So I stopped in with my two godsons for a couple apps and a drink during an evening of food and drink tasting in the area. This is a super cool spot, and I'd say it's great for everything from a quick bite to a full meal. I'd also highly recommend it for a date night. My only very minor consideration, and probably more of a summer thing (because I run a little hot), is that it can get a little warm near the open kitchen. It's on the third floor and they are cooking with proper charcoal skewers, so I think that's probably just part of the experience. Having said that, they do everything possible to keep it comfortable. The atmosphere is chill, and the service is excellent. Since we had dinner reservations nearby, we just wanted a couple of bites. The otoro was melt-in-your-mouth awesome--fresh, with high-quality sushi rice(my nephew said it was the best sushi he's had in the city). We also tried the chicken and wagyu beef robatayaki, both of which were perfectly cooked and finished with a delicious sweet and umami glaze. I'd definitely come back for a full meal, but it's also a great option if you're looking for a cool place to grab a cocktail or beer and a couple of appetizers before or after other plans. read more

Umami - Wagyu Beef Tenderloin Robatayaki and Chicken Thigh Robatayaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Really Instagram-worthy place with an awesome ambiance and great natural lighting. The condensation from the HVAC running throughout the restaurant was a bit off-putting, especially when the liquid would occasionally drip on you. I loved being able to see into the kitchen and watch them cook the yakitori. The food was good and fresh, but honestly none of the flavors necessarily stood out as particularly memorable. Overall, a fairly good experience with nice presentation and a really beautiful atmosphere. read more

Umami - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A mysterious door that leads up stairs to a hip dark Japanese bar. There are many stairs leading to the restaurant. You will need a reservation, this place was packed even on a Tuesday night. We loved the crispness and juicy Kaarage. A really nice portion for $12. The nigiri plate was good. Fish was fresh, rice was soft, warm and well seasoned. For $30 this was a pretty good deal. The $75 grand meal on weekends looks so good. The $20 sushi roll seemed a bit steep but the roll was good. The rice ratio seemed like a little too much rice but the fish was flavorful with the spicy sauce. Overall would recommend for PA sushi! read more

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Had a great first time at Umami with my boyfriend. We both were super happy that we were able to get last minute reservations to this place as I heard it was some of the best sushi in Pittsburgh. The food and drinks absolutely blew us away... the sushi was so fresh and delicate and the broth from the ramen was packed with flavor. The drinks were inventive and strong which I loved. Upon ordering my second drink however me and our waitress had a decent conversation on what was popular and what I should try...as soon as I ordered we were given a voucher where it was $2 dollars off drinks. Unfortunately we were not eligible for the $2 dollars off drinks because I had ordered just seconds before. I felt like the waitress should have let us know about that however I understand that it might have slipped her mind. Overall it was a really good experience and I do recommend going. read more

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Umami has been a bi weekly rotation in my household! I've brought my family, visiting friends, and coworkers and all of them have left full and happy excited to return! I highly recommend a reservation as they do not take many walk ins, especially for big parties and definitely take advantage of their happy hour menu (5-6pm). Their HH menu allows you to try some of their most popular bites for a fraction of the cost! Items that we ALWAYS order are the karaage, stir fried udon wit shrimp tempura, at least 3 skewers, the lychee martinis, Takoyaki, and some variation of toro. We try to mix in others every time and have never had a bad bite! Servers are always so kind to us and can't wait until my next visit! Hopefully it's soon! read more

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I dined here solo and ate at the bar. It was very good. I started with the Addictive Cabbage, rightly named. Then I got the Nigiri plate which had a sampling of sushi. I don't know how they do it but it was melt in your mouth good. I also tried the pork gyoza dumplings, also very tasty and served in a unique way. It was a Friday night and they had a DJ spinning tunes which created a cool vibe. The bartender was nice and helpful. I would definitely go back but be prepared to hunt for a parking space as it's in Lawrenceville. I also thought the wine pour was a little on the skimpy side. Those were my only minuses. read more

