What a great way to start the evening! The chicken was perfectly seasoned, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. I especially enjoyed the outdoor seating, which created a relaxing atmosphere for dinner. My bestie and I visited on a Monday, and it turned out to be the perfect choice. The restaurant offers Happy Hour from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Mondays, making it an even better value. To make the evening even more special, there was a live DJ playing great music, which added to the fun and welcoming atmosphere without being overwhelming. The combination of excellent food, a pleasant outdoor ambiance, great music, and friendly service made for a wonderful dining experience. I would definitely return and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a tasty meal and a great evening out. read more

Last minute Wednesday night plans led to Ukiah.. it has a relaxed upscale vibe- great for date night, drinks with friends or even a family night. Great patio next to the water with sofas for a cosy setup. Service was friendly and helpful. The menu was a mix of Japanese and barbecue but not too vast. Nice options for vegetarians as well. We ordered lemon drop martini ( yum), coconut cake( super yum). For appetizers soshito peppers were okay, pork dumplings were good if not exceptional. I got the barbecue shrimp appetizer portion for my main dish and absolutely loved it. DH got baby back ribs and seemed to enjoy it.. Will surely return. read more

Ukiah - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

When I think Japanese, I don't typically think of brisket nor pastrami short rib, but here we are lol. We tried the short rib, brisket, wagyu sticks, crispy rice with tuna, soft shell crab buns, and finished off with the coconut cake (5 stars on its own!). The only dish I wouldn't recommend is the crispy rice since I've had better at your typical sushi spot, but that's not enough to ding them a star. The brisket was perfectly tender and pairs very well with the milk bread, kimchi, and pickles. The portion is a bit on the small side but enjoyable nonetheless. The short rib I only got to sample. It was tender, flavorful, and presented well. The Wagyu was my favorite. Perfectly cooked to medium rare and soooo tender. I didn't get to try the soft shell crab, but that was my son's favorite. Finally, the coconut cake is truly divine. Apparently the recipe was handed down to the chef by his mom, which makes it a bit more special. It really is a must order at this restaurant, read more

Location is great, the service is pretty quick, but food had pros and cons. Overall the menu is less Asian and more American, but the quality was pretty good. Their rib eye was cooked nicely and sliced into pieces so you can pick with sticks. Make sure you get the coconut cake, it's a must order. read more

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- Came here late at night after a show since it's one of the few restaurants still open at that hour - Got the kata ana and pineapple express. The kata ana was too sour and lacked in presentation when compared to the pineapple express - Everything is made to share, tapas style - The crispy rice, oysters, soft crab bao, shishito peppers and prime ribeye were good - Bok choy was ok - Ordered a side of the japanese milk bread to try and it was neither soft nor fluffy. All the fluffy insides were gone leaving a very dry, hard shell. - The coconut cake stole the show! It's their home made recipe and HUGE. Comes with ice cream on the side - The restaurant sits along the water so the views during the day must be beautiful - Service was great - Several parking garages in the neighborhood read more

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OMGeeeeeeee The lemon cello martini ! Let's warn you beware it will sneak up on you. But so worth it - delicious ! We ordered a few appetizers, our server (sorry forgot her name I think starts with an L) she was AMAZING!! She constantly checked on us to make sure we were okay! Great service !! It was very packed, perfect location, easy to find and we definitely enjoyed our time. Would go back ! read more

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had an incredible dinner at Ukiah and cannot recommend it enough. From the moment we sat down, the service was attentive and seamless, making the entire evening feel special. The food was truly the star of the show. We tried a variety of dishes, including the crispy tuna rice, the hamachi crudo, and the smoked wagyu brisket, and every bite was packed with flavor. The presentation was beautiful, and you can tell a lot of thought goes into the menu. We finished with the coconut cake, which was the perfect, light end to the meal. The atmosphere is chic and sophisticated, especially with the outdoor seating by the water. If you're in Ft. Lauderdale, this is easily one of the best spots for a high-quality meal and great vibes. I'll definitely be back! read more

