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| - I have visited Ushabu twice within the past year for hotpot. The food is phenomenal - the veggies are always fresh and beautiful, the meat melts in your mouth, and the sake list is unbeatable. It is one of the only upscale Japanese restaurants in the area, which is very refreshing and makes the trip to Tremont worth it. Normally, hot pot is a homestyle experience that you enjoy with your family over a well-loved pot and an all-you-can-eat plate of ingredients in a loud restaurant; it isn't really a trendy or even remotely fancy meal. Ushabu, however, really tries to make it a crazy culinary experience. I think the hype and the carefully manufactured culture works for those who haven't experienced traditional hot pot, but the affluent presentation just doesn't make sense for others.
The wagyu is very good - as mentioned above, it is wonderfully tender and delicious. My favorite stock is the chicken ginger, which adds a nice zing to the veggies. I'm a really big vegetable fan, and the vegetable quality/selection at Ushabu is one of my favorite things. The mushrooms are incredible, and the squash is a really nice addition. They all have great color and look beautiful as well! The sake is expensive (like everything else) but if you have a favorite sake that you can't find anywhere else in Ohio, then it's worth spending your paycheck.
The staff here is really wonderful to round out the upscale ambiance. Our server had almost an ASMR-voice, which was somehow very relaxing and zen. She knew a lot about the menu and drinks, which is something I always look for in a quality restaurant! Service can disappear for a while, with my friend waiting 15 minutes once for a drink, but when they are around they are very attentive.
I don't think I'll return for a good spell, but I will always recommend it to people who are intimidated by the foatmosphere of traditional hotpot.
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