Wagyu tataki and a glass of Suntori Toki for the win!
ayush kalani
My girlfriend and I decided to check out Fish and Bird for Berkeley Restaurant Week, and Fish & Bird initially charmed us. From the street, the classic Japanese izakaya vibe was undeniable with a big red neon sign. Stepping inside, however, it was a complete transformation. The modern, sleek decor with clean lines and an open kitchen created a cool, upscale atmosphere.The service was excellent - the staff was friendly and attentive throughout the night.But....Here's where things went south. Initially, we had thought of trying their restaurant week menu, but after looking at it closely, we didn't really feel that it was worth the price. And so we decided to order from their regular menu.The Deluxe Sashimi Moriawase (not worth the price), at $59, was a big disappointment. The cuts of fish were uneven, some alarmingly thin. The star of the show, the uni, was a total miss. It wasn't fresh, had a somewhat fishy odor, and lacked any real flavor (not sweet and buttery at all). The chicken karaage was alright - crispy on the outside but not particularly juicy. The smoked saba shioyaki was probably the best dish of the night, with a nice smoky flavor. But it was riddled with bones, making it a bit of a struggle to eat.Overall, Fish & Bird felt like a place with a lot of potential but not quite hitting the mark. The upscale ambiance and attentive service were there, but the uneven execution of the food, particularly the sashimi, left me wanting more. For the price point, I expect a more consistent and impressive culinary experience.
I wrote them this email after a horrible experience at their restaurant. They have not replied, and clearly do not care about customer experience. If you have any dietary requirements do not come to this restaurant they will not respect it.Hello, I hope you are well.I am reaching out regarding an experience last night at your restaurant. I am vegetarian and haven’t eaten meat in 5 years, and a family member chose your restaurant for their birthday dinner.I ordered the “Agedashi Tofu” and the menu very cleary said “V+”, which according to the key means vegan. I noticed that bonito was an ingredient listed, but assumed since the menu said it was vegan it was a vegan replacement. However, when the tofu came out it became clear that those were indeed bonito flakes. I confirmed with the waitress, who said it was a “vegan option” dish. Upon double checking the menu, that is not what was printed. The printed version of your menu says vegan. The waitress offered to put an order in for a fresh one without meat in it.After a long wait for the next dish, I saw another “agedashi tofu” come out from the kitchen again with a huge pile of bonito flakes. I saw the waitstaff pick up the dish, double check the order, then do a double take and bring it back into the kitchen. Within a minute after it being in the kitchen, they brought it back out having removed the bonito flakes and served it to me. I checked with the waitstaff, who said this was the fully vegan one. However, I am skeptical that it had never had bonito flakes on it because there simply wasn’t enough time to have made a fresh dish.When I got home I double checked your menus on google and your website. The agedashi tofu is labeled as “vegetarian optional” on all of those menus. When I checked the receipt I also see we got charged for both of the dishes. If not for your misprint on the menu we would not have ordered two dishes.I feel incredibly upset about the experience. The menu being wrong, and then my meal being prepared with meat twice was a huge bummer. I also do not understand why we were charged twice for an error that was not ours.The waitstaff did not apologize or listen to my concerns, and implied I incorrectly read the menu. The servers did not acknowledge the mistake, and charging us twice for something that was not our error made the experience very negative.Thank you for taking the time to hear my concerns. Your food is delicious, and I hope you correct your menus moving forward and learn to be conscientious of people’s dietary needs.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Eyal Shahar
Excellent food and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amanda Milburn
Not great. Food descriptions sound great but the food is just ok. Servicer was stoned and lost he had no clue what he was doing, and they ran out of rice. Rice! At a Japanese restaurant! Had to eat our chicken with just sauce no rice, so essentially half the dish was missing. Our server thought it was all a big joke. Portions are small for big prices. The house hot sake was $30 and tiny. We will not be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Damon Tighe
Food was incredible. Each plate was well thought out and executed. The soft tofu is not to be missed and the recently added black cod collars were a perfect balance of smokey, acid, and fish fats.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Rufino T. 3
Highly recommended, the mackerel is amazing but also the Wagyu is not to miss.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu Yakiniku and Seafood, Basque Cheesecake
Cara H.