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I've been wanting to try this place since it first opened and finally got to try it out tonight on Valentine's Day. I took my mom out, who is a huge Asian food lover so we were excited to try this place out. Upon entry, we were immediately greeted by the host and confirmed we wanted an outside table. I wish I had asked to sit inside cause it was soooo windy out and a little freezing and they didn't have heaters or any kind of wind shield. I'm not the kind of person to ask to change tables after I've been sat so I toughed it out but it was slightly miserable out there for me haha. I'm not holding that against the restaurant though I know they don't control the weather, just would have been nice to have heaters or something. Moving on, once sat, it took our server a little while to greet us which was slightly annoying as the restaurant was pretty empty for Valentine's Day, but also wasn't going to let that ruin the night. We ordered our water and drinks and she gave us the run down of the place/menu and how things work. Our server was very nice and informative and friendly. As for the food, we decided to opt out of the tasting menu and just pick specific items we wanted to try and share. I like how things here come out as they're ready as it spreads the food delivery out and gives you time to eat and enjoy each item slowly. The food was all super good quality and super delicious, but I do feel some of it was a bit overpriced for what you're getting. The drinks were nice too, but personally not my favorite vibe. The vibe of the restaurant was okay. You could hear the music from the wharf the whole time, and though it wasn't loud enough to disturb your meal, it set the vibe off. They should really play louder more vibey music to try to drown the wharf out. I also don't think the vibe of the restaurant was anything crazy. It's nice just being on the river walk but other than that I didn't get crazy amazing vibes from the ambiance/decor. I did like how the bar was indoor/outdoor. All in all, I did have a good meal and time, but I don't know if I'm dying to come back or go out of my way to come back. read more

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I visited Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse while visiting Ft. Lauderdale to see family friends. When I saw Japanese Soul Food mixed with American BBQ.. I was so excited to get to eating... The service was truly amazing from start to finish. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and so helpful with picking dishes out for us. The manager checked on us and the kitchen was quick to get dishes to our party of 5. The dining area strikes the perfect balance between stylish and comfortable, making it an ideal spot for both a special night out and a relaxed group dinner. Dark woods, contemporary mood lighting all around and an attractive base showcased indoors. I love that it's right by the city canal which is not a common scene for me back home. We went family stle which turned out to be the best decision because every dish was worth trying Karaage Chicken - The kids loved the non-spicy version, the older kids dug the spicy done. Tiger Prawns Pastrami Short Rib - wow..rich, smoky and yum Shishito Peppers Rock Shrimp - my favorite dish here. That blue cheese added was creative and made this for me. sliced Hamachi - refreshingly yum as well sweet potato with bacon bites - The most interesting and best sweet potato I've had in a bit. Chocolate Miso Cake - Great fusion and not too sweet. My foodie bff sure knows her stuff and knew I would love it here. Next visit in the area, I'll definitely swing by again to try more dishes. Cheers! read more

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The food was really good and definitely the best part. It was kind of hard to find though and parking wasn't the easiest. Also a little pricey, but overall still a good experience. It's right by the Riverwalk so you get some really pretty views too. read more

Ukiah - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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Love the experience here! Big shout out to our waiter Angel for the amazing recommendations on how to start and finish our experience . Looking forward to returning for Happy Hour and trying their smoke meat selection next time. Cold starter: SLICED HAMACHI 10/10 Warm starters: PORK + SHIITAKE MUSHROOM GYOZA + ROCK SHRIMP 10/10 From the grill: CRISPY BABY BACK RIBS 6/10 had to get extra sauce it was just okay will try one of the smoke meats on return Dessert: DARK CHOCOLATE MISO CAKE 10/10 I should've gotten another scoop of the ice cream ! Also tried their sake flight ! So strong I'd recommend paring it with one of there Juice . Get the lemonade and ask them to add the house made passion fruit Juice to it ! read more

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Spent New Years Eve dinner here and it was delicious!!! We made reservations and did app parking around the corner for Las Olas area near the Wharf. ++ Rock shrimp ++ Spicy tuna crispy rice ++ Hamachi crispy rice ++ Avocado Salad ++ Wagyu skewers ++ baby bok choy ++ crispy pork bao We did dinner dim sum style with little plates and so we could try so much food. Everything was so good and we had 2 cocktails too. The service was fast and accommodating and the music was so fun to get the NYE vibe right. We're excited to come back and try more of the menu! read more

