Dined last night, 2-top, GF's B-day. I'm a 23-yr veteran of the industry, and this was my first visit; Nobu is doing it right.
The entry is nondescript enough to be missed; Look for the dark metal door adjacent the main valet entry to the Hotel.
The venue itself is expansive, especially the tall ceiling (making for one of Dallas' very few establishments given actual acoustic consideration, though this is held back somewhat by music that is of tempo and type to not blend into the background as well as some)...and despite the scale, the space is sectioned in an agreeable manner, allowing a good sense of intimacy. Only real fault I could name is that too many 2-tops do not allow guests to sit side-by-side (sitting across is good for first dates, but not the preference for most couples).
A requested table was unavailable due to some patrons staying much later than could be predicted, but such things are mere courtesies (we of course didn't pay for that specific table), and equally courteous was that they tried in the first place, as well as the many efforts they made to find us something comparable.
While we waited at the bar, our whiskeys' water-back came chilled, but otherwise cocktail service seemed on point. The environment itself was reminiscent of a hotel lobby bar, in a good way: plenty of space and comfort, and a relaxed formality complimented by the staff's own air of approachable professionalism.
Once sat, we dined Omakase (there are three levels; we had the top level, "Chef's Exclusive Tasting", which note: online menus still show outdated pricing of $150 per, not the correct $170). Once they began, every course flowed in a timely, smooth fashion, with a few punctuated breaks, and each plate was a revelation. Food such as this reminds one what food can be. From the exotic (mountain melon, baby octopus), to the unique (bamboo & miso), to the exceptional (Toro, Wagyu), the BOH is to be applauded.
The place was bustling, the ingredients complex enough, and our hearing poor enough, that I'll admit we didn't catch everything about each course (alcohol didn't help), but in the spirit of commemorating what was to us more than just another birthday, marking the dawn of many other things, I would like to receive a menu of what we had last night, should that be possible?
Service was notably team-oriented, and each person to approach our table showed similar professionalism. Our primary server was Katie, and her comfortable skill with fine dining service was evident. We cannot have made it easy, what with so many courses, our sudden restroom breaks, and our own couples-being-couples. It can be hard to approach a couple and not have an air of hesitant awkwardness or simply blunt interruption, but Katie radiated kindly grace.
I've heard the place can be pricey, but I found the prices not at all elevated *for the offerings*. Some things simply cost precious coin. But within those brackets...these dishes were if anything slightly more reasonably priced than I am used to seeing. The bar meanwhile is about even with most of Dallas, albeit Dallas tends towards higher prices in that arena, but regardless there abounds many great deals if for no other reason that category options exist, known for deals, which are available on the menu (sake [nihonshu], most obviously, but also vermouths, Madeira, and other such).
If you want a spot for upper-echelon cuisine, one that stands up to such exacting criticism yet still leaves you feeling like gushing, then Nobu is amongst the top 5 choices you could make in DFW. read more