I had the absolute pleasure of attending one of the two evenings that Nick offered a soft opening, the weekend before the grand opening. I'll start with the food. The food is absolutely IMPECCABLE! You really can taste a difference in quality, preparation, and care for the fish at Sado versus other sushi restaurants (I'm still dreaming about the Salmon Nigiri bites). If you're a person who prefers Makimono (rolls) over Sashimi or Nigiri, do yourself a favor and allow Sado to be the place you give Sashimi and Nigiri another shot. The photos don't do the food any justice to the taste. The presentation was also phenomenal! (Not pictured but also enjoyed during dinner: Nippon Tartare, Black Tiger Prawn, Bluefin Toro Nigiri, Shibo Maki.) The drinks were well crafted and the extensive cocktail menu has all bases covered for everyone. The ambiance of the restaurant is intimate and the seating arrangements are tighter than one may expect, but don't allow that to discourage your experience. Within the weeks and months to come, my hopes are high that the kinks with the service (waitstaff) improves. This place also isn't somewhere you dine at without expecting to spend a pretty penny. Overall, Sado has definitely made its way to a Top 5 local restaurant on my list! read more

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Delicious food and drinks. We did 8 small shareable plates for 2 people per the waitress recommendations. Service was great, our waitress helped us navigate the menu and made plenty of useful suggestions. Ambiance is nice. Menu is Definitely on the pricier end And 20% gratuity is automatically added to each bill. read more

Sado - Cocktail and beer options - Sushi Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

We had a party of 6 with reservations. One couple arrived a bit early and got drinks at the bar. The rest of us got there shortly after. Our table wasn't ready, so we all hung out at the bar. Then the hostess told us we were jamming up the area and needed to move into the small vestibule. With our drinks. This seemed like a worse idea, because now we were blocking people from entering the restaurant. Finally we were seated. The food was great, but the service was a miss. Our waiter was a bit pretentious in stating that we needed to order in a specific way so the service would be "seamless" Then he disappeared for 45 minutes. It took a while to get our food after ordering, too. Everyone was generally pleased with the dishes, except the Tempura did seem awfully greasy, and I love fried foods. Still, I'd recommend this place. read more

Amazing! Seafood was so fresh, service was spectacular. We had several rolls and Nigiri and it's literally the best sushi I have ever had. The brussel sprout appetizer is spot on...pretty sure people who don't like brussel sprouts would even like them! read more

Sado - Sushi Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Best sushi and raw fish in St. Louis. Service and ambiance were top tier as well. Nick Bognar knows what he's doing! read more

Sado - Sushi Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Came back a year later and the experience was again stellar. Made a reservation on RESY and noted a birthday, which they did acknowledge with some kind words. The dining room was lively and energetic. All of the tables were filled (Wednesday). We ordered a bunch of food and an Albarino to pair with the sushi. We particularly liked the Southeast influences (coconut milk, fried scallions, and Thai basil) infused in some of the dishes. The yellow tail collar was one of the highlights for me; it was one of the biggest ones that I've ever had in a restaurant. The tuna w caviar was once again a great way to end the meal. We were too stuffed to have dessert this go round. read more

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Sado exceeded expectations in every way Saturday night. From the moment you walked in, every interaction with the crew was a pleasure and made for a wonderful evening. They have a gorgeous dining room that was comfortable and inviting. Champagne was the perfect pairing with such amazing fresh seafood. Crab Rangoon Wagyu tartare Isaan hamachi black tiger prawn tempura benitoro (seared salmon belly) madai (snapper) masu (ocean trout) Tiger cry roll Akami maki roll Old yokai maki roll read more

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Sado was fantastic. We had two cocktails each - not pictured is the most delicious martini with sesame oil. We tried a dish from each section, a couple pieces of nigiri and sashimi and one roll. Everything was delicious. Our favorites were the Japanese pumpkin and the isaan hamachi. read more

