My favorite place for sushi and to go on a date. This was where I first had the guts to eat sea urchin and eel, despite growing up in Hawaii and catching them all the time as a kid. The way they run Uchi is so much fun and makes you just want to try all these new things. We had sake to drink and seeded beef steak on a lava rock. It's a special place for special occasions. read more

When we arrived to check in with the host for our reservation, we were told that people were finishing up at the sushi bar and would be sat shortly. We saw 6 parties come in after us and be sat. When I asked the host, she was rude and said "you have sushi bar seating" which of course I knew. She sent the manager who was awkward and didn't help. After about 20 minutes of waiting, we eventually got sat. The saving grace for this review and why I am giving them 4 stars is because of the service we got from Elliott at the bar--he answered all of our questions, none of his recommendations disappointed, and was very attentive throughout the meal. I will likely not come back but glad I had a chance to check it out. read more

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I finally got a chance to visit and Uchi did not disappoint. Free valet parking with Apple Pay for tips. It seems they take reservations now. One of the reasons I never came before was that they didn't take reservations and I didn't want to drive 30 minutes and the wait hours for a table. Even at such an early hour on a Saturday, the place with hopping. The ambiance was a trendy one. We had reservations at 4:30. Happy hour is 4pm to 6pm and the HH menu will help keep the heft of your wallet at a good heavy level. All the food was great. Be prepared for a party to erupt in your mouth for each bite. The multitude of flavors that complement each other harmoniously in each mouthful will touch every part of your pallet. This is the only place that I have been to have this party going on for each dish. Overall I like this place better than its sister restaurant Uchiba. I'll be going to Uchiko soon to determine my favorite of the three but Uchi is at the top so far. read more

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This place is definitely an experience!! The atmosphere was great and the food was fabulous!! There wasn't a course we didn't enjoy!! Everything was coming out pretty fast with the exception of our last 3 or 4 courses, it took at least 50 minutes to come out and the dessert, we actually got tired of waiting for, we got up to leave then it finally showed up at the table and we ended up asking them to make it to-go. Our server did start out great!! As our meal went on, he faded fast and seemed to lose interest! We ordered the A5 Wagyu Hot Rock, had to ask our server where it was and he threw the kitchen under the bus. I'm thinking he forgot to put the order in for our table by the look on his face. The A5 experience was very cool, but it's cooked at the table by customers on the hot rock. I'm not to sure how that was the kitchen's fault. The couple of stumbles was the only thing that kept this from a 5 star review. The chef and food...absolutely 5 stars!! Service...fell off really bad! Such a high end place ($750 check for 4), I expected much more from the service. I do highly recommend this place for the food for sure! I'm going to be back, I just hope the server doesn't fade out. read more

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I took my friend here for a happy hour omakase. The place is dim and moody, but the energy is rather bright. Waitstaff were super friendly and helpful. On top of the happy hour omakase, we added a half dozen oysters and a couple of sushi pieces. The only thing that made me a bit confused was that half of the uni sushi's real estate was occupied by salmon roe. Maybe that was already described in the menu, and we missed it? It was just not what I expected for $15/piece uni sushi (was it $13? It was something around there). We left the place quite full and happy, though. Highly recommend. read more

