Superb sushi in Madison From the Hamachi Jalapeño to the mermaid roll, dinner was great! I arrived early, sat at the bar and enjoyed a fabulous Barrel Aged Toki Old Fashioned. One of the best (if not THE best Old Fashioned I've ever had. read more

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The Brussels Sprout Salad was outstanding and the highlight of the meal. My Soft Shell Crab Roll with black rice was so so. The umami mama roll was pretty good. The Old Fashioned was serviceable. Our table in the Bar area was a bit small and uncomfortable. However, the service was outstanding. This would be a 3-Star review as I didn't think the meal was anything spectacular- but as I said the service was remarkable. read more

RED - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Unfortunately, RED's fallen off a bit since our last visit. Both the service and the "signature dishes" available have changed considerably, and not for the better. Beef carpaccio and marinated bigeye tuna, the highlights of our previous visit are now off the menu. The current selection of "signature dishes" on the other hand, includes rather ordinary offerings such as crab wontons, miso soup, and edamame. Service was embarrassingly poor. First, the waiter slow-served our table, and others around us, in order to give better service to a group that had ordered wine. Second, when we pointed out that one of our rolls had not been cut through, the waiter brought a knife for me to cut it, rather than send it back or take care of it himself. read more

Classy, sophisticated atmosphere. Attentive, friendly service and delicious, top-notch food. We had family in town and they accommodated several requests for changes to dishes. Great date night spot too! read more

Red sushi is a great stop for some fresh rolls. A full saki menu, with bottles to share for the table. As the name states, the ambiance is very "red". Great service, our server helped us novice saki drinkers find a bottle for the table. I love, as usual, the spicy salmon and spicy tuna rolls - so fresh! read more

RED - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The food is incredible - and really beautiful presentation. Had a couple of the special rolls..sometimes I'm not a fan because they're too big to eat but these were a good size, and a solid number of pieces. My server was super friendly and recommended the short rib dumplings which are great. I give it 5 starts because of how good the food is. I think it's a bit on the expensive side, so not sure how often I would come, but it would recommend it to folks coming in from NYC (or Chi) for work (a bit less sticker shock). I'm also not totally sure of the vibe - Madison, Wisconsin isn't like a loungey town from what I've seen and it looks like that's what it's going for..so not alot of seating and mostly bar space...kinda going for an NYC Vibe..def a bit loud. Again, none of this would stop me from going or recommending Red because the food is fantastic and if someone asked me what to eat in Madison, Wisconsin, I'd probably just say go to Red. read more

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Paid by card. Red is located on the street and offers some street parking. I was able to make a reservation here for 5 people easily and had no issues checking in or being seated. Red is nicely decorated and has nice hosts and servers. I got the chirashi bowl, brussel sprouts salad, amaebi, and toro. I also got a Moscow mule. All very good. I would recommend this place and would go back! read more

RED - Toro, amaebi, chirashi bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I had high expectations for this place and it definitely meets up to the hype. High quality fresh fish. In the sashimi platter the sake (salmon) was definitely my favorite - literally melts in your mouth! Top tier service. I'm typically someone who drinks a lot of water at sushi places to counteract the soy sauce, and a lot of times I run out and need to request more, but not at Red! The restaurant splits into two halves, which makes it lively but not overly difficult to have conversation. Perfect! read more

RED - Sashimi platter - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

A wonderful cosmopolitan sushi experience. I wonder why I don't come here more often. The food is amazing, so fresh and tasty. Our server was friendly and attentive. The ambience is second to none. we had a large party, so we were in a separate room, semi private and separated by metal beads. This was nice since we could have a conversation and we were shielded from the noise from the rest of the restaurant. All of our meals, were excellent tasting. There was enough on our plates to share with each other. There is so much on the menu, you could return several times and never taste the same thing. I will definitely return. It's a shame they don't have the sixth floor anymore. read more

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One of my favorite sushi spots in Madison with ample space and several options to choose from. The two dining areas provide different ambiance and in the summer outdoor dining is the best. The staff were friendly and the rolls are great quality. read more