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Umami is a great spot for happy hour, dinner, and even late night happy hour on the weekends! We had dinner there the other week and everything was so flavorful and the moody lighting was a whole vibe. We ordered basically half the food menu along with several drinks and I enjoyed everything we got, especially the shareable small plates and the robatayaki skewers! Our friends who came back from Japan earlier that week gave it their stamp of approval so you know it's good! read more

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The vibes at the restaurant are amazing. Dry martini was absolutely 'umami,' and chirashi bowl was amazingly fresh. The service was pretty good. My only issue with the service was that the brought me the incorrect drink while we were waiting for a table, but they corrected and brought the correct drink over. What's nice is that they take drink orders for you while you wait (even if you're standing and not sitting at the bar). The hostess was extremely friendly and personable. When we were sat at our table there was cold air blowing and we asked to be sat at a different table without the air blowing constantly. They accommodated us which was great. The food was absolutely amazing and super fresh. Unfortunately, as you can see from the photos, the lighting is not that great with regard to taking photos. It is very red everywhere and I think they could soften that a little in my opinion so people can take clear photos of their amazing food. read more

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My buddy and I visited Umami on Friday. I highly recommend that you book a reservation. This was my first time visiting and it did not disappoint! We went during happy hour so we saved a few bucks. To get to the restaurant you have to walk up two flights of stairs, but once you're there the restaurant is awesome looking. Great bar, great kitchen, and great staff! Darelle was working behind the bar and he is top notch! Of course I had to eat as much as possible so we ordered off the happy hour menu first: suntory highball, wolf & cub, daily uramaki, and miso torched salmon nigiri. Everything on that happy hour menu was absolutely delicious! After that I moved to the main menu: skewers - I ordered four different ones: Wagyu beef, pork belly, bacon quail egg, and fried chicken skin. Every single skewer was delectable! The last two items that I ordered was the Otoro hand roll and gyudon with added pork belly. Both were absolutely excellent! The bluefin fatty belly in the hand roll just melted in my mouth. I really cannot wait to go back to Umami, the vibes, the staff, and the food were simply fantastic and amazing. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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Oh man, I'm not gonna lie, Umami is probably hands down one of my favorite spots for sushi, ramen, and gyoza. I went here with one of my good friends who came to visit me from the city and we enjoyed literally everything about this place. At first I was a little sketched out because you have to go up a couple flights of stairs. I was confused like... are we even in the right spot? But yes, you just keep walking up the stairs and eventually you pop out into the restaurant. And once you walk in you're like okay yeah this is a whole vibe. They have a DJ playing in the back and if you sit at the bar in front of the grill it's super fun. I got to watch them grill the skewers, dip the skewers, make the sushi... all of it. That alone made the experience so cool. We started with drinks and got lychee martinis and OMG we could not stop drinking them. When we order food we like to try a bunch of different things so we went in. We got edamame, gyoza, miso soup, and the fried chicken. I wasn't really a fan of the fried chicken because it tasted like chicken thigh meat and I'm just not a dark-meat girl, but the gyoza was amazing. I've never seen it made like that. It came out pan-seared and fried in a way where it was connected so you had to break it apart. The edamame was great too. We also got ramen. I wasn't a huge fan because it tasted a little burnt to me, but my friend loved hers so that might just be a me thing. Then we saw people ordering these stuffed sushi triangles, asked about them, and found out it was from the secret menu. So of course we got one. It was filled with spicy tuna and pretty good overall. We tried different skewers too - shrimp, steak, salmon, and chicken - and they were all amazing. The glaze they use is crazy good. Sweet, tangy, a little like sweet and sour but better. And shoutout to our server Dominique because she was bomb. She had us laughing the whole night and explained everything on the menu perfectly, especially the things we had no idea about. Overall this is definitely a go-to spot whether I'm with friends, by myself, or on a date night. Total vibe from start to finish. read more

