Red makes outstanding sushi, best I've had in Madison. There are quite a few exotic rolls, many of which were invented by the owner. But I'm a traditionalist. When I try a new sushi place I stick with the nigiri and a bowl of miso soup. If the chef can make good nigiri, then I know the rest of the menu will be good. And that was some damn good nigiri... The fish was super-fresh, each piece topped with a tiny dollop of roe and a tiny piece of green. The presentation was exquisite and looked as good as it tasted. I had the bluefin tuna, yellowtail, raw salmon and eel. Each piece was a delicate treat. My only disappointment was that they were out of fatty tuna (bluefin belly) which is a real treat when you can find it. The only reason I didn't give the restaurant the full 5 stars was the rather indifferent service we received. Our server was inattentive and more interested in chatting with the expediter behind the pass-through than in offering 5 star service. I'm also not a fan of servers at the sushi bar bringing the sushi. The reason I sit at the bar is that I want to interact with the sushi chefs directly and let them tell me what's fresh, what they like and what I should try. I don't need a server to proxy that for me. So I hope Red changes this policy to allow the patrons at the sushi bar to deal directly with the sushi chefs. One thing of note, there IS a chef's table offering for $100/person which allows patrons to interact directly with the owner/chef at the sushi bar. I think I will try that next time to get the full sushi bar experience. Overall, an excellent sushi restaurant with chefs who've mastered the subtle art of sushi and sashimi. Highly recommended! read more

Red was damn near perfect. Ryan was an excellent server. We connected with him really really well, his attitude and vibe made us want to order more. The music sucked, but otherwise literally every aspect of our dining experience was divine. The sushi was clean and delicious, made you feel like a milli read more

The Ocha Cooler is very deceiving. Is there any alcohol in it? I don't think there is. Until I have two and go back to my hotel room. There definitely was, and it was delicious, as was the spicy tuna roll and the Red roll. The miso was good, although cold, but, whatever, who cares. read more

Amazing. Fish was so fresh. Waitress was very very friendly and helpful and even made a parks and rec reference. We loved everything. read more

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Red has a large and creative list of specialty rolls, and the execution on the specialty rolls we tried was very good. They also have the option of substituting forbidden rice instead of white rice, a big plus for a member of our party on a low glycemic diet. I'm surprised more places don't offer the option of subbing brown or forbidden rice - that is a huge bonus for Red. The sashimi we had was fresh and tasty, too, although it didn't stand out above the what you can get at a couple other sushi places in town. The downside is the pricing, which puts this in "very special occasion" territory for us. Our tab was around $300 for 6 people, with only 4 cocktails at the table. The specialty rolls, at around $20 per pop (not counting upcharges for forbidden rice and real crab) add up fast. read more

What can I say other than fantastic!!! The restaurant is beautiful. Our server,Mara, was amazing. The sushi was fresh and very tasty. The sake was paired perfectly w/ our meal. read more

In town for a conference and wanted sushi!!! Food was DELICIOUS , waiter was attentive and super kewl. Thank you Cameron for making our visit pleasant! The surf & turf !!!! Cheesecake desert ! Will come again would recommend!!! read more

Hands down, best sushi in Madison. Always excellent! Service and drinks are also great.

Went to Red Sushi last night and started at a table. Ended up at the bar for happy hi our. The bartender was very attentive and helpful! The food was awesome! Thank you our! read more

Came here for a family member's birthday dinner. While busy, the food came in decent time. I ordered the Miso soup and the Shiitake Mushroom Tempura vegetarian rolls, which were both delicious. While the food was good, I would not add this as a restaurant I would frequent, as the prices are rather high and I don't eat most of what's on the menu. I would check out their website to check on prices and food ahead of time, to gauge whether you'd come here (apart from reading people's reviews). I did hear that they have good lunch specials, so if you're in the area, check out the specials. read more

We ordered 4 rolls, ( 2 of them specialty rolls) carry out and we were given about 1/2 of a dime size of wasabi. When I called, I was told this was the normal amount given out in carry out. That's not only a ridiculous policy, but it's spectacularly stupid customer service. We got a similar attitude from them at the beginning of COVID, when we asked for curbside...before they offered curbside. The response was, "no, that's not how we do it here." read more

My husband saw the Campus Eats show (on the Big 10 Network) last night that showcased Red. We decided to finally head that way for his birthday dinner, tonight. It is a restaurant we've wanted to go to, but just hadn't made it there yet. Walking in to the restaurant we were impressed with the elegant, yet modern vibe that drew you in, in a fun, welcoming way. While waiting for a table at the bar, I started out with the Ciao Amigo cocktail, which was delightfully tangy and delicious. Once seated, Ryan, our server, came to guide us through the menu. All of our rolls were great, but our favorite was the Crunchy Tuna Roll. The Saigon roll was riceless and delicious, too. Not having had a riceless roll before, we weren't sure what to expect. It did not disappoint. We also had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners, Tanya. What a fun and delectable experience. We will be back, soon! read more

