We had a lovely time at this corner restaurant in Fenton. We sat outside and the ambience was amazing. You can people watch and enjoy the night lights and all that mother mosquito has to offer. No it wasn't a typo and I got the red bumps to show for it but it was worth it! Out of all the dishes the screaming o tuna roll with tempura shrimp and the tortellini dumplings with truffle pieces on top took it home for us. The char siu dish fell flat compared to the duck bun that it was imitating. And speaking of imitation, the fried rice was a bit oily and has imitation crab instead of real meat which is on brand with the overpriced theme. 4 stars for food and ambience but 5 stars for the service. We had attentive servers that catered to our needs. Overall it's a great experience to have but for the price of the food, there's still room for improvement on the quality front. read more

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Grabbed dinner here recently and had a good experience! First, we got a reservation, but the restaurant wasn't super busy so it probably wasn't necessary. It may be busier during peak hours, though :) Anyway, I ordered the Screaming "O" sushi roll for myself as well as the ocean trout nigiri, while my wife got the sashimi platter. I guess it's kind of like Japanese tapas so we were supposed to share, but we kind of just ordered our own dishes. They also had a decent beer, wine, and sake selection. The Screaming "O" roll was super tasty! Definitely one of the better sushi rolls I've had in the area. The nigiri wasn't bad but it definitely felt a little overpriced. My wife enjoyed her sashimi and thought the quality of the fish was very good, especially the tuna. We were still hungry after eating all of the above so we ordered the tiradito and shared it - pretty tasty but not a lot of calories :) So we were still hungry after that, too! We decided to call it a night, though. Overall, it did feel like everything was a bit overpriced, but it was also tasty (especially the sushi roll!). I'd consider coming back here for a special celebration meal, but not for a casual night out. read more

Dinner at M Izakaya was such a great experience and easily one of my favorite spots in the Cary/Raleigh area for a more elevated night out. The concept is Japanese tapas-style, so everything is meant to be shared and comes out in waves, which makes the meal feel really fun and interactive rather than rushed. The atmosphere strikes a nice balance between upscale and relaxed, making it perfect for date night or a small group dinner. We ordered a mix of small plates, sushi, and a main, and honestly there were no misses. The crispy chicken skin was super crunchy and packed with flavor from the larb seasoning. The tortellini dumplings and scallop mousse dishes stood out for how rich and unique they were, especially with the truffle and butter sauce. The X.O. fried rice was smoky and savory with a lot of depth, and the pork & shrimp shumai were juicy with a nice kick from the garlic chili vinaigrette. The special nigiri sampler was very fresh and simple in the best way. The highlight of the night was definitely the miso sea bass, which was incredibly tender and served with a tableside smoke presentation that made it feel extra special. We finished with the matcha basque cheesecake, which was light, not overly sweet, and a perfect way to end the meal. Service was attentive and the pacing of dishes was well done. Overall, this is a great spot if you're looking for high-quality sushi and creative small plates in a stylish setting. I would definitely come back. read more

The M = Magnificent Amazing Food! Excellent service. Clean and modern atmosphere. Our waitress Christina was awesome, she was fun, knowledgeable and friendly. We would go just for her. The food we had was delicious, dumplings sushi, loaded tots, KFC wings, Miso Soup and Green Tea. Perfect date night spot. We will definitely visit again soon. read more

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Food quality is top notch. I have been here three times and have tried: the tiradito, nigiri sampler, the Char siu, and the shrimp and scallops dumplings. All excellent in each visit. read more

M Izakaya - char siu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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M Izakaya never misses. I've ordered the X.O. fried rice to-go twice, and it was delicious both times. The serving is enough for 2-3 ppl. Flavorful, filling, and cooked just right. If you're craving comfort food with a little extra flair, this one's a win. read more

M Izakaya - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Food was good, but we eat a lot of sushi and it didn't rise to the value of their pricing.

