. There are single diners and large parties (if you plan to come with a lot of folks, you would be well advised to call in advance and make a reservation), couples and families of four. The restaurant is usually quiet, with a steady stream of take out customers and deliveries, but on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night in particular the restaurant can get full and happily noisy, and you may have to wait to be seated, especially if a large party has taken up most of the space. Although I often dine alone, once I invited four of my good friends over from nearby Weehawken, New Jersey, and we shared a number of different appetizers and main dishes and everyone had a great time.
LEFT: TIM AND NICOLE ENJOY THEIR OWN FOOD' RIGHT: DELIVERYMAN JEFF