Food: 5/5Service: 5/5Price: 4/5Atmosphere: 5/5 This is still one of my absolute favorite spots in Berkeley. The food is always consistently delicious and the service is great. The ambiance is relaxing and chill. The prices are a bit higher than most restaurants, but the quality of the food is worth it in my opinion.
Amazing meal!! Our server was a pro, picked out some top choices for us and we devoured everything! (Cheers to the St.John's alum from NM ?). Be prepared to order many dishes, at least 4-6 for 2 people, savor them and enjoy the classy, chill vibes. The umeshu spirit was so good, sour and sweet, could have crushed a couple ?. The soft tofu was the best I've ever had, same with the cod!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: House Made Soft Tofu
Evangeline E.
I wanted to like this place so bad but everything was overpriced and underwhelming. Lackluster food and drinks at a high price = I will probably not ever come back. I ordered the green bean fritters and it tasted like funnel cake. The dusting of matcha over it didn't make much sense at all and didn't compliment eachother. We also got the housemade tofu which was good and creamy but not what I was expecting it was almost a pudding texture. The yuzu spritz tasted like straight up lemon and wasn't balanced at all. My favorite thing was probably the shishito peppers but that doesnt say much since those are hard to mess up. Service was on top of it, and the ambiance was cute. Overall I come to a restaurant for the food so if that's a miss there's no need to come back here.
Joyce Z.
Coincidentally, just my previous review, I mentioned my love for Saha and now I am returning to their old Berkeley location that now houses another hit, Fish and Bird Izakaya. Sitting in my bookmarks since they shortly opened, with the exception of the vegetable category, my tapas sharing friend and I got to try something from each category of the menu.Bites - Sea Beans and Corn Tempura - I was surprised how much I loved this that if she wasn't treating me for my birthday, I would have ordered a second. Specials - Iwashi Fry - I thought I would like this more than I did but it was a bit fishy for meRaw - Sashimi Moriawasi - super fresh sashimi that just melts in your mouth Seafood and Poultry - Chicken Karaage - you can never go wrong with chicken karaage and this one deliveredShime - Korobuta Nabe - I was sold when I saw korobuta but I didn't think this was worth the priceDessert - Basque Cheesecake - I was hesitant on trying Basque Cheesecake as my previous experience elsewhere was way too salty. This one however, hopefully is more indicative of what it is supposed to taste likeOverall, a solid 4 star experience though and I would return to try more of their menu as well as for more sea beans and corn tempura and that delicious sashimi.
YolandaW
The Kaki was not fresh, the green beads were good but not enough and the Rock Fish was not enough and a bit weird looking. The drinks were good but walls need to be painted as had a lot of chips in it. Prices too high for quality of food. Service was wonderful and servers were really nice.
Luca Venza
Overpriced. The have a rosemary duck which is totally out of place. Tastes good, but doesn´t fit the vibe. Be wary of the fish head. No meat! It´s priced like a super authentic place, but the menu is all over the place and it is very pricey. Disappointed.
Wagyu tataki and a glass of Suntori Toki for the win!
My girlfriend and I decided to check out Fish and Bird for Berkeley Restaurant Week, and Fish & Bird initially charmed us. From the street, the classic Japanese izakaya vibe was undeniable with a big red neon sign. Stepping inside, however, it was a complete transformation. The modern, sleek decor with clean lines and an open kitchen created a cool, upscale atmosphere.The service was excellent - the staff was friendly and attentive throughout the night.But....Here's where things went south. Initially, we had thought of trying their restaurant week menu, but after looking at it closely, we didn't really feel that it was worth the price. And so we decided to order from their regular menu.The Deluxe Sashimi Moriawase (not worth the price), at $59, was a big disappointment. The cuts of fish were uneven, some alarmingly thin. The star of the show, the uni, was a total miss. It wasn't fresh, had a somewhat fishy odor, and lacked any real flavor (not sweet and buttery at all). The chicken karaage was alright - crispy on the outside but not particularly juicy. The smoked saba shioyaki was probably the best dish of the night, with a nice smoky flavor. But it was riddled with bones, making it a bit of a struggle to eat.Overall, Fish & Bird felt like a place with a lot of potential but not quite hitting the mark. The upscale ambiance and attentive service were there, but the uneven execution of the food, particularly the sashimi, left me wanting more. For the price point, I expect a more consistent and impressive culinary experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Very expensive small plates to share.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sea Beans & Corn Tempura, Chicken Karaage
