Wasai Bistro is absolutely my favorite restaurant in New Jersey!! The sushi is unbelievably fresh and there are other dishes that you never see in a run of the mill Japanese restaurant like fried sardines and scallop sashimi from Hokkaido! I love the French desserts like crème brûlée and creative renditions of the traditional ones like lychee sorbet. The service is super-attentive. We come as often as we can and highly recommend this place. Elegant presentation and relaxing ambiance. What a find!! read more

Wasai Bistro - Sashimi for two - French Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

Very good. Table had the variety of sushi and the lamb chop entree. Everyone really enjoyed what they picked. It is a small place and we needed a reservation. read more

Yes excellent food & service everything is great service and decor is great! Love this place read more

What a great little fined if you're in the mood for Japanese or French they have it all the sushi was fresh and delicious quaint little atmosphere wonderful service. Definitely give it a try. If you're in the mood for some sushi. We are very fussy with us sushi, but this place really checked off all of our boxes. The service was phenomenal as well. read more

BYO with an intimate dining experience. The food and sushi is grade A fresh! It is consistently great.

Great new neighborhood restaurant in Cranford! Went there for an anniversary dinner Chef Nelson came out and chatted with us and discussed the menu, and his recommendations. As a treat, he brought "table smoked" duck breast! I've never seen it before, but he covered the plate with a clear bowl and filled the bowl with wood smoke-- lift the lid, and voila!! It was scrumptious, with that hint of smoke. Chef Nelson was genuinely concerned that we have the best experience, and wanted to "get to know us" in order to serve us and our pallets better. We had the seared tuna and sea bass entrees, and some great sushi as well. Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

Thank you so much for ending our trip with such a fantastic night! just like your dishes, your package is also creative and considerate! read more

Wasai Bistro - French Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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Really wanted to love this place but I doubt I'll be back. Since I only ordered $250 of food at dinner, and not all was bad and their menu is vast, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here during the times of Covid and give them a 4. The lackluster roll call on my order here was kind of long and included the $18? mes reves roll (wagyu was out of the fridge cold but should have been torched and immediately set on rice; the beef and foie seemed like a perfunctory add-on to what was otherwise basically an unimpressive avocado roll... perhaps wagyu should only be sushi but I gave it a try...), an $18 toro trio roll (nightly special... nothing inside tasted like toro, one small piece perhaps looked like toro, hard to tell from the small cube that it was, but had none of its flavor, probably the biggest rip-off if the night, and I've never seen a toro roll served open with so much rice?), and the $24+? foie gras (portion was half of the pictures on Yelp and what was served to another table, and the accompanying ingredients were just ok... I think of the foie gras at Mu Ramen (RIP) as a benchmark here). One overarching comment is the sushi rice was just average, and that is a significant hold back to any of the sushi being top notch. Let's talk price. First of all, everything is 15% or so more expensive than on their website that you are asked to use as the menu? I know sometimes a website and a printed menu are different, but don't pull that kind of shit when there's no printed menu. Second, all of the sushi and sashimi is very overpriced for what it is, the prices are similar to a place like Sushi Yasuda, in some cases more?? Let's talk ambiance. Be aware it's very small and you should confirm, if you are a party of 2, that you can sit at a 4 top, or at least not at the tables in the middle of the room - that is a very unpleasant dining experience. Finally, the menu is large and it's tempting to order several things to try, but DO NOT. Keep it simple. They bring out the food as soon as it's prepared, not according to any kind of choreography or order, other than your entree being last and perhaps soup being first. We had over 100$ of sushi on our table when they brought out our hot mains ... but our entrees were staggered by 5-10 minutes. Honestly if I wasn't trying to have a relaxing evening and if the entire restaurant wouldn't have heard me, some of the above would have risen to issues I would have spoken to the waiter about at any other place. read more

Spectacular food and service. Everything made is 100% be be delicious. I love the ability to bring own wine. The is is worth it 1000%. A must visit read more