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I really liked this place. We went there for brunch. My wife enjoyed the oysters and I had the chicken and waffles. She also had the seared tuna. The food was all good. The server was excellent. The vibe was very welcoming. read more

What an amazing experience! Food & service absolutely exceptional! Our server Sam, I tell you 100% on it!! Food delicious everything! The only negative thing I have to say OMG too much food! We where all comatose! lol It was a party of 6 & we agreed on the Tasting Menu. They truly made my BD special! Thank you to everyone! read more

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Finally made it to Ukiah in Fort Lauderdale with a friend for brunch after months of seeing videos on TikTok & Instagram. There is valet in front of the restaurant, but you can also find street parking or park in a nearby garage. They had a nice vibe going with a DJ and the restaurant wasn't packed which was nice. Ukiah is also on the water so it also adds to the overall ambiance. The servers and food runners were great, they were checking in on us whenever they passed by and our main server gave some good recommendations, but also let us know that their dinner menu had better options. Overall, I didn't find any dish we ordered to be truly memorable, but I would give this restaurant another try for dinner. read more

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Food: pretty good. Tapas style Asian fusion. Next time I would like to try the set tasting menu to get a little bit more variety. Cocktails: delicious and beautiful. Some really interesting flavors View: beautiful and trendy Service: very attentive, especially for a Saturday night read more

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The service was amazing--everyone was incredibly attentive from start to finish. Since it was our first time at Ukiah, we decided to go with the tasting menu so we could try a variety of dishes, and it was definitely the right choice. We started with the shishito peppers and the sliced tuna, which were both very refreshing. The salmon crispy rice came next; it was good, but in my personal opinion it felt like it was missing something--maybe a bit of spice or citrus--since it was a little bland for my taste. Everything else, though, was absolutely out of this world. You have to try the brisket and the sweet potato--both were incredible. The snapper skewer was my absolute favorite and truly stood out. Overall, a fantastic experience and we'll definitely be back. read more

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Amazing happy hour specials at this lively spot right on the river. Appetizers were great, we had every option of the crispy rice sashimi, my favorite was the hamachi. The chicken karaage was perfectly cooked and the kewpie sauce was a great, authentic addition. Waygu skewers were excellent and well prepared. The staff was surprisingly nice given how busy they were as well. Awesome spot before a show at the Broward Center as well! read more

Ukiah - Martini - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

While I wasn't sure what to expect the first time I visited, I can tell you that the terrific service and great food that I received has me going back time and time again. We first checked it out during "Dine Fort Lauderdale" as they had a $60 prix fixe dinner that allowed us to taste a wide range of the menu. Ukiah, which is haiku spelled backwards (I like little things like that) is a Japanese smokehouse which is sort of a fusion of all the things I like about Japanese food and BBQ. Some of my favorites on the menu are the dumplings, the ribs, the pork buns, and the brisket. Trust me- you won't go hungry here! The drinks are well poured, service is terrific and the location on the new river can't be beat. I hope they put signage out by the turn on 2nd street so that people can find this place as I would hate to see it go the way of it's predecessor. We can walk here but the last time I went, they had someone parking cars down at the end so you should call and see if that is still the case. Definitely worth a trip to check out! read more

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My best friend and I truly had a 5 star experience at Ukiah. We stopped by for a light lunch on a Sunday and sat on the riverfront patio. Unfortunately I didn't catch the name of our server or the manager, but they were both wonderful. When they were out of the Sancerre I ordered, the manager brought me a taste of a substitute to try. When my friend loved the butter on the snapper skewers, they brought her extra to-go. The snapper and the avocado salad were both delicious, but the service truly made the experience. We can't wait to come back to Ukiah for another girls lunch! read more

