Nishi-ya omakase
Sushi Nishi-ya
1712 Victory Blvd
Glendale, CA 91201
March 2009
We went for our first omkase dinner at Sushi Nishi-ya on a Saturday night. I took my wife and son. When we got there, we got the usual “sushi only” and “no rolls” policy repeated to us that was written on the wall. Everybody get this message. The 7 seat sushi bar had a “Reserve” sign sitting on top of the bar with three customers. So we took a booth. Another party came in and saw the sign and promptly left. There were other couples that eventually came in later to take up other booths. As the sushi bar filled up, our service got slower and slower to the point where we got hunger pangs between servings. It became obvious that one chef cannot adequately support this restaurant even if it has only 21 seats and those at the sushi bar got prompter service. That night there was anywhere between 12-15 dinners. It took over an hour and a half to get 8 or 10 servings. The sushi itself was excellent but the portions were a bit small. I left slightly hungry cause I stopped when I got spicy tuna rolls. I figured that the chef was running out of options and I was not going to pay top dollar for stuff like spicy tuna rolls. We had to make something for my son at home to fill him up. The bill was over $300 that includes a tip and one small bottle of sake. The tip was for the waitress. She tried her best to apologize for the service.
Hint-do not go on a Friday or Saturday night. If you do, get reservations for the sushi bar.
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i was at Nishi-Ya on friday night. It was not crowded and service was attentive and prompt. The sushi was excellent! I always come here on Fridays and have never experienced slow service- perhaps saturdays are more crowded? sounds like it. i always feel bad because when i go on fridays the place is always half empty. Nishi-Ya omakase is one of my favorite sushi experiences (saving up for urasawa presently) and I go there at least 2 times a month. Love Nishi-Ya.
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re: Clyde
i would go there if i happened to live in glassell park, near griffith park, or near glendale.
otherwise, compared to nozawa, sasabune, hikko, echigo, and sushi zo, it's just more mediocre even though it serves up the same style of sushi and it just was not as fresh as zo or nozawa, the last time i went. but i'm sure the people that live blocks away and not a freeway away like it rightly so.
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