08/03/09

feels like I'm in Tokyo

by dineoutluver

Since I used to go to Gonpachi in Tokyo all the time, this place makes me feel like I'm in my hometown. I come here every other week, and eat at sushi bar since I am a big sushi fan (no Americanized rolls for me though... I go for the traditional nigiri!). I usually order the Omakase so that I get the best fish of the day and add a few Kushiyaki (skewers) because they are not ignorable. Tsukune and Enoki maki are my favorites!

Although this place does make those Americanized sushi rolls, this place serves a very traditional Japanese food. Sushi, the edo-mae style, Kushi-yaki on a Sumi (charcoal?), and their daily handmade Soba. I cannot go home without finishing my dinner with their super delicious pumpkin zenzai. I could eat that everyday! Unbeliably affordable for a Japanese restaurant with such great food and decor.

• Pros: Great Sushi and Kushiyaki. Never forget the pumpkin zenzai!

07/11/09

Great food, Great service

by hop78

Everytime I come to Venice to visit my Brother I just insist on coming here at least one nite.

Great food, Great service, fun place to be

Thanks for being there

05/16/09

CouldaBeenGreat

by BetterBgood

Dined often. (couple times weekly) Most potential of any Sushi Restaurant on the Westside.

Imported wasabi, authentic ambience, Japanese Garden, fresh handmade Soba Noodles daily, imported Japanese charcoal.

Food,service, and management deteriated with the lack of patrons.

Mised the boat.

• Pros: Authentic Japanese Decor
• Cons: Management

03/03/09

Beautiful Restaurant

by cj914

The restaurant is a work of art. I only wish that the food was just as good, didn't live up to the decor. When we arrived, the hostess showed us 3 tables for us to select. It was like she was a realtor showing us houses, one with a view of the kitchen, one in a quiet corner, etc. We sat down and asked for something special. We got a couple of sushi rolls that were not what we had in mind, but ate them anyway. Is it because this place is in Beverly Hills? We didn't think that the food matched the decor. Our friends from Chicago will be visiting us soon and would like to bring them, maybe we didn't order properly. What is the thing to eat here? Thank you.

• Pros: Beautiful restaurant

02/06/09

Actually, they ARE open for lunch!

by mwilder90210

Amazing space, amazing food, great service. The red dragon roll is out of this world, with three colorful varieties of caviar highlighting a beautifully presented dish. Lunch service just started in late January, they had never been open for lunch before, so I don't know where the repvious reveiw got his info. The lunch menu is an incredible value: tons of top notch food at half of what you'd pay elsewhere on restaurant row.

• Pros: Free parking at lunch with validation. Amazing setting. Incredible food.
• Cons: It's a hidden jewel and sometimes hard to spot.

01/21/09

Gorgeous Location and Setting

by ntdang

This place is gorgeous and completely out of place on La Cienaga boulevard. The first thing you'll think when you walk in is "I can't afford this." But the prices weren't terrible, considering that the food is pretty darn great, it's located in an expensive area, and the ambiance is the best. Seriously, it is a beautiful building, which I was told cost over $18 Million to build.

Just don't expect a "Japanese fusion" restaurant, most of the dishes were pretty traditional, with great presentation. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and service was friendly.

• Pros: WOW what a building
• Cons: None

12/12/08

CLOSED FOR LUNCH!

by ieatz

Since when did they close for lunch? Had a client that wanted to go where they filmed the movie and the GD place was CLOSED! What's up with that? We ended up going across the street and had a very nice lunch.

• Pros: Parking lot
• Cons: Closed for lunch

10/02/08

Great atmosphere, food and service. Rare find in LA.

by SamTab

Food and service were great. The Garden was serene and relaxing. The interior made you feel like you were in the restaurant where the filmed the "Klll BILL". We liked it so much we are going back again on Sunday.

Beverly Hills' deluxe Japanese tavern house brings romantic Samurai drama to upscale izakaya dining.

by Martha Burr

The Scene
More like a dramatic Kurosawa movie set than a restaurant, the first American outpost of this successful Japanese chain spent millions importing 300-year-old wooden houses to transform the Ed Debevic's space into a luxe izakaya (Japanese small plates) arena. The result is stunning. Three levels of elegantly rustic dining spaces include garden views, an inner courtyard with sumiyaki bar, balcony perches, plus a sake-tasting room. The huge menu is all about upscale traditional tavern fare. A delicate, crunchy salad of lotus root and burdock is perfect springboard to sputnik-like shrimp fritters, or tender octopus nestled with green olives and taro. The sumiyaki (grilling) bar offers a variety of skewers including wagyu beef, huge sweet prawns, silky and smoky Japanese eggplant, and tender bacon-wrapped asparagus. Sushi is pricey, but the buckwheat soba noodles--kneaded, rolled and cut by a glass-encased chef--are dreamily seductive hot or cold and worth the trip alone.

07/31/08

Paying for Location and Ambience and NOT THE FOOD

by mrsslee

We went on a Wednesday night expecting great service & food. The waitress was rude and the food was terrible. We ordered off of their Sample Tasting Menu which consisted of their FAMOUS Skewers and Sushi. Their Sushi was very fishy (only ate 3 pieces) and the skewers were salty. The Soba noodles tasted like any other soba noodles out there. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone and it is not worth going for just the ambience.

• Pros: Ambience and Parking
• Cons: FOOD