Uchi is possibly my favorite restaurant in Austin. Uchi, meaning "home" in Japanese, was founded by James Beard Award winning Chef Tyson Cole. Known for its nontraditional approach to Japanese cuisine, Uchi balances elevated food with impeccable service. Guests enjoy signature tastings, seasonal omakase, and an experience designed to surprise and delight. It offers the best curated sushi experience with innovative Japanese cuisine and one of the most consistent dining experiences in Austin. I had a reservation to celebrate my birthday. Parking can be a challenge but they do offer a valet service. The entire party must be present before you can be seated. We were seated in the main dining area across from the bar. There was a happy birthday fish card on the table to acknowledge the special occasion that was very thoughtful. We were approached by the staff quickly they pace your dining experience. We could see the bar and in the kitchen area from where we were seated to observe the chefs preparing the dishes. Started the meal with the lychee spritz cocktail with lemongrass, lemon, sparkling wine. It was so light and bubbly and had a decorative flower for a delicate presentation. I ended up ordering two more! We came during happy hour which is available on the weekend and sampled all the happy hour market fish which luckily featured 4 different selections including madai or Japanese sea bream that is my favorite. Tried several other dishes including: *gyudon with wagyu, crispy rice, pomegranate. *grilled romaine hand roll with crab edamame-jalapeño *snow crab gunkan calabrian chili, fried leeks, *broccoli katsu with chili aioli The daily specials are worth exploring, and I always recommend asking your server for guidance. They know the menu well and genuinely elevate the experience. Ordered my regular "go-to" dishes including: *hirame usuzukuri thinly-sliced flounder, candied quinoa, olive oil *ebi shrimp tempura *kabocha japanese pumpkin tempura *zero sen roll yellowtail, avocado, shallot, cilantro The fish quality is exceptional. Fresh, clean, buttery, and beautifully presented. I didn't even start eating sushi until discovering Uchi. The balance of flavors is what stands out most to me. Every dish is thoughtfully curated. I especially appreciate how they layer texture and temperature so each bite feels composed. The best example of this is the biendo roll with tempura shrimp spring roll, nuoc mam, red grape. The grape on top is chilled and it has texture from the crispy shrimp tempura. Their sauces are definitely where it's at and complement each dish exquisitely. I usually hoard all the sauces until the end of the meal. The chef made a special lobster dish with coconut curry, negi dare, cashew that was complementary. The green curry sauce that tasted like Thai tom kha with fresh herbs for a flavor explosion. The server recommended the warm banana cake with chicory, buckwheat, white coffee kahlua ice cream for my birthday dessert. Although I am not a fan of coffee, this dessert was amazing with the perfect balance of sweet and savory and great texture. Uchi manages to feel refined but still warm and inviting. It's a place I return to for celebrations, but also when I just want a meal that feels thoughtfully executed from start to finish. read more

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I took my husband here for a belated birthday on 4th of July for lunch. I was able to book a reservation on the 1st of July pretty easily. The place was really nice and modern! The staff were super friendly and they even got provided a birthday treat for my husband. The food and drinks were delicious! Now that I've been to the one in Austin, I want to go to the one in Dallas since it's closer to home. Thank you for a great afternoon! read more

Uchi Austin - Birthday treat! I forgot what it was called but it had strawberries and either tuna or salmon. Idk what it was but it was sooo good! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Daily happy hour everyday from 4-6 p.m. is the way to go. Great value. Basically get 2:1 on Nigiri. This is an Austin staple for sushi. Really can't go wrong with any of the concepts - Uchi, Uchiba, Uchicko. read more

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First time here. I've been missing out. Reservations recommended. Free valet. Inside is loud. Outside is actually more intimate. We're not well versed in Japanese cuisine so opted for the HH omakase. It was awesome. Every bite was delicious, building on its predecessor, and never failing to deliver. House cocktails are good. Nice selection of sake. Pricy but fair prices for the quality and service. read more

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I can't believe I haven't yet written a review for the #1 restaurant in Austin. Well, the last time I came was in 2021 and I wasn't as big of a vocal/engaged foodie as I am now. We booked for a 5pm slot on Saturday evening, and it seemed like this is one of their busiest periods. The restaurant was already bustling when we arrived, and remained crowded after we left. We decided on the very reasonable $120 pp happy hour chef's tasting menu with a few other self selections. This included the pistachio chiffon cake, created by my friend Christine. She posted about it a couple of weeks ago and I knew Thanksgiving weekend would be the perfect excuse to try it out with the whole family. We all loved the whole meal, and all 3 desserts were enjoyed as well. read more

