My new favorite sushi restaurant in SF, but could use some fine-tuning. - Ju-Ni San Francisco - Buy Reservations
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🙂 4/5 - My new favorite sushi restaurant in SF, but could use some fine-tuning.
By 👻 @ShaanS74, 09/27/2019 3:00 am
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Ju-Ni has been on our radar for many months, after earning a Michelin star in 2019 and being mentioned in every list for top sushi spots in the SF Bay Area. All these accolades are well-deserved. I love the concept of only serving 12 guests at a time during each of the two seatings, which is then further divided up into groups of 4 for each itamae. It's right in line with the concept of every top sushi restaurant in Japan.
The sushi is spot-on. There were a total of 14 pieces, preceded by a salad appetizer (I could have eaten a vat of the salad, it was incredible) and wrapping up with a lovely matcha ice cream w/ a chocolate cookie crumble. An option is provided to add additional bites, of which the wagyu beef and uni are recommended to extend the omakase experience. Both bites were excellent. As for the sushi rounds themselves, some had no frills and were prepared "simply" (any seasoned sushi diner knows that "simple" really doesn't apply). There were other bites in which the fish was grilled with a blowtorch right in front of you, and then topped with a bit of caviar, paste or some other garnish. There were some courses that were completely new to me (e.g., barracuda, saury). Their signature salmon roe w/ shaved monkfish liver is definitely out there but so very interesting on the palette. Really fun.
With the food being a slam-dunk, here's what missed the mark:
1. The itamae: while very skilled in his preparation, the conversation was completely disjointed from the intimate ambience that is quintessential of any good sushi restaurant. The second he mentioned eating at Popeye's Chicken, I had zero interest in any interaction. There was no finesse in his conversation, talking about the fish, the prep, none of it. No refinement at all, and that is expected at this price point.
2. The ambience: it felt like an empty warehouse. The walls are completely bare, which is not in line with Japanese design. Minimalistic and bland are not the same thing...some nice paneling on the walls or warmth in the color scheme would really elevate the dining experience. The random prints on the wall actually cheapen the place up.
3. The pricing: maybe I am a snob, but I've become very accustomed to the price/person including everything (gratuity, tax, the whole smash). The $165/person is misleading: for two people, with one glass of wine and 2 extended omakase options (an additional $42/person), with tip and tax: $540. Again, if the owners want to stick to the Japanese style of doing things (who find it insulting that you'd leave a tip) and, quite frankly, the way most high-price restaurants operate these days, make the pricing all-in of some standard gratuity percentage, at a minimum.
The talent is all there, no doubt. There is no way I won't be back for another meal here. But, some fine-tuning will really go a long way.
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