Honestly I had incredible conger eel in Japan and have never had a better experience since. Every…read moreeel I have had in the U.S. has never compared, even the eel I had in Seoul, so I was hesitant to order it at Minoru. But this was absolutely worth it. I'm so glad my husband pressured me to. The eel was incredibly tender and delicate on the inside with a delicious crispy exterior and a rich flavor with every bite. The contrast in texture was so so good and it honestly exceeded my expectations in every way. I wish I had more. Easily the best eel I have had in the U.S. I'm still thinking about it weeks later. My husband ordered the Wagyu donburi, which was excellent. The Wagyu was incredibly tender. The waitress also cracked an egg over the beef. It came with rice at the bottom, miso soup, and broth. I also really appreciated that our waitress came over and explained the different ways to enjoy both entrees. There were four different ways to eat each one, which made the experience feel much more thoughtful and interactive. I enjoyed eating mine plain and mixed with broth, scallions, and seaweed. These were the only two dishes we ordered and both were excellent. I will definitely be back for the eel again. It is definitely cheaper than flying to Japan to get my fix.

Overall, I found the food to be decent but unfortunately not particularly impressive compared with…read moreother similarly priced restaurants in the area. The uni was a particular disappointment as it did not taste as fresh as I expected and had a noticeable fishy flavor. The portions also felt quite small relative to the price. The bowl was fairly modest in size with a thin layer of seafood on top and the majority consisting of rice. Additional seaweed comes at an extra $5 which given the overall price point, made the experience feel less worthwhile. I was also disappointed with the Mango Hanaho mocktail. It was described as containing mango purée but what we received tasted much more like a lightly flavored seltzer and did not resemble what I expected based on the menu description. Again, considering the price, I felt that the drink did not provide the value I was expecting. The ambiance was also fairly unremarkable and did not add much to the overall experience. I certainly appreciate that taste and expectations are subjective but for the prices, I expected a more elevated experience in terms of food quality, portions, drinks, and atmosphere. Unfortunately, I left feeling that I did not receive the level of value I would expect at this price point and I don't anticipate returning.

Brunch at MM Morimoto?! Sign us up…read more I was shocked to find this place empty on a Saturday prime brunch time. The restaurant is stunning. The food was so great! Everything we had was delicious and we ordered A LOT. Sticky ribs are a must. The wagyu roll is fun - the presentation is great with fire. Fantastic service, amazing food, great vibes. A bit on the price side and not exactly kid-friendly but we had a blast.

One of the most disappointing meals of my life. Started off with Pork gyoza which was the highlight…read moreof the evening. Oysters were next and were completely underwhelming. No vinaigrette only cocktail sauce which was meh and a funky horseradish which was a very odd texture. 6 oysters wife and I only at 5 as they weren't very good with a mushy texture. Sushi platter 8 pieces of nigiri and a spicy hot tuna roll which had no spice and strangley sliced tuna which was surprisingly tough as if it was just thawed. Only ate half the roll and 5 pieces of nigiri. Inconsistent slices, and flavorless. The worst sushi I have ever had. Wife had the black cod which was decent but too sweet for her taste. Properly cooked. Service was on point and professional. Restaurant is large with rectangular bar seating for close to 40. Bar was empty on Monday night. Restaurant was around 25% full. Cool estetic. Threw everything up as soon as I got home. I would eat gas station sushi before this place. Prices are ridiculous. $18 for Apple pie? What a disappointment. Worst meal in a long time.

My friend and I met for lunch at Nami Nori Saturday. She had been there before and recommended it…read morefor us. This was my first time there, and after that meal, it will not be my last. I love temaki! We started with shishito peppers with a smoked honey miso. I was curious to see how they did vegetarian options, so I went with five plant-based temaki. I'm hard-pressed to pick a favorite; each one was so delicious! -- avocado "toast" -- cucumber black sesame -- tofu chimichurri -- sweet potato tempura -- maitake truffle Our waiter was so nice and welcoming. She checked in on us and answered questions that we had about the menu. That kind of genuineness and hospitality always makes the dine-in experience a notch above. I hope to return again soon. The eatery is close to the Welmont, so I made a mental note to remember it next time I'm seeing a concert or show. Nami Nori in Montclair is highly recommended!

Second time coming to Nami Nori and had amazing service as always! Always good to make a…read morereservation ahead of time as it gets pretty busy during the dinner rush! We love nami nori for its upscale and clean feel! Its well lit and doesn't seem like a night club lol. Food was amazing!! The spicy tuna dip was delicious and actually spicy! The caviar service has gone up a bit in price since we came here a couple years ago but it was too good of a deal before! All the handrolls were amazing but our favorite was the toro scallion. We added some of our leftover caviar from the apps and it mixed perfectly!!! Spicy lobster is definitely a must as well! Can't wait to come back for our next date!! Pro tip: theres a parking deck right across the street behind the bike store! You can cross through the lit up alley pretty safely there.