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My brother and his wife were in town from NY for a night and we decided to do something we've never done and take them to a place we'd never been. I had confidence that we were going to like Ukiah, though, based on the reviews, and I wasn't wrong. The atmosphere is lively and just a tad too loud for good conversation, although we managed. The drinks were great - although my brother likes a lot of dirty in his martini, and our waiter, Reece, made sure he was satisfied. The food was great - we ordered the grilled shishito peppers, rock shrimp, iceberg wedge, avocado salad, sliced hamachi, grilled prime ribeye, crispy baby back ribs, red snapper, and Japanese sweet potato. There wasn't a miss among all of these dishes. So, nice atmosphere, great service (thank you, Reece!), great cocktails, and tasty food - you can't go wrong! Plus, it looks like they have a great happy hour, so I just might have to go check that out ... read more

This place WOWED me!! I honestly cannot wait to go back!!!!! Everything was amazing, I don't even know where to start! Ambiance was gorgeous and such a vibe, it's also right on the water so it's amazing. Drinks were so good and delicious. Service was also amazing, our server Francisco was GREAT! He has been working with the company for a while now and he was super personable, knowledgeable, kind and just an all around amazing server! Now let's get into the food!!! crispy spicy tuna - sooo good, so fresh, so flavorful, the rice was perfectly cooked - crunchy and a little chewy, absolutely amazing! Avocado salad - sooo flavorful and yummy, honestly I think they should add some tomatoes and it would make it even better! It really is just avocado and feta - classic but well done bc they seasoned it perfectly. Edamame gyoza - sooooo flavorful, literally bursting with flavor. So delicious and clean. Pork Bao Bun - I didn't try this, but my sister in law said it was delish! Smoked half chicken - this was UNREAAAAALL truly a show stopper. I was curious about this bc it is a Japanese restaurant and I've never seen smoked chicken on a menu at other Japanese restaurants - but Ukiah is also a smokehouse! Chicken was sooooooo delish and the accoutrements it came with added so much! It comes with pickles, Kimchi, milk bread and amazing sauces. This was probably my fav bite of the night! Grilled Tokyo street corn - I wasn't blown away by this, it was good but I wouldn't rush to get it again. Coconut Cake - WOWOWOWOW, this dessert is a MUST get, it was so decadent but not over sugary, it was soooo yummy. It was a cake with coconut and cream cheese frosting, it was truly incredible. Passionfruit & blood orange & pomegranate sorbet - this was sooooo flavorful, refreshing, tart, delicious. Loved loved loved I cannot WAIT to come back and try more delicious food at a beautiful location with amazing service read more

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Ukiah (Haiku spelled backwards) is a fairly new restaurant in Downtown Fort Lauderdale with an interesting mix of Japanese and BBQ, right on the river. I came here for a friend's birthday and we went with the $85 tasting menu, which is 8 courses plus dessert. You don't see the menu ahead, but everything was excellent and the portions were generous. Highlights for us were the salmon crispy rice, soft shell crab buns, gyoza, and smoked brisket. Service was great, it had a fun Saturday night vibe, and unlike most tasting menus you definitely don't leave hungry. It was a little hot inside, but overall a really good experience and I'll def be back! read more

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I was let down by this somewhat overhyped restaurant. The menu here is sort of a mess and would like to see better options, definitely more vegetarian options. So I would call this an Asian/American fusion more than a Japanese smokehouse. Plates ranged from not impressive to not bad, but nothing was outstanding. The bok choy for $15.00 was an absolute rob with that looked like one head of bok choy at best, go with the sweet potato instead. Didn't like the it comes to you when it comes set up here (yes, you are told of that before you order) I'm doubting if there is one Asian in the kitchen. Beautiful outside and indoor area with valet parking or street/garage parking near by. Rather pricey for the food quality. Service was friendly and somewhat spotty. I can see this turning into an above average restaurant, but not with the current state of things. read more

Nothing special. Run of the mill Asian tapas spot. We had bottomless mimosas. Our server was very attentive. The brunch vibes were low, but it was an unseasonably cool, rainy Saturday. The tapas are a bit pricy for the quality. The snapper skewers in the brown butter sauce are a must. read more

