I have been here twice now and cannot recommend this place enough. My first experience was with a friend and this past weekend with my husband. The beauty of this Omakase experience is that it's perfect for a girls night out, a romantic date night a group outing and everything in between. Both times we had the 12 course omakase and each time the experience was nothing short of incredible. To start, the restaurant is located in the basement of a brewery so it feels a little sneaky (in a fun) way as you enter. Inside there's a speakeasy atmosphere and in my opinion, perfectly charming. As soon as you enter, you are greeted and if a bit early have the option to grab a drink before the service begins. All meals are timed to last 1 hour and the chefs do an incredible job of getting through the service on time without making the experience seem rushed. You are also offered the chance to order à la carte which my husband took full advantage and ordered the house special "Big Mac". Truly a great dining experience in the Capital region. read more

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I've been to Sushi by Bou twice before and loved it, which makes this experience even more disappointing. Unfortunately, I won't be going back. I received a promotional offer via text and made my reservation before the stated deadline. The wording made it seem like I qualified for the promotion. Then, just four hours before our reservation, I was told the offer wouldn't apply. When I called to ask about canceling, I was told there was nothing they could do and that I'd still be charged the $50 cancellation fee because it was within 24 hours of our reservation. So we were given four hours' notice that the promotion wouldn't be honored, but canceling would cost us $50. How does that make any sense? We decided to go anyway, and to top it all off, we were charged for three beers when we only had two. I will say that the sushi was good, and the chef and staff were great. I have no complaints about the food or the people who took care of us during our visit. Unfortunately, that doesn't make up for how the rest of the experience was handled. The promotional offer felt misleading, and refusing to waive the cancellation fee after notifying us of the issue just hours before our reservation was completely unreasonable. It honestly felt like a bait and switch. The whole situation came across as scummy, especially from a restaurant charging these prices. I've enjoyed both of my previous visits, but this experience has completely changed my opinion of the restaurant. If this is how they treat returning customers, I doubt they'll have many people coming back. Good food and great staff can only go so far when the business practices leave customers feeling taken advantage of. I won't be returning. If you're booking with one of their promotional offers, be careful, and definitely double-check your bill. read more

Got a taste for luxury? Grab a seat at this omakase! Sushi by Bou has been on the top of my list for a while, so my sister and I decided to go all out after Christmas and get the Reserve Omakase Experience. It was quite the splurge, but if you are craving the finer things in life like caviar, foie gras and Wagyu, this is the place to be! I won't break down all of the dishes, they speak for themselves! I loved all 15 courses, each one beautiful and delicious. I do wish that the experience was longer though. $200 for a one hour meal is a little crazy. I would have enjoyed a slower down version of the experience more. The drinks were great as well and the sushi chefs were artists at their craft. I will definitely return and try the other omakase options. read more

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Entrance to Sushi by Bou is differential the beer hall. You can see it right away by the signage around the corner. What I didn't see was a little doorbell that you need to ring to get in. Once in, it's a quirky little place. It's comfy and the staff is super welcoming and chatty. We opted for the Bougie omakase which includes the 12 items on the menu plus 5 others that aren't set. It was a great experience all the way around. The set included a sake toast which was cute. 17 pieces and drinks was perfect for us. Would come back when I'm back in Albany. read more

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This is one of my favorite places in Albany. Yes, it is distinctly bougie and pricey, but the sushi is well prepared and delicious, service is friendly and welcoming, and it has a speakeasy vibe to it. On only my second visit, I was recognized as a repeat customer by one of the staff with whom I had a great conversation on my first visit! Even though it's a splurgy place to go with friends, I have dined solo both times and had a wonderful time talking with the staff and other diners. I plan to return when I can! read more

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I have been to Sushi by Bou in New York City. The Albany location has Omakase that is equivalent to the New York City location. Very good. Very enjoyable dinner, if you're able to ignore the surroundings. This location is in an old, dumpy, dingy, dark former bar. It just doesn't feel right for this kind of restaurant. The music was loud, and it is poorly decorated for an Omakase experience. The interior of this place needs a lot of work to bring it up to a level that you would expect. If you want some good Omakase, this is a good place to go if you are just able to ignore the surroundings. read more