It's always a little sad to say goodbye to a place that meant more than just good food. Thank you…read morefor all the wonderful memories, incredible meals, and experiences over the years. We always looked forward to coming here, and the food never disappointed. The environment was inviting, and you could have privacy in a booth or be front and center at the window and enjoy the view. What made it even more special was the people. Mem was always so incredibly sweet, remembering us and asking about our cats, while happily sharing updates and stories about hers. Those little personal touches are what you remember long after the last meal. We're truly going to miss this place and everyone who made it special. Thank you for the food, the hospitality, the laughs, and the memories. Wishing everyone who was part of it nothing but the best.

Came to Aozara last Saturday to meet up with some friends for lunch and didn't take a single…read morepicture :( We were seated quickly along the left wall which had tables. The other side of the restaurant had these big white booths which were pretty cool. I ordered the Spicy Scallop Roll and Sexy Girl Roll for myself. We all ordered on the provided menu sheet and were able to check off the items we each wanted. Because we got there so early, the food came out fast. I LOVED my scallop roll and plant to come back here just for that. Aozara is located on Bloomfield Ave right across from the Wellmont. I'll be honest, I go to the Wellmont for shows at least once a month and had never been here before but I plan to come back now that I know the food and service are good. It's BYOB - so make sure to bring your fave wine with you!

A coworker of mine is good friends with the owners and has been raving about Wabi Sabi for quite…read moresome time. I finally had the chance to visit with him, and wow, was I impressed! The sushi and sashimi were incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. The staff was just as impressive, offering warm, attentive service that made the entire experience feel special. I also love that it is BYOB. The dining room is thoughtfully designed, comfortable, and inviting, creating the perfect atmosphere for a relaxed meal. Wabi Sabi completely lived up to the recommendation, and I am already looking forward to bringing my wife there!

Wabi Sabi created quite a buzz in the neighborhood, so of course we had to try it. We loved the…read moreambiance, service was very good as well. We had seaweed salad and seafood udon, which was pretty good. Only negative thing was when we got the bill, we noticed a mismatch with what was in menu, which our waitress corrected.

Sando Cafe is a cute little establishment that offers japanese comfort food. We went for lunch and…read moreit was decently busy at the time. Luckily there were open seats at the bar. The interior is quite small so I wouldn't go in a large group. We got the pork katsu sando combo, katsudon, and the pork curry rice. I also got a peach hojicha tea. The food was all quite good and reminiscent of home cooking. The katsu wasn't dry at all and was nice and crispy. The sauce that came with it was very tasty and went really well in the sandwich. The curry was also tasty, it was warm and comforting to eat. Drinks were refreshing and not too sweet. They allow you to ask for more or less sweetness if you want. The prices were not bad, especially the sando combo which included a sando, fries, and soda for at least $12. Portions were reasonable as well. Lastly, service was good even with there only being one staff member serving everyone. If you want a casual, japanese comfort meal then this is the place to visit.

i LOVE Sando! Amazing food & drinks - highly recommend the black sesame latte!!! Service is super…read morefriendly & answered any of the questions we had regarding the entree options & drinks. The place itself is super cute & aesthetic perfect for a lunch catch up with a friend! Parking can be tough but manageable!

Came here on a Tuesday night with some friends. The restaurant was very empty, but they did have a…read morelot of takeout orders ready. We were able to be seated right away and the person who greeted us was incredibly kind to us. The restaurant is fairly spacious. They have lots of tables and some booths. As we were looking through their very large menu to the side, what to order, the waiter brought an appetizer on the house, which I believe was some kind of tempura fish, which was pretty good! We ordered four rolls and one miso soup. I do have to say that other places give you the miso soup when you order more than one roll, so it was different that we had to order it separately and pay for it separately, but I understand that restaurants are different. We got the Montclair, the Caldwell, the salmon avocado, and their Hawaiian roll. The one that truly stood out to me was the Hawaiian roll, it had kiwi and mango on top which made for a delicious combination and very refreshing. The other three rolls were OK, nothing outstanding. That miso was a bit sweet, which was different for me. At the end of our meal, they gave us orange slices and they were actually delicious! It was a cute surprise and truly showed the vibe of the people who run this place. Overall, the bill came around $50ish which was incredibly cheap for all four rolls and the soup. I definitely would come here again to get the Hawaiian roll and maybe try out some other stuff!

Is this the best sushi in NJ? No, but you get a friendly staff , great selection of apps and rolls,…read moresome unique menu items like sushi pizza and fried banana on sushi (digimon roll), but the number one selling point for me is the prive point. For how expensive everything is nowadays, they keep it affordable hell without it feeling like budget sushi. All the fish tasted fresh, no complaints here

Great sushi Fast service…read more Sat outside for lunch and enjoyed myself Spicy tuna, spicy crab And salmon avocado roll. Simple quiet sushi restaurant with good food.