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Amazing omakase menu and great sake. Loved the decor and the service was top notch. Best dinner of our trip in terms of flavor and quality. We would come back again. read more

Uchi Austin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I went to Uchi for the first time and really enjoyed the experience. Given that parking seems to be an issue everywhere, I really liked the complimentary valet parking. The entry and inside waiting area is small but there was also a nice outdoor waiting area. The interior and staff was more eclectic than Uchiko. It had a more intimate feeling. There also seemed to be a lot more activity with all the waiters and servers being out plates. All of them were polite and responsive. I went with my daughter to continue her birthday celebrations. We tried their happy hour omakase menu. I started with Umegave cocktail. It was recommended by our waiter when I said I leaned towards sweet wines and hard ciders. It was a wonderfully balanced mild cocktail. My daughter ordered the lychee spritz. I liked this as well but preferred my slightly sweeter cocktail. I would order the omakase service again. There wasn't a single dish I didn't really enjoy. I am also hard pressed to pick a favorite. Our omakase included: hiramasa karai, sakana tempura, uni masu, toro hand roll, wagyu skewer, pork belly, hotate gunkan, Hama chili, and dessert. (I'm forgetting something). My daughter was worried it wouldn't be enough so at the start, we also ordered the grilled romaine with blue crab. And they brought us an otoro gunkan as a birthday present. We were stuffed. We didn't get the regular dessert because we were so full. Instead, they agreed to substitute the house made candy bar, dessert which my daughter took home with her. its clear to me why Uchi is so popular. The service is excellent and all the sushi dishes are creative and delicious. This is a wonderful, upscale, night out venue. read more

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We had a good time during a girls' night out. Our server, Megan, was very friendly and brought the ladies a few same to sample before they decided on a bottle. They also have a selection of NA drinks which was nice. We sat outside and had a great time! read more

Food was so good and service was also wonderful! We especially love the fatty tuna, the fish tempura and the hot rock wagyu. Love the cute interior as well ! read more

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Uchi!!!!! Uchi has been on mine and my husband's date night list for years and after recently receiving a promotion, we finally made a reservation to celebrate & had the best time. (They even gave me a congratulatory fish note which I thought was super cute and a nice keepsake) We ordered what felt like half the menu and the quality of fish is certainly noticeable. Our stand outs of the night were pink moon oysters, sake toro, zero sen and the A5 Wagyu. (We ended also ordering the oysters and sake toro for dessert because they were so good!) read more

Uchi Austin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Asked my cousin where he wanted to go for dinner when we were visiting him in Austin... of all the heralded tex-mex and bbq, I was not expecting him to say Uchi for sushi. Well let me tell you, this place is LEGIT. We had a 10pm reservation but decided to make an attempt at arriving at 8pm and they had some outdoor seating available. Some of our entrees: Edamame: Trust me, just get it. Its freshly blistered, unlike anything you've ever had. Hama Chili: yellowtail with a thai twist Maguro & Goat: an interesting accompaniment to tuna, but I liked it PorkBelly hot tasting: I didn't try this one, but the accompaniments were tasty Collectively, our favorite was the Zero Sen role. It had a slightly spicy kick but was overall not a spicy item. We had a tapioca and custard dessert (a lot of texture) with a side of honey ice cream (delish). My other cousin said it was one of his favorite restaurants he's ever been to (he's gluten free and Uchi had a plentiful amount of great options). Not to mention, we were here to celebrate my cousins' (they're twins) birthday and our server comped/curated a special entree for us and an extra side of icecream for our dessert. This is somewhere I will return when I visit Austin. Get a reservation early! I hope to be hungrier next time so I can try more food! read more