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My husband and I went last night for my birthday celebration. I have been wanting to go for quite some time now. When making the reservation I had to put my credit card down with a fee of $20 per person if I cancelled less than 24 hours. Be aware of that. When we got seated at our table there was a nice note that said Happy Birthday! Nice touch. We had a very nice waiter who talked us thru the menu, answered our questions and took note of my dairy sensitivity. We decided on a bottle of white and ordered our sushi. The plates came out fast and we weren't expecting so many at once. We felt a bit rushed. I read a review that said the rice was seasoned a bit much and I have to agree on a few pieces of nigiri with that comment. The scallop nigiri was especially lime based and I really lost the scallop on it. The shrimp tempura maki roll was outstanding! The isaan humachi appetizer was to die for! We almost wished we had some bread to soak up the sauce it came in! The best nigiri we had was the a5 wagu and the aged yellow belly! That will be in my dreams!! It is a bit loud but what place isn't. It's fresh looking and clean. Expect to drop some cash but well worth it. I'll go back and try some other things next time. read more

Amazing food, amazing service, great ambiance and vibe (prefer it over Indo). Drinks were good too, but I think having a larger selection of house cocktails would be beneficial, having only like 6 was a little limiting. Definitely some of the best Japanese seafood & sushi you will find in the Mid-west. read more

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Exceptional food. The dishes here are so creative. The recipes and the ideas are a piece of art and it can be seen that a lot of effort has been put into the fruition of these wonderful dishes. A bit pricey for St. Louis but the absolute best restaurant in all of St. Louis by far. Would definitely come back here for a second visit! Reservations are highly recommended as it is hard to get in through walk in! read more

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I recently moved back to STL from LA and I am excited to have found this place! Though I enjoy the food in the mid-west, as a vegetarian I always miss *good* vegetarian non-western foods, and I am happy to say, this place delivered. My partner and I came here for an early Valentine's date and the ambiance is perfect for date night and the staff was kind and helpful with making food recommendations. I ordered the Daikon dish, Vegan Crispy rice, and Nigiris (Avocado, Kinoko, and Nasu). The texture and flavor of all five items were delicious, but the Avocado Nigiri is a *must try.* My partner (non-vegetarian) ordered the Alamo Maki and Black Tea Kanpachi, and though he enjoyed everything, he kept on repeating how good the broth was in the Black Tea Kanpachi dish. The cocktails were good, but I'd say this place shines more for its food. All in all, with confidence, put this spot on your to-try list. read more

TL:DR - The best Sushi and Japanese restaurant in the STL area. For those familiar with iNDO, this is Chef Nick Bognar's second venture in the STL area, and it definitely lives up to the reputation of its predecessor. Located on the notoriously traditional Italian dining hotspot, The Hill--Sado boldly presents an unexpected addition as a contemporary restaurant serving both traditional and innovative takes on Japanese cuisine all while moody music plays through the dimly lit dining room. The menu is designed around coursed out shared small plates with both hot and cold options. For those looking for the classic sushi experience, you can stick to the Makimono section of the menu (4-5 rolls for two), but I highly recommend branching out to some of the other tastings. Of the tasting options, the gyoza and sprouts present my favorite of the safe entries to add on to a typical sushi meal--although there are several more adventures selections that I encourage you to try. For classic rolls, it's pretty hard to go wrong; however, for those looking for recommendations--the Shibo maki is both delicious and refreshing and can serve as an excellent way to break up heavier dishes, the Nikkei provides a fun fruity twist, and the Old Yokai is one of the richest bites of sushi you can find in STL. A small warning on the Akami maki, it can be a bit polarizing for those not aquatinted with traditional Thai flavors so be aware before ordering. For drinks, similar to the dinner menu, there is a share of traditional and innovative cocktails that are all delicious although some contain savory notes so be sure to consult your server if you're unsure. Additionally, Sado boasts a respectful spirit list including some great wines and sakes to pair with your meal. Hot tip, they offer some extremely crushable lychee martinis during the social hour! Finally, service. The staff at Sado is consistently polite, attentive, informative, and overall just a good time. Additionally, you can always expect a complimentary tasting from the menu which adds a fun element of surprise and opportunity to try new flavors. In conclusion, the best Japanese restaurant in the STL area and probably all of MO. I have been back many times since my first visit to revisit my favorites dishes and try new tastings and I certainly will be back again! Quick tip: Reservations recommended although they reserve an area for walk ins. read more