Loved it here! It was surprisingly easy to get a table on a Wednesday night-- I'm used to waiting hours for M restaurants to have seating. We got the tater tots, Izakaya sushi, Korean fried chicken, and chocolate mousse. Everything was impeccably prepared and the flavor profiles were all very complex and delicious; truly an enjoyable culinary experience! I'll have to try more next time! Service was good as well, both the hostess and the waiter were really friendly and sweet. All in all, the ambiance was upscale and the food and service sublime. read more

I was so excited to try another M restaurant and this place did not disappoint! I came with a friend for dinner on a thursday night and had a reservation. The restaurant was relatively small inside and they had bar seating. We were told my our server that the plates were meant to be shared and each course got bigger as you go on. My friend and I shared a bunch of dishes and they were all delicious. I will say, it was a little pricey for the portions you got. I didn't feel like the shu mai was worth the $15. Loved the sushi roll we got and the dumplings. The ishikaya Bbq was good and we got 5 oz of Wagyu beef. We got a matcha cheesecake to end the meal and it was good. I spent about $65 (this is how much i paid after splitting the bill) with no drinks and that was before tip. I would recommend this place for a special occasion read more

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The hot saki is ok and should been warmer. The sauce that comes with salad is good. Corn ribs is also our favorite even though it is simple dish. Scallop crudo is the best of all. Quite fresh and they go well with the oil. KFC wings are very crunchy on the outside. The sauce on these wings are perfect not like any other restaurants where the outside of the wings have strong favor but inside is quite plain. Charsiu pork is really good and work quite well with the buns and sauce. The 2 disappointed dishes are the fish and fried rice. Nothing special about the way they grill the fish. The fried rice is pretty salty. O would stay away from these 2 dishes. The environment is pretty nice and upscale. Not noisy. read more

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The fluffy tofu on the gem salad was delicious, but the sweet and caramelized pumpkin squash kobucha was the best dish of the night. We also loved the broccolini and arancini and moist matcha pistachio cake. read more

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M test kitchen is located in Fenton alongside M Sushi. M Test features a constantly evolving menu that is curated keeping the ingredients and unique flavors in mind. The menu is tapas style so ordering multiple plates or sharing is recommended so you can try multiple items. It was four of us and we literally ordered everything from the menu. Every dish was unique and flavorful. They put their own unique twist on every that you won't find something similar elsewhere. We enjoyed everything we had. And since the menu changes, I can go back and try something new next time. read more

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Food first: Food taste and experience all amazing! Best fried rice we've had, excellent Char Siu, amazing fried chicken skin and salmon tataki. Hamachi Kama was unique with its hot sauce. Not surprised all M Restaurant is awesome. Ambiance: Sat in the bar not the best bar seating we've ever experience but acceptable. Service: Very shockingly BAD. Food came out good timing but the waiter we had was very robotic, asking over and over again if we want our dishes to be taken away even when there is still food there. Person/ sous chef (?) standing behind the bar has a weird "stare" vibe. Mike Lee came out to the kitchen all staff was hands on talking to him and didn't pay attention to anyone eating there. I don't expect him to talk to us but maybe a small acknowledgement to customers would be a good touch. Especially a new establishment for him. read more

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I enjoyed this restaurant several times when it was M test kitchen and love the menu they created. It's family style and they recommend 2-3 plates person. The sushi was good but one had huge portions that could be cut in half. Still love the little gem salad and fried rice. My dad and everyone enjoyed the fish. Sake was refreshing but I wish the more expensive options had smaller pours. Of course I'll be back! read more

M Izakaya - Bday girl & mom - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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This review is actually for the M Izakaya restaurant formerly the M test kitchen. I enjoyed dinner here with my daughter and the food was fantastic! We ordered the chicken skins, tortellini dumplings, scallop crudo, screaming O roll, and the pork and shrimp shumai. The drinks were crisp and refreshing, and our water was consistently refilled. Our server seemed to be the host as well as the only server in the restaurant which made her very busy. We were seated and a few minutes later our drink order was taken, we were ready to put our food order in but she advised to let her get the drink order in first. We waited another 15 minutes for our drinks only for another couple to come in and sit next to us and get their food order taken before ours. This was frustrating as we were prepared to order our food at the same time as our drinks but now got to watch food being delivered to the table next to us while we patiently waited for ours. The scallop crudo was amazing. I've never had scallops served with such accompaniments and the flavors and textures were delightful! The chicken skins were not my fave but my daughter devoured them. The screaming O roll was yummy with the fresh fish and ponzu sauce. The XO fried rice was delicious and savory. The shumai was perfectly steamed and delicious. The tortellini dumplings were scrumptious! The sauce that accompanied the dish was addictive! I'll be back to try more but probably won't order the mixed drinks again. I loved that we could watch the chefs prepare the food in the open kitchen, you can see they truly love what they're doing. read more