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Firstly, I'd like to say that I originally went to the Asheville Ukiah location back in February and it was so good that the decision to visit the Ft Lauderdale location was made. Right off the bat, the FLL location is MUCH louder. As a matter of fact I'd call it a very loud restaurant, almost excessively so. The actual inside is very nice, but again, a different vibe to Asheville. It's very poppy and feels almost like a club, while Asheville Ukiah is more calm and down to earth. The food and service were excellent, and I tried more items this time around, although the Japanese sweet potato and the crispy rice were still fan favorites. The crispy rice is better in North Carolina though and by a lot. The FLL location uses way too much fish with a more coarse fish paste and a muted sauce. Also I think the salmon was a little fishy this time around... The ribs are incredible and at a restaurant that has fairly small portions I would say that's 10/10 on the value for money and definitely 10/10 on the flavor. Also, if you like negronis, get yourself Zaddy's home. I think it's their take on one and it definitely stands on its own two legs. Other than that, I hope they succeed here too, as I would love to come back! read more

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Took my husband here for his birthday Tuesday night. We were excited to try a new place. We decided to sit at the bar instead of our reserved table because we enjoy the bar ambiance, but maybe that was the mistake. The bartenders were not friendly or welcoming at all. Hardly wanted to answer any menu questions when asked and failed to mention it was the tail end of happy hour in case we wanted to order anything from that menu (but the gentlemen next to us was able to). We tried the snapper and the baby back ribs. The food was good and there would be plenty of other food items we'd love to go back and try, however I don't think we will be in a rush to go back due to poor service on an occasion we were really looking forward to. read more

Ukiah - Baby back ribs - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Very disappointing. The service was poor, the drinks were bad, and most of the food was mediocre. The fish skewers were practically inedible, the sweet potato dish was unpleasant, and only the chicken karaage was acceptable. Nice concept, but very poor execution. read more

Ukiah - Snapper skewer. Very bad. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

I came here for my birthday dinner with some girl friends and we all had a wonderful time. The service was exceptional. Our waitress Jazmyn was so attentive and offered wonderful suggestions for dishes to share. Every dish we ordered was super flavorful at every bite. I would highly recommend making a reservation and checking it out. I'll definitely be back. They do have outdoor seating as well for those interested. Maybe when the weather gets cooler, I may try it. The view of the river is beautiful and relaxing. I think the only negative I would say is that i was very thirsty after dinner. I think maybe too much salt intake. But definitely worth it read more

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We came here for the Dine Out Lauderdale experience. Our wait staff, Cara and Game and team, were fantastic. The food was good. Certain dishes were just fantastic while others were mid. Luckily we had the experience prices otherwise it would definitely be overpriced. The sticky ribs were delicious as well as the wagyu skewers. The sauce on the cauliflower was good. Edamame was basic. Sliced salmon was basic. The flavor on the bok choy was perfect with the char on it. The crispy squid had no flavor. It was breaded and cooked perfectly, but there was no flavor. We had to ask for a sauce. Overall good experience. read more

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The food, the location and ambiance, all 5 out of five! We stopped in on a Sunday and loved it. We first tried the Bullet Train to Tokyo (espresso martini) which was delicious. Then ordered some appetizers which were also fabulous. read more

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Welcome Back to South Florida, Chef Michael Lewis & Steven Haigh! Ukiah is a stunning new addition to the Fort Lauderdale dining scene. A beautiful restaurant and bar that strikes the perfect balance between chic and welcoming. It is the kind of place where you want to linger with friends, share plates, and catch up over cocktails. Make sure to get their version of an espresso martini, BULLET TRAIN TO TOKYO! We kicked things off with the crispy shrimp in chili butter. The chili butter is a nostalgic nod to their original Miami restaurant, and just as addictive as ever. The tuna crispy rice was hands down the best I have had in South Florida, and the chicken karaage(pro tip: order it with the chili butter on the side) was perfectly crisp and flavorful. The roasted cauliflower with shishito vinaigrette was a standout, bright, savory, and crave-worthy. We also loved the burrata with honey marmalade, a beautiful balance of creamy and sweet. For mains, the smoked pastrami short rib was a showstopper. Fall-off-the-bone tender and deeply flavorful, while the crispy baby back ribs brought a satisfying crunch and richness. And whatever you do, save room for dessert. Their famous coconut cake lives up to the hype and is the perfect way to end the meal. Ukiah is a place we will definitely return to again and again. South Florida is lucky to have this team back. read more

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Food is mediocre at best. The service was the best part of the experience. Add $15 for valet parking unless you can walk there.

