Nobu 57   

The sprawling, boisterous uptown outpost of new-style sushi temple Nobu carries most of the original's menu and none of its exclusivity. Nobu 57 follows the Bar Americain model -- or more accurately, the Vegas model -- with fine, high-quality food in a somewhat overwrought purple decor designed to appeal to tourists. The restaurant is very loud, with acoustics such that you can hear both the intimate conversations of neighboring tables and the overwhelming din of the dining room as a whole. But the menu still carries Nobu's greatest hits: black miso cod, rock shrimp tempura, monkfish pate, new-style sushi rolls. And the addition of Kushiyaki -- grilled skewers of beef with a Peruvian spicy sauce -- and steak Toban Yaki -- which comes sizzling to your table -- makes the seafood-heavy menu more attractive to meat lovers. The chocolate spring rolls and dessert bento box are reason enough to be glad you didn't dine around the corner at Benihana.