Ambiance was good. Took my wife here for her birthday dinner. David gave great recommendations and made the experience fun. The Toro with caviar was yummy. read more

Ambiance and music was top notch. Mackerel nigiri didn't feel fresh but the uni and caviar made up for it. Service was a little slow at time for the price. A nice place to visit maybe once but there's better hip sushi places. read more

This place was recommended to me by my friend for a Valentine's Day date. The food was amazing and very well presented. Our server Greg was great and he provided really good service. I recommend this place if you want a good place to take someone on a date. read more

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It was ok, which is not what you want to hear from a restaurant of this supposed caliber. The service was decent, a bit on the slow side, especially towards the end, after the kitchen cut-off time. We were the last guests in the dining room, but there was no staff present, nor were any walking or passing by, which made getting their attention difficult. We sat by the back fireplace, which I think is close to the clean up area, and the entire time, the smell was not our food but citrus cleaning solution smell, think walking into a bathroom cleaning solution smells. It was bad; they should have paid more attention to this. The food was good and fresh, but pricy; this is to be expected. But when you charge these prices and consider the perceived elevated setting of this restaurant, the server, ambiance, including smell and scent, need to be right on. Eitherway, carpacio were fresh, sushi was good but not extremely creative that you can get it here only. Uni Udon was good, and a unique dish, but other than that, Kaviar should strive for better. read more

I came here for Galentine's and the entire experience felt elevated from start to finish. The atmosphere is intimate and refined, with a beautiful Japanese-inspired aesthetic and moody lighting that makes it feel special the moment you walk in. We started with seasonal oysters and the Kaluga caviar service -- both fresh, balanced, and beautifully presented. The toro tartare and amberjack bluefin were clean and flavorful, and the miso glazed cod was the standout -- caramelized, tender, and perfectly sweet and savory. We ended with a lychee martini and crème brûlée, which was the perfect finish. But what really made the night was the customer service they were attentive, welcoming, and truly top tier. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to. read more

Slightly late review I just want to emphasize on how amazing the food and staff is every single time I have visited, my partner and I try new things each time and wow I get impressed over and over again Ambiance: moody/ dim (perfect for a date night) but I've also seen families there, so it is kid friendly as well & that is a plus if you want to bring the kiddos! I believe in the times we've went the past few months we've had the pleasure of having every server there and they have been delightful. So a huge thank you to the chefs & staff & management, thank you Bill, Tisha! read more

The food was really good! I had the toro roll, the salmon roll and the yellowtail yuzu! The yellowtail was my favorite I could've ordered two! The service was a little disappointing as I was alone, and I felt a little forgotten about. The server didn't come over until i had already finished the first two rolls. He did make a suggestion on what to drink which was nice, but he could have been a little more attentive. The atmosphere is really cool. I like how lightly lit it is and the samurai's are a nice touch. The people who actually brought out my food were really nice though! read more

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The food and ambiance are excellent--but the service was downright horrible. I came here after reading a Yelp review praising the staff, but my experience was the complete opposite. Our server had a terrible attitude. She never returned to our table after taking the order, ignored us while tending to other tables, and acted like we were inconveniencing her every time we asked for something. She didn't even look busy--just uninterested. For a high-end sushi restaurant in Pasadena, that's unacceptable. No matter how good the food is, it's not worth dining somewhere that makes you feel unwelcome when there are plenty of other places with both great food and service. The one bright spot was Edwin, the co-server, who checked in on us occasionally. If not for him, this would have been a zero-star review. If you want consistently great sushi and service, head to Sushi Roku or Katsuya. Stay away from this place unless you're prepared to risk being served by someone with an extremely negative attitude. I rarely leave such a poor review for a sushi restaurant, but this one truly deserves it. read more

Kaviar Restaurants - Pasadena - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Came here for DineLA experience, and loved the place! Our waiter Greg is very friendly and attentive, gave good advices on recommendations as well! read more

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As a first timer at Kaviar the experience was phenomenal. The staff was so knowledgeable and with the help of our waiter Gap we were able to get the full experience. The Hotate carpaccio and amberjack bluefin were my favorite dishes of the night. Highly recommend to all, great staff with top tier sushi. read more