M Izakaya - Tortellini dumplings - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

I've been to several of the other M restaurants, so I have a baseline in terms of quality in food and service that I expect from one of their restaurants. Out of all the locations so far, I would say M Test has the best service. M Test gets the basics done well, but also goes above and beyond and does the little things right. They explained each of the parts of the dish, which isn't critical, but shows that the staff know what is going on and what is being served. I think the biggest thing was that each of the courses were timed incredibly well. By the time we finished eating each course, the next course was ready and out within roughly 2-3 min. Amazing work by the team. As for the food, I was really impressed with some and less so by the others. The tuna tataki and pearl meatballs I wasn't all too impressed by. I definitely have had better at normal sushi spots/dim sum. Also in my opinion just weren't all that creative in terms of execution. The rest of the courses were fantastic though. The arancini was my favorite, the edamame puree was superb and a very interesting concept that I've never had before. The fish curry was cooked to perfection, and as a fan of bamboo shoots I found this one particularly enjoyable. For dessert, we ordered the cherry & chocolate, which is cherry blossom ice cream surrounded by chocolate ganache cake, black sesame granola, and a sour cherry puree. The contrast between the ganache cake and the sour puree paired well with the light ice cream. Overall, great experience and will be back again. read more

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Wow! This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. The ambiance of M Test Kitchen was very relaxed but still upscale - similar to their M Kokko location. Service was fantastic. We were immediately seated, our order was taken, and were checked on frequently by our server. Each course came out within 2-3 minutes of each other. The food was outstanding - particularly the arancini and the green curry with fish. Would highly recommend trying these two options - the rich arancini was balanced so well with the edamame purée, and the green curry was a very bright, well seasoned dish. The tuna tataki was fresh tasting and had interesting flavor dynamics (sweet sauce/chili fakes/rice puffs/aonori flake). The pearl meatballs were flavorful but nothing too special. Lastly, the cherry & chocolate dessert was the perfect balance of sweet and sour; a perfect dish to end the meal. Looking forward to coming back again soon! read more

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Returned to one of our favorites, M Test Kitchen, and of course she did not disappoint! Our waitress was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the menu, which is always very much appreciated. The timing between courses was perfect. We got the little gem salad again because it is so unique and packs so much smoky, umami flavor. The spicy pork belly was superb - I've never had pork belly prepared cold and sliced like this, and it was surprisingly tender with the perfect amount of spice. The tuna tataki was stunning in presentation, and was a solid tataki dish, but I likely would not order again as it wasn't anything special, especially compared with the other two first course dishes. The loaded tots came out piping hot with the bonito flakes moving on top, which was fun to watch - these were delicious and perfectly fried. The arancini was very mild in flavor - I could taste a bit of green tea, but could have used some salt and more flavor in general. The X.O. fried rice and fish green curry other dishes we have tried before and will continue to order every time we come. The duck with "duck sauce" had a nicely seared duck breast, but what I loved the most was the duck leg confit with the hash. We couldn't decide between the two dessert options, so we just ordered both. To our surprise, the kiwi lime sorbet was our favorite - it was more gooey than a sorbet and the kiwi flavor was superb, unlike anything I have ever eaten before. The matcha pistachio was pretty good - I love pistachio desserts, although the cake could have been a tad more moist and I wish the ice cream had more pistachio flavor, but it was incredibly creamy. 9/10 s (again) *Little Gem Salad: red miso dressing, sesame seed, smoked tofu grated like cheese *Spicy Pork Belly: thin sliced & chilled pork, Szechuan chili, soybean sauce, cucumber, cilantro *Bluefin Tuna Tataki: seared bluefin, ponzu sauce, togarashi, aonori flakes, rice puffs *Loaded Tots: Okonomiyaki style crispy fried potatoes, kewpie, sweet soy, furikake, smoked bonito flakes *Arancini Ochazuke: green tea bamboo rice risotto, panko crust, edamame puree, yuzu red onions, nori *X.O. Fried Rice: Kani crab, bacon, fresno chili, onions, garlic, egg threads, scallion *Fish Green Curry: w/ oyster mushrooms, bamboo shoots, cilantro, Thai basil *Duck with "Duck Sauce": pan-seared duck breast, leg confit, sweet potato kohlrabi hash, scallions, apricot duck sauce, Thai basil *Kiwi Lime Sorbet: fresh kiwi pieces, toasted hazelnut, fresh mint *Matcha Pistachio: pistachio cake, matcha pistachio ice cream, rice crispy crumb, yuzu tea jellies read more