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I highly recommend making reservations, as this place gets busy. Also, give yourself extra time to find parking, as many spaces are reserved for residents. The entrance can be a little tricky to find. Once you find the door, just keep going up a couple of flights of dark stairs. When you arrive at the top, you'll find the lively bar and a great setup. We got a table near a window and arrived just in time for happy hour. We tried almost every dish on that menu and loved it all. We then ordered a delicious mix of skewers, sushi, and torched salmon. The staff were super friendly. This place is highly recommended. read more

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My husband chose this spot for my first dinner after moving here, and... He made the right call :) Definitely make a reservation; the place was packed. The seafood is fresh, and the menu features several creative options. We tried a variety of items (Nigiri, Temaki, Takoyaki, and the daily specials) and honestly loved everything! As sushi lovers, we shared several small plates and really appreciated the quality. The fish-to-rice ratio was spot on. I loved the vibe: very hipster, complete with a DJ. Next time, we'd love to sit at the counter facing the kitchen for that authentic Japanese experience. Our server was so sweet and gave us some great recommendations. Even though it was busy, the timing of the courses was perfect. Highly recommend! read more

Umami - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Where do I start? Such a unique little place! I'll admit, as I was walking up the stairs, I wondered if I was even in the right spot--but as soon as I reached the top, I was greeted by the most welcoming host. You could immediately feel the energy and liveliness in the air. Once we were seated, our server was right there with menus, ready to take our drink order. She immediately asked about allergies and knew exactly what I could eat being gluten-free. She even reminded my dinner partner that one of the dishes he ordered wouldn't be shareable with me--which I thought was incredibly kind and conscientious. The service and ambiance? Top notch. Now, the food and drinks--OMG. I didn't try any of the sake (even though they have a huge sake menu), but I could tell if I'd wanted to explore it, they would've happily walked me through each one. There was plenty of food for sharing, and every single piece of fish I tried was fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Don't sleep on the bacon-wrapped quail eggs. I really appreciated how thoughtful they were about my allergy, and between the amazing service, lively atmosphere, and incredible food, I'll definitely be back. The whole experience was so good, I'm already planning my next reservation. read more

Umami - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Went here on a date and it was wonderful! The restaurant is on the third floor with an unassuming entrance but it's tucked away behind the Corner Cantina. Once you get into the restaurant, it's a nice little spot. They even have floor seating in a nook but I think those you have to reserve much ahead of time. We tried a little of everything. The staff was very attentive and regularly checked on us. Skewers - the shrimp is good but there's only one piece per order which is steep. The salmon was rlly good though and we got two of them, each has 4 pieces on it. The wagyu was good but not particularly special. They are all dipped in this pork sauce so I think they're all about the same flavor and depends on what medium you prefer. Also, everything is dipped in the same sauce so the skewers aren't a good option if you have a shrimp allergy. We got the sashimi plate which came with two pieces of each fish which was perfect for us to sample a little of everything. Once we tried a bit of everything, it helped us decide what we wanted in a handroll. The handroll had a good amount of fish as well as the amount of rice was good and seasoned with furikake. Hands down our favorite one was this seared salmon with miso paste that they apparently have on their secret menu. We ordered several of these. We also got the takoyaki which was yummy with no chewy bits inside which happens sometimes and can give me the ick. But this one was gloriously absent of chewiness and was just yummy. The matcha creme brulee was good, nothing in particular to write home about just a lot of matcha cream once you break through the sugar shell. Overall, quite an enjoyable and yummy meal. We came to dinner after we already ate less than 3 hours previously so we didn't think we would get much, especially knowing that it was a pricy place. However, we did end up eating a lot more than we expected because it was so yummy. Would definitely return for the seared salmon and maybe a handroll, I think the sashimi plate was good to have the first time just to try everything but would skip on a return visit since it is so pricy and so we can just eat our faves. read more

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We celebrated my birthday dinner at Umami, and it was absolutely perfect. They seated us in the tatami room, which is ideal for a larger dinner party and made the night feel extra special and intimate. Reservations do book out quickly, so I definitely recommend booking in advance. Every single dish and drink we ordered was outstanding, truly no misses. The atmosphere and flavors reminded me so much of restaurants in Tokyo, which made the experience even better. Everyone in our group had an amazing time, and the staff surprised us with complimentary birthday sake shots, which was such a fun and thoughtful touch. Overall, Umami is 100% worth the hype and a must-visit for a special occasion. read more