The Sushi was very good, however the service made this place unbearable. There was not one table in the place as we arrived for an early dinner at 4:30PM and we 100% were being rushed. We sat down, and the server came over and said ready to order now. She also had zero menu knowledge and described the dishes incorrectly. I will not be returning, maybe for takeout, but a place that rushes you and drops off the check when they drop off your food, never checks on you and gets mad for ordering dessert deserves a bad review. There were 4 tables in the place and we were literally asked to leave. read more

Service here is excellent. I really wanted to love the food but it leaves room for improvement. In particular their Foie gras wasn't great. The liver was kind of bitter. It was hard to tell if they'd put some kind of sauce on it or if the bile had spilled on it or what, but it was unpleasant and disappointing in such an expensive dish, and all of our portions were like this. If bile spills, the affected pieces should be removed, not served to customers who will be able to taste it. It was also a smaller than average portion, though in this case with the bitterness one might not have wanted more. The poached pear it came on was excellent, but the bed of greens they put everything on was an odd choice. It didn't pair well and felt kind of random. Other items were pretty tasty but likewise could have had better balance. read more

Food is very good and inventive. Many well conceived dishes all very tasty. Generally service is good if not a bit pushy. They are extremely aware of every minute you are there and their intention seems to be to get you out. The early seating at 6pm is rushed, to say the least. When the head woman (older, and you will know) shows up and demands you hurry up, she isn't diplomatic. She means it. We won't go back for that seating. However we have heard from others that the 8pm seating is equally rushed, and they start flicking the lights on and off around 9:30. Ambiance at that stage is 0. Take out is probably the best option, too bad because the servers generally were nice and the decor is ok too. Except for the enforcer. She ruins it. Food great. Service good. Ambiance nyet. They need to make a change in their strategy. People should not put up with that treatment. read more

Had the same waitress last two times I was there. She will never see me a third time. Both times she served three appetizers and kept the fourth person waiting for over 15 minutes. When i complained I got a shoulder shrug. Sushi fell apart at the touch. Chefs choice of roll, spicy California, cutting edge stuff. Mostly Japanese menu. nothing special. The room is ridiculously loud, you can't hear yourself think. This was a great spot two years ago. Won't be going back. read more

The Best Japanese/ sushi restaurant in nj period!! Ate there and known the owner/ chef for over 20 years. Best quality ingredients best taste presentation. read more

Just had a great dinner there. The o Ky problems was there were too many interesting things in the menu to try. Will be back shortly!

Best sushi in the Tristate area! Without a doubt, the sashimi is thick yet tender, the sushi I has a very tasty selection and the proprietor is friendly and very helpful. Highly recommended read more

Incredibly delicious menu with modern food trends infused with classic Japanese and French flavors. Best quality in all of NJ! read more

Wasai Bistro - Omakase Chefs Choice - French Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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Omg delicious! I had the torched salmon belly and angus steak on stone and they were soooo amazing. I can't wait to go back! So flavorful. My new favorite restaurant!!!! read more

Delicious, very fresh seafood along with attentive service. Easy accommodations for dietary preferences/restrictions.

What a wonderfully cozy yet elegant restaurant! We got the squid fries and toro roll as appetizers from the special menu and the Primed Aged Angus Steak on the Stone and the Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass entrees. The blend of creativity with cultural roots behind each dish makes this one of the top Asian-fusion restaurants in NJ. I'm eager to explore other dishes on the menu, but I strongly recommend the Angus Steak and Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass! The Angus Steak is an experience (you cook it yourself on a hot stone, reminiscent of Korean BBQ), and the crispiness of the Chilean Sea Bass was top-notch! read more

Food was excellent, everything was so fresh. The food literally melted in our mouths. Dessert out of this world without being too sweet.