Hands down best sushi place ever! My husband was never interested in trying sushi and I convinced him to give it a shot just once. He asked our server to pick everything out for him. After his first bite he was shocked at how good it was. Now we eat here twice a month. Every time is amazing, our service is always on point and we leave wanting more. He's now a sushi lover and won't eat anywhere but here. I've had sushi from many different places and RED is the place the tops them all. They will never disappoint. read more

Love their sushi! Great bartender makes me yummy, festive mock tails (something I eternally search for), but above all, the New Year's 9-course Omakase was the BOMB! Lots of umami flavors from land and sea, perfectly portioned to make us pleasingLy full, not sick. Great variety, with each course a delight. Partner had the wine pairing, reported that the white wines were spectacular, the reds "a little young." Thank you! We'll be back! read more

Amazing sushi. I love it so much. The wait times can be quite long at times but worth the wait. The blueberry sparkling sake is so good as well. read more

This is a rather expensive option for sushi, but you also get what you pay for. It's not the best for a regular lunch sushi just based on price, but if you ever want to go out for a nice sushi dinner, this is the top pick for me! Great service and I have never had a problem with any of the items I've ordered. Even took my parents a few times and they were happy with the cooked and vegetarian sushi options. read more

We made a reservation on open table because we had heard that it was difficult to just walk in. We showed up 30 min early and they were able to seat us right away (it was Sunday). Our server Matthew was very fast to the table a very descriptive with the menu. We had the Chef's choice sushi and sashimi and the seasonal Sea Special which was a squid ink linguine with clams and bacon. All of the food was delicious and Mathew took the time to identify all of the types of fish. We had a bottle of Pinot Grigio and the blueberry hibiscus ice cream and the bill was surprisingly reasonable. Great first night in Madison. read more

This place was amazing! I felt very safe as the staff not only wore masks and gloves but also wore face shields. I used to be a server and I give them so much credit for having to wear all that equipment. They had a great variety of vegan items which I was excited about. Highly recommend for a great date night or night out with the girls! Thank you to the amazing staff for all you do to keep us feeling safe and accommodated! read more

The sushi is excellent, as is the ambiance. Best sushi in Madison. In my last review, I criticized the cocktails. I respectfully, after 4-5 returns here, rescind my criticism. read more

We expected a lot better for the money. Edamame was uninspired, asparagus rolls tasted off, other rolls containing raw fish were pretty meh. We ordered online for pickup and it wasn't ready when we arrived or very good when we got back to our hotel. read more

Not only one of the best (if not, the best) spot for sushi in Madison, but they have quite a few other great things going for them. The interior design of their new space is incredible. They covered every little detail, from using another one of my favorite local businesses, Red Square Flowers, for the floral design, to creating amazing flow through lighting, colors, etc., I would recommend everyone visit RED to see what an interior space can be. Besides sushi, they have an array of other fine dishes such as steak, seasonal salads, duck and appetizers. I see the owners, Tanya and Jack (head chef), there most nights I'm in to dine. I've seen Tanya help her team out by being host, food-runner, etc., and taking the time to find out how guests are enjoying themselves. Hands down, one of my favorite Madison businesses and restaurants for so many reasons. read more

Who doesn't love RED?? I love eating her as much as possible because of the quality! The rolls are tight, fresh, flavorful, and aesthetically pleasing! The whole restaurant is swanky and always packed, but in a good way. The service is fast for a number of customers they have and you can watch the masters at work preparing your order (and plate it beautifully). The only two complaints I have are that the wait staff can be snide/pretentious and that I wish the price could drop a tiny bit. Overall, I will keep coming back because it's always worth it. read more

