Hi, so I was at Makoto Love for dinner. It was a dinner for a birthday party for an 11-year-old…read moregreeting. Staff was very friendly management. Staff was very commentating put my issue is that the service staff upon arriving we received it and we were told that a group of Aiden More would be obviously more but Moving forward skip past we seated in our server. I forget the name and I will find out again. A game moving forward were accommodated as two different seats. There was a kids table, and there was an adult table. All the initial orders came from the adult table, but the server decided to ring in from the children's table when initially that was not how the order method rolled Anything ordered from the adult table, but this server decides to go to the children's table and orders takes in orders from the kids and as a parent very concerning one because said there had been an allergy that we did not know about and said that, but anyhow, the food orders that were coming from the children's table were rang in I just so happened to look up and I see the server at the kids table and she's reading stuff for the children when that's not how it goes if the initial order came in. From the pants table then only the parents should be ordering food so at the end of the night we received the bill and there are items that the kids ordered that the server did not check with the adult. Who initially did to order God forbid that there were any allergies that were not taking any consideration. God forbid there were any intolerance that were taken into consideration. God forbid that anyone gotten sick because the server did not Come to the parents table but automatically and we're not talking oh one order or two order we're talking about multiple orders of things that these children don't know it was a lovely experience. Truly, it was but for this to happen and for us to get a bill that the server decided on her own that it's OK to take a Orders from a child when the initiating ordering party was from the adult table is my issue at a lot of mission star places we do not allow children or servers to make an or place orders. I am writing this review and I plan antennal going to the next platform to write the same review because this cannot happen one of the children from the party that was not even the party one of the initial children from the gathering has so many allergenic red flags where we need the server to confirm verify first and confirm orders with the adults

Really enjoyed going to this place for was for the sushi brunch which was great I thought the…read moreselection of food was good and the drinks were great value. Sushi is definitely the star of the show and there are a bunch of options. Service was very nice and quick. Inside the restaurant looks great normally it's more of a food hall except on Sunday.

Great authentic homemade Japanese food. Unfortunately they were out of Japanese hamburger and beef…read moretendon curry but everything we ordered was amazing!

I have had this restaurant bookmarked for the last two years since they opened and finally got a…read morechance to eat dinner there. I was impressed and by the experience and would definitely come back for a Japanese meal that did not focus solely on ramen or sushi. The ambiance is well done, and the service was excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and able to answer any of our questions. To share, we got the spicy salmon roll, Karaage appetizer, and eggplant cheese appetizer. The spicy tuna roll was the most lackluster of the dishes, but the fish was fresh and the portion was decent for $12. The karaage appetizer was excellent. The chicken was moist and the coating was crunchy and super hot. The eggplant cheese was a surprise highlight of the meal. Pieces of eggplant in a melted cheese bowl made of eggplant was a simple combination. That was a very pleasant mix of textures. The pork Katsu was a highlight of the meal. Unfortunately forgot to take a picture, but the coding was super crispy and the portion size was pretty solid. The Unagidon or grilled eel bowl was also very well made and tasted great with the pickled ginger and seasoning on the side. The set came with miso soup which was very nice as well. My companions also got drinks which they said were well priced and good quality. Our overall meal cost somewhere in the range of $160 before tip which was reasonable given all of the items that we got. I look forward to my next visit!

Umai Nori was one of my favorite sushi experiences in DC! The ambiance is quaint and tucked away,…read morenot over the top or trying too hard to be trendy. You can genuinely feel that the focus is on the quality of the food rather than just "aesthetic vibes." It made the whole experience feel authentic and relaxed. I ordered the salmon nigiri, Japanese bagel hand roll, miso soup, and crunchy rice, and every single item was amazing. The crunchy rice was absolutely loaded and so flavorful with the perfect texture. The Japanese bagel hand roll was such a unique concept and ended up being the perfect portion size. The salmon nigiri tasted unbelievably fresh and melted in my mouth. The service was also excellent from start to finish. To top it all off, my waitress brought me a matcha mochi on the house. I normally don't even like matcha, but decided to try it anyway -- and it completely changed my mind because it was delicious. Little touches like that made the whole experience feel extra special. Can't wait to come back!

grabbed takeout for dinner before headed back to my hotel. ordering process was easy but i was…read morekinda miffed that they did not disclose that they charge a 3% fee for credit card transactions. yes, i kno it's getting more and more common, but i still feel it's a little shady when they don't even disclose it. for what's worth, i did have cash to pay for the order. anyway, i got the spider roll (good!), roll me a fatty (funny name, even better taste), shrimp tempura roll (meh), and edamame (fine). the shrimp tempura in the shrimp tempura roll were old and the tempura batter was VERY hard. it was definitely not freshly fried shrimp tempura. what a disappointment. overall, an okay spot but definitely not in a hurry to return.