Shout out to Jenny. She was wonderful during our time there. We had a table of 5 and had so many varying orders, and she handled it like a pro. She was so sweet and everything was timed perfectly. The standouts this time were the tom kha salmon. It really was a unique dish and really captured the flavors of tom kha. The hand rolls were ok. Not pictured but the potato croquettes with beef were delicious! Also, I don't recommend the NA red wine. It was so watered down and has zero taste. I should've known better than to try a NA wine but was curious! read more

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This was my first time at Uchi. I was here to celebrate my friend's birthday, as this is one of her favorite places. We took advantage of the Happy Hour specials and tried a few items off the regular menu. She is the Sushi expert, so please forgive me for not remembering all the wonderful selections we sampled. The service was excellent, despite it being a tad busy. We had dined during their Happy Hour, yet our wait was never long for our entrees, as we finished each. Appreciated how our server provided the details of each dish as they were brought to our table. The ambiance of the restaurant was what I expected from the fine establishment this is. It's much more spacious than it looks from the outside. We were fortunate enough to be seated where we could observe dishes being prepared by the kitchen staff which added to the experience Overall, for my first time here, it was an outstanding experience. read more

Reservation for Sunday evening, and upon arrival after being greeted, gave the option to wait at the bar as the prior guests were finishing up. The reservation was for the sushi bar, however a table was open, so got a table in the middle of the restaurant, a high table. Yumi (sorry about spelling) was phenomenal, she gave a great overview of the menu pointing out their favorites and it was a bit overwhelming. Lots of good options and I had a hard choice to make. Had a glass of wine with the meal, and note they do not have a full bar, just beer & wine. Order included: Hama chili - very tasty, requested Thai chili on the side, and they were spicy! Walu Walu - this was described as a melt in your mouth fish..and while it was delicious, not really melt in your mouth. Zero sen - here's where I found out the thai chili had a kick, whew, tasty though, just note for next time The items came out in good timing, so the table wasn't overwhelmed with plates. Service was also wonderful. I would try the omakase next time as I love to be surprised. read more

Uchi Austin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

What an absolutely stunning experience. We came to Uchi after hearing so many rave reviews and it did not disappoint. Such a perfect date spot! Intimate and beautiful. Every dish was thoughtfully done, but our standout favorite was the lobster with coconut curry (I'm still thinking about it)!!! Our server gave amazing recommendations and really elevated the whole experience. Already can't wait to come back. read more

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While Uchi is one of the first restaurants brought up when high-end sushi is mentioned, it doesn't quite meet the bar for fine dining. Truthfully, it teeters on the edge between mid-tier sushi and high-tier fine dining. The flavor doesn't quite match the profile of a restaurant of this caliber, while the price point meets or exceeds the next tier of cuisine. We ordered many different dishes (not all of which are pictured) from Wagyu to lobster to chutoro, and though everything tasted decent, almost everything was lacking something--a smidge of salt, a kick of spice, the richness of fat. In fact, the most memorable part of my meal was the brussel sprouts, which unironically were a 10/10 and I would totally just eat a meal of their brussel sprouts. Overall, while the service was great, the food was somewhat disappointing and I would definitely recommend somewhere like Craft Omakase as a substitute for the $200 you may spend here. Unless, of course, you come during Uchi's happy hour. read more

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One of the best restaurants in Austin! I was visiting from Seattle and was skeptical how good this sushi can be but it can easily be compared to good sushi in Seattle (if not even better in some instances). Service 5/5 the staff was attentive and explained the menu well when we were trying to decide what to order. Food 5/5 good balance of flavor and freshness in the fish. Presentation was also A+ Price 4/5 it's a bit high to me for not being a very fancy restaurant or Michelin starred but still definitely worth trying! read more

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Some fine delicious sushi hands down. Uchi has been an all time favorite place when I'm craving some unique rolls, sashimi and nigiri. Always a packed house. It's best to make your reservations early! read more

Uchi Austin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The meal was satisfying from beginning to end. Everything tasted fresh, and it was clear that care went into preparing each dish.

