The Kosher Critic: K.O. at Prime KO

In Western culture it is believed that there are a four basic flavors that make up the palate. They are bitter, salty, sour and sweet. In Eastern culture there is a fifth flavor added, umami, which means “good taste” in Japanese, and can best be described as the savory end of the palate. Thanks to the rise of foodies the use of the word umami has become a more regular occurrence in the West and has come to mean the ineffability of certain flavors. Personally, umami was never something I bought into, that was until I ate at Prime KO.
Prime KO, which is located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, is the latest restaurant from Prime Hospitality, the company that owns both Prime Grill and Solo. Upon walking into Prime KO, you immediately recognize that you are in a Japanese restaurant. The decor is muted and orderly, yet still feels warm and inviting. Usually I have a pretty good idea of what I want to try at any given restaurant, but after surveying the menu at Prime KO I was lost in a sea of foods, all of which I desperately wanted to try. Luckily, the manager assured me that he would take care of me, and so I was brought a bounty of starters. My table was filled with amazing offerings like Sashimi Tacos, Tartars, Wygu Beef Pizza, Lamb Sausage and much more. All appetizers were plated with a deft and artistic hand; flavors were so complex and delicious that I simply do not have enough space in this article to appropriately do justice to them.