Phenomenal tasting menu and sake list. Not just sushi, but different styles of Japanese food. Attentive and friendly staff. Will go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Foodguru
This was a beautiful trip to a culinary wonderland. I've eaten all around the world and can say our dinner with Tanaka Ken was one of the best I've experienced. My son is very knowledgeable about Japanese cuisine but he learned so much throughout this amazing tasting trip. We didn't want the evening to end. Thank you!
My fiancés father was in town and he is a big foodie. We've done this omakase before with the prior chef who opened the restaurant. We were very pleased with the new chef and his apprentice! Every bite brought a new exciting taste. We will definitely be back.
Sireatsalot
The reservation required strict start times. Times were quoted that you were only allowed to be 5 mins late, you were requested to arrive 15 mins prior to your reservation time and 30 mins late was considered a cancellation. When we arrived, on time for our 8pm seating, the earlier seating was still having dessert. Awkwardly, we were told to return 20 mins later or we could stand in the corner (and essentially be behind a little wall hearing the guest finish up). It's very strange to have such a strict seating requirement and then tell your guests for the last seating they'll be 20 minutes delayed. Not very professional for such an expensive dinner and no respect for the time of the later dinner guests.
David Wohlsdorf
An evening to forget. We should have known when we received the reservation confirmation and they restaurant clearly stated that if you're late, your reservation will be cancelled and you must still pay. We showed up at the door four minutes early to be told that they "are running behind and have no place for us to wait". No bar or waiting room so we were chased away. No ownership that we're paying customers. We came back at 20 minutes past the reservation time and the restaurant was still not ready. Food was good. During dinner the restaurant ventilation was not good enough so the front door was opened which made the place uncomfortably cold. Also, they did not have enough ipads (being used for menus) so we were asked to share, then the wine we ordered came out with a different vintage. So many cases of "bait and switch". We will not go back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
David
An evening to forget. We should have known when we received the reservation confirmation and they restaurant clearly stated that if you're late, your reservation will be cancelled and you must still pay. We showed up at the door four minutes early to be told that they "are running behind and have no place for us to wait". No bar or waiting room so we were chased away. No ownership that we're paying customers. We came back at 20 minutes past the reservation time and the restaurant was still not ready. Food was good. During dinner the restaurant ventilation was not good enough so the front door was opened which made the place uncomfortably cold. Also, they did not have enough ipads (being used for menus) so we were asked to share, then the wine we ordered came out with a different vintage. So many cases of "bait and switch". We will not go back.
RobertH
Great food, excellent & friendly service. The chefs were very friendly and it was a fun dining experience being able to chat with them throughout the meal. The sommelier was also very helpful and we had a good time talking to him as well. Highly recommend.
JaredK
Everything about this experience was amazing! I had just proposed and it was my Fiance's 26th birthday. Derek the General Manager did a great job walking us through every dish, it's origin, and how to properly consume each item for the best experience. Both chefs were taking their time with each dish and you could see their craft really come out during the night. It made it for an amazing and very enjoyable experience. It is well worth the money and I would highly recommend Shinbay to anyone looking for not just great food, but an overall amazing experience. Can't recommend it enough!!!
For the price, the amount of food and quality was far below what we were expecting. We got 2 bites of wagyu. A lot of the items were also very bland. For $800 for 2, it was a big disappointment.
Glenn Hickman
Great food, although wish some of the fish was not pre-flavored with wasabi
This was an amazing experience with the best quality products and a great chef. We liked the explanations about the different courses and it was fascinating that the fresh fish came from all over the world. Thank you so much
Chad T
Absolutely fantastic food and service. A great culinary experience. That said I've paid less for the same level of experience and penultimate service. Looks up what a bottle of Loveblock wine pinot gris 2020 will run you. I paid $120. Even the highest end of culinary experiences has a value limit and this isn't it. If you have the money to do this on the regular I would recommend it but for a once in a very great while place I could recommend many other places in the valley where 5-600 is better spent for those rare moments.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sandra S.
Came here for my anniversary dinner. Never been to a spot that only seated 6 ppl twice a night. It was definitely a cool unique experience.Had omakase 15 course meal (1 course was 4 sashimis, and I counted 7 pieces of nigiri individually). Everything was actually so delicious. And it was really cool getting to try both Santa Barbara uni and Hokkaido uni. I definitely prefer Santa Barbara as it was a little firmer and a lot less fishy (more sweet). Also cool to see them make/grate fresh wasabi - strong sharp flavor with a bit more earthy grassiness.It was a very lean team of three.The server was super knowledgeable on all the dishes and where it was sourced. He also made sure our glass was never empty and cleared out our plates as soon as we were finished. Felt very well serviced. Most things were shipped fresh from Japan or Spain. But they do change the menu daily so you'll get whatever is fresh for the day. The plating was also so beautiful and fun.An expensive but splendid celebratory experience for those special occasions. Worth the money for the experience and delicious bites.