Very legitimately the best sushi I've ever had. Every bite was delicious. The Angus steak was also fantastic. I only got to try a few bites as I stole them off another plate at my table but the taste as well as the presentation was unlike anything I've ever had. The owner are also incredibly friendly and came out to ask us about our meal. They stayed to converse with us for a while and made our experience incredibly warm and welcoming. I would highly recommend coming here read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon and everything that we tried was AMAZING! Their sushi, sashimi, and rolls were so fresh and my favorite! We also tried the aged angus steak on a hot stone, smoked duck breast, lobster bisque, king crab and avocado salad, and multiple desserts! The cheesecake and cappuccino are a must!!! Their Sunrise roll, Kamikaze roll, and Bob's roll were some of the best rolls if you're craving some special sushi rolls! The staff was extremely attentive and had such great service. I will definitely be coming back to try more of their entrees! 10/10 highly recommend!!!! read more

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Chef Nelson's Wasai Bistro is New Jersey's hidden gem for high quality sushi and sashimi. It's quite rare that you can actually taste the Chef's passion, dedication and love for the craft on everything that comes from his kitchen. The entire restaurant staff is well mannered, attentive and accommodating. I had a few questions about some menu items and all of my questions were answered in a detailed and informative manner; they even gave their personal suggestions on favorites. Of course I couldn't resist and ordered all their suggestions; I was pleasantly surprised that I loved everything I tried. I can honestly say that the quality of the fish at Wasai is hands down the best in NJ and for the most part better than a majority of sushi/sashimi spots in Manhattan. The handling and preparation of their sushi/sashimi really shines and the difference can be confirmed by the taste buds! Their cozy seating area is comfortable as well as safely spaced apart for social distancing. This is a no frills non-pretentious establish that only cares about the things that matter which is the food and the customer experience. For those looking to venture out of the conventional 'dragon' or 'spider' rolls I would highly recommend trying the Bob roll. That one is my favorite! So far I've been back twice and the Chef always treats me like family. Come to Wasai for a truly unique and curated dining experience. Special thanks to Chef Nelson for his unconditional hospitality while we dined in savory bliss! read more

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I can't say enough about this new restaurant Wasai Bistro! I'd give them 6 stars if possible! We had the chance to dine there for my 46th birthday dinner. Everything from start to finish was impeccably executed. Chef Nelson and his team go above and beyond to make sure your dining experience will be surely remembered! We tried a good variety of their dishes. The escargots and 2 types of oysters started the meal off. So tasty and seasoned well! Then a must have, was the tableside smoked duck breast! Smokey, tender and paired with a nice salad!! We then tried some of the seafood options with the Sushi Sashimi deluxe. Some of the freshest fish I can recall in a Japanese restaurant! You can definitely taste the quality. We also had the Mes Reves roll. Combining fois gras and seared wagyu was an indulgent treat for sure! Our mains the Dijon lamb chops and Steak on the stone were well lived up to the hype!! The food here is so well thought out and the restaurant itself is a very quaint environment! You absolutely have to give them a try as we were completely blown away by our dining experience there!!! Looking forward to our next visit for sure!! Kudos!!! read more

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I happened to be in the neighborhood for something so tried this place out. Ambitious and well executed menu that reminded me of Nobu. Friendly and helpful staff was attentive and professional. I hope to come back soon. Try the uni btw. Pricey but worth it if you're an uni fan. read more

Four gras is so tender and juicy. Sashimi is great and probably the most fresh I had in NJ. The overall style is Frech Japanese. The display is elegant and the side and sauce are tasty too. Highly recommended. read more

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Food underwhelming and lacking interest or dimension. Service good. They also suggest tip on total bill after taxes .. a pet peeve .

