Katsuei has two locations: this one in Manhattan and another in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Vibe is relatively low key, a small quiet place, with one long sushi counter and a handful of tables. Very much what I go for; focused, to-the-point, without additional BS.
There's an a la carte menu, as well as several omakase choices. I went with the sashimi and sushi option, which starts with a miso soup, then eight pieces of sashimi, eight pieces of nigiri, an option for anything additional (I had to get a piece of kinmedai), and a hand roll.
The chuu-toro sashimi was the only thing that I'd only call "not bad"; for whatever reason it seemed a little colder and firmer than I was expecting. Madai and sawara stood out as great sashimi; the latter is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. All the nigiri was great, very flavorful, and came with a nice variety of garnishes. The hand roll at the end was also spot on with really nice crisp nori.
I'd describe the service as quick and efficient. By the time stamps on my photos, from the sashimi plate coming out, to the hand roll at the end, was 25 minutes! Great choice for good stuff and not needing to set aside a couple hours.
by therealjerseytom