Alane O.
Wow, one of the best fine dining experiences I have ever experienced in my life, and I've had my fair share of Michelin dining experiences (Disfrutar, Spectrum, Alinea). Here's the catch, you better really love fish cause you are going to eat a lot, like A LOT. (My husband tapped out on the 6th of 10 rounds of nigiri right before "the most expensive fish in the house"). Pro Tip: It's okay to set boundaries to make your meal enjoyable. I playfully commented on the amount of wasabi after getting a hefty dose and chef was very receptive to adjust down. He is also very receptive to adjusting cut to thinner/smaller if you're getting full. The menu is creative and takes you on a sensory journey. While you begin with a playful salad, this quickly shifts to a host of shellfish and other sea dwellers such as beautifully braised octopus and an interesting take on crab (if I was going to skip anything it would be the crab, but you be the judge). On that note, there WILL be bites you do not like. That's the experience right? Step out of your comfort zone and master just trying something new. The space itself is very simple and inviting. I was not a fan of the large iPads, contrasting in a disrupting way the aged tradition of the meal preparation (I'm being picky here). The courses were beautiful, every detail painfully planned out and executed. Even the music seemed to travel with the culinary journey and at times added an air of oracular intensity.Our host, Derek, was just an amazing bonus element. His service was fenominal. His knowledge is saki and the menu courses made you truly appreciate the intention of the meal. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
ZuzuG
Eating here is more than just a meal; it's an experience. Everything from the food to the presentation was beyond exceptional. We got to try some fish we've never had before like jellyfish and a few deep sea fish while also learning about a little about all of the ingredients. Being able to watch the chef prepare the fish is also a highlight. You can see and taste how much work he puts into preparing each plate. It might seem like it's on the pricey side but it is well worth it. I highly recommend trying this place at least once if you're a sushi lover and it's the perfect place for special occasions. We will definitely be back!
Phenomenal tasting menu and sake list. Not just sushi, but different styles of Japanese food. Attentive and friendly staff. Will go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was a beautiful trip to a culinary wonderland. I've eaten all around the world and can say our dinner with Tanaka Ken was one of the best I've experienced. My son is very knowledgeable about Japanese cuisine but he learned so much throughout this amazing tasting trip. We didn't want the evening to end. Thank you!
My fiancés father was in town and he is a big foodie. We've done this omakase before with the prior chef who opened the restaurant. We were very pleased with the new chef and his apprentice! Every bite brought a new exciting taste. We will definitely be back.
The reservation required strict start times. Times were quoted that you were only allowed to be 5 mins late, you were requested to arrive 15 mins prior to your reservation time and 30 mins late was considered a cancellation. When we arrived, on time for our 8pm seating, the earlier seating was still having dessert. Awkwardly, we were told to return 20 mins later or we could stand in the corner (and essentially be behind a little wall hearing the guest finish up). It's very strange to have such a strict seating requirement and then tell your guests for the last seating they'll be 20 minutes delayed. Not very professional for such an expensive dinner and no respect for the time of the later dinner guests.
An evening to forget. We should have known when we received the reservation confirmation and they restaurant clearly stated that if you're late, your reservation will be cancelled and you must still pay. We showed up at the door four minutes early to be told that they "are running behind and have no place for us to wait". No bar or waiting room so we were chased away. No ownership that we're paying customers. We came back at 20 minutes past the reservation time and the restaurant was still not ready. Food was good. During dinner the restaurant ventilation was not good enough so the front door was opened which made the place uncomfortably cold. Also, they did not have enough ipads (being used for menus) so we were asked to share, then the wine we ordered came out with a different vintage. So many cases of "bait and switch". We will not go back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
An evening to forget. We should have known when we received the reservation confirmation and they restaurant clearly stated that if you're late, your reservation will be cancelled and you must still pay. We showed up at the door four minutes early to be told that they "are running behind and have no place for us to wait". No bar or waiting room so we were chased away. No ownership that we're paying customers. We came back at 20 minutes past the reservation time and the restaurant was still not ready. Food was good. During dinner the restaurant ventilation was not good enough so the front door was opened which made the place uncomfortably cold. Also, they did not have enough ipads (being used for menus) so we were asked to share, then the wine we ordered came out with a different vintage. So many cases of "bait and switch". We will not go back.
