Esashi
32 Avenue A (2nd and 3rd streets)
New York, NY

This is my very favorite sushi in NYC. I've been eating there (as often as possible) for the past 20 years, and I've never, even once, been disappointed. The service is excellent, the atmosphere is pleasant, there's an early bird special, but the best part is that the fish is so, so, very, fresh. The flavor is intensely wonderful. Not a huge selection of fancy rolls for people who are into that, but if you want very good traditional sushi and sashimi, this is the place.