Kaviar Restaurants - Pasadena - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We came for our anniversary date night and we had a good (not great) experience. Ambiance was great and it wasn't too busy for 6:30pm dinner time. Our waiter didn't check in with us as often as we hoped given how slow it was. We loved the Wagyu tacos! The sushi however is what we came for and we thought it was quite average and small portioned for the price. The drinks were great - got the Lychee Martini. We appreciated the hot towel after dinner as well as the free celebratory dessert. 8/10 would recommend. read more

Kaviar Restaurants - Pasadena - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

First of all, I'd like to say i give them a solid 5 stars. From the street level entering the gates it feels like we were walking into a historic and iconic Japanese alley with the brick walls, greenery and string lights. We walk up the stairs and enter into the restaurant and the ambiance is on point with a few samurai warriors in the glass case, walls are dark and the lights were dim. The decor was clean contemporary modern vibes with wood accents. We decided to try this restaurant for the first time for my daughter's birthday since Sushi is her favorite food to eat. We had reservations and got seated right away. The service was impeccable and the servers were attentive. We told them that we were celebrating our daughter's birthday and they made it extra special by bringing her out 2 complimentary slices of cakes with sparkler candles! We ordered some sake and a couple of cocktails. Delicious drinks with beautiful presentation. The food was also on point in taste, quality and freshness! It was definitely worth coming here to celebrate a special occasion. read more

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You're paying for the ambience really. It's nice and moody. The music is nice but might be a little loud for an "upscale" restaurant. I mean it's nice, but the more you sit and observe, the more you notice the flaws. It's trying to be Vegas. The servers are polite but slow. Service: our reservation was at 7:45pm. We asked for a booth so it took only 5 minutes extra. Appetizer came within 20 minutes of ordering. Drinks came within 10-15 minutes of ordering. Seafood pasta came around 30 minutes. Sushi no where to be found, sushi and sashimi is cold so an entire hour is difficult to pardon. Sushi came first at around an hour after ordering. Sashimi came maybe close to 2 hours from being seated. Drinks: Emerald: really INFUSED. My boyfriend said it tasted more like air freshener. Lychee mint martini: the server said it'll be more on the sweet side so I added another shot of vodka, but it costed $35 for one drink. House old fashion: my boyfriend ordered one for himself and said it was sweet. Not your regular kick of old fashion. It had 2 ice cubes. Lavender breeze: if the color purple had a taste, this is it. you will taste the color purple. My boyfriend said it tastes like trash. Doesn't taste like the ingredients in there at all. It smelt like bubbly spicy detergent to me. Shrimp tempura: pretty good. Fresh and hot off the fryer. A bit much salt, you'll see the excess salt on the plate. Sauce was a bit saltier than your usual tempura dip. The sauce was closer to soy sauce than tempura sauce. Seafood pasta: seemed like they used Panda Express teriyaki chicken sauce a hint of chamoy. Overcooked and hard chewy seafood. Salty, too much sauce, sauce takes over the food. So salty we ate one noodle at a time and then gave up. We won't finish it, it's too much overcompensating flavor (weird tangy sauce) that's NOT supposed to in pasta. Sushi from RIGHT to LEFT (2 per): Scallop sushi: too much yuzu Red snapper: fish a little not cold... Halibut: dense meat not cold Tuna: the truffle takes over Yellowtail: it's normal... just normal Toro: alright. The rice is not it. It's more sticky rice than sushi rice. It's either undercooked or like hard and sticky. They somehow found a way to make undercooked rice sticky. The cuts of fish are on the smaller side. The ginger and wasabi dip... the ginger is more on the dry side. Not enough wasabi per soy sauce ratio. Black snapper sashimi: pretty solid. Hard to mess up. It's literally just cut slabs of fish. I don't know, you can come and try for yourself. But our bill was almost $400 if you want to come and try for yourself. I give it a 1 but my boyfriend said it was a 1.5. We don't see how this place has so many 5 stars. We genuinely felt tricked by all the 5 stars that we'll counter it with a 1. Maybe the people haven't had actual Japanese cuisine, but we genuinely don't know how these 5 star ratings got here. We suggest to try Mills Alley a couple blocks over if you want sushi/sashimi. read more

