Went with another couple last week who raved about the quality and taste of dishes. Coming from NYC, I suppose my husband and I have high standards, especially for these prices. Never been so disappointed in such a highly rated restaurant.
Generously sliced black truffles laid upon the sea bass was barely aromatic. This is most obviously the fake stuff- not from France or Italy. The fish was also slightly overdone.
Lobster ceviche in lettuce cups was a joke. $52 for the 4 lettuce cups would have been acceptable had the lobster meat been better presented and prepared or was of decent quantity. The quality of the lobster seemed fine, but not enough to justify this price. This dish is something that I have served my family for a regular summer meal. Not at all special as the price would suggest.
The jalapeño yellowtail pieces despite being sliced very thin were actually sinewy. This is an amateur mistake and the quality controller should take note. $27 for this sashimi dish was insulting because even the presentation was what you can expect from the all you can eat sushi places in Manhattan. This may have been Nobu Matsuhisa's creation, but it is a ubiquitous dish now found even in the lowliest sushi joints. Time to innovate.
Cubes of crispy rice with a mound of spicy tuna for you to dollop on the cube was another recommendation from our friends. The crispy rice cube reminded me of the bags of fried mochi from Trader Joe's my kids like. Except with a less favorable texture because it wasn't as light and was more chewy. The spicy tuna was neither spicy nor flavorful.
The scallops foie gras lettuce cups was the only interesting and tasty dish. Again though, presentation here fell flat. It is lazy to jumble everything together in the little leaves of lettuce.
Our friends ordered some sushi rolls. These too were conventional in their ingredient pairings, quality and presentation.
The dessert bento box had a typical looking and tasting chocolate lava cake. Nothing outstanding.
Cocktails ranged from bad to good. The Gardener stood out. Some were too monotone in their sweetness or tartness. Well crafted cocktails should have some complexity or drama. There is an extensive wine and sake menu. From what I could overhear, the sommelier was very knowledgeable and courteous.
The saving grace was the service. Our server was knowledgeable and clearly enjoyed what he did. He was attentive without being obtrusive, efficient but relaxed. The other waitstaff were efficient and cordial, and the stream of dishes were timed perfectly, never crowding the table, never making us feel rushed.
Pretty much anywhere you are seated you will appreciate the gorgeous grand views of the Rockies. Decor was pleasant and boring. Like a hotel. Varied patrons and attire. From cowboy hats to cocktail dresses, hiking pants to hiked minis. Plenty of kids that were thankfully well behaved. Noise level is moderate to high.
Folks, our bill was over $800 for dinner for four and we didn't even have sake or wine. For that price and Nobu's reputation I was expecting the highest quality of food and presentation, something unique and memorable. Granted we probably would not have ordered many of the dishes our guests did, but I'd expect this celebrated establishment to elevate any conventional items on their menu. We would have had more respect for this place if some dishes fell flat because they were too innovative or risk taking. Conventionality at this price means dishes need to be of true value, which was not present.
You are paying for the privilege of eating fresh seafood in a landlocked state over a thousand miles from the seas, views of the mountain ranges that I will never tire of, the lovely service and bragging rights of having dined at a Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant.
Why not a lower rating? Because in the end we all had a great time. I'm going to credit Matsuhisa for some of that despite the disappointments. If we ever return, it will be just for the drinks and the views. read more