A tabletop grill and izakaya week from Murray Hill

Start at Franchia Vegan Cafe if the group wants Korean flavors without committing to barbecue. The tea-house setting earns its place before the louder dinners, not as a consolation prize. Order vegan shrimp first if texture is the experiment; buffalo wings offer another mock-meat comparison. Keep this opening meal focused. A food hunt needs contrast, not seven versions of the same table.

Sakagura suits the friend who reads the sake list before checking the room. After Monday's plant-based reset, its Japanese small plates shift the week toward sharing rather than one large centerpiece. Start with tapas-style dishes and leave room for homemade dessert. The blond-wood basement earns the photograph; the office building above is less persuasive. Treat this as dinner, not evidence of a secret drop.

For two serious eaters, begin at Okatte Tanto with motsunabe, the beef-offal hot pot with tofu, cabbage, and garlic chives. Consider an advance reservation for the compact room. Then take the short walk north toward TsuKuShi for traditional Japanese bites and sake. Ask about its custom three-dish course if dinner is already mostly handled. This pairing needs restraint, not another full omakase.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ is for friends who want the cooking to become the conversation. After Wednesday's served dishes, the tabletop grill changes the job description. Begin with marinated meats, then pace the additions: the small grilling surface rewards coordination rather than an ambitious pile. The person at the far end may need help reaching the heat. Photograph the shared setup; dinner still takes priority.

Pick Sozai Japanese Restaurant (Izakaya Ramen) for the group that wants izakaya plates and a booth, not another competitive grill. Friday moves from managing heat to comparing bites. Make garlic-and-wasabi edamame the opening order, then consider miso black cod or karaage. Hamachi crudo with truffle is another deliberate option. Skip the seven-dish opening salvo; a full table is not automatically a better dinner.

Yezo Thai Isankaya gives the photograph-minded diner a reason to change cuisines. The hanging umbrellas provide the frame; the food should do the remaining work. Start with salmon clay pot for grilled salmon, ikura, and garlicky fried rice with smoky wok flavor. After Friday's small-plate comparisons, one substantial centerpiece restores order. Keep roti or khao soi as a choice, not an obligation.

Finish at Lucky Cat if the week has produced more opinions than appetite. The informal izakaya mood returns after Saturday's Thai detour, with ramen or sukiyaki udon as a sensible anchor. Add sweet-glazed brussels sprouts alongside the noodles. The giant beckoning cat supplies the obvious photo; it can cope with being obvious. Choose one main dish before adding more. Seven days is enough research.