I can't even begin to decide where to begin with this review. From start to finish this place was a 20/10. My father and I decided to go here since we both love to try new sushi places. From the time we got into the door to the time we left everything was absolutely amazing. The Staff were incredible and very attentive. We had the honor of being served by Chef Nelson! When I tell you I have not met a friendlier person in my life! Chef Nelson was absolutely incredible and made ordering the food easy and even gave us some recommendations all of which were incredible. My father and I brought a bottle of wine which was promptly opened upon us sitting down at our reserved table. We started off the evening with Lobster Bisque which in of itself was some of the most delicious Lobster Bisque I have ever tasted, it's brought out in a bowl and they show you the generous amount of lobster in the bowl and the pour the bisque over it! We also had a few appetizers including the breaded oysters and Seared Salmon with Yuzu Soya. When I tell you the seared salmon literally melted in your mouth and the explosion of flavor when it hit your tongue was second to none! Chef Nelson then brought us out Duck Risotto which I could have sat there and ate all night, again the flavor is so amazing you need to try it for yourself! We then had some of the hot tea recommended by Chef Nelson and we must of had about 5-6 cups of that. For our main course we had the Sushi and Sashimi for 2 which was 10 pieces of sushi and 24 pieces of sashimi with 2 rolls of the chefs choice! My father and I have been to a lot of different sushi restaurants but this one takes the cake. The fish was so incredibly fresh and fit perfectly around the vinegar rice! We had to remember to take some home for the family too! To close the night we had 2 espresso shots, a coffee crème' Brule and a mango desert. We have never had a better meal in our entire life and I cannot wait to come back here to try more of the food options! Chef Nelson was incredible and I will make sure to recommend this to absolutely everyone we know. read more

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I was able to order take out and had the opportunity to speak to the owner & staff about their new establishment. I learned that they upgraded their air filtration system to the U/V light setup that kills any and all virus' to make indoor dining even safer. I'm mentioning this because I will be back to sit down and experience their cuisine in person after the amazing take out I just had. The salmon and chicken entrees were delicious as was the peanut butter dumplings. We will be back read more

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A small, unassuming restaurant that serves the best sushi in the area. The sushi is so fresh and honest (a word we like to use for food that is true to itself and not doused in sauces/competing flavors). Definitely a place I would come back to! Needless to say a million times better than nobu. Not great for kids! read more

My husband and I just ate here for our anniversary, and we were both really impressed! The staff is very courteous, and the ambience is great. The food is absolutely spectacular! We tried a few of the different sushi options and everything tasted fresh and delicious. Don't pass up the uni pasta! read more

It's not very often I give a business a 5 star rating! I had dinner here a few weeks ago, and I am already planning the next time I'll be back. I must say this restaurant deserves all the stars in the world. Their food and menu is spectacular. Such a wide range of delicious dishes to try! The decor is cute and modern, the place is nice and clean. The head chef to my surprise came to my table and greeted my fiancé and I, and also checked to make sure that we were enjoying our food. He described the food to us, even the preparation process and gave us great recommendations. He was a delight. I also LOVE that they are BYOB friendly. read more

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It was awesome. Cute atmosphere and great service. The sushi was fresh and Ramen was insanely good. I recommend the curry ramen udon! I can't wait to go back. read more

This is a great restaurant. A combination of French and Japanese. A roll of Waugh beef, foie gras, avocado, cucumber and real gold leaf was beyond delicious. I also had a tuna carpaccio with uni and iguana (salmon eggs). My wife has a sea bass with a miso glaze. A way but beef cooked at table side on a hot stone is a favorite. read more

The ambiance is calm and quaint. The chef is amazing and comes out of the kitchen to talk to you. The food is delicious.

Five star would be an understatement for this place. They have the best sashimi and wagyu beef rolls. All their raw fish are so fresh and juicy. Two main courses we have tried were amazing too. I love the duck confit, and the miso glaze on the sea bass is very tasty. Also, they have the best cheesecake I've ever had - it's so smooth and melt in your mouse! I highly recommend this place and would definitely go back next time!! read more

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Food was ok and fish was fresh, not sure what all the hype is all about. It is definitely more Japanese than French. The "fusion" is a bit misleading. read more

Came to eat here and was blown away by the quality of food and the service. Cannot wait to come back to explore the menu further as everything we had was incredible. Gold flakes on wagyu sushi?!! read more

Wasai Bistro - Wagyu sushi - French Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

This place has great potential, but it needs to sharpen its focus. It tries to do too much, serve too many dishes, please too many people, etc. It should cut half the items off the menu, reduce the number of customers, and focus on better service. It feels as if the chef is extremely talented who wants to cook everything and may get bored with repetition, but the result is the front of the house is being neglected. I really want to see them tighten their game and become extraordinary. read more

Wasai Bistro - French Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey