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| - I recently came with a friend and it was not an omakase occasion, but a respectable meal and experience nonetheless.
I made reservations about two hours prior, since I'd heard that they are often necessary. Indeed, half-way through our meal the place was comfortably "packed". Yet, the service was kind and moderate in tempo - just what you would expect in an establishment where one goes to have a relaxed time (rather than some places that rush courses as they are dependent on high table turnover).
Ambiance wise, Michi is somehow plain and kitschy at the same time. Against mostly stark white walls, the tiny, framed, gift shop-type art looked awkward and like a weak attempt at "Japanese". Then there's the homemade jewelry for sale by the cash register... To say the least, there's a clean mish-mash of too little and too much going on in terms of interior design. The aesthetic could use a splash of colour, texture, or something.
Visually though, the food is phenomenal. Great care is taken in the presentation of menu and actual food items. This includes table settings that are, you guess it, white! But the feel of the china and chopsticks speaks volumes of the care that Michi puts into the food, which is also plated to appease the senses (even as far as sushi somehow already looks quite artful however positioned, including in styrofoam). Taste-wise, it's a winner. But I won't spend too much time on this as I feel that it should be enough to say that they care immensely about their food at Michi. Further, I don't want to start some series of "authenticity" debate that tends to circulate around restaurants like Michi. I'll leave it at that.
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