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I've been meaning to try this place for a while now and can definitely it was very yummy. We got a variety of dishes as it is tapas style. The Dan Dan noodles were vegetarian and were absolutely amazing with great spices. The most unique was the curry. It was very tangy and I really enjoyed it but definitely depends on the person. The tater tots were good as well and unique desserts too. A lot of drink options but nothing out of the ordinary. The atmosphere inside is modern and plenty of seating. Definitely want to make a reservation beforehand if possible. Staff was friendly and helped us find the best options for us. Prices were average for an upscale restaurant like this. Overall, really enjoyed this experience and definitely will be back. It looks like they rotate their menu which I really like and can try their new options when available. read more

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Great experience! Super flavorful and unique dishes! Mainly bar seating but nice ambiance and chill vibe. Service was great, waiter was very attentive and gave good recommendations. read more

Sat at the booth on a weekend and had a good time. You need reservations to get any type of seating. The atmosphere is trendy and modern, and there are new things on the menu so you can come multiple times in a year and feel it's a "new" place. My partner and I shared four dishes, and our favorite was the Tom Yun Squid ($17). The squid was cooked to perfection and the flavors are familiar and delicious. I wish I ordered two dishes of this. The Rendeng Short Rib ($23) was Okay. It has a nice presentation to it, but I think I would have wanted to try a different protein like the duck. I didn't care for the Pho Salad ($12) at all, because the texture and flavors weren't all pleasing. I would go with a different salad, because you're left with wanting a "salad" still. read more

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We ate at the bar a few weeks ago as it was fully booked but despite that, wow, every dish of food we ordered was stunning. The plating of all the food was perfect but the way it was cooked and the flavors especially of the sea bass, I have never tasted anything as wonderful. We also had the sushi plates and also pork with steamed buns and also the Wagyu beef that we cooked ourselves on a little burner. We would rate this restaurant 5 stars for service, the food, quality and presentation etc. We could not fault this restaurant at all. read more

I have always been a fan of M restaurants, and finally got the opportunity to try this tapas style establishment. Firstly the service, incredibly friendly, prompt, and accommodating. Asked to make a larger reservation fairly last minute, fully expecting to be turned away or asked to pay some fee up front, instead we were accommodated for quite easily. Some in the group made their dietary restrictions and the servers were incredibly helpful in guiding them through the menu. The restaurant is a bit on the smaller side, but offers seating both inside and out, with options for groups of all sizes. The interior is decorated in a modern/semi-industrial manner, and is quite inviting, creating a friendly casual environment. The food all tasted fantastic, packed with fresh flavors, each dish is presented wonderfully. The menu is a bit limited, however it contains enough options to satisfy most people. With the size of the menu it was a tad disappointing though that they had run out of a couple options though. As it is tapas style, the portions are a bit smaller so I would suggest ordering multiple dishes per person, as with most tapas and as per the servers suggestion. Pricing was a tad on the higher end, but debatably worth it. Would definitely recommend, and will return to see what is on their rotating menu next. read more