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I went here as part of their make your own hand roll experience. Overall the experience was really fun a great activity to do for a date night or just learn some new skills and eat yummy things with friends. There was a group of women who sorta make the experience less enjoyable because of how loud their party was, needy for attention from the sushi instructor and distracting because they would be filming with phone flash lights on but overall the experience was fun. Food - 4/5 Large portions and everything was seasoned nicely and greatly quality of fish. With the hand roll making experience you get a total of 5 rolls (you make 4 rolls and the sushi chef makes a roll for you). In addition to that they serve a piece of crispy spicy tuna and a taco to pair with it and some soy garlic edamame and a glass of champagne and a dessert. Service - 4/5 When we checked in the host had us just hangout to the side while they prepared the room for our experience. We were presented with a glass of champagne but weren't explicitly told what it was for or if they just were giving them out. We got walked into a separate room from the rest of the dining room, to which my friend and I were seated. The experience was a little confusing at first but once the sushi chef started to explain what was happening things started to make more sense. They provide gloves so you don't need to get your hands messy with rice which was also nice. Ambiance - 4/5 Very instagramable spot. The room we were in was kinda dark so they needed to provide table lamps which helped. The space is upstairs to not be confused as there isn't a lot of signage about where it is. read more

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Our experience was disappointing. The first order took 1 hour to arrive, and the second order took 56 minutes. When we asked to cancel an item, the server said it was ready and offered it for free, but we didn't want it because we were already full. The server didn't check on us while we were waiting and assumed we had everything, but we were still missing an item. The service was poor, and the food was nothing special. I wouldn't return. Reviews online had seemed good, but our experience was the opposite. read more

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This place was amazing. I wish I remembered our servers name. He was an absolute GEM! We ordered the omakase menu and each dish was exquisite. Will definitely come back! read more

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Went here to celebrate a late Mother's Day with my girlfriend, and this sushi spot was such a fun and memorable experience! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was amazing -- stylish decor, comfortable seating, and a great atmosphere overall. One of the highlights was when they brought out a blow torch for a drink, fireworks with the dessert, and with dry ice with the sushi-- so dramatic and fun! It definitely made the whole dining experience feel like a special event. The drinks were super pretty and tasted just as good as they looked. The sushi? Incredible. The Toro was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and I loved that some of the sushi even had gold flakes -- such a luxe touch. Every recommendation we got from our waitress, JESS, was spot on. She was super kind, attentive, and really helped us choose the best dishes. I honestly can't wait to go back. I've been craving that sushi ever since -- it's the kind of food you daydream about. Highly recommend for a fun night out! read more

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Went to Kaviar with a few girlfriends from work, beautiful space and great ambiance. We had this young lady as our waitress by the name of Maida who was very sweet and attentive despite the busy Friday night. She gave us great recommendations such as this spicy yellowtail roll and a great martini which were our table's favorites. read more

I have not been here since COVID. I finally went back for dinner and the service was not that good. The waiter, Nick took a long time to come back to the table. We had to ask other waiters for assistance. I ordered the salmon and it came out raw and I complained about it and the manager, Justin came over and stated that's how it comes and I said well I want it cooked just like I told the waiter when I ordered it. The manager Justin appeared irritated but took care of the problem and had the cook replace it with a cooked salmon inside. The ambiance is very nice with beautiful decorations. At the end the waiter and the manager were very sincerely apologetic for their mishaps which made me happy. read more

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It was our first time at Kaviar Restaurant and we had an amazing experience by our server Narin. Service was exceptional and food was top notch! I highly recommend Kaviar restaurants. read more

I had an absolutely outstanding experience at this sushi restaurant. The quality of the fish is truly exceptional--every piece was incredibly fresh, clean, and perfectly prepared. You can tell they take real pride in sourcing and craftsmanship. The ambiance is equally impressive. The lighting and décor create a moody, intimate atmosphere that feels both relaxing and elevated, making it a perfect spot for a date night or a quiet evening out. Their sake selection is top-notch as well, offering a range of unique and premium options that pair beautifully with the sushi. On top of all that, the service was impeccable. The staff was attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable, and genuinely warm. From start to finish, everything was seamless. Highly recommend--this place is a gem. read more

not terribly busy on a monday evening! wait time to order and receive foods did take longer than expected. we ordered hamachi, yellowtail, toro roll, sirloin steak, lychee and honeydew martinis. wish the alcohol would be stronger but... the food... steak slays and mushrooms and arugula it came with was chef's kiss ~ sashimi is always better than rolls imo hehehe read more

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Excellent sushi and helpful and attentive service- great selection of sushi, sashimi and also cooked entrees

