I was so excited to try Tanto after seeing Kosen earn yet another Michelin star. I absolutely loved…read morethe space and atmosphere. With seating for only 24 guests, the restaurant feels intimate, and they clearly communicate their reservation time limits in advance. For parties of 1-2, the allotted time is 90 minutes; for 3-4, it is 120 minutes; and for 5-6, it is 150 minutes.
Our reservation was for 8:30 p.m., but we weren't seated until 9 p.m. the host apologized for the wait. As noted in their reservation policy, there is no bar seating, so we stood while waiting. No big deal. We ordered cocktails, and they were amazing!
Unfortunately, once we were seated, the experience took a turn. It was about 20 minutes before our server came to take our order. We each ordered two to three items, but the food took an unexpectedly long time to arrive.
From our vantage point, we could see part of the kitchen, which appeared to be where the sushi was prepared. I couldn't see the entire kitchen, so I can only speak to what was visible to us. At times, there appeared to be three to five people working in that area. Our nigiri arrived relatively quickly, but then we waited and waited for the rest of our order.
The delay became long enough that we were offered complimentary caviar. At that point, the chef apologized and told us it would be another 10 minutes. While waiting for our hand rolls and skewers, my friend ordered a nogori sake, which simply needed to be poured.
As time went on, one skewer arrived, and while we were still waiting for the rest of our food and the sake, another friend ordered a cocktail. The cocktail arrived first. We asked about the sake again and were told the server would check on it. Another skewer arrived, but the drink still hadn't, so we asked a third time.
Eventually, our hand rolls arrived, but one of the rolls was incorrect, meaning my friend had to wait again for the right order. The nogori finally arrived, and by that point, I asked our server to cancel my remaining skewer. He apologized again for the delay.
Guys, it was past 10:40 p.m. by then.
I understand that good food takes time, and I appreciate that restaurants need to pace a meal. However, this felt unreasonable for a cocktail-and-small-bites concept, particularly given the repeated delays, the drink that required multiple follow-ups, and the incorrect item. We were consistently met with apologies, and the complimentary caviar was a kind gesture, but neither addressed the underlying issue of how long everything was taking.
As for the food, it was fine. Not the best I've had, but certainly not the worst. The cocktails, however, were a highlight. They were creative, beautifully presented, and genuinely enjoyable.
Ultimately, I left feeling confused by the experience. I loved the atmosphere and wanted to love Tanto, but the pacing and service left a lot to be desired. The constant waiting for small plates and drinks disrupted what should have been an intimate, enjoyable evening and ultimately took away from the vibe.
I'm glad I finally tried Tanto, but based on this visit, the overall experience didn't live up to my expectations and I'm not sure if I would go back.