M Test Kitchen has a trendy atmosphere. It claims of being a culinary testing ground for new creations. However, my experience didn't live up to the hype. The pho salad, intriguing in concept, was let down by its excessive saltiness and overpowering fish sauce. The loaded tater tots unfortunately tasted like they were made from frozen. The Dan Dan noodles ended up being bland and excessively greasy with chili oil. The most disappointing dish was the lobster shu mai. What sounded like a standout item based on other reviews disappointed me with a mushy texture and the use of a plastic basket for steaming which I feel could leech into the food. The duck in duck sauce was the only dish I enjoyed but it is a very small portion for 25 dollars. The service was great. As a fan of M restaurants, I was excited to try M test kitchen. However, my visit to M Test Kitchen was a major disappointment. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants, for sushi, sushi related dishes and cool yet intimate ambiance. That said, last night was a disappointment. The menu featured items that were a 180 departure from the fresh, super creative sushi ingredients and flavors that make M restaurants do special. The broccolini was dowsed with a cream sauce. The flavor pairing of bitter crunch from the veggie was completely lost in the kewpie sauce. The tots squash was barely edible- the flavors completely lost in the stick of butter that they were drowning in. There was so much butter that the plate had a thick coating of butter/heavy sauce on the plate even when the squash was gone. Arancini, perfect texture, absence of flavor. Tots, perfect texture, nice flavor. The fish with green curry was extremely heavy, fish was so crispy and a bit greasy that the pairing with the bland and thick, heavy curry made it difficult to eat. Service was nice, however, please offer new places between dishes, especially when each dish has its own sauce, etc. Of course, I'll go back, it just might be a while until the menu changes back to food I can feel good about eating. read more

M Test Kitchen is supposed to be a foodie friendly restaurant, so we went there for Dinner for two. Starters were not great. We had the tuna, tots, spicy pork belly, lobster shumai and broccolini- none of the starters were impressive, over relying on salts or sauces to impress; pork belly was hard to swallow - cold and covered in sauce; broccolini also covered in sauce and cold; we had better shumai at a modest Chinese place for a quarter of the price just earlier that day. How did your kegs explode? No IPAs available... Entrees saved the meal - we had fish cilantro curry and duck. Both were good. Finally! Service was good, but if you have us sit in front of the open kitchen, cooks should at least look like they are enjoying their work... you are not going to survive real competition like this. Menu and experience would not survive a big city, and we wish we had better in the Triangle. read more

This is surprisingly my first visit to one of the M Restaurants. M Test Kitchen is open in Fenton and is a neat concept. I started off with a watermelon margarita followed by a glass of prosecco. For food our table split the roasted shishitos, scallop curd, yaki tori, x.o. fried rice, green curry and carrot cake. The favorites were the yaki tori (it was so tender and the garlic sauce was amazing), green curry and carrot cake. The cocktail was good but the drinks are too pricey. This spot is worth checking out if you like what is on the current menu but it is expensive. read more

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What a wonderful experience! Smallish venue as it is a test kitchen, friendly staff, amazing food! I could not decide on the menu because everything read and looked so yummy! Very modern but simple decor. read more

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First time visiting. Def worth trying out. Asian inspired tapas. Flavorful and very shareable indeed. Bring friends, this way you can try more things. Will go back when the menu changes read more

M Izakaya - Foie Gras with plum jelly, beef carpaccio, lobster shiu mai - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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This was my choice for my birthday spot. Having dined at several "M" venues, I couldn't wait to try this new one. It did not disappoint! Going into this adventure, I knew that everything wasn't going to be on point (hence the test) , but that only added to the fun because the staff wants to know your thoughts on their creations. Most of the dishes we had were incredible, with the exception of the Taki Yori. I love an oyster from any bird, but these were just okay. I can't wait to go back to try other things! read more

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We came here in a whim with no reservation. It seems even their bar area requires reservation but we got lucky and they had room at the bar. Their cocktail menu lacks a lot to be desired so I wouldn't come here for that. I did try a sake though. She let me sample two sakes and I chose one to sip on. They do four courses, including dessert. We chose to do the three savory courses. Each of us chose one thing. My husband had a shellfish allergy and they don't do substitutions. To start, we did the spicy pork belly and salmon. The salmon was amazing. The pork belly was good but it didn't seem at all like pork belly. It's also served cold which was unexpected. For our second course, my hubby got the pearl meatballs and I got the lobster shumai. Both were good. For our last course my husband did duck with a sweet potato hash and I did the fried rice. The fried rice was amazing. The hash was one of our favorites of the meal. Overall yummy food. read more