I came here for a fun date night activity to learn how to make handroll sushi :) It costs $89/person. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a friendly host who offered us 1 cocktail each as part of the experience so we decided to go with the Lavender Breeze and Lychee Mint Martini that came with a delicate balance of fruity, floral, and strong alcohol taste. The cocktails also came in beautiful presentation that were totally IG worthy :) For appetizer, we got to try their Maguro Crispy Rice and Wagyu Tacos. We were also give 4types of fish, seaweed/soy papers, rice, chopped veggies toppings, 3types of sauce, and a pair of gloves. The chef guided us step by step on how to make a cone shaped handroll vs cylinder shaped handroll. It was a very interactive and fun class. We also ordered the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu sampler that was prepared by the chef in front of us. I gotta say the meat just melted in my mouth like butter!! Please keep in mind that the wagyu isnt part of the handroll making experience and costs extra, but totally worth it!! read more

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We went here for DineLA, and the food did not disappoint. The prefix menu offered more than we expected, and the food was of amazing quality. I love truffle, and I swear I tasted it in every bite. One dish even had the gold leaf with a bump of caviar on top. The restaurant hides on the 2nd floor giving a sultry, inviting ambiance. The music was from my playlist of worldly house music. Most importantly, Narin was the most attentive server we've ever met. I'm definitely returning. read more

Beautiful ambiance, great space but horrible food. Its called Kaviar but they offer 1 kind of caviar that is called "kaluga." We ordered it and it was o kay. Not great. It ended up being the best thing we had all night. Every single thing we ordered after this was disappointing, not tasty at all and took forever to be served. We ordered a lot of food. They offer Japanese A5 wagu all over the menu. Every single one we ordered the waiter responded with "let me go check" He would come back way later each time and let us know it was sold out. Very disappointed with this place. Spent $500 or $600 dollars for a bad meal. Will not be returning. read more

Not just delicious food, but a whole dining experience! Perfect ambiance, great customer service, presentation and of course- taste! Will definitely be back. read more

Loved this sushi restaurant. The ambiance, service were very nice. Upbeat music at a comfortable level. All the fish was very fresh. The spicy yellowtail roll was bomb. Will definitely be back. read more

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I was provided the best service and best sushi I've had in a very long time. In my opinion, I like it better than Sugar Fish. Yes it is a different restaurant, but the ambience, the fresh sushi, the sauces, cleanliness and over service experience is a 20/10. Highly recommended read more

The service was excellent, and the sashimi was very fresh. The atmosphere is perfect for a date, although the prices are quite high. Still, it's worth it. Recommended. read more

5 stars to Greg!!! He was a fantastic server. We enjoyed the restaurant, the vibe, the food and just overall experience. We loved the toro and yelowtail as well as spicy yellowtail escolar. Chef's choice sushi was also delicious!! Greg also brought a warm towel scented eucalyptus which added a nice touch to the experience! Valet guy was also super nice to bring my car from parking lot to valet spot when I realized that they have valet, however parked in the building. VIP experience!!!! Will be coming back! read more

We thoroughly enjoyed their Dine LA menu, particularly the sashimi and sushi courses. Very generous menu. Greg and his team took good care of us. read more

Came here for the Dine LA menu since this was our first time. Kaviar certainly offers a good array of menu items. My standouts were the nigiri, sashimi (truffle toro all day), and miso glazed black cod. I'm more of a meat guy than fish but black cod was way better than their Wagyu striploin. This meal, one cocktail, and two Sapporo Lights in...I was happy to say I was full. Greg, our server, was great to us. read more

You want sushi?? I want sushi.. You want sushi.. I want great sushi... You can't handle great sushi ...because that is what Kaviar is all about. I had the absolute pleasure of dining at this wonderful establishment in Pasadena. The ambience is exquisite for a regular evening of dinner, a romantic dinner or to even take your family too. The service was impeccable, and the servers are extremely attentive to your every need while you are dining here... they don't forget to come back and check on you. Kaviar is an upscale Japanese Sushi restaurant, so bring your credits cards and prepare to have your tastebuds explode. We had the Shishito Peppers, the Wagyu Tacos, the Toro Tartare and the Garlic Edamame just for the appetizers and quite honestly..we could have just stopped at those .. each bursting with flavor and absolutely delicious. The sushi was decadent, spiced and seasoned just right. The black cod is to die for.. no more can be said .. just get it. The music is lounge and it provides a wonderful back, ground noise and keeps you bumpn while enjoying your meal. You must go here ! read more

