☔️ On a rainy Thursday, my friends (fellow scout @Kyons included!) and I gambled that the weather would drive away the long, storied lines in Midtown East for this underground Japanese speakeasy, Tomi Jazz. While lines are rumored to be anywhere from 1-2 hours and around the corner, we were lucky to arrive at a shorter line and only wait an hour. There are two seatings nightly at 5:30 PM and 9 PM and a 2 hour maximum table time limit. Cover charge for the music is $10. 🚂 The vibes are exactly what a bona fide speakeasy should be: cozy and intimate among a symphony of jazz and conversation. The space is tight and narrow and filled to the brim with tea lights, trinkets, and tchotchkes reminiscent of Ariel’s grotto. There’s even a cute toy train running on rails hanging from the ceiling. Stepping in from the blistering cold winds of 53rd street, Tomi Jazz is transformative in that it teleports you from busy NYC to a quaint and calm Japan through its food and atmosphere. 🍜 Tomi Jazz’s menu is affordably priced to get a bunch of small plates to share. There were a few crowd favorites including the Cod Roe Spaghetti (a creamy dish with a taste of fresh fish) and Spam rice balls (a familiar childhood staple). Among the vast selections of sake and Japanese beers are a selection of cocktails among which the Mandarin Slush (calpico, triple sec, vodka) was a favorite. I haven’t had Calpico since I was child in Japanese immersion elementary, so I indulged in a Calpico Float (nonalcoholic, just Calpico and soft serve) to my nostalgia’s delight. 🥂At its affordable price point on its extensive menu and modest cover charge for excellently curated jazz and atmosphere, Tomi Jazz is definitely worth the wait and more. Tomi Jazz News - Tomi Jazz - Food, Drink...