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| - Omakase Menu
Hassan - 3 tastes - Kumamoto Oyster wth Uni, Edamame puree with veggie caviar, octopus suction cups with mushrooms and bonito
Sashimi Platter - 4 tastes - salmon, hamachi, kampachi, very fresh octopus - all very different and excellent. Love Kampachi.
Softshell Shrimp - 3 crispy shrimp with curried green papay (Awesome flavors on this one)
Whitefish Carpacio - covered at the last second with sizzling hot oil, soy sauce, etc. (we used to do a dish like this where I cooked and this one was the dish I enjoyed the least - but still enjoyed)
Tuna Tataki
Mushrooms - en pappillote - great umami
Lamb chops - red pepper sauce and curry - this one rocked as well
Foie Gras - with pears
Dessert was extra but comp'd. Good but I was full.
Excellent dining experience. Choose the Omakase or Seasonal Tasting and you can sit at the counter. I know that Chef Fukuda has been getting a lot of raves but we had no trouble getting a reservation for Saturday night calling in the same week.
The food was excellent and well prepared. Very thoughtful flavor combinations and good use of non-Japanese elements to tie the flavors together. Fresh local vegetables and herbs.
We started at 6:30 and essentially had Chef Nobu, his sous-chef and two others to ourselves. We asked a lot of questions and they were all very informative, hospitable and professional. Things picked up as the night progressed but we felt very welcome and it did not detract from the interactions.
Two small groups were having Chef Nobu's seasonal tasting menu which I will try next time. I'm not sure what it runs from a price perspective but based on the volume and breadth of what he was putting out, I gather it was much, much more than the Omakase. The Omakase menu was $90 without wine and $125 with win. We chose the pairing and the wines were well chosen.
Cons - several people were turned away as walkins so make that reservation if you want to eat here. If you are looking for dining on the cheap, this is not the place for you. If you are looking for large portion sized, nope.
Pros - several people were turned away as walkins. Kept the cooking at an even pace throughout. Excellent food and ambiance. Great flavors, execution and pace. Sitting at the counter and the interactive experience.
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