| rev:text
| - This one is hard. The whole place is conflicted between excellence and douchetasticness.
THE GOOD (aka: the food)
If you've been to another Roku, or even a Nobu, the menu will look familiar, as will the prices.
The sushi selection was pretty deep, with a good specials list, and lots of options. All the fish was very fresh, and as good as you can get in Phoenix, unless you're a regular somewhere else and get the special stuff. My benchmark for this is 'saba'. Usually, if you're not a regular somewhere, you get the dried out, pickled-herring tasting stuff. But Roku sent out the good stuff. Moist and delicious.
The sushi rice was excellent. Some of the portions were a bit awkward, with the rice ball minimized maybe to make the top portion seem larger...? But very good. I would sit at the bar next time.
The hot and cold plates were of the standard "inventive new japanese" type, but very well executed.
THE OKAY (aka: the bar)
Decent selection of beers and sake. Some frou frou specialty cocktails. But if you can't make a Vodka Tonic, you're fired. That wasn't tonic. Sent it back, came back again. Not tonic. 1 of 3 things going on here:
1) waitress screwed up twice (doubtful, she seemed competent and sober)
2) bartender screwed up twice
3) tonic is on tap, and tap was screwed up and only delivering carbonation and no syrup. if so, the bartender isn't checking the taps - see #2 above.
I like a Vodka Soda too, so I let it slide and didn't send it back again.
THE UGLY (aka: the overal l experience)
Normally, a W hotel is a chill spot in every city. You can count on upscale and relatively low key business/pleasure travelers, great service. Cool vibe. But I'm afraid this W will be plagued by the same velvet rope bullshit that haunted the James and Mondrian when they first opened.
We scurried through the lobby and were greeted by a nicely scripted hostess (who knew how to work the reservations system), and an Atlantic City magician in a Sushi Roku host's suit (who didn't know how to work the reservations system). Guido act in full effect. At least he didn't punch us in the face or anything. Probably not fair to judge him. I'm sorry. He's probably a nice guy, but the demeanor doesn't fit the place. I would be floored if he could point to Japan on a map. Or if he punched me in the face.
The decor is very upscale, modern and generally over-the-top, but well done.
Then as we get escorted in...
Host bellows a Jersey Shore approximation of "Irrasshai!", to which all 3000 or so staff bellow back "IRRASSHAI!!!" This happens EVERY FUCKING TIME a new party is seated. The only thing louder was the table of seemingly underage rich kids getting hammered for someone's 19th birthday. "We're bombin, dude!" I think "bombin" means ruining both your sake and beer by mixing them in the same glass. The table was out of control and acted like they were at a Super Sweet 16, but were not approached by mgmt, as far as we could see.
Elsewhere, cougars on the prowl. Some horrified rich people. And some troubled foodies.
OVERALL
The food was very good . The experience was pretty cheesy. Some of the staff must find it hard not to chuckle when they're trying to prepare and serve A+ dishes. They need to tone it down to keep a return business. The sake bomber crowd isn't gonna keep coming back at $100/head, and fine diners don't want their conversations (and even thoughts) drowned out by Vegas theatrics, unnecessary "security" and obnoxious guests. The servers are very young and inexperienced, and still in script mode. They need to be able to read when a table doesn't need to be taught about a menu. But I imagine the ones who make it will relax and hit a groove if management lets them.
We'll head back to the bar on a week night, as far away from the "show" as possible, and enjoy some sushi.
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