10/10 would absolutely recommend. We were able to get a reservation a couple days ahead. It was within walking distance from the hotel but there's a handful of parking lots around and I believe street parking (but not entirely sure). We showed up a little early and were sat at the other end of the bar before our reservation started. It was a quiet and dark atmosphere. We ordered two cocktails which were both amazing (unfortunately unable to recall their names, one was a special recommended by the bartender). Once the dinner started, it was prompt service. We did order the caviar upgrade and the sake pairing. They provided the sake and provided guidance on which to drink before which servings. Everything was top quality and tasted amazing, it's really hard to choose which ones were a favorite. We did also order the Waygu Uni at the end. Service was great, drinks were awesome and I would definitely recommend coming here. read more

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What a phenomenal experience; from the historical building, thru the amazing staff, to the delicious food. Overall the complete package. No pictures as I did not want to ruin the experience, because that's what it was hitting on all the senses!!! Be prepared for a unforgettable culinary experience read more

This was my first experience with omakase sushi, and it was spectacular. We went with our friends, I'll be honest I like sushi but I'm hesitant with some of the raw stuff. I liked basically everything the chef gave us. I was so absorbed in the process I forgot the names of the rolls. But the flavors were amazing. There was a BBQ eel offering and this is something I'd never pick on my own and it was by far my favorite. This was definitely the freshest sushi I ever had. My group and I split the mochi at the end which was a nice touch. Also the bartender was great, I forgot his name but he was knowledgeable and friendly. All of our drinks were delicious. read more

Sushi by Bou - Albany NY @ City Beer Hall - Sushi prepared up front - Sushi Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

The quality of the actual fish and sushi rice was quite good. However, the sushi was overworked with various toppings that were completely many times out of balance or overly salty etc. They should let the Fish speak for itself was actually a very good quality. In addition, the air conditioning was down. It would've been nice to have been offered an an extra course or a free dessert or a free drink or something. In addition, the maître de was unpleasant. not only towards the patrons but also to the sushi chefs. It was awkward to sit at the sushi counter and have her berate the chefs in front of us. read more

Sushi by Bou is the BEST addition to Albany's night life. Words cannot describe how AMAZING this place is. The food, the team (shout out to Monica, Angel, Tyler, Carl & Chakma), the ambience, just everything. I fell in love with Sushi by Bou a few years back when they were just kicking off in NYC. It was my very first introduction to omakase because well - it's affordable! $60 for a good (basic) omakase? You can't get that anywhere else. Creative chef's choice piece by piece sushi experience is one that I think everyone should have. I'm happy to report, even after the years and in their new location, they are, in fact, even better than I remember. In the old speakeasy 518 location, they've redecorated the place minimally to perfectly fit the theme. They've got live music on Friday nights again, and you'll find me here for sure. It's not just omakase, you can come by for cocktails and chill around the bar or booths and enjoy the atmosphere too. We got the bougie experience and it really felt bougie. We got hand towels, sushi by bou pens, and cute little headbands / wrap ties. In the Albany area, you can NOT get fresher fish than this (except maybe at Yoshi's, but it's a more family restaurant experience). There was maybe 1 out of 17 pieces that I didn't like, but for the other 16... oh man oh man I'm in love. If you want to try the newest hottest addition to Albany, come here ASAP. Disclaimer : We planned our elopement / mini 10 people wedding here as soon as we learned they were opening... but that's how you know this review is legit - sushi & speakeasies till death do us part. We booked out the place for 2 hours but I truly believe the team would treat any one who enters the door with the same treatment we got. read more

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It is very good l, I have nothing to say about the sushi. It is top notch and the drinks are amazing, but plan on having another dinner afterwards, it is an experience and not meant to be filling. read more