Best sushi I've had in St. Louis (on a par with great restaurants in Chicago). Fine dining flavors and presentation. Great service, nice (dark) ambiance. Pricey, but not unreasonable for the product and experience. read more

A great gem in the hill area! Went with my situationship on a romantic date here. No reservations; if it's meant to be it's meant to be. Turns out, it was meant to be and we were seated within 10 minutes. They have a great online waiting list you can join before arriving to save you some time! Server was very kind and informative. The yellowtail nigiri was our favorite dish, with gyoza as a close second, and the roll and bun to follow. The bun was equal parts cucumber and pork which seemed very veggie heavy to us, but we trust chef! Overall great meal and would recommend for an occasion. For the price I need to be blown away by the food, and while it was delicious it was pretty pricey for what you get read more

Sado - Pork bun - Sushi Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Over-rated. And way over-priced. I've been to thousands of restaurants in the past +36 years of business travel. Some of the finest restaurants in the USA. Many of those meals I've dined alone at the bar. Never have I been charged a mandatory 20% gratuity. Sure, I've seen this policy for large parties (8 or more) but never for a single diner. The hostess told me, "All the restaurants are doing it [not true]. If you don't like it, I should dine elsewhere". She's right! And I will. read more

My god, one of the best restaurants in the Lou hands down! The food that's being churned out here is of the highest quality with strokes of genius and creativity. I really loved the lotus salad which was overflowing with gems, like candied ginger. The space is also very cool with lots of art. 100/10 read more

Sado - Lotus salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Came here for a special birthday and we had such an amazing experience. Servicer was attentive and she was excellent. We missed couple of photos obviously was too excited to eat them. And those were unagi kabayaki from the hot dishes and toro with caviar. Everything was just so delish. can't wait to go back again. read more

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We have been patiently awaiting the opening of Sado for months. It was absolutely worth the wait! The vibe is moody and the music playlist is 10/10. We made a reservation at the sushi counter which I highly recommend. The owner, Nick, offered multiple recommendations on saki, sushi and starters. The drinks are fun and delicious. It is hands down the best sushi we have ever had. Extremely fresh and amazing quality. There is a ton of street parking and they also accept walk-ins. Definitely recommend for your next date night! read more

Sado - Sushi Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

The food was amazing! The cocktails are fantastic. We had gyoza and crab rangoon to start, then split three rolls. Portions are large, would probably suggest two rolls for a party of two if you also get appetizers. Can't wait to go again read more

Sado - Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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For my Daughter's birthday, she requested sushi. I do not eat much seafood and I definitely am not a sushi connoisseur. In fact, I know precisely nothing about it. However, I was pleased with the reviews and we decided to venture on into Sado. I was immediately impressed by every staff member we encountered & their careful attention to detail. On our way to be seated, we were shown where the restrooms were located (a thoughtful idea considering the youngest patron). Once seated, we didn't wait long until our waiter arrived and was so pleasant and patient with us. As we waited for each plate to arrive, I couldn't help notice each server delivering meals all around us. Every single one took time to explain the dish, noting key ingredients and making sure it was executed perfectly. As our selections arrived I was excitedly awaiting their explanations and even more so to try them. As I stated before, this is not my area of expertise, however I can say with complete confidence that sado has nailed it. Every selection was expertly crafted and delicious. I highly recommend this beautiful restaurant to anyone looking for the total experience, not just a meal! read more

