BONDST is one of New York's original sushi institutions – a NoHo fixture since 1998 that has managed to remain relevant without chasing every new restaurant trend. Set inside a historic brownstone on Bond Street, the atmosphere is polished but doesn't scream flashy, which may be precisely why it continues to attract an A-list crowd.

It was part of the generation of Japanese restaurants that helped make more inventive sushi formats mainstream in New York, with dishes such as New Style Sashimi going on to become staples at influential restaurants including the Nobu group. The sushi and Japanese-inspired menu has stayed remarkably consistent over the years, while the downtown setting gives it that distinctly New York feeling of being somewhere you go because you already know.

Séntire’s take: Come here when you want the New York restaurant experience without the feeling that you've arrived at this month's latest opening. It's discreet, established and cool – the kind of place where the lack of sparkle is actually part of the appeal.