Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Last Tuesday, I was invited at Sushi by Bou in Jersey City, a hidden gem tucked in the back of Ani Ramen House on Newark Avenue, a less than a 10 minute walk from the Grove St Path train stop. Sushi by Bou (Bou comes from the name of the Chef and owner David Bouhadana), defines itself as a omakase speakeasy that is the right way to define it: a speakeasy for its location as even being inside Ani Ramen House, I would have not find it if not directed (they are working on signage but it reminded me Burger Joint when it was a sort of secret place only few people knew about, hidden inside the Parker Méridien, the secrecy adding to the excitement) and omakase, because they only serve omakase, in a limited seat setting (8 seats). If you never had omakase, it is a prix-fixe menu where the Chef will prepare sushi of their choice (omakase means “I’ll leave it to you” in Japanese). So, if you are vegetarian, this is not for you as they only serve fish and in some instances meat in surf and turf combinations, where meat can be replaced if you are pescatarian. Also, they would mesure the amount of wasabi and soy necessary: asking for more or some so you can dip your sushi would be seen as an insult to the Chef. It is like in restaurants: the fact that they do not have salt and pepper on the table is not because they forgot but rather because they consider to leave it to the Chef to season the dishes, trusting in his abilities.
Before I speak about the sushi I tried at Sushi by Bou, I should mention that their concept is a timed omakase: 30 or 60 minutes seating. Well I am sure they are not going to bring a bouncer to kick you out at the end of the time you picked, but anyway, the Chef is defining the cadence and sushi is a bouchée, so you do not feel time pressure and at least you know from the beginning.

Speakeasy means also booze and they have a nice drink list made of crafted cocktails, sake and beers. I admit that I was not sure what to get and finally settled for the Yuzu Honey Bee, a cocktail made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, honey syrup, yuzu, simple syrup and topped with pink peppercorn.

Yuzu Honey Bee at Sushi by Bou in Jersey City

The omakase itself is amazing: from the experience of seeing the Chefs make sushi that is an art in itself to the freshness of the fish that will make you think about the next time you eat at your usual Japanese restaurant. Here is what they serve:

Hamachi - yellow tail:

Chu-Toro - Fatty tuna:

Ikura / Salmon roe:

Uni / sea urchin at Sushi by Bou in Jersey City

O Toro / Fatty tuna:

Unagi / BBQ eel:

Akami - lean tuna:

Botan Ebi/ Spotted prawn:

Spotted pawn at Sushi by Bou in Jersey City

Hotate / Scallop:

Sake / Salmon:

Wagyuni / surf and turf:

Wagyuni / surf & turf at Sushi by Bou in Jersey City

Akami - lean tuna roll:

Definitely, this meal at Sushi by Bou was amazing. It’s not the just the food that is great but also the experience, the only negative being that if the person you are dining with is vegetarian, this place is not for you as they only serve omakase. However, think about it: if you have to have dinner with somebody and are not too motivated about it, the timed concept is great and you can just say that you could only get a 30 minutes reservation...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Sushi by Bou - 218 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Sushi by Bou, timed omakase speakeasy

Jean-Philippe Gerbi