SUMMARY: At this price point, STAY AWAY if you are used to traditional omakase in Japan or NYC!!! Lacks the intimacy and true omakase experience you will expect. They don't know if their identity is a high end intimate experience (decor and price) or a party omakase (batch produced sushi, 8 customers per chef, loud groups, flash photography allowed).
DETAILS:
1. HARD TO FIND - You can't easily find it from the street. You have to wander around the block to figure it out. The valet from the nearby French restaurant has to help you figure it out.
2. CHEF ATTENTION - If you have done higher end intimate omakases in Japan or NYC, you are used to an intimate customer to chef experience, where the ratio of customer to chef is usually 2-4 customers per chef. Here it is 8 customers to 1 chef. Very impersonal and leads to #3.
3. ASSEMBLY LINE SUSHI - Because of large customer to chef ratio, they don't take the care that other high end omakases do cut the fish in front of you and prepare the course. Since each chef has to prepare for so many people, they PRE-CUT / BATCH ALL THE FISH IN THE BACK and just do the final rice preparation in front of you. You see more sushi production sitting at a local sushi bar. Ridiculous. See photos.
4. NOT A QUIET OMAKASE - They sat a very loud group of people next to us. We couldn't hear ourselves, let along what the chef was saying about each course. At one point, a lady in the group was Facetiming someone at the table. No one said anything to them. Traditional omakases at expensive price points don't allow this, as it disturbs other customers.
5. FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED - The guy next to us brought in a big camera and a hand held flash! Every time we wanted to eat a course, he was pulling out that big ol flash so that he could get the "perfect" shot of the fish. No one said anything to him. Once again, ZERO CARE about the customer experience of others. See photo.
6. HIGH PRESSURE UPSELLING - I specifically sent a note prior to them saying I did not want alcohol. They proceed to have two separate people ask if we want the sake pairing. They also put this menu with prices of additional items in front of you near the end which is embarrassing at this price point and number of courses. Traditional omakeses rarely do this. Party ones do. Probably should've brought out a shot menu too.
7. CONFUSING THEME - They need to decide if they want to be a traditional omakase or a party omakase. The interior and sushi preparation wants to be traditional. You do not get the modern truffle, weird sauces, blow torch action here. That's completely fine and appropriate. But, then also do not allow the groups to also be super loud, use flashes, and make a party out of it. Decide how you want your restaurant atmosphere to be!