I am writing reviews now that I am being more effusive, to replace earlier entries on Yelp that…read morewere not as descriptive. I recommend Izakaya Seki with enthusiasm. I have been there three times. My wife's family is in St. Louis. The chef moved to Washington, D.C. from there. His establishment in the Midwest was not bad. But his new venture in the capitol is excellent. I would gladly go anytime the opportunity presented itself. The only issue is reservations at the tiny place. (They have a time limit for tables.) They offer standard fare for a izakaya. They also have sashimi and sushi (that is not always available on a pub menu), and it is among the best you'd find in the city. The dish that has been written about in the NY Times is the ara yaki. That is prepared from leftovers, scraps that otherwise might be tossed as trash: heads, jaws, fins, bones, etc., broiled with a bit of salt. The explanation is insufficient. For this by itself, the restaurant is worth visiting. It will make you want to try to prepare the same quality from leavings. I'd bet it is like much else: simple in concept, easy to execute poorly or at a level that would be deemed middling, and frustrating or maddening to try to perfect. That also is true with the only imperfection, which was the tamago. Brought at the end, which is a custom (it can be the first course or the last course), the omelet was more rustic. It would not have passed muster with Jiro of the acclaimed documentary. The issue was the shape; it was crude. But by any standard short of perfectionism, the meal was great.

The sushi was actually pretty good, but unfortunately the experience was ruined by the attitude of…read morethe owner's daughter. She constantly looked annoyed, unwelcoming, and acted like customers were bothering her whenever anyone asked a question. Several of my friends have said the exact same thing and refuse to come back because of how uncomfortable she makes people feel. Good food alone is not enough when the service and attitude are

We loved everything about this experience, from the knowledgeable staff to the each delicious bite…read more There's an entire wall of mini fire places and the entire restaurant has high ceilings with a mostly open floorplan. It's gorgeous. The seats are well arranged, close but angled and not overly intimate. We ordered the tuna & salmon tartar, ceviche, a pair of salmon belly tacos, an eel roll, two cocktails, and they gifted us a celebratory small sorbet dessert. Every moment felt perfectly curated and thoughtful. Every member of the staff was kind, swift, and knowledgeable. The prices are high and the portions are small, so be warned. Definitely will feel a bit of sticker shock but it's excellent for a celebration. Above all, the tartar was a crowd favorite and we cannot wait to return!

This is arguably one of my most favorite restaurants in the city. Let's come once or twice a month…read moreplease! Date Night me here over and over again! Shōtō is one of DC's most striking Japanese dining experiences, equal parts upscale restaurant and high‑energy nightlife spot. The moment you walk in, you're hit with dramatic lighting, a sleek volcanic‑stone aesthetic, and a buzzy crowd that's clearly here to make a night of it. If you're looking for quiet, this isn't your place; if you're looking for a vibe, you've found it. The food is genuinely impressive. The robata‑grilled dishes are the stars, especially the short rib with chili‑soy glaze and the wagyu cuts that arrive perfectly caramelized. Sushi is clean, fresh, and beautifully presented; the hamachi and tacos are crowd favorites for a reason. The omakase is high‑quality, though ordering à la carte gives you more freedom to explore the menu's highlights. Don't skip the lobster tempura or the black cod gyoza. These are two of my absolute favorites! Service is polished and knowledgeable, though it can be a bit inconsistent on busy nights. The dress code is enforced, so come prepared...this is not a sneakers‑and‑hoodie kind of spot. Glam up! Prices are undeniably steep, and portions lean small, but the overall experience, food, atmosphere, and presentation, makes it feel like a worthwhile splurge for celebrations, date nights, or anyone who enjoys a lively, modern Japanese dining scene. If you want a quiet, traditional meal, look elsewhere. If you want great food wrapped in a high‑energy, beautifully designed setting, Shōtō delivers. Yes to this place! Over and Over AGAIN!

This is an awesome addition to the Clarendon area and I'm so happy something like this has finally…read morecome into the neighborhood. The food at Sakaki is full of flavor and the prices are reasonable for the amount. I think, after being twice, that the AYCE is not as worth it for me personally because I'm not a big eater, but it's totally worth it if you want a lot of variety and you have a good appetite. I really liked the rolls in particular. The service was excellent- it was a nice balance of coming over once in a while to ask how we were doing without coming over too much. The vibes are awesome with a really nice interior- definitely a nice place to go for a date,!just to go with friends to have a nice meal, or even to grab a meal alone since the center has a large area for single seating. Fyi- for the AYCE menu, note that once you put in an order for a round, you can't order for another 10 min so be sure to order enough at a time. Also, there is a time limit to the AYCE (I think it was 90 min). This'll definitely be a place I go to regularly in the future!

I missed lunch so AYCE sushi was very much needed! The silver level at $29 is a great deal with…read moreplenty of options including a variety or rolls as well as appetizer/side dish items. I tried as much of the menu as I could and the rolls and nigiris were definitely the highlight. I wouldn't recommend the crab korokke (too liquidy, and no crab that I could taste) or the karagge - save space for other items! The AYCE is 90mins and you can order every 10 minutes from a tablet. Service was FAST, they definitely weren't playing games. The restaurant itself is also super spacious and well decorated.