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Excellent sushi with a very wide menu selection with sushi rolls I have never heard of before. Had a reservation in the dining room and had to wait but then got offered seating right away in another area. Had to wait a while for service and my partner had to wait for his sushi because they forgot to bring his out. read more

RED - Volcano, umami mami and bliss - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We made reservations and ate in the ember room. We were running a little behind so moved our reservation by 15 minutes and they made it so easy! The wall with stones steaming is such a great feature! Makes it obvious why it's called the ember room. The lychee martini is a must try. Definitely their best drink. We tried the edamame and Brussel sprout salad for appetizers. Both were plenty for 3 people to share prior to our sushi. The Brussel sprout salad was so delicious. I'm going to try and replicate at home! We ordered 3 rolls to share. The portions are filling. Each roll was fresh and unique. It was hard to pick a favorite but the salmon roll was SO fresh. They sent out a complimentary lychee sorbet for the birthday girl. What a nice touch! Only suggestion we would have is the time between finishing our meal and receiving our check was quite a while. We enjoyed not being rushed but it was quite a while! We loved our meal and will definitely dine again. read more

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Red typically is my go to spot for sushi in Madison, but it seems like things have changed over the last few months. I don't know if it's related to their new space opening, but the quality seems to have gone downhill. We tried the Tsunami, Kosho, and Tropic thunder rolls. They were good, but I've had the Tropic thunder almost every time I've come, and it just did not seem the same as it usually is. It seemed almost a little bland, and all three of the rolls were sort of falling apart when we went to eat them. Service was fast and attentive. But we were a little disappointed that we made our reservation noting a birthday in the group and didn't get any opportunity to celebrate it. We sat in the new ember lounge space. It was nice, but I think they're still working out some of the kinks. The lights were flashing on and off all night, or changing their brightness. And for a couple minutes at a time, there were just no lights on at all. Overall, it was a little bit of a disappointing experience, just not the quality that I am used to from Red read more

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Sat at the bar. Excellent service! Very friendly staff. Surprised to find such a quality sushi spot in Madison. Amazing. I had the Hamachi app. To die for! And the Tsunami roll. Over the top. Wonderful experience. read more

RED - Tsunami Roll! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We came here a couple nights ago for dinner. The service was great and super attentive, as we had a reservation outside but when we saw the weather they had no problem fitting us in at the sushi bar (we were just 2 people). We ordered the crispy rice which I would definitely recommend, delicious. As well as a yellowtail roll, fatty tuna roll, Alaskan (salmon avocado) hand roll and miso soup. They forgot to bring the miso soup out with the appetizer so they gave it to us on the house which was very nice. The fatty tuna roll was amazing, the fish was so fresh and light. The yellowtail roll was good however the avocado was overpowering and unnecessary. The hand roll had the same issue of too much avocado and just not great overall. I would stick to rolls that have just fish, nothing fancy. The cleaner the better. Overall was very good though, would recommend for a fancier spot in Madison. read more

I went to Madison a few weeks ago and have been thinking about Red ever since! I ordered the nutty vegan as well as a seasonal roll that has been discontinued I believe. Everything was SO FRESH and the concept of tofu on top of the roll is so unique and tasty! *the service was very slow, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt because it was busier than I would assume the average week night read more

RED - Nutty Vegan - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Red is a short walk from the beautiful capital. The outdoor seating was comfortable and welcoming. Sometimes places that lean a bit more fancy have a rather hostile vibe that is entirely too try hard, but I thought that this restaurant did a good job balancing a professional and comfortable vibe. The food was delicious. I quite liked the addition of black sesame to the rolls, and the wasabi/ginger were great. Sushi typically is either expensive or quite bad, but while Red is certainly not cheap it is also certainly not prohibitively expensive either. My pre tip bill was right around 20 dollars. They also did a good job making the food safe for my friends with allergy concerns. The rolls do stick to the plates a bit so be prepared to grab them from the bottom! read more

RED - Salmon Lover, Vegetable Tempura roll, Shrimp Tempura roll, Spicy Salmon Roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

If you love sushi, don't come here. Not authentic at all. The sushi had way too much rice and overall was not good. Too much money for poor quality. The vibes are great for a nice cocktail but not if you are wanting great food. Service is great though read more

