We've been wanting to come to Watr for years, ever since an SLS hotel ambassador recommended it as…read moreone of his favorite places. I looked at the prices back then and was deterred. Years later, we'd saved up and were finally staying at 1 Hotel South Beach and having dinner at Watr! It felt very special to be here.
The rooftop restaurant had a wonderful atmosphere, with trees wrapped in lights, comfortable couches, and a lively mix of diners. The DJ played a fun techno beat at just the right volume, creating an upbeat vibe while still allowing us to have a conversation. I really appreciated that. The clientele was mostly younger and hip, nicely dressed.
Our waiter, Joel, was enthusiastic, warm, and genuinely enjoyable to talk with. We especially appreciated his suggestion to order a couple of dishes first and decide afterward whether we wanted more, rather than ordering everything at once. His thoughtful advice and friendly personality made our long-awaited dinner even more enjoyable.
The Ora King Salmon Tataki was good, with a lovely buttery mouthfeel, but the portion consisted of just five small, bite-sized slices of salmon. I felt a bit ripped off by the price and initially worried that the tuna tartare and other dishes would be similarly tiny.
When the Bluefin Tuna Tartare, arrived, it was a really good size and yummy - it was a winner! There was a generous amount of fresh tuna and avocado, accompanied by enough lavash and rice crisps to provide a nice contrast in texture and flavor. It was delicious, satisfying, and a good value.
We also ordered the Wagyu Beef Roll without the shishito peppers. It was so tasty and filling, and we were glad we'd followed Joel's advice about ordering as we went.
For dessert, we enjoyed a selection of mochi in passion fruit, mango, and chocolate flavors (you pick the flavors), served with strawberries and blackberries. It was a nice way to finish the meal.
Our dinner came to over $250, including gratuity. It certainly wasn't an inexpensive evening for sushi, but after wanting to visit for so many years, I was glad we finally did.
On a side note about the all-gender bathrooms, there were several open cubicles that are open to the air at the top of the stalls but under their own roof area, so you won't get rained on when you are there. I liked that the fresh air was flowing through them. I did walk over to see the sunset, but with the air conditioning units, it wasn't quite the panoramic view I was expecting.
Between the beautiful rooftop setting, enjoyable music, delicious tuna tartare, and Joel's wonderful hospitality, Watr was a memorable experience. It was a lovely, delicious, long awaited evening and well worth the wait!