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Food was alright. Nothing really stood out. Service was great. A bit too dark inside but makes it more intimate. read more

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Hands down Kaviar restaurant is the best sushi restaurant in Los Angeles. Fish is always very fresh, dishes are beautifully presented and full of flavor. The best ambience and the service! I'll be definitely back! read more

First time experience here and I recommend! Came to try as part of DineLA and left here very satisfied with all the offerings. Service from our server Greg was great. I recall when this used to be Vertical Wine Bar and they retained the dark low light ambiance which I'm a fan of. Will come back to try other menu items, especially the hot items. read more

It's been two decades since I last stepped foot in Pasadena and, oh boy, have parts of it absolutely changed. My wife is a Yelp master when it comes to finding some of the best spots for food + drinks in any town. Kaviar is no exception and every, to my recollection, item we ordered was an outstanding bite & sip from start to finish. Besides the attentiveness to the quality of the food and beverages, there is an even greater attentiveness from the staff and management. I apologize to forget certain names, but thank you especially to our wonderful host, David, and the sincerity of Tish (Leticia) for making our evening one to remember for a while. In terms of what we ordered and would absolutely recommend A5 wagyu tartare Truffle toro Shiso tempura with uni Blue crab & salmon Cajun salmon Yes, in that order from top to bottom; not saying that the cajun salmon was our least favorite but that's just how the items are ranked :) We opted for a couple of sake selections to pair with the meal and those did not disappoint. read more

Kaviar Sushi Bar is a glitzy, expensive Japanese restaurant that presents itself as a trendy upscale restaurant with club vibes. Compared to other restaurants in its class, Kaviar offers average to slightly below average food, great service, good ambiance, and mediocre value. On our birthday date we began with the Golden Hour ($15), a unique sake, grapefruit, lemon, and tea that was light and refreshing. This was followed by our sushi, Amberjack Bluefin ($29) and Rock Shrimp Tempura ($22) rolls. The Tempura shrimp sushi was fairly unremarkable with a serviceable sauce to stave off dryness. The Amberjack roll, recommended by our server, was spectacular, and the highlight of the evening. The delicate touch of the Amberjack and Bluefin was pierced by a striking, if highly unusual, stab of Yuzu lemon that was at first bite disarming, at second intriguing, and at third, addicting. Resisting the urge to order one of several items featuring 24K gold leaf or served with a dry ice presentation, we splurged next with the A5 Wagyu Tartare topped with some caviar ($39). Perhaps my palate is unsophisticated, but I could not distinguish this from any other tartare I've had, with the seasoning lacking and the caviar adding little to the dish. We then had a selection of several tempura items ($14), which were excessively heavy with twice the tempura coating we're accustomed to. This was followed by the Miso Glazed Black Cod ($48), which was similar to other upscale black cod presentations I've seen elsewhere. We found it tasty, soft, fall-apart-in-your-fork consistency, as it should be, but relatively low in flavor (even for cod) with a somewhat stingy portion. Our server Vanessa was kind, attentive, and helpful. We appreciated her Amberjack roll recommendation, her ability to identify cooked sushi items (which my date preferred), and a generous offer of a free dessert for my birthday. The hostess was similarly kind, calling to check in when we were running behind, and seating us despite a late arrival. The restaurant has a trendy aesthetic which straddles between fine restaurant and upscale club. It is dark, the music at times a little loud, celebratory desserts come with sparklers instead of candles, and gold leaf or occasional fire (see our Cod) makes its way into the dishes. This is certainly a good place to bring a date or group who is into that type of thing. The suits of Sengoku Jidai armor were a nice touch. Overall, the value was mediocre for downtown Pasadena, with prices better suited for West Hollywood or similar; I felt the Tartare and Black Cod were overpriced. Expect to pay around $100/person, not including tip, which I feel is somewhat unjustified for the food quality. Of note, we had a promotion from the inKind app ($50 off a check over $150), which you should look into on your visit. My scores below do not reflect this discount. Is Kaviar kool? Definitely. Is the food as good as the vibes? No. Come to Kaviar if you or your date are looking for something trendy, hip, don't care too much for the details, and don't mind splurging a little. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance/Facility: 4/5 Value: 3/5 read more

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Slow service, mid sushi and environment. Go somewhere else as this place is not worth it.