Red is a Madison staple and my expectations are always exceeded. The food is creative and delicious, the aesthetic is perfect, and the service is always impeccable. This is my favorite spot to celebrate or to grab drinks and dinner before a show. Best sushi spot in Madison. read more

RED - We ordered the salmon entree & the seasonal Fallen Apple Roll. Everything was fresh, creative, and delicious! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've come here a couple of times. Once for dinner and once for happy hour. Monday through Thursday from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm they have happy hour, which includes $10 lychee martinis and discounted appetizers and sushi rolls. Most recently, I came on a Wednesday at 5 pm with a friend and we were seated at one of the sushi bars since we didn't have a reservation. The ambiance overall is pretty nice and there are nicer areas that might require a reservation than where we sat. The most recent time I came here I came with a friend and we split the hamachi jalapeño, rainbow roll, another speciality roll and each ordered a couple of drinks. The hamachi jalapeño, sushi rolls, and lychee martinis were good--pretty fresh but also nothing super spectacular. I think my main complaint about RED is that while everything is pretty up to par, I don't understand why everything is so expensive. The portion sizes are still relatively small; you probably need to order at least 2 specialty rolls per person to feel full. The food and service don't justify the price of everything, in my opinion. I would probably only come if you're willing to splurge for a nice date night or to order off their happy hour menu. read more

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Exceeded expectations. Coming from Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, I was not expecting much from a sushi place in Wisconsin. I was wrong; this place was delicious. The Bliss roll was sweet and light, but packed with fish (not rice). The Fresno peppers added the right amount of heat but definitely let the other flavors show. The presentation of the roll was amazing. 90% of the roll is missing in my picture because food far exceeded my expectations. The salmon collar was unique. I knew that it would contain the collar bone that you couldn't eat but I was surprised by the smoked, lox-like taste. It didn't taste like a typical grilled salmon. The textures of the crisp outside and moist inside, along with the firm peas, squishy fish roe, sauce and raw pea sprouts was very nice. The dish was too salty for me, but seemed similar to the salt level of other Madison restaurants. I paired it with a bowl of sushi rice and it was perfect. read more

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Really solid sushi spot with pretty good portions. All the rolls we tried were excellent and so were the drinks. Feels like a big city type of restaurant (can imagine this in Manhattan). Great service and food. read more

RED - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I took out dinner from here on a week day. I was probably the only guy who took out food from here. This restaurant has excellent ambiance. People dress up and look expensive to come here. And then there is me the outlier who took out a sushi in an old t shirt. I went for super volcano sushi and loved it. It came with a good quantity wasabi and ginger. Wasabi was very strong as well. read more

RED - Super volcano - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Fantastic tasting sushi. Comes with a high price tag, but presentation and quality of taste makes it worth splurging. read more

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5 stars for the food and quality, lost a star for the long wait time and server's failure to identify our pieces of fish. I had a reservation for 8:30PM but we arrived a bit early. It was a Saturday night and the bar was full but we were able to stand near a ledge/skinny table by the window and enjoy a cocktail. The host told us that our table in the dining room would take a bit longer, but there was an open table in the Ember Lounge (an extension of the dining room). We told her that was fine and headed to the other room. Our server greeted us quickly. We ordered sake and several appetizers. Our appetizers consisted of fried oysters, miso soup, and a spicy scallop roll. The appetizers came out all at once, but took a very long time to arrive. I'd have been fine with them coming out staggered and not taking 30 minutes. We ordered the chef's sashimi platter for dinner. This also took a very long time to arrive. It was served on a beautiful dish of ice with liquid nitrogen floating from a sake bottle. The plating was creative and the cut on the sashimi was lovely. Our server did not identify the pieces of fish which was truly bizarre... The liquid nitrogen unfortunately begun freezing portions of our fish. I moved the bottle in the other direction such that the rest of our fish was not frozen. The sashimi was so delicious we ended up ordering a few more pieces. The salmon was absolutely incredible. Overall the food was fantastic, but I feel as though they should not have expanded the restaurant if the kitchen does not have the capacity to fulfill that many orders in a timely manner. I will certainly be back again, but hopefully in the dining room! Perhaps the service will be faster there? read more

