yokai berry - atlantic salmon, dinosaur kale, asian pear, yuzu $17 = yum! They say it's their antioxidant dish.
hanna - cauliflower $5 = it's just cauliflower tempura, why's it so dang good?
shime saba - norwegian mackerel, $5 each = wowzers, very tasty. First time tonight I needed to close my eyes and have a moment with my food.
brussel sprouts = oh my goodness this is dang good!
yuka with asian pear, almonds, etc = pretty good.
brie ringo - tempura fried brie, apple chutney, sweet potato crisp, $9 = dang good! Sorry, I keep saying the same thing...I can't describe the flavors, it's just all so amazing, plus I'd be here all day if I tried.
chopstick holders so cute and creative! It's a small stone!
hotate - spicy scallop, avocado = second time I needed to close my eyes, $4 each.
wagyu with sea urchin, jelly - not on the menu...ahhhmazing! Ask head chef Nobu for it.
hirame usuzukuri - thinly sliced flounder sashimi, candied quinoa, olive oil $18 = light and refreshing.
uchiviche - salmon, stripped bass, tomato, bell pepper, garlic, cilantro $12
uchiviche - salmon, stripped bass, tomato, bell pepper, garlic, cilantro $12
uni - sea urchin. My first time trying. Suprisngly good. $4.5 each
maguro sashimi and goat cheese - big eye tuna, pumpkin seed oil, fuji apple $18
foi gras sushi with quinoa - wow, fantastic! Third time the eyes went a shutting, $9 each.
wagyu - torched seared beef $4.5 each = oh my wow, need another moment!
peanut butter semi freddo - concept spin off of peanut butter jelly.
new - pistachio, etc...
This was probably, dare I say, the best dining experience I've ever had in my life! I hate to hype things up, but I was just so impressed from the moment I sat down at the bar, to wait 2 hours for my seat at the sushi bar. The bar staff were all so friendly, playful, attentive, hot towels for your hands, and then to hand you a dinner napkin for your lap.
So far, I'm liking very much. Ok now, what's this? There's a man walking around with a dish of free food for waiting guest. He tells us to take as many as we want. It's like some tempura jalapeno appetizer. Who cares what it is, that's awesome! That's great customer service! So, we order the Yokai Berry, then a free dish gets sent to us, then another. We order the brussel sprouts, then 2 more free dishes. Goodness this place is crazy! Are they trying to go out of business? Plus, I'm starting to get full and we haven't even looked at the dinner menu. Apparently, this is their thing. They give free food out to their waiting and sometimes dining patrons because they want to invest in their customers. That's such an unconventional idea, but brilliant!
We get seated at the sushi bar and between my gal friend, Nikki (who works at Uchi) and Son, our sushi chef, we get an array of amazing dishes. Everything I ate was so good! Sometimes, dressed with fruits and light as can be, then other dishes so bold and flavorful, creative, and so unconventional. I loved how when the different servers would bring out our dishes they would always make a suggestion on how to eat it. I thought that was a really nice touch. All the food was just so amazing. I can remember at least three times I had to take a moment while eating, closed my eyes and had a food orgasim...yes, the food was that amazing. It was my first time trying foie gras and uni (sea urchin) and both were totally painless, even really good. The thing is I wasn't really even worried, I had no reason to not trust the food. Everything else I had tried so far was so amazing! If you try anything, you must try the Wagyu sushi!
Upon waiting for our check, we watch our server, who is a white female, speak Japanese to the sushi chef, Son, who is Vietnamese. He hands her a receipt. I ask Son if she just spoke in Japanese and he said yes. They all have to learn some Japanese and speak it behind the sushi bar...interesting. I also noticed all of the servers are white, well minus a couple. That's also unconventional in a sushi restaurant, but, the sushi chefs are all asian. Something of no importance, it's just different.
About their great customer service, I noticed servers were always picking up trash off the table and replacing dirty plates. I dropped one of my chopsticks and had asked for another set, upon bringing me my new pair, they made sure to take the ones that were no longer being used. It's just those little things and they happen all the time here. Service is spectacular! You get the sense that someone really wants you to enjoy your dining experience. Everyone is so friendly, helpful, seem to really like working here and all have great big ol' smiles on their faces.
I felt like Tyson Cole really got it right with Uchi. Great atmosphere, service, and food. The only complaint is the wait, but heck what are you to do when a million people want to eat at your resturant? Wait 2 hours of course! Be smart and make a reservation...but that just means you'll have to plan 3 weeks in advance...or else just come at 1030pm. We noticed it starts to get a little light in the dining room at that hour, haha. Ok, go and check it out, and expect to have an excellent experience and actually have it! Happy eating!
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