Comparing to other Sushi options in Madison, Red would be 4 stars. However, considering its marketing strategy and price range, I am basing my review on a higher standard. Me, my husband and our 4yo went for a late weekday lunch to avoid the dinner crowd (we had to time strategically for the small child). We ordered the tsunami, Santa's belly, 6 pieces of nigiri chef's choice of fish, yellowtail scallion roll, pork-belly buns, Kampachi sashimi appetizer, and wagyu beef burger. Yes it's a lot of food, but there were multiple items that each of us wanted to try so this was the compromise. The Kampachi was the favorite. It came with a delightful ponzu (sp.) sauce. My husband thought the sauce was bit too light but that's a matter of personal taste. The wagyu beef burger was also good; the patty was juicy and nicely seasoned. The pork-belly came with kimchi and slices of pickled cucumber. I though this combination was a bit too acidic but the pork slices were nice. Our server was knowledgeable and considerate. I took two stars off for some of the technical issues I had with the food. Again, this is in comparison to the "finer" sushi establishments one would find in San Fran, NYC and abroad. The biggest problem I had was the cold and hard rice. There's simply too much rice per piece. I expect quality sushi to be crafted in equal, comfortable bite sizes, with the rice in a temperature that is only slightly cooler than room temperature but not cold, and to have a texture that is soft but not mushy. This kind of rice, topped with a quality cut of fish, should result in a "melt in your mouth" texture. I've seen sushi chefs make a small dent in the rice before laying the fish on top to create this special mouthfeel. The nigiri pieces were shaped wider on the bottom, an indication of less skilled chef, the rice temperature too cold and the texture was too hard. In fact, there were grains that were slightly undercooked in the middle. However, I did appreciate that the plating of the nigiri pieces followed the standard order of fish sequence - something you don't see in many Madison sushi establishments. The rolls were also too big. Additionally, the spicy mayo atop the Tsunami was rather bland - I would have liked a bit more spice in the mixture. It tasted like regular mayonnaise on top of a pile of tuna puree that's mixed with chili oil. I give creativity points to the Santa Belly. The pork belly and coconut was a nice pairing. However, the raspberry vinaigrette did not compliment the flavor. The sugary nature of this particular dressing failed to balance out the fat. Overall, the restaurant left me with the impression of quantity over quality. It is obvious that the owners put a lot of thoughts in designing the space and its menu. Unfortunately the execution fell short of the image it's trying to project. read more

The best place for sushi in Madison, hands down. If you've never been, be sure to try one of the seasonal specials! The unique combination of fruits, fish, and seasonal flavors are always worth a try. If you're feeling more low-key, the Ecuador roll is a person fave of mine, the ramen is delicious, and the nigiri is always the perfect temperature. read more

The best sushi, ever. They keep an ever changing seasonal menu available for the adventurous type, featuring very unique creations with great flavors! They often offer black rice for a more nutty taste and rich antioxidant properties- it is delicious and well worth the upgrade. Also delicious is the soy paper rolls, rather than seaweed. They also have a great vegan menu!! I recommend the vegan rainbow. As for sushi and sashimi, their bluefin tuna and tuna belly are well worth the price- so soft and flavorful. Favorite cooked rolls are spider and sea god, and favorite raw rolls are triple decker, omega 3, badger, tiger, and purple rain. If you haven't been here yet, YOU NEED TO GO!! read more

By far the best sushi in Madison! Great selection of sashimi and the miso is the best I have ever had. They pour a good stiff cocktail so check it out if you can! read more

It's a great treat to be at Red. Great sake selection. Tried salmon lovers, dragon, seven sins, spicy volcano, spicy scallop rolls. All turning out really well. Just a bit disappointed with the creme brûlée, it was way undercooked. Otherwise great seating, lovely atmosphere, and our waiter is being awesome ! Can't really go wrong with red, being refreshing, elegant and delicious. Quite right. read more

RED - Super volcano, dragon, salmon lover, seven sins roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This should be called the best First Date Sushi Joint in Madison. Great, fresh sushi, excellent spicy ramen, fun cocktails, beautiful decor, chill house music that's not too loud, and fast service. Even if you're on the fence about sushi you should go. read more

This place is absolutely AMAZING. The food looks too beautiful to eat. I had the salad and my taste buds were going off with a SALAD. The mango, the crunch and peanut sauce hit the spot! The sushi is so amazing. The menu is on the pricey side but totally worth it! read more

Great service and excellent food. Management here gets it right!!! Not your typical Madison, WI restaurant . This place is a cut about. Thank you for a wonderful evening!! We will be back! read more

Ambiance is a sure 10. Hostess was friendly enough. It was pretty busy with an hour wait so we took a spot that opened up at the bar. Service was great at the bar. Very enthusiastic and helpful. We ordered 3 rolls. The presentation was nice although the Purple one was something to be desired. I have spent the last 10 years in large cities with great sushi . I was disappointed by the large size of the rolls and lack of tightness. They fell apart and gagged me because of their size. We only ate a portion of what was served. Also do to these oversized rolls I really didn't get a chance to enjoy the flavor if any. I would not order sushi here again unless they learn how to roll but for a drink and try something else of the menu , absolutely. read more