RED - Lychee martini - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Went here on a date night and we got 4 rolls! Overall, we enjoyed the rolls but I didn't feel like any really stood out to me. The presentation of the sushi deserves a 9.5/10 because they were all so beautiful and their fish is really fresh. The restaurant itself is more fancy, but you'll see people dressing all sorts of way, so don't feel bad if you feel underdressed. This place gets busy on the weekends, so make sure to have a reservation to guarantee a spot! From left to right in the picture: The Butterfly: 5/10. Fresh fish, pretty presentation, but the flavor was lacking and wish there was a sauce on top/ the sauce was more prevalent. Blowin' Smoke: 8/10. Has a smokey flavor and the salmon skin gives the sushi a nice savory kick. This was my favorite roll. Tropic Thunder: 7.4/10. Chipotle aioli is a bit overpowering, but if you like chipotle sauce then you'll like this roll. There is a bit of sweetness from the pineapple which pairs well with the rest of the piece. Salmon on top was delicious. Seasonal roll Koshō: 4.6/10. This was my least favorite mainly because this has little to no flavor. The flavor is very bland, it has a bit of critics flavoring in the middle, but it just wasn't giving compared to the other rolls. read more

RED - Butterfly, Blowin' Smoke, Tropic Thunder, Seasonal Roll: Koshō - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Delicious and artfully crafted dishes won't disappoint. Service was excellent and patient. Love the casual atmosphere with the regulars. read more

RED - Crowd - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I ate here two nights in a row at the bar. I'm from out of town and don't have vegan sushi near me, so I had to give this a try. The first night I had the vegan sushi dinner, which is "chef's choice". It was SO much food, I was disappointed that I couldn't finish it. it was amazing. 10/10 recommend it. The next night I had the miso soup and the Nutty Vegan. it was also 10/10. getting just a roll was still a lot of food, but also I was happy I could finish it. I will be back the next time I am in Madison. read more

RED - Vegan sushi dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

What a great restaurant! Came here with a group of 12 so got a private seating area. We ordered the brussel sprout salad and calamari for apps. I can't speak on calamari, but the salad was great. Crispy sprouts, golden raisins, pecans, apples... easily serves 4 people. For my meal I had spicey bokchoy rolls and chicken tempura. The spicey bokchoy were good, not too spicey. The tempura chicken didn't have a ton of flavor. I don't eat fish or seafood so can't speak on "normal" types of sushi. Though everyone seemed happy with what they had. I remember some having salmon, spicey salmon, and some sort of habenero roll. Dessert was really good. The flourless chocolate cake was rich and decadent. Their seasonal sorbet was refreshing and flavorful. I never caught the name of our server but she was awesome. Others who popped their heads in were really nice as well! read more

Beautiful evening to eat sushi outside. We started with edamame and kani. Main meal was crab lovers and Toro. RED is my favorite restaurant in Madison, WI because our server was so professional and prompt with our food. Meg has a great personality and knowledge of sushi. read more

RED - Crab lovers - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is a pretty good sushi spot in Madison! You can't go wrong with any of the rolls.

THE BEST SUSHI IN TOWN!!! Anything you order off the menu is delicious and there is no fishy taste. I visited here with my bestie and we had a great experience. Our server was very attentive and kind. We started the evening off right with a mushroom appetizer. What a treat! The mushrooms were large and seasoned very well (no earthy soil taste). I tired the Tropic Thunder Roll and I was taken back by how well blended the flavors in this roll were. There was not one ingredient that was overpowering. The drinks were as well, my favorite is the lychee martini. Don't be fooled, this is a good strong drink. Great place to take someone on a fancy date or celebrate a special occasion. read more

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Refreshing, Elegant & Delicious...RED lives up to its name. It's got all the classics you'd expect from a sushi restaurant, but they also have a modern take on sushi with inventive & beautiful dishes that deliver on fresh flavors. Reservations are recommended; they allow you to pick from patio, dining room, or courtyard when reserving a table online. The night we went, the place was abuzz with folks out for happy hour, business meetings, dates, and meet-ups with friends. Very popular spot & it's easy to understand why...the service, ambience & food are all superb. read more