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Upscale, quiet, and elegant spot! Perfect for a fancy evening out. The food is really incredible, probably some of the best in the Raleigh area. The tataki is a must. Cocktails are fabulous as well!! Service was top tier as well. read more

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I am an M Stan so I was 5 *'s before I even ate here, but the food was excellent. Also my wife is hard to impress and she dug it all. All this was good: * Lobster shumai * little gems salad, with grated smoked tofu on top * roast pork daikon wraps * kung pao brussles sprouts * loaded tots * tom yum squid soup thing * kind of weird ice cream + crunchy things dessert Also I got a tequila cocktail with chili's and unfiltered sake that sounds weird but was very good. read more

Came here for girls night and we had the best time! Our server was Sammy and he was probably one of the best servers we have had on our nights out. We tried the watermelon margaritas and wasabi martini- both were great. For dinner we tried the tartar, the caviar, wings, yaki tori, fried rice, lobster shumai, and some sort or salad. We had carrot cake for desert. There wasn't anything we didn't like. The test kitchen was clean, nicely decorated. It was a little noisy but we could still talk so we didn't have any issue with this. Awesome experience and we will be back. read more

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I'm very impressed by the quality of food coming out of M test kitchen! It seems like the menu changes quite often but there are some crowd favorites that stay on more permanently. Among those are the lobster shumai and xo fried rice which definitely lived up to the hype. All the other dishes we tried were delicious as well, though maybe not as innovative as we had hoped. Not all of the elaborate flavors come through, but they do taste good regardless. I thought the scallop crudo was a little too acidic. Most of the dishes we ordered weren't very filling so I definitely recommend getting an order of rice or noodles to beef up your meal. The two desserts were both fantastic. So glad I got both. Service at the bar was friendly and knowledgeable. We got good recommendations and food came out quickly. Overall, I would definitely recommend! read more

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The long awaited opening of a Test Kitchen is finally over and the wait did not disappoint. The ambiance is great with flowing natural light and a modern industrial feel. The dishes were well thought out and very well executed. My favorites were the lobster shumai and the green curry. The only thing I'd recommend they improve on is speed of service. I think the dishes should've been spaces out just a little bit further apart from one another. Other than that chef Conner's menu is and I'll be back again!! read more

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My fiancé took me here for my birthday after enjoying various M locations for previous birthday celebrations. After going to M sushi for his birthday earlier in the year and M tempura last year, this place was a HUGE letdown unfortunately. -The caviar concoction was inedible, and as a caviar lover, I didn't finish the small plate -The smoked trout was decent, very fishy -Lobster shumai had a good flavor, but a weird plastic-y texture -Pearl meatballs were bland and fell apart -The star of the show was the duck with duck sauce, but the tiny portion at such a high price point was a little disappointing -The Denver steak was majorly overcooked - I've never known a nice restaurant to default serve steak well done, especially at this price point for the portion served. Overall, I think I would have preferred to go pretty much anywhere else, I think at that price point we could've done much better. Wish I'd seen a review like this one before choosing this M establishment, especially after driving about an hour to visit. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect, but was really blown away by M test kitchen. We sat at the countertop so it was a fun experience to see how everything was prepared. We had a fantastic server who went above and beyond to explain everything and make helpful suggestions. The food was incredible (think Asian tapas) and my husband and I really enjoyed trying a multitude of different dishes. Great date night spot if you can get a counter seat. read more

Great meal. The two cold plates - tartar and pork belly salad were fantastic. The menu says the szechuan oil with the pork belly is very spicy and that's 100% true. You've been warned. The warm plates - chicken yakitori and short ribs - were very good as well. But they were several steps down from the cold plates which were just ridiculously good. Can't wait to go back and try whatever the test menu brings next. read more

Love the creativity and how the menu changes and plays with flavors and textures. Cannot recommend it more. If I had more stars to give I would! This is my husband and my go to date night spot. read more

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