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If I could have packed this lil spot up and taken it back to Charlotte with me I would have. Umami was the absolute highlight of my quick trip to Pittsburgh last weekend. I came off of the recommendation of a good friend and it did not disappoint. I came alone on a busy Friday and asked to sit at the bar, and it was packed in there. The host was SO kind to literally grab a stool from who knows where and squeeze me in at the bar. Truly so kind and so appreciated. I was perfectly happy to sit elbow to elbow with some really nice folks at the bar. Someone gave me some recommendations on food and the bartender was amazing too! For drinks, I ordered the "old osaka" which is their take on an old fashioned with tori whisky, china china and shiso honey. This drink was phenomenal!!! So flavor forward, but so well balanced. I also tried one of their rare liquors called "cor cor red" it's an Okinawa molasses rum and it was pretty dang strong and tasty. I had to try it because it's something I've never seen on a menu. The drinks were amazing and so was the food!!! For food I ordered spicy pickled cucumbers, and these skewers: wagyu beef, brussel sprouts and shisito peppers. They were all delicious! The absolute STAR OF THE SHOW though, was the "takoyaki" which are fried octopus balls. My goodness! These were so good I almost ordered a second helping. Seriously delicious! My entree was the gyudon which is a beef rice bowl and it was also really good!! The funny thing is I ate ALL of this food, all of it. I can't express enough how fun of a culinary experience this was. From great food and drinks to awesome service and ambiance. This was truly a dinner to remember and I'll visit this place every time I'm in Pittsburgh!!! Truly a 5 star experience! read more

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I really enjoyed my experience at Umami from the food to the drinks, everything was on point. I started with the Snow Angel sake, which was light, smooth, and very easy to sip. For sushi, we tried the fatty tuna, lean tuna sashimi, salmon, octopus, and tuna nigiri all fresh and flavorful. The miso ramen was comforting and delicious, and the market-price fish of the day, branzino, came out perfectly crispy with a house chimichurri that tied it all together beautifully. The skewers were easily a highlight the wagyu practically melted in my mouth, and the chicken skin had that perfect crispy bite. Drinks were strong and well-made, and our bartender was fantastic. The only downside was the wait. Even with a reservation, we had to wait about 30-45 minutes before being seated, which was a little confusing. Still, once we sat down, the quality of the food and drinks made the night well worth it. read more

Umami - Whole Branzino Robatayaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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First of all, I got a little lost. So when you see round corner cantina, along 38th street is a side door that opens up to two more doors and you go up the one that is straight through. After two dark flights of steps, you reach the cutely decorated restaurant. The cuts of fish were thick and the yaki udon was yummy. You might not get full and spend $50 so come ready to spend $$. read more

Umami - Yaki Udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Came back again during the evening. This restaurant does not have many seats so it's quite hard to make reservations. You have to check at least a week before the actual meal. The meal was delicious as usual. The lighting is so red that you can't appreciate the natural look of the plates. But I guess they are going for a pub vibe. The servers are so busy and are not given enough time to take care of you. I feel the quality of service doesn't align with the price point they've set. read more

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Everything was amazing from the food to the friendly, attentive service to the atmosphere. read more

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Had an awesome dinner here. Really delicious cocktails that are sweet but arent too sweet, great ambiance. Waiter was kind and attentive. Sashimi was very very good in terms what I've recently had in Pittsburgh, though in comparison to other major cities is so so. I enjoyed it as well as the fried dishes and noodles. I will be back! read more

Food was dynamite. Staff was exceptional. Service was timely and gave complete answers to all of our questions. Would do again and again.

