I was pretty excited to learn of the opening of this place, especially after hearing/reading all the fine reviews. After trying it out recently, I am really not sure what the hype is all about.
SERVICE/ATMOSPHERE:
The service was strong and efficient given the busy rush they had while we were there. Decent atmosphere as well - they make good use of fairly limited space, and had some stylish decor. I imagine the patio will be enjoyable once we make it through this winter as well.
FOOD:
However, the food itself was a bit of a disappointment. The "Spicy Karaage Chicken" was nothing to write home about (although apparently enough to write to Yelp about). Perhaps it was the aforementioned busy rush, but the dish was on the cold side, and the batter not particularly crispy. Affordably priced however, compared to some other similar places.
I also went with the "Fuji Mountain Ramen," which appears to be the restaurant's flagship item. They clearly do a fine job with its presentation, but that appears to be its best feature. At almost $20 a pop, it was quite disappointing to learn that the "mountain" of ramen was mostly (almost entirely) bean sprouts and cabbage. Aside from a couple of large pieces of brocolli, which did not seem to add anything beyond aesthetic value (they're trees next to the mountain!), there was not nearly enough pork or noodles to justify that price point. The broth was quite tasteless as well. I searched for chili oil to add, but was unable to find any :(
Perhaps I'm being too harsh given the high expectations I had going in. I'll probably try it out one more time, and see how other dishes fare.