The good: the sushi! Everything we got tasted fresh. The…read moreonly thing that tasted even a bit fishy was the kani, which is to be expected from certain brands. Every roll we got was satisfying and the rice was good, the rolls well-formed. The only issue was the cut of the Boston roll was too thin. Service was polite but food was quite slow to come out. The not so good: the chicken teriyaki. The purple rice we ordered was seasoned like sushi rice, which made it an odd accompaniment although it was tasty enough. The chicken itself was not seasoned well enough and had the distinct texture of being frozen for just a bit too long. Quite dry and unspectacular. Outdoor seating was cute. We would go back for the sushi only.

Honestly one of the best unknowns I've ever picked. Needed some food after a day of shopping and…read moremost things were already closed, so went a little out of our way to get some food. The place is a simpler local eatery, so decor wasn't exactly a designed by some of the best New York interior decorators, but it was pleasant and very calm. The food is a fusion of various Asian cuisines but it is picked very well and cooked to perfection. Kids loved the Baos and Ramen which is probably one of the best indicators of the quality. From what I can tell it is family owned and run, so service may be a little slower than most similar places but it is definitely attentive and friendlier then most.

I'm rather loathe to leave such a low rating, but this is a type of food I'm pretty enthused about…read moreand this place just completely underwhelmed me. I ordered a number of skewers, including shrimp, king mushroom, chicken thigh, steak, the requisite pork. The skewers weee on the small side and just lacked seasoning and flavor. This type of kushiyaki type of food has subtle flavors and relies on top quality ingredients over binchotan. I just got none of it - mute flavors, no smokiness, poor seasoning. To be clear, it's not bad, it just didn't live up to my expectations when compared to a Manhattan izakaya or yakitori joint. Service was fine, but I was disappointed when we asked for a pork cutlet with curry sauce over rice for the little ones, bit minus the curry sauce and it was a rather big deal. Just make the dish and leave it off!

First off I love this chef\owner's work. I've tried all his places here in NJ…read more that being said pastaRAMEN is very good, but now we're getting to a point where it's more about the VIBE than anything else. Don't get me wrong, the food we all tried here was good to excellent, but maybe we're headed into the direction of "the scene" rather than what we came there to do ( EAT!) and this is a BYOB so no cocktails or wine\beer program to talk about here. Great concept and a new FOODIE term out there " Wafu-Italian" which is a meld between Japanese & Italian ( heck, someone had to eventually invent it ) Street parking and a huge parking garage about 1 block away. There is no sign during the day at this restaurant; at night an overhead spotlight beams the name on the sidewalk; Considering the street # ( 13) is painted to blend in with the facade, we walked past the place 3 times before realizing this was it......Really? Is that supposed to make it seem like a "speakeasy \ in-the-know" kind of place. ( Hope not, it's pretentious if it was) Staff was great. Our waitress ( from Boston) was super helpful & friendly. Ambience is "city vibe". Splashes of paint here & there with plenty of black painted walls & Asian accents. (I personally am not a fan of bathrooms that are so blacked out anything could be in there with you..it's about maintaining a clean environment) THE FOOD---We tried many apps & entrees; Keep in mind the menu is altered frequently. I attached a pic of one from mid-August. Portions are fair\healthy. You'll be full, not stuffed. APPS...... -The Cucumber Salad is one of the freshest, best items on the menu. -The Porcini ( mushroom) rice-balls were ok; but not at 5 small ones for $40 -The clams on focaccia bread was very good. Need more focaccia for dunking! The sauce was killer! -The cacio & pepe Gyoza ( dumplings), just "meh". ENTREES... --the Miso Cod; is a dish I just love; very good example here --Hanger Steak Carbonara was good, nice mashed potatoes --Wagyu short rib also a "good" choice. ( yes, I mean JUST good) --the brothless Ramen Shrimp Scampi was the winner here. An excellent pasta dish full of flavor. Great choice. DESSERT... not here....plenty of coffee shops, etc in Montclair within walking distance. We were told no coffee ( only tea) and only 1 dessert ( a bao bun confection with Nutella & powdered sugar). How boring ! No coffee? Never heard of such a thing. and isn't EVERYONE doing a version of zeppoles in Nutella sauce these days. Really disappointed in this. Let's hope a few tweaks brings this new Felice outpost inline with some of the other restaurants he has.

10/10, no notes!! I literally cannot wait to eat my…read moreleftovers today. We ordered quite a few items because we wanted the full experience after waiting so long to try this restaurant. WORTH ALLLL THE HYPE!! Speaking of hype, the vibes were good and the type of atmosphere that anyone would feel welcomed in. I saw dates going on and enjoying the tasting menu which is the perfect way to bond, groups of guy friends, families and then us, girls night out to catch up with my best friend. By the way- service was great, too. Friendly, fun & personable from everyone we encountered. Back to the food: *Calamari, super yum! *Caesar Salad, very yum!! Not your ordinary *Pescatarian Bestie ordered the Shrimp Scampi and enjoyed it! I ordered the Wagyu Short Rib Ramen and wowza, it's everything I hoped it would be and more. A generous portion of tented beef, I almost wish the ratio of ramen was higher though but seriously no complaints! I will be back, STAT!! Don't forget to bring your own vino cause it's BYOB