We make it a point to come here a few times a year. Staff is always amazing. Music and atmosphere are great. Food is always delicious! Never any complaints. read more

Celebrated an anniversary and got savory pancakes and miso ramen! So very good. Even got a glass of Cava to celebrate! Love this place read more

Umami - Miso Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I wanna say first and foremost Ben was a really lovely server, he was super accommodating and careful about my mother's annoying gluten intolerance and he made gentle conversation and even treated us to a bit of the house hibiscus-infused sake as we checked out! Thank you Ben! Secondly, obviously the food is expensive, I knew what I was going into when I was going here. It's not a restaurant where I am eating with a budget savings in mind, so I more so care about for that price am I getting good quality food? And fuck yeah that sashimi platter rocked, the fish melted in my mouth. The miso salmon roll that they had as a happy hour appetizer, man that salmon was so tender! I loved it! I will use this restaurant as an example to my horrible picky eater girlfriend whom I love that raw fish is actually pretty good. read more

If you're looking for a spot that's actually worth the money... Umami Japanese Restaurant did NOT disappoint. We ordered a mix of everything Blood orange Pork Chop, nigiri, chirashi, pork belly & chicken thigh skewers and cocktails‍ every single plate was top tier! The flavors were super fresh, well-balanced, & you can tell they really care about quality. The pork chop was juicy with that perfect char on a bed of funnel & pear shreds. The chirashi bowl was BEAUTIFUL, fresh cuts of fish, generous portions, and just overall chef's kiss Even the smaller bites like nigiri were done perfectly. Cocktails were just as good (and fun names too ). Everything came out looking like a full experience, not just a meal. Not to mention the dj was Total was about $220 for everything we got, and honestly... worth it! If you're debating it: YES, go! This is one of those places where you leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit. Follow me on TikTok to see more reviews on Umami: @ Lala.Miyagi & @ Taste.It.Lala read more

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My favorite happy hour for good bites! The servers are so kind and guide you through the menu. Such a cool vibe to get drinks with bites with friends. Will always be back for more! read more

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Again, a fabulous night at Umami! I hope they never leave this spot. The food is delicious and spot on always but the room on the third floor is absolutely perfect. It's like a speakeasy of fantastic delicious food and cocktails with a staff that is always attentive and friendly. This is why we go back regularly. Well done once again! read more

Had a great time coming here on a Thursday! Was able to get a table for two with no problem earlier in the day. Our server was amazing and the food was so good. Really enjoyed being back here! read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh! Been here several times and have left very full and happy every single time. Ambiance (especially at night, when they turn the red lights on) makes it feel like a trendy Japanese bar, and they always play great music. Service is exceptional -- servers are always very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. They change up the menu pretty often to honor what's seasonal, so it's never a bad time to go back. My go-tos are any of the skewers and handrolls. The skewers are a must try -- the meat is always very flavorful and juicy. Their sushi is always fresh. Their cocktails are also fantastic (the ones I've tried are on the sweeter side, which is ideal for me because I love my drinks sweeter) and have very unique Japanese-inspired flavors. Definitely recommend making a reservation for this place because it gets really packed! read more

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If you're coming to yelp to see if this spot is worth the hype, it is. Nicer date night that won't hurt your wallet. Quality is great and the vibes are super Lawrenceville. If you're front Pittsburgh or familiar with the area you'll know what that means Again it's a highly recommended date night/sit down, do not take out. Go and experience it and enjoy the atmosphere All the food we had was cooked perfectly and had great umami. I do wish I ordered the Chirashi Bowl. saw a lot of those placed read more

Umami - Tonkotsu Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Easily Lawrenceville's most fun after hours restaurant! The restaurant had a DJ last Friday night playing soulful and melodic house beats and the food came out lightning fast. The ambiance is unmatched here. It's such a fun and youthful vibe. They've really upped their late night game!Make sure to order the ikura nigiri with the quail egg! :)) read more

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This is a really moody, dimly-lit, cool vibe in Pittsburgh. We love small plates, and this a strong recommendation for something unique in the area. Ordered: Nigiri Plate 9/10 Rayu Cucumbers 8/10 Salmon and Pork Belly Robatayaki 7/10 Karaage 9/10 Pork Gyoza 10/10 The sea bream and scallop on the nigiri plate were definite standouts. Really clean, fresh, and sweet. The karaage needs mentioned if you're craving a good piece of fried chicken. It will definitely scratch that itch. The pork gyoza is a must order. This is a substantial portion with perfectly tender dumplings and a huge crispy bite on top, served with a sauce that really packs a punch. Service was quick with orders as they came out, and they were great with recommendations. I would recommend this on the vibe alone, but the food really delivered here too - with portions much larger than they would appear. read more