Great food, excellent & friendly service. The chefs were very friendly and it was a fun dining experience being able to chat with them throughout the meal. The sommelier was also very helpful and we had a good time talking to him as well. Highly recommend.
Everything about this experience was amazing! I had just proposed and it was my Fiance's 26th birthday. Derek the General Manager did a great job walking us through every dish, it's origin, and how to properly consume each item for the best experience. Both chefs were taking their time with each dish and you could see their craft really come out during the night. It made it for an amazing and very enjoyable experience. It is well worth the money and I would highly recommend Shinbay to anyone looking for not just great food, but an overall amazing experience. Can't recommend it enough!!!
For the price, the amount of food and quality was far below what we were expecting. We got 2 bites of wagyu. A lot of the items were also very bland. For $800 for 2, it was a big disappointment.
Great food, although wish some of the fish was not pre-flavored with wasabi
Restaurantji Recommends
This was an amazing experience with the best quality products and a great chef. We liked the explanations about the different courses and it was fascinating that the fresh fish came from all over the world. Thank you so much
Absolutely fantastic food and service. A great culinary experience. That said I've paid less for the same level of experience and penultimate service. Looks up what a bottle of Loveblock wine pinot gris 2020 will run you. I paid $120. Even the highest end of culinary experiences has a value limit and this isn't it. If you have the money to do this on the regular I would recommend it but for a once in a very great while place I could recommend many other places in the valley where 5-600 is better spent for those rare moments.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here for my anniversary dinner. Never been to a spot that only seated 6 ppl twice a night. It was definitely a cool unique experience.Had omakase 15 course meal (1 course was 4 sashimis, and I counted 7 pieces of nigiri individually). Everything was actually so delicious. And it was really cool getting to try both Santa Barbara uni and Hokkaido uni. I definitely prefer Santa Barbara as it was a little firmer and a lot less fishy (more sweet). Also cool to see them make/grate fresh wasabi - strong sharp flavor with a bit more earthy grassiness.It was a very lean team of three.The server was super knowledgeable on all the dishes and where it was sourced. He also made sure our glass was never empty and cleared out our plates as soon as we were finished. Felt very well serviced. Most things were shipped fresh from Japan or Spain. But they do change the menu daily so you'll get whatever is fresh for the day. The plating was also so beautiful and fun.An expensive but splendid celebratory experience for those special occasions. Worth the money for the experience and delicious bites.
Wow, one of the best fine dining experiences I have ever experienced in my life, and I've had my fair share of Michelin dining experiences (Disfrutar, Spectrum, Alinea). Here's the catch, you better really love fish cause you are going to eat a lot, like A LOT. (My husband tapped out on the 6th of 10 rounds of nigiri right before "the most expensive fish in the house"). Pro Tip: It's okay to set boundaries to make your meal enjoyable. I playfully commented on the amount of wasabi after getting a hefty dose and chef was very receptive to adjust down. He is also very receptive to adjusting cut to thinner/smaller if you're getting full. The menu is creative and takes you on a sensory journey. While you begin with a playful salad, this quickly shifts to a host of shellfish and other sea dwellers such as beautifully braised octopus and an interesting take on crab (if I was going to skip anything it would be the crab, but you be the judge). On that note, there WILL be bites you do not like. That's the experience right? Step out of your comfort zone and master just trying something new. The space itself is very simple and inviting. I was not a fan of the large iPads, contrasting in a disrupting way the aged tradition of the meal preparation (I'm being picky here). The courses were beautiful, every detail painfully planned out and executed. Even the music seemed to travel with the culinary journey and at times added an air of oracular intensity.Our host, Derek, was just an amazing bonus element. His service was fenominal. His knowledge is saki and the menu courses made you truly appreciate the intention of the meal. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
Eating here is more than just a meal; it's an experience. Everything from the food to the presentation was beyond exceptional. We got to try some fish we've never had before like jellyfish and a few deep sea fish while also learning about a little about all of the ingredients. Being able to watch the chef prepare the fish is also a highlight. You can see and taste how much work he puts into preparing each plate. It might seem like it's on the pricey side but it is well worth it. I highly recommend trying this place at least once if you're a sushi lover and it's the perfect place for special occasions. We will definitely be back!