LOWER EAST SIDE — A tiny slice of Japan is slated to open on the Lower East Side this summer.
Upscale sushi bar New York Sushi Ko is set to open at 91 Clinton St. on June 1, with seating for just 11 patrons in its minimalist, 425-square-feet space.
“John will be able to talk to everyone,” said co-owner Steven Penchenski of chef John Daley, formerly of Sushi Uo, while describing the restaurant’s intimate quarters.
Penchenski said he hopes to bring high-end Japanese cuisine to a relaxed, “democratic” environment.
“If you have tattoos, keep the tattoos out,” noted Penchenski, a welder by training who is dipping into the restaurant business for the first time, of the unbuttoned-up aesthetic at his forthcoming eatery. “We want it to be casual. Sometimes the fine dining experience can be a little intimidating."
Sushi Ko will serve its fare omakase-style, with four tiered menu options ranging from a three-course tasting for about $60 to an unlimited offering for around $170.
"It will definitely be fine dining," Penchenski said. "We want it to be both inviting and elegant."
New York Sushi Ko’s dinner hours will run from 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a two-hour lunch.
