A bit disappointed with Nobu Tokyo
 

Please don't flame me, just wanted to share my experience today - I am sure many have had excellent meals here.

As a disclaimer I have to say I went here for lunch which (as is usual in Japan) is about 20-25% of the price of dinner, i.e. I did not have the full meal service the restaurant is undoubtedly capable of.

The restaurant itself is housed in an ugly building and the interior is probably one of the tackiest and least romantic of the restaurants I have been to in Tokyo so far (prints of pink roses on the chairs, cheap wooden trellisses and plastic plants). The toilets are a bit of a disgrace with stains on the doors/floor that cannot be washed off anymore. Anyway, it's about the food, not the ambiance - however, that too was a bit disappointing. I had some sashimi which was fine and tempura which was average at best. My lunch partner had a donburi with pork which was okay. Side dishes were okay. It wasn't bad but I couldn't see what the fuss was about. I have had better meals in Tokyo in other (far cheaper) restaurants. For a similar price I much prefer Kazue in the Park Hyatt hotel where the tempura was superb, the setting/views fantastic and the service infinitely more refined.

I know I should have probably taken the toro with caviar or some other elaborate dish but my purpose was to have something more affordable, and see if I like it before splashing out on a more expensive meal there. Not likely.

it has been awhile, but our dinner was wonderful: http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...highlight=Nobu

Maybe standards are slipping? Or maybe I was just unlucky. Anyway, glad you enjoyed the dinner.

Nobu in NYC is definitely slipping. Been there 3-4 times, and each time it's worse. I now think of them as a chain restaurant. It's still good, but really really overpriced. Esp in NYC, you can have much better authenic Japanese entrees elsewhere.

thanks,

as stated it was in '02 that we dined there so it is quite possible something has changed since then as you and adamak at the NYC location experienced.

Everyone I know who has been to Nobu in Malibu has been disappointed. Then again, many of the patrons may remember Nobu Matsuhisa as the up and coming creative chef/owner at Matsuhisa. Sometimes, I so wish that these great chefs would just stay put. So often when they expand their horizons they diminish their name, creativity and reputation. I could cite many examples,but think that this is a topic for another thread.

Apologies for keeping off toipc, but did you read this months Wine Spectator and the 5 year contract Steve Wynn made his chefs sign? ^ to me. Athough I have not eaten in one yet.

I went to Matsuhisa a few years ago in LA and was a bit disappointed with one of the tasting menus. It just didn't live up to its billing considering the prices.

Been to Nobu Tokyo several times - it's a good safe bet for out-of-towners and is easy to get a booking. Nothing spectacular but generally reliable. Was in the London branch earlier in the year and I'd definitely say standards of service and custom have definitely slipped!

Apparently Nobu here in Dallas is on the "several months wait" status already. :rolleyes:

We actually had a bar table tonight if we wanted it (through a connection) but my friend I'm dining with shot it down as "too fussy" and said she would prefer to go in several months when Dallas has moved their fixation to somewhere else.

I'm actually curious to try it having dined at several other Nobu locations.

I somehow fail to see the point to visit a restaurant like Nobu in Japan when all big cities have a wide choice of "Fusion" restaurants available. What is considered spectacular overseas is more or less standard in perfectionist Japan.

Nobu--NYC, Etc.
 

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I visited Nobu in Miami, and I was not that impressed with the food. Some items were good other items were average. The tables were so close together that they had to slide them away from each other just so you could get to your seat. The server did not seem that nice, but I would say my experience was okay, but not exceptional by any means.