
Google
★★★★★ Five Stars — Jōji is an absolute knockout.
Jōji is the kind of place that makes Midtown feel like Tokyo for a couple of hours: tucked beneath One Vanderbilt/Grand Central, serene and intimate, but never stiff or pretentious.  The room has that “hidden counter” energy people rave about—quiet confidence, immaculate pacing, and a vibe that somehow feels both elevated and genuinely fun. 
Chef Wayne is the real deal: cool, funny, easy-going, and clearly operating at a very high technical level. You can tell he’s not just serving you—he’s hosting you, teaching you, and keeping the whole counter engaged without ever breaking the flow of the meal. (It’s no surprise he’s part of the chef team that’s built Jōji’s reputation.) 
The fish was spectacular—clean, vibrant, and obviously handled with obsessive care. Course after course, everything tasted fresh and intentional, with that refined omakase discipline you expect from a top NYC counter. 
And the beverage program is not an afterthought—it’s a co-star. Jōji literally frames the experience as a chef-and-sommelier pairing on equal footing, and it shows.  Our sommelier dialed us in with phenomenal Champagne—ranging across styles and landing on a memorable 2012 Laurent-Perrier that drank beautifully with the sushi.  (The broader buzz about the pairings and drinks program is deserved—French wines and thoughtful selections come up repeatedly.) 
Bottom line: this place was fire. The vibe was phenomenal, the food was flawless, and the hospitality felt personal. I’d come back again and again—Jōji delivers the kind of night you talk about afterward.