What set this reliable Japanese restaurant apart—it’s been a fixture on Duane for more than 10 years—are the expansively friendly host (who knows many diners by name), the feeling that you’re primarily among Tribecans, and a warm, happy atmosphere. The sushi chefs, working busily behind the bar, create nifty, punny takes on rolls, while a hidden kitchen turns out cooked food that’s often surprisingly inventive (note the “specials” part of the menu). A sister property, Takahachi Bakery, opened on Murray in 2010.

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