Chef/owner Nikki Zheng polished her skills at some of New York's top sushi restaurants, including Masa and Sushi Nakazawa, before striking out on her own with Sushi Akira. It's a special place, located on the Upper East Side and catering to a dozen guests with a well-priced, 18-course omakase featuring a variety of chilled appetizers, nigiri and dessert. Chef Zheng showcases a calm and precise rhythm as she prepares plates like Japanese tilefish and tofu with dashi broth, and nigiri like minced squid with shiso leaf, soy-marinated bluefin tuna and hairy crab, among others. The meal ends on a light note with a slice of Japanese melon and custard.