Shinsei Restaurant

03/13/09

Great ambient

by Nancy0000 at Citysearch

Rolls were very good and fresh. I tried severals, but the one that I liked the most was the "Pressed Sushi" (spicy tuna, bid eye tuna, salmon and avocado).

Attention and design are great

• Pros: Example: best croissants in town
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

02/13/09

Good but not good enough

by AaronHorton at Citysearch

My husband and I are very loyal to a certain sushi restaurant in town. Over ten years and at least 100 dining experiences, and it has not failed us. However, on a recent Thursday night, we decided to branch out and try Shinsei. I've heard that the starpower (Owners are celeb chef wives of Kent Rathburn & Dean Fearing) doesn't overshadow the focus on food. On our visit, this much was true. The food was creative and very fresh, and the wine list offers good pairings. Unfortunately, that is where it stops. The service was neglectful and obligatory. Also, the chairs at the sushi bar aren't the right hight. They are too low, making you feel as if you're eating at the kids' table at Thanksgiving. Add to that the hide-n-seek service, and the analogy is complete. The "big people table" has all the condiments and tea refills while the kids' table settles for mismatched chairs and no butter knife. We decided against dessert since the sushi chefs and servers were so focused on getting their sidework done (C'mon HP and PH folks, not even you go to bed at 9p on a Thursday). Plus- in my opinion, cleaning rags and sushi rolls just don't mix. A good restaurant has fantastic food, but also the gift of hospitality. Shinsei, you should learn a lesson from Teppo and Tei Tei. Certainly "Chef Elvis" should have learned hospitality at his former stomping grounds. Won't be back- there are just too many good sushi restaurants who have earned my loyalty.

• Pros: creative sashimi, good wine list by the glass
• Cons: service, sushi bar chairs, ambience

02/05/09

Love this place!

by froco at Citysearch

When this place first opened the wait was long and I think they were still trying to work out the problems. I love this place and I am a "baby" sushi eater...my sushi consists of cooked pieces...but I have tried some of the rolls that my husband gets and I LOVE it. They have expanded their restaurant and wait isnt bad if you go early. I have never had a bad waiter always have great food. I did have a party there once and they do make you order from a pre set menu and I did not like that..i dont like not having your own meal. The food was still good you just had to share...

• Pros: Great Food and atmosphere. Must get the volcano roll
• Cons: I never leave here without spending a lot of money