No Answer at Kiwami

[Citron58]

Has anyone been to Kiwami, the new sushi restaurant in Studio City from Katsuya Uechi?

It got a very positive review in the L.A. Times this week. I called numerous times today, including during the early dinner hour, and there's no answer. That's unfathomable behavior for a restaurant, especially in this economy. I wonder what gives.

[Servorg]

They're answering now. [phone]

11:30 a.m.- to 2 p.m. and 6 to p.m.-10 p.m. No lunch on weekends. Beer and sake. Valet parking, $4.50.

[hppzz]

i didn't have any luck last night or tonight either. No answering machine to boot. My question is do they take reservations?

[Servorg]

Reservations? I say "call them" lol

I do now see that Sherry Virbila says in her review: "Note: No one here seems to answer the phone until late afternoon."

[hppzz]

of course i've called them the last two evenings during dinner hours and both times no answer.

[Citron58]

That's a huge turnoff to me. They should take customer service more seriously. It's not like it's hard to find sushi elsewhere in Studio City.

[specialist]

It is possible that they just don't have anyone to answer the phones in the mornings since it is new.

[hppzz]

all the calls by citron and I were during dinner hours. like Citron said, plenty of other sushi places to go to instead.

[copycatcreative]

The BF and I ate at Kiwami Saturday night and were able to get a reservation by calling at 3:30 that day. Tried in the morning and got no answer, but the 2nd call went through. Just called again (11 a.m. on a Monday) and someone picked up. Just for the record, we really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Chef Katsuya was there on Saturday and kept silent watch, but didn't seem to interfere with the other guys preparations, so they must all be quite well trained. Loved the Halibut Carpaccio and Kanpachi Tataki! Nice vibe, a little more upscale than the original but not overpriced. "Omakase" was $54 for me - total bill scraped in at just under $100 for two.

[carter]

For the Katsuya operations in the valley, katsu himself oversees them, and since he also operates a sushi chef school, he makes sure that his staff is well trained and qualified in the art of sushi-making, etc.

[hppzz]

the omakase that you had is different from the Chef omakase for--$70 right?