Bar Goto
“We started out with seasoned edamame which took us awhile to finish before savoring the miso wings.”
“the drinks were really balanced and clean tasting, especially the far east side.”
“Overall I really like the atmosphere here: dark and intimate without being too crowded-great for a date!”
Bar Goto
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Great drinks and food, place is trendy but small. Definitely not for a big group of friends but for a quick drink with a friend or casual date.
Came here last night with a group of 4 for drinks. The place was very average as far as drinks went. None of us were blown away with our cocktails that had a 15 dollar price tag on them. The service was very friendly and helpful though. We were sitting at a table for 2 and they gave us the table next to us to make it a 4 person as soon as the patrons next to us left inside of giving it to another party! It was very thoughtful of them. The atmosphere inside is elegant and dark – definitely a cool place to go on a Friday night. I wish I hadn't had dinner beforehand because all the food looked delicious. I wish we liked our drinks more because we left after 1 round instead of spending more time there.
KenScale: 8.0/10
I'm always on the hunt for the next best cocktail bars in the city. NYC has no shortage of great cocktail bars where the bartenders really know what they're doing. Bar Goto from owner Kenta Goto, who formerly worked at the famed Pegu Club, has been regarded as one of the best new cocktail bars in Manhattan and for good reasons. The cocktail here has the artisanal feel to it, showcasing creativity and dedication to craftsmanship that you would expect from an experienced mixologist in Tokyo. It was the food, however, that later got my attention and I figured I would just visit this place for a full meal to go along with the cocktails.
The food at Bar Goto isn't really for a full meal in terms of portion, but a collection of shareable bar snacks and plates. That didn't stop people from raving about their famed chicken wings with black sesame, scallions and house spicy miso sauce on top. I had very high expectations for the wings and they mostly delivered even though my dining companion was slightly turned off by the strong flavor of miso sauce. The wings were not quite meaty, but I felt the richness of the miso sauce with spicy kick more than made up for it. It had a very addictive quality to it that by the time I realized we were killing the entire bucket in like 10 minutes, it was too late. Combine the wing with kombu celery that will be a perfect complement with the way it neutralizes the spicy sensation of the wing. Bar Goto has a number of okonomi-yaki (savory cabbage pancakes) options with different ingredients and I liked both that we ordered; both were pretty to look at and had the depth of flavor and texture that I hadn't quite experienced in other okonomi-yaki dishes. I slightly preferred the carnivore plate with chicken, pork belly and smoked bacon over the fisherman's with squid, sakura shrimp, rock shrimp, kombu and nori as I thought the ingredients came together with a little bit more balance and consistency in the former. Anyways, two okonomi-yaki plates will suffice plenty for a meal of two persons, and we nearly finished both with much satisfaction.
There is no reservation accepted at Bar Goto, which uses awesome lightings to great effect to create a very chic atmosphere perfect for a date night, and the smart idea is always to show up early and get out early. The place does become way too clubby and crowded past 7-8 p.m. As noted above, you should definitely try some of their cocktails, such as the sakura martini or the improved shochu cocktail that is served in a cedar drinking box with the bar's logo inside. If you're looking for a casual drinking night with some snacks to nibble on, Bar Goto should really be on your list of go-to options. Just don't get stuck too late when things can get really loud and you may have to scream from the bottom of your lungs to get your points across.
Loved this place. The space has the Japanese quiet and understated decor. Their cocktails are subtle but well balanced and beautifully crafted. Far east side, melon ball, matcha punch were all amazing. Sakura martini was beautiful (i just wasn't a fan of the particular sake in it). I was suspicious about the melon ball but the staff explained it to me (I love it when the staff knows and can answer all my questions) and I'm glad I got one because I want it again.
And they have delicious and hearty food! They are mostly japanese comfort food but improved versions. Okonomiyaki (various kinds), gobo fries, and their miso wings are SO good! We literally licked off the sauce on the miso wings. (We're classy people)
I adore this type of places where the quality of food and drinks speak for themselves. No need for flashy decor or thumping music. Staff is also knowledgeable and excited about what they serve. A total gem.