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Went in for their happy hour (so many options for food and drinks) and ordered mai tais, a few rolls, bang bang tempura bowl and the chilled matcha dessert!! Everything was delicious, can't wait to go back. Would love to sit in the kitchen area seating to watch them make the rolls. We sat at the bar with no reservation on a Thursday night. Great service, would recommend for date night or girls night!! read more

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We were excited to try Sado after being Indo fans and it did not disappoint! We were happy to see the Isaan hamachi which is always a favorite. The other highlight was the daily special nigiri list - very flavorful and fresh - it's hard to find this fresh of seafood in St. Louis! read more

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Went here with my family and had a great experience. Amazing food, especially the chawanmushi. Our waiter was incredible knowledgeable about the menu and was kind and thoughtful. The atmosphere of the restaurant was intimate and sophisticated. read more

Perfect sushi bites for every single bites. We've been there 3x since they've opened. Every time we are there, we get amazing service and food. Highly recommend this place if you love perfect pieces of nigiris, creative sashimi, and just overall amazing ambiance. read more

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Ever since Sado opened I've been trying to find a reason to go. Turns out my friend made reservations for her birthday dinner and we finally got to try it!! It was one of the best restaurants I've tried in St. Louis. We got a bottle of sake and riesling for the table to start then split a bunch of apps. The Nippon tartare is beyond amazing. The edamame is the best I've ever had and melts in your mouth. I also got the akami maki roll and it was tasty but I preferred the classic spicy tuna roll my boyfriend got. For dessert we split the olive oil cake and cantaloupe sorbet and the sorbet was sooo good. Overall a 5/5 meal, great service, ambience, and the food was above and beyond. read more

Service and food was great. Place is pricey though, be ready to spend some serious money here.

Came here for hubbys birthday tonight. Our server could have been a little more attentive/informative, but the food and environment lived up to the expectations. All the food was unbelievably fresh and all of the presentations were 10/10. This restaurant is a great addition to The Hill neighborhood! Can't wait to go back! read more

Such a fun and neat restaurant! We wanted to try a ton of menu items and we definitely spent a pretty penny but very worth it! Everything was amazing! Service was phenomenal. The cloud cocktail drink was one of my favorite parts. read more

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Everything is beautiful. Excellent quality of sushi. The service is prompt and polite. Kudos to the Chef! read more

Came here for social hour and it was definitely worth it, we tried one of everything! My favorite was the vegan crispy rice and the poke bowl. The nigiri comes one piece at a time so definitely get a few per person. The salmon maki was also fantastic because it had a nice citrus flavor. We came around 5 and there was no wait for us to sit at the bar, and service is 10/10. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Great food great service I was pleasantly surprised how good everything was. I'll definitely will be back. One of my new favorite spots! read more

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This is probably the worse sushi restaurant I have ever been too. First they tried to make it a fancy restaurant but it's no where close to it. The quality of food was poor as well as the service. The server did not even know how to pronounce the items in the menu. I sat on the sushi bar but the server tells me they only serve what's on the menu. It's a sushi bar but does not serve sashimi by the pcs. I would try to avoid the place and don't waste your money. read more

Nick Bognar has done it again, and the James Beard love is well deserved. If you're looking for a perfect blend of divine food, exceptional service, and a sophisticated ambiance, Sado is the place to be. #1 must order dish is the Isaan Hamachi. I wish I could bathe in its coconut goodness. The eggplant was another standout, as it's served on the most delectable cloud of umami, but honestly every dish will have you licking your plate clean. I look forward to trying the Omakase tasting next time! read more

