try to bring 100 percent of the essence of something the umami to the outside that is what i m trying to do . masachef masamasayoshi takayama s appreciation for food started at a young age growing up working for his family s fish market in a town of tochigi prefecture japan . from his early years of delivering fresh sashimi to neighbors on his bicycle to prepping and grilling hundreds of fish courses to cater weddings in high school his relationship with food has always been a way of life . chef masa apprenticed under the direction of sushi master sugiyama toshiaki at tokyo s well respected ginza sushi ko . the intense training proved invaluable inspiring his intimate relationship with food and dining as an all inclusive experience.always the dreamer he followed a boyhood ambition to travel to the u.s. and started a small casual kitchen serving both traditional japanese dishes as well as more americanized staples . his next venture was more true to his heart and training.masa named his next project after his mentor ; ginza sushi ko opened in beverly hills with an omakase menu served at a 9 seat counter . in 2004 he opened his renowned manhattan restaurants masa and bar masa at the time warner center . experience scroll down experience you ll be transported to an ethereal realm where chef masa creates one of the premier dining experiences in the world . travel leisure magazinemasa is shibui refined beauty that isn t affected by time or social changes . shibui is never complicated or contrived . purity of being of living of sensing is inherent in all elements of the masa experience . the sushi counter made of a solid piece of hinoki is sanded daily to a soft porous state providing both visual and sensual satisfaction the moment one enters . the branches of seasonal plants are arranged daily to highlight the beautiful imperfections mother nature produces offering a unique perspective from all angles.the otherwise simple d cor is intentionally sparse to act as a blank canvas on which the food will be allotted space to shine . the courses build on seasonal properties utilized only in their freshest most delicious state . each dish is composed to ensure that the most basic innate character of the ingredients persists . a fundamental respect of the distinctiveness which is naturally occurring is observed with each act of slicing shaving and sprinkling . the food is prepared quickly and plated for guests as soon as ready to preserve the idea that each dish is still in a living being state . in essence with essence is essence masa is shibui . reservations scroll down reservations reservationsa reservation must be confirmed with a valid credit card . any cancellations must be made prior to 48 hour of reservation to avoid a 200 charge per person . this policy also applies if you need to reduce the number of guests in your party . a party of five or more requires a deposit of 200 per person one week prior to the reservation . please allow approximately two hours of your time for the dining experience . the dress code is casual and comfortable.effective march 1st gratuities will no longer be expected or accepted at masa . reflecting the japanese custom exceptional hospitality is an integral part of the masa dining experience and is provided to every guest.the price for dinner at masa will be 595 per person not including beverages and tax . both cash and credit card gratuities will be respectfully declined . 01 212 823 9807 reservations 01 212 823 9800 office 01 212 823 9809 fax10 columbus circletime warner center 4th floornew york ny 10019for all press inquiries please contact becca pr at masa beccapr.com . top masawebsite10 columbus circletime warner center 4th floornew york ny 10019bar masa nyc website10 columbus circletime warner center 4th floornew york ny 10019bar masa las vegas website3744 las vegas blvd slas vegas nv 89109 tetsu nyccoming soonkappo masawebsite976 madison avenuenew york ny 10075tetsu las vegas website3744 las vegas blvd slas vegas nv 89109 2014 masadesign by blackletter