08/03/09

total disappointment

by dineoutluver

My friend and I went for celebrating our birthdays as our bds are very close to each other. As we both know that Nobu is a good restaurant, we wanted to try Matsuhisa for this event. However by the time we left, we might have expected too much... Food is just so "okay" here, nothing special. We ordered some sushi and the day's specials. Nothing to remark. The bill we recieved was over $260 as we expected. We would not felt expensive if we were satisfied with the food. Won't go back there for sure. I recommend Gonpachi across the street who serves much better food in great decor, with much less bill.

• Cons: way overpriced!

12/30/08

Overpriced and underwhelmed

by foodbabe818

I don't get why this is a well-respected restaurant. I hated it. The tables are so close together that you bump into other people or they bump into you regularly. The service was awful ... my waiter not only got my order wrong (bringing me food I didn't order, then charging me for it), but he never brought the rice I ordered either. And he didn't stop by the table except to bring the check. The food was ok, but definitely not worth the price. There are many other much better sushi restaurants in town.

• Pros: Food's ok
• Cons: Service, price, ambience

09/04/08

Service needs work!

by layanam

For the money you're spending here, it would help for the service to improve. The waiters don't know how to "wait"...you have to crane your neck to try to track them down to ask for something. They don't seem to care about their customers. Food was good, but definitely think it's overpriced. and incredibly small portions. You go for the scene, but if you want a good sushi place, there are plenty of better restaurants out there.

• Cons: RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE! LOUD & OBNOXIOUS PEOPLE!

02/27/08

Disappointing

by lewis79

After dining at a few of the Nobu locations (which I like), we were excited to give Matsuhisa a try. Being an avid sashimi fan, i was VERY disappointed. The salmon was fatty and chewy, and the yellowtail and tuna were definitely nothing special. We also had the rock shrimp (which was fine - same as everywhere else) and a crab dish which was ok. The bento box dessert was not nearly as good as it is in the Nobu locations. For a $250 bill for 2 people, we could have done much better somewhere, probably anywhere, else. If you are looking for great sashimi I would definitely recommend Hokusai instead - it is amazing! Oh, and ambiance was poor (as expected). Hopefully the new Nobu opening on La Cienega will be better!

• Pros: Good service, Large menu
• Cons: Food Isn't Good, Ambiance

02/14/08

Good unique dishes

by sdticks

I always have a good dining experience at Matsuhisa or any of the Nobu locations. I wouldn't come here and order sushi. You can do better on sushi elsewhere. Their unique dishes are what makes this place great. Unfortunately, it is a bit on the pricey side, but worth it in my opinion. If it's your first time, I would definitely get the tasting menu, then you can start to figure out what you like best for subsequent visits.

• Pros: Good dishes
• Cons: Expensive

01/13/08

Above average sushi, To die for desserts

by pepecarlo

My husband and I walked in one night as we were passing by and were seated right away. The staff and chefs were extremely friendly. The service was excellent. The sushi was fresh and delicious. The rice was exceptionally tasty. The desserts menu is incredible (we had the Bento Box chocolate lava cake and the green tea ice cream). The atmosphere was nice but the inside of the restaurant definitely needs renovation. We just had 3 sushi rolls, a couple of pieces of tempura and dessert and our bill was $80+. But we still thought it was worth it. The worst part of it all was that I got sick as soon as I made it to my car.

• Pros: Ambience, Service
• Cons: Crowded, Loud

01/02/08

so-so

by isogoodfoodalways

For an omakase experience, one is much better off at SASABUNE, WA or NISHIMURA.

We each ordered the $90 omakase for a Friday lunch. It was decent, but nothing stood out. Really the Nobu signature hot sake was perhaps the only thing worth mentioning. On the food: the toro concoction was trying too hard and the flavour just got lost. The oyster katsu was pleasant enough. Desert was tasty, but that?s not a course I care much about. Generally, as others have commented, hot dishes tend to be a bit better, but all of it forgettable.

The disappointment came as the whole experience was rather flat. Sitting at the sushi bar, there was no dialogue with the chef or the waiter, no descriptions of the dishes, how to eat etc (although nothing was all that inventive to warrant such explanation)? It was all VERY CLINICAL and ANONYMOUS (and it was NOT busy). Simply not what I?d expect from a restaurant like this for its omakase.

• Pros: Parking
• Cons: Impersonal, average omakase, more hype than anything.

10/15/07

Tasty food, great service, good atmosphere

by caljacqui29

I had a wonderful experience dining at Matsuhisa. Nobu was greeting all his guests (all of which were incredibly attractive), and dining across from Mark Wahlberg certainly didn't hurt.

Service is attentive and timely and the food delicious and fresh. Try the sashimi salad as a started...yum!

• Pros: food, service, attractive crowd
• Cons: loud, crowded seating

10/06/07

Best Sushi I've ever had!

by chevelle772

My Dad and I came here ravenous out of our minds around 9:30 pm. We had been on a plane and moving into my new apartment all day. We called about an hour ahead and got an appointment (on a Wednesday night). We walked right in and sat at the sushi bar. It was a bit crowded and the tables were uncomfortably close together, but nonetheless, cozy. It was a bit loud, but the people-watching made up for it. The chairs at the sushi bar were a little close together, but most, if not all, sushi bars are like that anyways. It was interesting to watch the chefs yell orders back and forth to eachother--it conributed to the loudness of it all but it showed they were organized and working hard to get our food out fast. And it did just that--we received our sushi literally five minutes after we ordered. We were out of the restaurant by ten. I ordered edamame and vegetable roll sushi. My Dad had the california roll. The edamame was fresh, salty, and scrumptious! The veggies were clearly fresh and the rice was to die for! The california rolls were EXCELLENT. Clearly no immitation crab-meat. Watching the chefs roll the sushi was a treat as well as getting to eye all of the fresh uncooked fish! I love this place--I will definitly go back to try more adventurous sushi rolls!

• Pros: Fresh sushi and VERY fast service
• Cons: crowded and loud

07/29/07

unique and perfect

by weiver

This is where an amazing blend of fusion seafood began. It is fabulous and is propelled by the energies of a chef, that if we were the country of France would be an American treasure. He creates flavors that are extraordinary. Omakase always delivers and the arrangement of hot and cold is pleasurable eating at its best. How many places do you go to where the entire party wants to go back for more the next night? Thanks for sharing your secrets through excellent reproducible cook books.

• Pros: no wait at the sushi bar
• Cons: none