Sushi was excellent, flavorful, fresh, fantastic. Prepared well. Delicious. Experience was fun. Different. Atmosphere/ambience was nice and to my liking. Dark, brick, and black throughout. I liked the style and color scheme. Price/value - I don't know. We both left feeling like we weren't full. Yes you can add more pieces at the end, for an additional charge, but who knows the price per piece? Tip: keep track of what sushi you liked best, particularly because 5 out of the 17 aren't listed on the info board if you do the higher priced package. (17 piece) That way, at the end, you know what to order as add ons, if you wish. Service was good but had some minor misses throughout the visit. The arrival was not optimal for several reasons. Huge puddle of dirty water at the base of the front door and in the dark, too late to see it to avoid stepping into it. Also, one of the chefs was rushing in a cigarette smoke next to the front door, as we arrived, so thats not a great look to see, a few minutes before serving food. Lastly, on the arrival we were warmly greeted, told to sit at a small table and someone would be back with us shortly for our drink order. That never happened. A few servers or hosts looked at us a few times but never came. We were ready for drinks and no one came back to us. Next, we got moved to the sushi bar. Seats were a little crowded together even though there was more unused space on the bar. An introduction was said to the group to our left but hard to hear, but luckily most of it was repeated again behind us. We were asked for our drink order and were ready with that and ordered. A few minutes later the next server came asked us for our drink order. Kind of funny. 1st we didn't get asked at all and then we got asked twice. Carl was the standout and the all star on the squad. We were really happy to have him as our sushi chef. Pleasant, informative, funny, and efficient. and not the smoker. Our drinks sat empty a few times throughout the meal. One of my personal pet peeves when dining out and then getting the check, is not having an itemized bill. The girl just surprised us and slide between us and motioned with the pay machine. I asked for change holding out a bill in hopes to add an extra cash tip for Carl and was told no cash. Bathroom could have been a bit cleaner but I suppose for late Saturday night, it's normal. I just believe some places contract out bathroom cleaning and only do it at the end of the night. OR no one has the duties to check on it periodically. Our bill after tax and tip was about $175 each. I'm glad to have tried it but I'm not sure I would rush back. Personally, I wouldn't do or recommend the bougie vs standard. I'm not clear what we got additional besides the 5 extra pieces. I was hoping for some desert or something extra for the higher priced package. if you get 12 for 60 that's $5 per piece. 17 would be $85, not 100. I don't believe we got the extra hand roll and everyone in the entire place got a complimentary small glass of house sake. I don't think everyone had the more expensive package. Everything in Diana's review a month ago was spot on. read more

Sushi by Bou - Albany NY @ City Beer Hall - Sushi Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

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Very very expensive - and sushi just ok. Uncomfortable seating and ambiance leaves me wanting more - a basement which is poorly lit! Seatings are at the convenience of the hosts not the customer! There are plenty of wonderful, so she restaurants which are much more affordable and where the food is just as good if not better! read more

My husband and I dined here for our anniversary and it was amazing. We went with the 17 course Omakase and oh my gosh every course was delicious (and sooo filling). The couple next to us asked for less rice and I thought "why on earth would you want less rice it's perfectly balanced" but by the 14th or 15th course I was ready to burst and my husband and I both looked at each other and said "we should have asked for less rice!" Seriously though we stuffed ourselves and it was so worth it. We had such a fun time at the bar chatting with the chef and watching him make these gorgeous creations. We can't wait to go back!! read more

Truly grateful to have this gem of a restaurant in Albany. Well, technically, I suppose it's a sushi speakeasy Been here several times (the chefs now recognize me ) and each experience has been great. The sushi is incredibly fresh and an explosion of the most perfect and well-balanced flavors. Pro tips: opt for the 17 course as you will likely leave hungry with the 12 course. Plan to arrive early. Parking is, well, downtown Albany and you can't be late for your reservation! read more

Amazing sushi experience. Was in from out of town and found this gem. Very friendly staff and amazing sushi

We did the 12 course omakase experience. It was amazing and each course was an explosion of flavors in our mouths. My boyfriend isn't a huge raw sushi person and even he loved it. The sushi chef was phenomenal. He explained each course thoroughly and was entertaining. The restaurant was very clean and felt like we were at a New York City restaurant. highly recommend for a date night or just a friend outing to try a new experience. read more

