Last month, a second location of GLAZE Teriyaki Grill opened near Union Square at 139 Fourth Ave. Founder and CEO of GLAZE, Paul Krug, designed the restaurant to be reminiscent of the numerous hole-in-the-wall teriyaki eateries in his hometown, Seattle. Krug stated that several years ago, there may have been more teriyaki restaurants in Seattle than fast food, and he wanted to bring some of that culture to New York City.
The décor offers a very casual, relaxed atmosphere where people can briefly escape the hectic hustle and bustle of New York City.
Certified master chef – trained Dennis Lake is currently GLAZE’s corporate chef. The menu offers six different appetizers. The most intruiging option is the Crispy Gyoza Dumplings, complete with a homemade dipping sauce that gives the dumplings a tangy kick.
Gallatin junior Andrea Muffareh enjoyed the Cold Soba Noodle Salad, made from organic buckwheat noodles and sesame dressing. Muffareh said the salad was refreshing.
The main teriyaki plates come with the customer’s choice of protein (chicken, steak, pork and salmon), rice (white or brown) and salad (sesame, carrot ginger or honey lemon dressing). All entrees are under $10. Each of the proteins is tender and flavorful, and sautéed in the homemade teriyaki sauce. The chicken used by GLAZE is all-natural and antibiotic-free, and the organic salmon is bought fresh each day — never frozen. For those who enjoy a bit more flavor, GLAZE also offers three spicy teriyaki sauces.
“We want to make it as healthy as possible,” Krug said. “Everything is made in-house, fresh each day.”
GLAZE also offers a gluten-free menu. Each teriyaki dish can be made gluten-free to accommodate everyone.
The presentation of the entrées is also lovely.
“I like how the meat is sliced [and placed atop the rice] so I don’t have to do it,” CAS sophomore Rebecca Shifera said. “It’s effortless to eat. It’s inviting.”
Because of its proximity to NYU’s campus, GLAZE’s Union Square location is offering great deals and discounts for students which are not offered at the midtown location.
“We want to be super friendly and accommodating to NYU,” Krug said.
On Friday, Sept. 21, the Union Square location is offering teriyaki bowls — any of the entrées in a bowl — for only $1. Students only need to bring their NYU IDs to receive the promotion. NYU students will always receive a 10 percent discount with their NYU IDs when dining at GLAZE. Students can also look forward to using campus cash to pay once the technology is installed.
For those who are 21 and up, GLAZE expects to receive a beer license by late October so customers can enjoy a drink with their teriyaki cuisine.
A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Sept. 18 print edition. Sydney Wu is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].
In the previous version of this article, WSN incorrectly reported that Dennis Lake is a certified master chef. In fact, he is certified master chef – trained. WSN regrets the error.