Sado brings much-welcome upscale sushi to the St. Louis food scene that was long overdue! The atmosphere manages to feel warm, despite being a dimly lit, dark-colored space. The interior gives you flashes of Japan, without being over the top or gaudy. It is intimate, despite tables being fairly close to one another, you don't feel crowded with other diners. We had the gyoza that had a crispy fried lace connecting them. I had never had gyoza like that, but it was incredibly good and a generous portion. We also had crab rangoon that was served in wonton shells similar to how you would traditionally receive a spring roll. It was some of the best crab rangoon I had ever had and the sweet and sour sauce was great! The sushi was incredibly fresh, unlike any I have had in Missouri. The service was attentive and our server was well-versed in sake. They have a large selection and he helped me pick out something I would like based on my tastes. Everything we had was really delicious. The menu is large and there are seasonal options. It is well-worth having a conversation with your server and getting recommendations. I also recommend ordering as a table and sharing the plates so get the full experience. read more

Sado - Sushi Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Sado is truly exceptional. I would eat here every single day if I could The flavorful dishes are light, fresh and distinctive. The salmon aguachile is smooth and sweet. The shibo maki is unassuming and delectable. Light, sweet and subtle. The old yokai maki is outstanding. Every ingredient stands out on its own while also complementing the other flavors. Beyond the magical food, the service is just as magnificent. Every member of the staff is friendly, knowledgeable and thoroughly hardworking. James and Martin made our spontaneous evening out a success. We chatted, learned a lot and witnessed them both at work performing their jobs with care and hospitality. I'd take a seat at the bar any time with the two of them at the helm. I spent my career in hotels and restaurants and would highly recommend this spectacular spot for any occasion. read more

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We had long awaited going to Sado and my boyfriend surprised me with dinner here for my birthday. Did it meet the hype? Not really. The traditional items were really delicious but we ventured out to some more exotic items and I think we weren't ready for that. Also the acoustics in the restaurant are terrible. I walked in, walked to the back and I couldn't even hear myself think. I couldn't hear him and we were trying to enjoy a special night out and it was not the best environment for that. We enjoyed about 70% of our meal and ordered exceedingly too much because we wanted to try it all! The gyoza are still my favorite of all time. We had them originally at Nippon Tei before they closed. Our other favorite was the blue fin tuna. I would not recommend the seabass, it was so fishy, I actually spit it out. It was on their specials list so I'm sure it just rotates. We also got some sushi roll that ended up having anis in it but it wasn't listed on the menu. If you know from anis you know it's very intense, it's licorice flavor and not at all what we would want in our sushi. We ended up picking the tuna out of the roll and left the rest of the sushi on the plate. Would I recommend people try it? Yes. Would I go back? No read more

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The hottest restaurant in town! Make sure to book a reservation in advance, this place fills up quick. High class, elevated, swanky, great drinks and the freshest food with unique flavors. Prices are up there! The appetizers and sashimi / nigiri is really where this place shines. Also fun to come and sit at the sushi bar where you can watch the chef make the rolls right in front of you! read more

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My partner took me here for my birthday and made a reservation at the sushi bar. Our server was sweet, charming. We had many questions and he was very helpful and gave insightful information while being happy to explain the menu and the restaurant idea. We ended up getting the gyoza and the Brussels sprouts, both are AMAZING. I'm convinced, a 2 year ok who hates greens especially Brussels sprouts would down these instantly and ask for seconds. It was that good. We chose to do the omakase and I've never had fresher eel, and the variety is out of this world: amberjack, sake toro, red snapper and bluefin tuna. The sushi chefs were all very knowledgable and took our taste in sashimi into consideration and perfected the course they served us. read more

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I've been here twice now and can't recommend it highly enough. We've done omakase style both times and I really think it's the best way to experience a place like Sado! Haven was our server on our most recent visit--truly some of the *best* service I've ever experienced! She was knowledgeable, answered every question, came up with an excellent menu for us, and was just generally a joy to interact with. I want her every time! As far as the food, it's all amazing. Standout dishes for me have to be the nigiri--I have always been hesitant to try nigiri so Sado was my first time with it and I think I'm ruined forever now. Every single one is.so.good. I also have had the salmon aguachile twice now and it's probably my favorite thing on the menu. Those flavors are incredible. read more