This goes to show that restaurant reviews aren’t everything. Except ours, of course, because Kiko NYC is a neighborhood staple that you need in your life. But seriously, how Kiko doesn’t get more love on the usual restaurant buzz lists, we don’t know. But we do know that the crowd that is in the know, has Kiko firmly on their radar.

Atmosphere

They had me at fireplace, which is the first thing you see pass the host stand. However totally transformed, there is still a familiarity when you walk in. That’s because the space was formerly Giorgione, which was around forever as a staple Italian. Kiko NYC has that same effortless and easy neighborhood feel as Giorgione. However, it’s elevated with warm woods and Japanese minimalist that creates an elevated vibe to make it interesting. It sort of felt like an upscale bachelor’s apartment. As long as Kiko keeps up the service and food quality, it also has a shot to be a fixture on the NYC dining scene.

Overall, the atmosphere is warm, inviting, and cozy, with an attractive crowd. You have everyone, from guys catching up, to girlfriends sharing bites and couples on date night. Most nights, the tables in the main dining room are full, from the prime dining hours of 7-9. The bar is almost as big as the main dining room, where most nights, you can walk in for a bite.

Food + Beverage

The bar is a nice place to gather before dinner, so I went festive, and ordered a Japanese whisky with pear cider cocktail. It was crisp and not overly sweet — just like I like it. I’m actually surprised more mainstream people don’t know Kiko, but that just means more Dunganess crab temaki rolls for me. I could and would have two orders as my meal for the next visit. The dish is a generous portion of Dungeness crab, which sits on warm, slightly-vinegar rice. There’s normally spicy sauce, but I asked for it on the side. Also, on the side, are sheets of crisp nori, that you use to make your own temaki rolls. This isn’t a sushi joint, but it’s one of my favorite temaki rolls in the city. To continue on the raw fish theme, the tuna tartare was a solid dish. We got our greens in with a chicory and cabbage salad, which I would have liked more with about 1/3 less of the tahini dressing.

The other highlights on the menu, that seemed to be on every table, included the lobster crispy rice. The rice was shaped like a pancake with a little lobster, herbs and peppers on top. They could just charge more and add more lobster. However, I forgot about it when they poured a homemade curry on the side. It was comfort food, defined. Also a popular dish was the Berkshire pork, which had a coconut and condensed milk marinade. We opted to go lighter with the salmon, which was a solid option for everyday food. Dessert was a pineapple cream puff of some sort, but I would rather have had another order of the crab. Overall, like the decor, the food at Kiko was effortlessly everyday, just elevated enough to make it interesting.

Service

What sealed the deal for me that Kiko has staying power is the service. It’s friendly from the moment you walk in, and the host stand sets the tone. It felt like we were being welcomed into a home, versus a restaurant. When we got to the table, our server was genuinely knowledgeable about the food. You can tell that he actually tried the dishes he was describing, which makes all the difference. Style-wise, the service was friendly without being overly intrusive or contrived. It isn’t a surprise, though, that Kiko NYC is run like a tight ship. The owners previously owned the iconic One if By Land. Kiko is the kind of place that you can rely on to give you the full monty restaurant, from food, atmosphere and service.

Overall: 8.0. A restaurant that deserves a spot on your rotation.

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FAQs

Q: Where is Kiko NYC located?

A: Kiko NYC is located at 307 Spring St, New York, NY 10013.

Q: What are Kiko NYC’s hours of operation?

A: Kiko NYC’s hours of operation are as follows:

Q: What kind of food does Kiko NYC serve?

A: Kiko NYC serves Japanese and Asian-inspired cuisine.