We are here for work and one of my colleagues wanted to come here…read more It's located upstairs so remember to take the stairs on the left side. Super cool looking restaurant. As soon as we reached the top of the stairs, to the right is an amazing bar. Darker warm lighting in the whole restaurant. There are a few tables to the left of the bar, that's where we were seated, and more to the right and there's bar seatings as well We shared all the items ordered and enjoyed it all. Gyozas had wasabi on it so be careful but it was amazing with layers of flavors. The rice pot was more than enough for 4ppl to share with tons of meats and seafood inside. Like a paella but Japanese. Meatballs were underestimated but it delivered. Tasted amazing we had to order another one. Most items are one order, one item so ask before ordering. Service was perfect. Waitress always checked on us and food came out very timely.

Went during HH (5-7pm), had the Sake for $20, and then had chicken thigh, fried garlic, fries, and…read morebrussel sprouts with pork! Would definitely fried garlic again, and the brussel sprouts! Fries were filling but nothing massively special. Just a good bang for the buck

I went to this place on a Saturday for a night out with friends. It was a fun place to get dressed…read moreup. The vibe was great. It's a place with brick walls everywhere and a great vibe. The moment we entered, we felt welcome and the waiter provided some wonderful suggestions for us. We shared a lot of different sushi and each had our favorite. We shared the salmon lovers roll, crunchy salsa roll, garlic butter scallops, edamame and tuna appetizer. My favorite is definitely the garlic butter scallops - so unique and good, If you love sushi, definitely come here for some great food and a wonderful dinner out.

The sushi was really fresh and delicious. The atmosphere was uptempo and loud, we were seated right…read morenext to a DJ. We traveled in the day we visited and needed to find something open late night so we weren't as dressed up or prepared for the lively environment. It's a super cute spot for a girls night or date night (it's loud though, so don't expect to converse much) My rolls: Scallop Sunlight Roll - I was intrigued by the kiwi on top so wanted to give this a try. I enjoyed it!! The spicy tuna was fresh and had a decent amount of spice to it. Crazy Monkey Roll - the lavender smoked salmon was amazing. Highly recommend. It's pricey, but high quality sushi, all was well except for the waitress mixed up the roll my friend ordered and there was like a $40 difference between the roll she wanted and was was ordered. No one likes a surprise on their bill, but otherwise everything was good.

We came here for Valentine's Day. Managed to snag a reservation for 5 PM, right when they open, at…read morethe sushi bar. The staff were all absolutely lovely. And we even got a cute little Valentines gift. I can't say enough nice things about our server - she was so great. Sitting at the sushi bar was neat as we got to see everything being made. We also got to try some complimentary bites. Great experience! The cocktails were crazy good. Everything we ordered was delicious. The salmon usuzukuri was so good we ordered it twice. The Kobe baller was another standout. The scallops were also fantastic. Such a yummy meal! Highly recommend! We will definitely be back.

I've been trying to get a reservation here for the longest, so I was really excited to finally…read morego--especially after hearing so many great things. But honestly, the experience didn't quite live up to the hype. My sister enjoyed her drink, but the rock shrimp was a letdown. It tasted overly oily with barely any sauce. We were hungry, so we didn't send it back, but it definitely wasn't worth it. The sushi overall was just okay, which was surprising--I expected it to be amazing. That said, my last tuna roll (can't remember the exact name) was actually really good--about an 8.5/10. The service was decent. Q made sure we were taken care of, but he did seem a bit annoyed by some of our questions. We asked about the 4% wellness charge since we'd never seen that before (and I consider myself a foodie). Apparently, it goes toward health and medical benefits, which is different from the usual service charge. I will say, the space itself is beautiful with a very relaxed vibe. I also had no idea there was an upstairs, which was a nice surprise.

Japanese Pizza here is fire! I recently got news that they will be shutting down. I'm really sad…read more.. not sure why such an amazing concept would shut down. Maybe DC is going through it with the economy. Maybe it's the lack of foot traffic. Whatever it is, restaurants in DC don't seem to survive. I hope one day they bring back Tonari - would do great in Virginia. For now, I say my good bye, and this 5 star review is my love letter to this place. Goodbye Tonari :(

We wanted to check out this place for a while. And since we were planning to go to the Wizard game,…read morethis was the perfect spot. We were seated on the second floor, with a nice, dark ambiance. Seatings have decent space between each table. We started with the mentaiko pasta, which was really good. Unfortunately, the portion is a little smaller than we anticipated. We also shared the hot honey and mentaiko pizza. It was pretty good as well, I like the hot honey one more based on my personal preference. And it felt like it had a little more flavor than the mentaiko one. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner but had higher expectations. Definitely recommend checking out this spot.