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Disclaimer: The sushi itself isn't too bad. But this particular location of the 19-franchise chain restaurant has decided to focus on: "The Experience." And that experience is NOT some 85-year-old sushi master with a tiny shop in Tokyo. However, if you enjoyed the sushi bar on the promenade deck of your favorite Carnival Cruise Line "fun ship" ...you will definitely love everything here. So, good news, Gaijin! "Please use your hands only." No need to use the waribashi! Which is just as well - that keeps the splinters of the lower quality bamboo away from your mouth. Also, just wondering, what is Hiragana for "Bou-gie," ...the word actually used here for the larger of the only two dinner selections available: (17 pieces - including one maki and a temaki, vs 12 pieces for standard.) And Bou-gie is also the description for the unspecified brand of caviar service, $100, 1oz, "with accoutrements." I'm guessing it's not N25 albino Beluga. It's pretty dark in this cellar restaurant, with loud distracting background music, so whatever they serve will surely be a surprise. Oops, we're halfway through service: it must be time for everyone to toast shots of an unknown brand sake with the sushi preparer. You better hurry up, though, because the current business model only allows you in that seat for 48 minutes. It appears that the plan is to turn over that seat 4 times in 4 hours. You can stay longer, just not at the bar. This sushi restaurant's wine list has a limited spectrum of sake and Japanese whiskeys - hoping that you decide to impress your companion(s) with a bottle of Dom or glass of JWBlue. Vintage, down in the warehouse district, tried that type of 'limited spectrum wine list plus super high-end choices' for a few months - before they closed back in 2019. I don't have anything against sushi chain restaurants - the Kura chain (40 in US, 500 total, mostly in Japan) of sushi conveyor restaurants is lots of fun and surprisingly good. And there are a couple locations just outside NYC. What's this? They have merch available! As you would expect from every "HIGH QUALITY, TRADITIONAL OMAKASE EXPERIENCE." (So the website proclaims.) And, it's just in time. Who knew I needed a "Bou"-themed Bic lighter, hoodie or baby onesie to commemorate my 48 minutes at the restaurant? Just like the cruise ships! Despite all that, of the 60 sushi restaurants within a 60 minute drive of the NYS Capitol building, it is probably in the top 25%. 2024 01 31. read more

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The sushi experience at Sushi By Bou was amazing from start to finish. The experience started by waiting by a door which had a redish colored light above it right by city beer hall with a group of people who also had reservations. When it got closer to the reservation time, the server let us in and sat us down in a booth, which was the waiting area. You are able to order drinks while you wait. The ambiance, which included live music, dark lighting, and decor, really sets the mood for the omakase experience. When the sushi bar was ready for us, the server moved us from the waiting area to our seats at the bar. At the bar, we were given a hand towel to wash our hands and a cool headband! My friend Tyler and I got the Bougie Omakase, which included a 17-course omakase, a hand roll, and a small glass of sake. Each sushi piece tasted amazing, and the servers made sure my water glass was always full. We were also given a free sake shot to take with the sushi chef. Sushi by Bou is definitely a top-notch sushi restaurant. Everyone should definitely treat themselves to some tasty sushi. I would definitely come back to try the Standard Omakase set. Highly recommend! read more

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I went for my birthday and had an absolute blast! The food was amazing the atmosphere was great and the staff were all super nice. I can't wait to go back read more

Among the very best high-end dining and socializing establishments in the Tri-City area. Nothing else like it outside of Manhattan. Excellent value for the quality and craftsmanship included in the fixed price experience ($60 or $100 levels for food only - drinks extra). Live Jazz trio on Thursday and Friday nights (why not also Saturday?) is an added-bonus. Staff are very friendly and attentive. Highly recommended for any selective foodies or sushi lovers who aren't on a budget. read more

Sushi by Bou - Albany NY @ City Beer Hall - Monica the mixologist extraordinaire! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

The sushi/sashimi was 5 stars, excellent. Every bite was amazing. However they messed up our reservation, I got the "bougie" package and they gave us the standard, I put in a code for a free bottle of sake since we were a large party and we never received the sake. We waited a while before being asked if we wanted any drinks. Lastly and less important the music was so loud (not live) that it was hard to hear the chef. I do hope all this improves so that it can be here a long time because the food part really was spectacular. read more

Honestly, my expectations for omakase in Albany were .......... Lower. And this place blew right past them, truly was not expecting sushi that good, much less at the $65 price point. Specifically, the cod, fatty tuna, and scallop were strong standouts imo. Our chef was very sweet and it was a wonderful space for a nice night. They even gave me a birthday hand-roll. This isn't your super Japanese fair, it's a lot closer to an upscale American sushi style. And I think the pieces were at their very best when they were leaning into the somewhat strange flavor and texture combinations. Hands down, the best meal I've had in the capitol region, will be back! read more

Transcendent! This was the best sushi I've ever had, and I've had....a lot of sushi. Sushi in Tokyo even. Sushi in NYC. The flavors were impeccable, and the quality was second to none. Everything was chef's kiss---down to the last detail--the temperature of the rice. The balance of the yuzu. The angle and the cut of the fish. The garnish. No one else is doing it like this, especially in Albany. The atmosphere was intimate and hip, without trying too hard. We had the Add on/Bougie package. While the name is silly and kind of irritating, it was otherwise totally worth it. The headbands and the sake shot were fun, and the handroll and additional pieces were delicious! It's on the expensive side, but it's definitely worthy a visit! read more