One day just stopped by for a quick meal. I've came here several times before and always had a good impression. The food is fusion-style, so if you want to try authentic Japanese sushi, go to muramoto. But I like how the cook treated food and always come up with new dishes. And they taste good - except their miso soup, which taste like salted water -- too much salts! The servers were generally polite, and especially the girls at the front desk, who tried their best let to let people wait for too long. But I have to say that single day I had an awkward experience with a server. I waited for at least half an hour or even more to get my sushi - it's just one simple dish, even if the restaurant was not so busy when I was waiting. I felt that people coming in groups were treated prior to me and people who came later than me all got their food. So I asked another server who just passed by - the original one just never showed up again - if my dish is ready. He went to kitchen to check and came back and told me: "They didn't do it yet." I said: "Ok, I will cancel my order." and stood up to leave. Then I was stopped by my original server who told me that the food was ready. I told him what was going on just now and he didn't want to apologize. Although the food eventually came, I was not satisfied at all and couldn't really enjoy it anymore. That was my last time stopping by. read more

I have been eating sushi since I was a child all over the East coast. The atmosphere of this place was great, very friendly staff. Sushi menu had a decent size selection. I will say that it was overpriced in my opinion. The sushi was pretty good but I've had better quality and quantity for far less, even in bigger cities. I was disappointed after spending $45 (3 items) that I was still hungry. Very disappointed that a Japanese restaurant didn't have fresh brewed ice tea. I would come back if invited but won't be venturing back on my own. read more

Moving to Madison from the East Coast, I had decided that sushi in the midwest would be inherently subpar. I could not have been more mistaken. Red sushi is some of the most delicious fish I have ever had. The have some exciting unique rolls along with all of the classics you would expect. The new location has a great vibe and is perfect for date night! read more

This place was so good. I had been craving sushi for a long time now and Red hit the spot. The new space is large and welcoming and pro-tip: they take reservations now! They also have a nice outdoor space overlooking W. Washington and the Capital. They've carried over their previous menu with a few new additions. We started with drinks- the Ginger Sour and some drink that started with a 'p' that I can't recall. The Ginger Sour was delicious with a nice layer of egg white foam on top. The other drink tasted like oranges. I was very surprised to find out it was a gin drink as I typically can't stand gin. We ordered the brussel sprout gyoza as an appetizer. Do yourself a favor and order this when you go. I am not on the brussel sprout train (never have enjoyed them), but this was AMAZING. The 7 spice and bacon really add to the flavor of the dumpling. For our main meal, my friend and I split 4 rolls- Dragon, Orange Crunch, Firework and Triple Decker. I was wary of the Dragon Roll as I hadn't had eel before but holy crow was it tasty. Slightly sweet, not overpowering in flavor. It ended up being my favorite. My husband got the Ramen and Philly Roll. He said the Ramen was spicy, but not overly so. It made great leftovers as well! We left full, but not stuffed. If you've been to Red before, I highly recommend checking out the new space and if you haven't, go see what the fuss is all about! read more

The aesthetics of this place is impressive. There is really no environment like it in Madison. The fish is of great quality. The rolls are over the top and incorporate too many ingredients that take away from the flavor of the fish. The biggest disappointment about this place is the actual sushi experience. If I sit at the sushi bar I want to interact with my sushi Chef. When you sit at the sushi bar at Red you place all orders with a server and have no interaction with the sushi chef. The sushi chefs at Red are robots cranking out what ever come out of the printer. Before I order omakase I want to know that my sushi Chef knows what he is doing and that is not an option here. In all I recommend this place for cocktails and the hot food which is done very well. But when it comes to sushi save your money for a better sushi experience which does not exist in Madison yet. read more

My husband and I visit family in the area each summer and the adults search far and wide for a great place to eat each year. This year we chose Red and it was the best decision! The sushi is amazing. We all loved what we ordered. I ordered the Ramen and found it to be spectacular! I loved the ground pork in it, there were plenty of noodles cooked perfectly. The broth was clear and spicy with dots of chili oil on top. The soft boiled egg was a perfect accent. I just loved it! If you get the chance, try this establishment. We will be back! read more

Red was a trendy modern looking restaurant. The staff was super friendly, however the sushi left a little to be desired. They had a good lunch special price wise. The quality of the sushi was nothing exceptional, not bad, just not great. I don't know that I would come back. The restaurant had just moved locations, so I'm not sure of that was the problem. I would say it was just an average sushi experience. read more

Parking is difficult. We were actually towed, so don't park in ally across the street. Sushi is good, but with the higher prices you would expect in large cities. This reminds me of Sushi restaurants you find on either coast of the US, and all the good and bad associated with such. Upscale, pricey, with fresh sushi and solid service. Great place to go on a date, but hit up Takara if you eat sushi every week. read more

Love this place. Service, dining, atmosphere. Always a fun experience. Any dish you'd try is tasty. Large selection of wine and cocktails crafted. Highly recommend either you visit or looking for a place to dine/lunch. The deserts are yummy. read more

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