This place is really awesome. I love the cocktails. They have such a variety from boozy to dessert cocktails. The flavors are very unique too. It's making me want to make more unique drinks at home. Also if you come for dinner, the food is excellent!
4.5 Stars that are rounded up to five. This is one of the best cocktail bars in NYC… really. The unique quality of the drinks, the vibes, the variety of food – Bar Goto deservedly makes its mark on the NYC cocktail scene.
As with any NYC spot, if you're sitting at the bar, be prepared to be in close quarters with those around you (it can be a prime date spot if you come in at the right time). If you can snag a table, you have more room and can spread out.
My friend and I sat at the bar, directly in front of the bartender's line of view. He was a lot of fun and made sure that we had everything that we needed. He also was so knowledgeable about the food and cocktails.
I had the Rum Oshiruko and it was one of the most unique (and strongest) drinks that I've had to date. It was actually a red bean soup with equal parts rum and served with Mochi ice cream on the side. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it. It was basically a cocktail version of dessert.
I highly recommend checking out Bar Goto. It's something that is so special and worth the wait.
Cozy, drinks have a unique Japanese twist to them. Sakura Martini had a very dry taste. Very friendly staff. Food looked good although I didn't order any.
I came here with a friend a few months ago for a pre-dinner drink before our reservation at Noreetuh. One drink turned into three and we had to scramble out of there just to make our dinner reservation. We sat at the bar and had a lovely conversation with the bartender, who made some really great suggestions. My favorite drink was the Golden Chrysanthemum, which introduced me to my new favorite liqueur called Suze. I actually went out and brought a bottle, and now I add it to all of my cocktails.
My friend and I finally made it back to Goto recently to try the dinner menu. I was a bit sadden that the Golden Chrysanthemum was taken off the drink menu, but in its place, there were some other amazing drinks to try and we were not disappointed. See below for the drinks and food we tried here:
Far East Side – my favorite drink here, it is so light and refreshing, with just a hint of sweetness from the Elderflower liqueur
Umami Mary – OMG, this is what a bloody mary should taste like, it really lived up to its name, the umami flavors were bursting here. I used to think that no one can top the blood mary at Prune, I was wrong, Goto has the best one hand's down.
Melon Ball & Apricot – I think they are both new drinks, both were delicious, the flavors are not as complex as the previous two, but I really love how the apricot flavor came through so strongly in its namesake drink
Kobu Celery – this is going to sound silly, but this is the BEST celery I've ever tasted!! I don't even like celery, and I probably would've never ordered it. My friend got there first and ordered the dish while waiting for me. I am so glad she did, because it was like a little flavor bombs exploded in your mouth. The seaweed, sea salt and sesame oil balanced so well with each other. If you only get one dish here, please heed my advice and get this one!
Miso Wing – the second we saw our waiter bring out an order of wings for the table next to us, we knew that we had to order this dish as well. The little wings stacked against each other were so tempting. I personally thought the wings were a bit too spicy for my taste, but I really love how well they were cooked, with the perfect amount of crispiness and stickiness.
Gobo French Fries – I've never seen burdock roots cooked this way before, and it is pretty ingenious. The accompanied pepper and sea salt went extremely well with the fries.
The Classic Okonomi-Yaki – My friend has never had okonomi-yaki before, which is pretty surprising as she is a huge fan of Japanese food. I am glad that her first taste of okonomi-yaki is this dish, although it will probably ruin the others for her. It is well seasoned, and a perfect balance between the sauce, dough and toppings. They put the flakes on the side, which diminish the fun presentation of them "dancing" on top of the dish. But that's a minor quibble, as you can easily put them on yourself.
Our waiter was great, he was attentive without being intrusive. He made great recommendations, and did not rush us after we finished our food. As I mentioned above, we sat at the bar during our first visit, and loved our interaction with the bartender, who gave us a brief history of how the bar came to be. Overall, this is a great place to stop by for a drink or dinner. Don't be surprised if you end up having a lot more drinks than you expected, they are so delicious that you can't just stop at one!