Uchi is my all-time favorite. Never fails. I come here for a happy hour all the time, and I leave feeling extremely full extremely happy and not having broken the bank. Their desserts are truly my favorite part in the entire Austin. I always say nobody does desserts better than Japanese people. All of the Uchi's definitely have that one thing figured out is that they really do have the best desserts. read more

Uchi Austin is probably one of the easiest 5 star reviews I've written on Yelp. It's an understated, lovely spot in Austin that was an A+ on service, food, and overall experience. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, everyone was incredibly welcoming and friendly. In particular, our waitress was knowledgeable and full of ideas, and she was able to guide us through the menu to make decisions that made sense. The food, on the whole, was excellent! We decided on the happy hour omakase with some sake and cocktails, and we loved the experience. It made it easier to navigate the menu and still get to try a ton of things without having to choose. Their happy hour menu is impressive, and it certainly seems like a hit as well. There is no doubt that we will be back the next time we are in Austin. We almost went back the next night - it would've been worth it! read more

Uchi Austin - Ozeki Nigori - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Let's just all agree the Uchi is f'n awesome. Impeccable service. Intimate environment. Quality craft cocktails. Exquisite food. Menu is a little intimidating if you're not well versed in Japanese cuisine. We opted for the HH omakase. It's all about trust. Nine impeccable bites spread out over an hour. You'll never leave unsatisfied. Worth every penny. Free valet parking. Reservations highly encouraged. read more

I think it's been over 15 years since I last went to Uchi so was happy to have the opportunity to go check it out again! It was a great spot to meet for happy hour/dinner prior to seeing The Waitress at the nearby Zach theater. We were able to taste a good sampling of the HH items and share everything at great HH prices. Everything was delicious. Our waiter (wish I remember his name) was very helpful in guiding us to the best-for-us sake and food choices. My favorites were the salmon, eggplant, and scallop items. It was fun they served one of the sake's in the original tin container. I look forward to going back again when the opportunity presents itself. We also appreciated the complimentary (tip based) valet as well. read more

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Such a great experience!! Highly recommend getting a reservation in advance because it is not huge and a popular spot. Popular for a reason...it is a cozy, intimate, and perfect date night spot. My husband and I recently went for the happy hour $120 shared omakase and were very impressed. Every dish is unique, beautiful and beyond delicious! The staff are extremely kind and make it a memorable experience. read more

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I come here atleast 2 times per month whether it be a solo dinner, or having friends in town, to special occasions. I absolutely love everything on the menu. The food is fantastic and ranges from raw to cooked dishes which are always fantastic. The service is quick, friendly, and explains every dish as it comes out. I love that it's not too dimly lit and the inside is cozy but welcoming and polished. read more

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Just hands down the best restaurant in Austin in my opinion. Excellent sushi, intimate atmosphere, great service with knowledgeable servers. The brown butter snow crab is always one of my favorites, but the wagyu dishes took me by surprise and I loved those as well. Hama chili is the best hamachi crudo I've ever had. Love this place! read more

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I celebrated an intimate birthday dinner with my partner at Uchi, and were so happy they were able to accomodate him being a vegan! We got a mixture of vegan and fish dishes. Highlights were the spicy crunchy makimono, kinoko (mushroom) nigiri, sunomo (kind of beet carpaccio), and the grilled romaine handroll. I liked the toro handroll, and they had delicious small oysters. Our bill was around $150 - for coming on the later side of happy hour and having two drinks each this felt very reasonable. read more

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Carpaccio and shrimp karaagee was too salty. Who drowns straight up fish sauce into carpaccio without diluting it. Can't taste the meat being so salty. Lacking quality, freshness and execution. The nigiri and crudo were not fresh for how much we are paying. Overpriced for what it is. Feels like you're paying for the vibe. read more

