I have dined at Sakagura twice—once at the bar and once at a table. Overall I am very impressed by this establishment and love the food and presentation of sake. It is definitely one of my favorite places for Japanese food (not sushi).
Food
I have yet to try a dish I didn't like. Overall the food is pretty solid and one can't go wrong with any of the options. But a few highlights include but no limited to:
1) Waygu beef sashimi with Daikon Radish. The fat and juicy meat complemented by the daikon radish and onions is mouth watering.
2) Fluke Sashimi with Daikon Radish. Very similar to the beef sashimi in flavor but fluke. Really excellent flavors. Very light and appetizing.
3) Boiled tofu. I love tofu, especially when very fresh and of high quality. What I especially loved about this dish was the tofu skin. This really made the dish because I am obsessed with tofu skin. On the side there is ponzu sauce, onions and radish to enhance the flavors of the tofu as you wish.
4) Steamed egg custard. I grew up eating this dish, so I loved it. The egg was so soft and tender—such a comforting dish. I highly recommend.
Sake
Obviously Sakagura is known for its vast selection of sake and unique presentation of each order. The use of fresh flowers for each sake makes the experience not only visually appealing but also gives honor to the sake being served. It makes the whole drinking experience a much more classy one.
Decor/Ambiance
The restaurant is located in the basement of an office building. Unless you've heard of Sakagura, it's not a place you'd just randomly stumble upon. Once you enter the building there is a not-so-noticeable door that leads you to the restaurant.
Price
For a nice full meal with a decent carafe of sake for two I'd say around $65-80 per person including tax and tip.
Reservation
I can never seem to get a reservation at a good time, so I recommend making it far in advance. However, the times I've been, I did a walk in and had no issues. It all depends on the day and luck of the draw. But I think if you go an hour prior during peak times, it should be okay.
Born Gold
Wagyu Beef Sashimi with Daikon Radish
Rice Ball with Salmon
Organic Chicken with Sea Salt and Yuzu Pepper
Grilled Japanese Eggplants
Chicken Meatballs
Nanbu Bijin
Fluke Sashimi with Grated Daikon Radish
Steamed Egg Custard
Boiled Tofu
Uni Soba