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I'm not very familiar with Japanese cuisine, so I came here with the hopes of stepping out of my comfort zone- and I did! We started with the pork belly robatayaki, which was yummy. I really enjoyed the meat but I'm not used to just getting a skewer of meat with nothing else to balance flavors. I'd still get it again though. We also had the takoyaki, which are fried balls with octopus in the center. Those were fantastic! I would definitely recommend trying those. Finally, for my meal, I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen. This was jam-packed with flavor. They also had two special rolls the last time I went with chu-toro, spicy salmon, and jalapeño. They were actually insane. This restaurant really knows it's sashimi and nigiri. I love the hamachi hand roll and nigiri as well which easily rivals any in the city. read more

It was my first time there. Likely my last. I was there at 5 PM on a Friday night. Let me preface this. I was not there for the cooked meal; I was there for sushi. For more than thirty years, I have had sushi at least once a week. I lived in the New York metropolitan area, northern Virginia, and now I am just east of Pittsburgh. I have traveled to Vietnam and Japan. Everywhere I travel, I have a sushi quest in mind. Umami is all about the atmosphere. I believe it has a vibe that will chill over time. Unless, of course, it changes. It is overpriced for the quality of food, prep, and presentation. I would not mind paying $300.00+ (with tip) for three adults if there were a little more effort put into the quality and presentation. If you like a jam-packed, fast-paced restaurant to eat at, go for it. It's a great place to hang out, have a few drinks and a few appetizers, and enjoy your company. If I do return, I will go there to sit at the sushi bar at a time when the chef can prepare my food in front of me without the mad rush of the evening. Unfortunately, I don't think that time exists. read more

Umami is the only izakaya type place in Pittsburgh, which grants it an irreplaceable spot in my heart as I can't really find the same vibes/food else where. However, I rarely come here because the food just doesn't really stand out. It's like it has all the things you'd want but taste wise feels too white washed. The food and drinks are also overpriced. I really don't think food-wise, it's any different from a cheaper and more casual Japanese/sushi restaurant. I'd only recommend it for those looking for this type of ambiance. Drinks are slightly better and I remember them having a selection of Asian inspired cocktails. However, none of them really stand out considering the price and quality. Service was friendly and fast though. read more

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I came here with my family and the experience is pretty good. Their specials are definitely worth it so ask your server about them. The wait time wasn't too bad. It is definitely a nice place to go with friends to chat. The place has a dim feeling to it at night and mainly use red lights in the seating area. This place is also a bit pricey. read more

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Such a great spot! It has the ambiance of a chic sushi spot that you'd find in NYC or LA, and the food definitely matches up with some of the better spots I've tried in those cities. We loved everything we ordered, especially the sushi - I only wish they had more sushi on their menu, because we tried (and loved) it all in just one visit. The drinks were good too, and like I mentioned before, it has a very "vibey" atmosphere that makes it perfect for a date night or night out. I can't wait to come back! read more

Super neat experience. The sushi/sashimi options are fresh as heck, and the daily specials are unique and worth the adventure. The ramen and the yaki udon were wonderful staples as a safe bet if you don't know what else to get. Kind of small restaurant, but sitting at the kitchen bar is a super enjoyable experience in my opinion-- kind staff was mindful of a sesame allergy, attentive to detail as well. So worth the stop in such a unique place. read more

Went right at 5 when they opened and got a spot at the bar for myself. Definitely make a reservation if you aren't coming right at 5 and have multiple people. Service was attentive and friendly. Drinks, sushi, udon noodles and dessert were all delicious. The ambiance and being 2 flights up just makes the whole vibe super cool and cozy. Can't wait to be back! read more

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