You're welcomed in by ringing the doorbell next to the inconspicuous wooden door below City Beer Hall. Starting with their homemade cocktail (my explanation can't do it justice, also, it changes). To make a long story short, every single piece of sushi was crafted with precision and care, right in front of you, explained in detail to you, then devoured by you. To ensure complete clarity, this is omakase and Chef sets the menu you will eat, we do not pick from a menu (aside from limited a la carte as an addition). I've had sushi all over the world, from Tokyo to LA to NYC. This place would survive and thrive no matter where it was. Give it a try, upgrade to the Bougie experience, and you can't possibly regret it. read more

I went here with my husband on Saturday night for a Valentine's dinner. I haven't been to omakase sushi before but I thought this was one of the most interesting food experiences I've had. You enter through an unmarked door by ringing a doorbell. You then wait for everyone else to arrive in the timed group in a lounge setting and then you sit at the sushi bar where you watch the chef prepare each piece. The sushi itself was good but I would say the vibes, the small group atmosphere of eating sushi with 10 other random people (12 seats total) and the service was the better part. I don't think this is really a place to go routinely because they change the menu every like 6 months so I can't imagine wanting to go more than every few months but I would definitely go again for a special occasion. read more

Angel was great! So attentive, and made our experience above and beyond. All the sushi was incredible and made with skill and quality ingredients. The cocktails are pricey but strong. read more

It was an honor to try the one of the best Sushi By Bou restaurants in Albany N.Y. It is my 1st time to try the sushi bar and I fell inlove to the food and the ambiance. I would like to give thanks to the following Omakase Carl and Omakase Chackma for giving us a good quality of food and exquisite service that they have provide us during our stay. I would highly recommend this restaurant. kuddos! Thank you and I will be back soon! read more

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Sushi by Bou exceeded all our expectations once again! The staff went above and beyond to celebrate with us and Chef Chakma once again made the food experience one for the books! We got the 12 course this time, but I highly recommend the 17 course if you want a special treat. This was my 3rd time here since the opening and we will 100% be back again! read more

Sushi by Bou - Albany NY @ City Beer Hall - Sushi Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

The service and experience are top. Quality of the fish tippy top! An amazing addition to Albany. Thoroughly impressed with the chefs, cocktails and esthetic of the whole place. read more

One of the best places in Albany. Sushi by bou will blow your tastebuds away to flavor town. The sushi is raw fish rice and many other combos. The sushi is so good you will not want to eat any other sushi. The service is so good. You get to watch the chef make the sushi right in front of you. Also you get assigned a chef and he makes the sushi for you. The bartender is very talented I had one of the greatest drinks in my life. The place is small and there is a lounge where you can order drinks while you are waiting for the other people to finish their meal. The food is so fresh it is imported from Japan every 2 days. The sushi is calling your name. read more

Overall had a great experience! After coming in we were sat at a booth to wait and our drink order was taken. After that we were taken to the bar area where we were served and walked through each step and piece of the omakase. The decor of the space was great and made it feel like you weren't at a stuffy expensive restaurant! i cannot eat any shellfish and the chef was able to make adjustments so I did not feel like I was missing out at all! Near the end of the experience the chef asked if anyone would like anything else and we all had the opportunity to order extra pieces. can't wait to come back!! read more

Sushi by Bou - Albany NY @ City Beer Hall - omakase menu we were served - Sushi Bars Near Me - Albany, New York

if you like sushi and are adventurous, you have to go! I have to admit I was skeptical when making the reservation, but my husband and I were blown away! The progressive menu we had was the 17 course and started off with light flavorful bites moving towards savory deeper flavors by the end. (Think if you go to a wine tasting, you start with the whites and end with the Reds.) The Sushi variety, flavor combinations in each bite, and overall experience was exceptional! I don't have any pictures because we want to have an unplugged experience and it was absolutely worth it. I am a self-proclaimed sushi connoisseur while my husband will eat it but could take or leave it in general and after every piece we both just looked at each other and I had a giggle or that look when you taste something absolutely phenomenal. He said it was worth it to go once and I would go every day if I could lol read more

Definitely worth the price. Top tier service/great people! They were very welcoming and treated us kindly.

Amazing 12-Course omakase experience. Service was quick, and the chefs took their time to explain each course. The 1920s speakeasy style vibe set this place apart from other sushi places in the area. Make sure to make reservations. read more