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| - Spendy, trendy, and crammed like sardines, but oh my gawd, tasty! If the food and drinks weren't so great, I'd give this a 3. If the floor plan was better, I'd give this a 5. My guy and I love sushi, but we also love a sense of tranquility while we enjoy our food. That is why we go to places like this, and not Golden Corral. Speaking of which, I need to get something off my chest:
Whoever is responsible for the interior architecture and interior design is very talented and I lovelovelove their "vision"...but they forgot something kind of major: there is just about zero personal space allowed at Muramoto during busy hours. So leave your coat in your car. And your scarf. And if you have social anxiety, well, most places do takeout, right? If you're moderately claustrophobic, visit Muramoto on a weekday as soon as they open, or around 3pm. I personally do not suffer from social anxiety or claustrophobia, but I do enjoy a little personal space when I'm eating an exquisite meal. I'm not exaggerating one bit when I say that you will likely be sitting closer to the stranger next to you than your date. Maybe you enjoy eavesdropping, and I'm not judging you if you're into that, but when I'm out with hubs to celebrate our anniversary, I really don't want to hear my booth buddy's pretentious conversation about the pitiful lack of lentil consumption in America. (Just a quick shout-out to Mr. Lentil, THEY GIVE YOU GAS, that's why they're not more popular in America!)
You know what makes an anniversary dinner really romantic? The non-stop action of having the waitstaff's rear in my face while they take Mr. Lentil's order because the tables are too damn close together. So much for wistful, dreamy glances at my amazing husband in the place he took me for our first date. (Seriously, buy me a drink before you wave that rump in my grill! it's okay. My husband's not the jealous type. And I'm not picky. Anything with vodka is fine with me.) I'm also not a fan of having a suitcase-sized "handbag" accented with chains being swung at my head as diners are seated six inches away from me. I know I have boundary issues, but holy crap. It's just uncomfortable, and to me, it defeats the whole point of going out to dinner at a nice place. You might have more elbow room eating at the bar. Of four out of the five visits we've made, it was exactly the same experience...delicious food in an overcrowded, awkward setting. One time we stopped in before the lunch rush, and were blessed with a 4-top table by the windows. I enjoyed that experience a lot, because it was calm and I was able to relax and really savor the meal. I even got to set my purse on an empty chair, rather than keep it in my lap while I ate! I wish it was always like that, but because it's always just hubs & I, we get put in the sardine section. I really love how gluttonous I feel when we order drinks, an appetizer, and then the food arrives, because there is literally NO MORE ROOM on our dinky table. I think my middle school lunch tray was bigger than these tables.
A couple other side notes:
Even though I'm a DINK, I don't hate kids. I'm quite fond of well-parented little tykes. I even like some of the crazier ones, too. But I'm trying to do you sushi-loving parents a favor here. Do not bring children under 8 to this place. It's not their scene. And don't get me started on the waiting period to get a table there. Oh well, I'm going there anyway. We were once told at 8pm that it would be a two-hour wait to have dinner. The hours posted said that they closed at ten. I'll admit I only have a Bachelor's degree in ceramics (read: mud), but I can still do Kindergarten math. Clearly the hostess could not. To each their own.
You would think after this self-indulgent gripe session that I must be mistaken for giving Muramoto a 4-star rating. Floor plan aside, it's because the food and cocktails are THAT fan-friggin-tastic. The bartenders and sushi chefs are phenomenal. The waitstaff have great suggestions for fresh and new menu additions. I like to let the chefs pick my meal because they know their shit. Get the calamari though, because I believe it's the best in town. They must marinade it in buttermilk for 36 hours before they fry it or something. Either way, I rarely get the same thing twice at Muramoto, but the calamari is the exception. And the sauces that come with it...omfg. If I were on death row, that would be the last thing I ate. When your server asks if you saved room for dessert, don't wimp out. Even if you're stuffed (like a sardine, perhaps?), do yourself a favor and say "Yes, I'd like the green tea crème brûlée". It's not a gigantic portion. Just put it in your mouth and agree with me that it is a great reason for being alive.
To sum it up, if you love sushi and cocktails and wine, and you don't mind getting really close and personal really fast with total strangers, you are going to fall in love with this hip and trendy place. Happy dining!
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