RED - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I didn't know what to expect from a sushi restaurant in Madison but this sushi was so good and tasted so fresh! The brussel sprout salad was also really good but HUGE. I had to take home leftovers. Upscale place: would be a fun date option! read more

RED - Spicy tuna roll and Alaskan Roll (I think) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Do you ever just get tired of it all? All the hassle. All the aggravation. There was so much wrong w/ our last experience here its just exhausting to even begin this review. You should just stop reading now probably... Super chipper hostess telling us "ummm no you are at the bar." "Ummm sorrrrry." We called literally 5x (or more) so that everything was right. Big night for us. We were VERY clear with these folks. CRYSTAL CLEAR. Valentine's Day and my anniversary. But who cares?!! YOU have your OWN problems! I get it! I really do. "Mmmm sorrrrry." So "sorrrrrry" yet there we are at the bar. Not upstairs in the dining room as booked. Long booked. Then (dum dum dum) the drinking glasses were filthy. F I L T H Y ! But my friends and readers you see sushi options in Madison Wisconsin aren't exactly plentiful so they really do not give a shiznit if you are happy at Red. Red don't care. You'll be RED-faced at how happy they all are at their short-comings because they have you (you foolish sushi lover) by the short hairs. "Sorrrrrrry." Think Michael Douglas' Whammy Burger treatment in the someday cinematic classic "Falling Down." But you know what? I am The Mancow. I do not have to take this! I can leave doggone-it! (Editors note: leave places that try to scam you or make you feel uncomfortable. You work hard for your money. Don't be taken advantage of no matter how slick the trickster. When it comes to dining out - follow your gut.) So what next? I pick up my phone. Call the Sardine (French) Resturant and they took pity on us and we ended up having a GREAT time. GREAT! Ta-dah!So there! Ha! End scene. Victory over Red! My dad told me "Son, never trust a Red" and I wouldn't trust Red Sushi for a sushi night that wont leave you feeling like your wallet got poached by a smiling enemy of culinary valor. The literal "bottom line" is : Skip Red. read more

Really the best sushi place in Madison such a classy, trendy & cool place! Everything is perfectly made & tastes amazing they really are a top notch restaurant. Staff is very friendly & professional, they are delivering the royal treatment for all customers! read more

RED - Wings, potstickers, edamame & sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This restaurant is a family favorite! The atmosphere is phenomenal and the service is great! They offer a variety of sushi. Some are more complex with ingredients and some are more traditional. The "Amigo" roll is very fresh and delicious. Probably one of my favorites! They also rotate special rolls. My second favorite would be the "Shuffle Truffle". They allowed for us to substitute the asparagus with avocado no problem. Great place for date night! Recommend a reservation! read more

RED - Saigon (left) & Shuffle Truffle (right) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Damn! My pockets hurt. But my sushi fiending mouth does not. Red is nice, I love the vibes, but come after pay day. Ok. The signature cocktails are delicious. Umaji - fresh zingy Lychee martini - the favorite of the night, lychee is the best first of all, but this was so well balanced with sweetness and came with a fresh lychee as a garnish and snack Sushi is done well. What the heck. Negi toro - you gotta get the fatty tuna man. One complaint is that servers really do be saying the bare minimum to you. Which is fine. The service just wasn't a part of the experience. TLDR; impress bae, get dressed up, and satisfy their sushi fiending mouth with Red read more

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For Wisconsin, the sushi is really as good as it gets. A little pricey but can't beat the quality, location (right off the capital, easy parking) and the restaurant itself is beautiful. Great wine list as well! read more

My husband and I went here for their New Year's Eve dinner which was omakase. They definitely create an amazing experience with the dining, the service from the staff and the ambiance. 10/10 there. This is a perfect place for a special night. I will admit, this is probably one of the most expensive dinners that we allowed ourselves to enjoy but it was well worth it. Although we were sitting close by another couple, I still felt the proper privacy. Everything we ate off their preset menu was phenomenal. Not a complaint. My favorite was probably the Wagyu Short Rib dish and their Truffle Lobster Roll. Display, flavor, etc was all there. My husband and I find a reason to eat sushi whenever we can, so we will definitely be back to run through their signature roll menu. read more

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