Outstanding great restaurant. So lucky we could get in!! Make reservations!! They have an inside and small covered outside seating. The inside was busy and loud. We sat outside and glad we did. We picked to order off the curated tasting by our server. We were a party of 4pp we informed our server we wanted to stay at $100 a person and our allergies. Drinks are the same price where you go. Our server and other servers kept bringing a steady flow of sushi one after the other, i tried to keep up but in the end i am sure how many we ate. We did ask to stop since we were getting full. The dessert was the so good. I have pictures. In the end with tip it was $100 each. Each server would explain what we were eating. I definitely tried things i would have never ordered. I highly recommend to do the servers choice. read more

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I went to Uchi for my mom's birthday and we ordered the omakase. It was an elevated Asian fusion experience with a creative mix of flavors: Thai, Japanese, American, and even a touch of peach in a savory dish. The service was excellent, and the ambiance was lively yet refined, even on a Thursday night. The dessert was incredible, though I was too full to finish it. The only reason I'm leaving out one star is that a few of the fusion combinations felt a bit too experimental for my taste, like the crab with butter rice for sushi. Still, it was a memorable dining experience and perfect for special occasions. read more

Everything at Uchi is exceptional. Tsurai cocktail is special. A bit more Asian fusion but the sushi is serious. Quality of fish was out of this world - def forgot I was in Austin. read more

Uchi Austin - Great food and vibe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Uchi is overall good, but I do think it is too expensive for what it is. This is totally just my opinion -- it's coming from someone that is very easy to please when it comes to sushi, so $20-30 sushi does the job just as well as $200 sushi does for me. That said, the vibes in here are indeed nice, it's good for date night however it DOES get really busy. We had a res on Saturday night (my friend and I) and when we came, every table was taken so the place was packed! The walkways are a little narrow so there was some dodging to get to the bathroom but overall it doesn't feel cramped. My friend and I got the tasting menu for 2 which is $120 for HH, and I got a yuzu based mocktail as well for $6. She ordered a couple a la carte items as well which were $7-12 each. Each course of the 9 course tasting menu is small (like 1-2 bites), but by the end you do end up full (at least I was!). My friend ate/paid for the a la carte items so for me with half the tasting, the drink, and tax/tip it was like $85? Overall not bad for a nice dinner but again - I found it comparable to cheaper sushi so I wouldn't go again. Also of note - they have a small self park area and the rest is valet. I personally prefer to just park my own car but when I came the self park was all taken so I used the valet. It was fine, they were efficient so no issue. As above -- I liked uchi but I wasn't blown away by it and wouldn't come again unless someone else was paying. But it does objectively taste good and the service is very good! read more

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Easily my favorite sushi in Texas. Uchi does everything fabulous and is a perfect setting for a nice celebration dinner or date night. The servers are also incredibly nice and knowledgeable. Cannot recommend this place enough and can't believe they don't have a Michelin star yet! read more

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Initially, I had come early on a weekday evening and hoped to be seated early (the reservation was for 9 pm). I didn't get to my table, my reservation was originally booked for the sushi bar, until closer to 9:15. The host made sure I was kept up to date on status of my table and decided to sit me in the regular dining since they didn't want me to wait any longer. Once I was seated, Alexis took really great care of me - explaining the menu, sharing her recommendations, and ensuring that everything was up to my expectations. The eel and ocean trout nigiri along with the hama chili dish were my favorites for the night. I perfectly ended the night with the gyutoro - completely melted in your mouth, drooling at the thought of that bite! I ordered about 12 bites total and everything was delicious! I had a lovely time at Uchi and was happy I came during my visit to Austin. read more

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Stopped by here with 2 friends on June 28, 2022. I had never been before, but everyone in Austin has recommended this place. I really like sushi and I must say, this place lives up to the hype. The dishes are small and shareable, but the flavors and textures are unique and exciting. They even have vegetarian options, which is really nice. This is a great date spot, or a place to go for a special occasion. The staff also is really good at recommending what to try based on your diet and preference. read more