Gorgeous setting but not stuffy. The staff were super attentive and the food was delicious. I would say my favorite part of the smoke platter were the sides (the brisket was a little too fatty for my taste but the flavor was really good). The kimchi was smoked (yum!!) and the milk bread and pickled cucumbers were hit! Overall, we favored the apps, which were amazing (that squid!!!) and the drinks were great!! Def worth going and sitting outside on a nice day. read more

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Dropped by for a drink at the outside bar during Winterfest. The service was fast, friendly, and the drinks were reasonably priced. I've heard good things about the appetizers here, so I look forward to sitting down inside sometime soon. read more

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In short: Great concept but the flavor fell short . Ukiah is Haiku spelled backward (which is a type of short form poetry originally from Japan). Much like a Haiku , the food left me wanting more of an experience . Background: This is the second location (first one is in Asheville ) and the goal was to create a neighborhood restaurant serving Japanese soul food mixed with American BBQ. This spot opened about two weeks ago. Food: Karaage chicken - probably the star of the night for me. Perfectly breaded, melt in your mouth chicken. Came with Kewpie Mayo and Kyoto-Carolina BBQ. I love a good Carolina BBQ but this one was very watery and should've been a bit thicker. Local Burrata- came with Yuzu honey (nice touch) and delicious grilled bread (from Zak the baker I believe, it was excellent). The burrata needed a touch of salt and almost tasted like nothing. Sliced Hamachi- very light on a bed of herbs and white ponzu. I didn't mind it but the herbs took away from the fish. Smoked Pastrami short rib- had a VERY thick salt rim, fire roasted kimchi was just okay and of course toasted rye was a great neutralizer after the salted pastrami. Wagyu - my friend's piece was overcooked and overall could've used more chimichurri sauce Red snapper- cooked perfectly but the fish itself had no flavor whatsoever :( very bland .. tasted exactly like cooked fish and nothing more Grilled seasonal mushrooms and Smoked baby zucchini continued the same sentiment... great execution but lacking overall flavor . The miso chocolate cake for dessert was delicious and the bloody Trevor was a nice refreshing drink . Service was very good.. attentive, kept our h20 Filled but also quick to ask to remove dishes and hurry us along at the end of the night (it was 930pm and they close at 11pm, they have to read the room better ). The ambiance is nice and in a beautiful location with nice views. Restaurant Is clean and has a somewhat clean, modern industrial aesthetic. I know it is only a couple of weeks of opening so some grace should be given . I hope the kinks can be worked out and they can thrive with this concept. read more

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Been here a few times, always busy, good vibe! Food is great, drinks are fun. We stopped by the bar for a nightcap, after 15 minutes of being ignored we had no choice but to leave. Next time, we'll most likely skip the bar, but the food is worth a return trip. read more

I was trying to figure out if I should give Ukiah a 4 or 5 star rating.. I decided on 5 stars because of the high quality food, music and lively atmosphere. I like their creative menu and being able to try some things that most restaurants do not offer. I ordered a margarita and it was excellent. It was perfectly balanced. I thought my avocado salad was very good. The avocado was very high quality and so flavorful. The Japanese sweet potato was good but not something I would order again. Without the cheese, it just wasn't as good. The cheese was eaten within a couple bites I loved the shrimp cocktail. The flavors of the sauces were so tasty. The zucchini was really high quality. The brisket was not too flavorful to me. The bread was outstanding. I am going to purchase this at a store near me. The sauces for the brisket were also really flavorful The hamachi looked interesting but I did not try it. I was disappointed in the coconut cake. It is supposed to be one of their most popular items. It seemed to be too buttery or just heavy. I much preferred the chocolate miso cake and sorbettos. The singers were very talented. They have outside seating but we wanted to sit inside. The meal was well paced. Our server was efficient but had an awkward personality that was not pleasant. Having a more friendly server would have made the experience even better. read more

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