I wrote them this email after a horrible experience at their restaurant. They have not replied, and clearly do not care about customer experience. If you have any dietary requirements do not come to this restaurant they will not respect it.Hello, I hope you are well.I am reaching out regarding an experience last night at your restaurant. I am vegetarian and haven’t eaten meat in 5 years, and a family member chose your restaurant for their birthday dinner.I ordered the “Agedashi Tofu” and the menu very cleary said “V+”, which according to the key means vegan. I noticed that bonito was an ingredient listed, but assumed since the menu said it was vegan it was a vegan replacement. However, when the tofu came out it became clear that those were indeed bonito flakes. I confirmed with the waitress, who said it was a “vegan option” dish. Upon double checking the menu, that is not what was printed. The printed version of your menu says vegan. The waitress offered to put an order in for a fresh one without meat in it.After a long wait for the next dish, I saw another “agedashi tofu” come out from the kitchen again with a huge pile of bonito flakes. I saw the waitstaff pick up the dish, double check the order, then do a double take and bring it back into the kitchen. Within a minute after it being in the kitchen, they brought it back out having removed the bonito flakes and served it to me. I checked with the waitstaff, who said this was the fully vegan one. However, I am skeptical that it had never had bonito flakes on it because there simply wasn’t enough time to have made a fresh dish.When I got home I double checked your menus on google and your website. The agedashi tofu is labeled as “vegetarian optional” on all of those menus. When I checked the receipt I also see we got charged for both of the dishes. If not for your misprint on the menu we would not have ordered two dishes.I feel incredibly upset about the experience. The menu being wrong, and then my meal being prepared with meat twice was a huge bummer. I also do not understand why we were charged twice for an error that was not ours.The waitstaff did not apologize or listen to my concerns, and implied I incorrectly read the menu. The servers did not acknowledge the mistake, and charging us twice for something that was not our error made the experience very negative.Thank you for taking the time to hear my concerns. Your food is delicious, and I hope you correct your menus moving forward and learn to be conscientious of people’s dietary needs.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Excellent food and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Not great. Food descriptions sound great but the food is just ok. Servicer was stoned and lost he had no clue what he was doing, and they ran out of rice. Rice! At a Japanese restaurant! Had to eat our chicken with just sauce no rice, so essentially half the dish was missing. Our server thought it was all a big joke. Portions are small for big prices. The house hot sake was $30 and tiny. We will not be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Food was incredible. Each plate was well thought out and executed. The soft tofu is not to be missed and the recently added black cod collars were a perfect balance of smokey, acid, and fish fats.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Highly recommended, the mackerel is amazing but also the Wagyu is not to miss.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu Yakiniku and Seafood, Basque Cheesecake
Food: 5/5Service: 5/5Price: 4/5Atmosphere: 5/5 This is still one of my absolute favorite spots in Berkeley. The food is always consistently delicious and the service is great. The ambiance is relaxing and chill. The prices are a bit higher than most restaurants, but the quality of the food is worth it in my opinion.
Try the house umeboshi
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Agedashi Tofu
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing meal!! Our server was a pro, picked out some top choices for us and we devoured everything! (Cheers to the St.John's alum from NM ?). Be prepared to order many dishes, at least 4-6 for 2 people, savor them and enjoy the classy, chill vibes. The umeshu spirit was so good, sour and sweet, could have crushed a couple ?. The soft tofu was the best I've ever had, same with the cod!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: House Made Soft Tofu
I wanted to like this place so bad but everything was overpriced and underwhelming. Lackluster food and drinks at a high price = I will probably not ever come back. I ordered the green bean fritters and it tasted like funnel cake. The dusting of matcha over it didn't make much sense at all and didn't compliment eachother. We also got the housemade tofu which was good and creamy but not what I was expecting it was almost a pudding texture. The yuzu spritz tasted like straight up lemon and wasn't balanced at all. My favorite thing was probably the shishito peppers but that doesnt say much since those are hard to mess up. Service was on top of it, and the ambiance was cute. Overall I come to a restaurant for the food so if that's a miss there's no need to come back here.
Coincidentally, just my previous review, I mentioned my love for Saha and now I am returning to their old Berkeley location that now houses another hit, Fish and Bird Izakaya. Sitting in my bookmarks since they shortly opened, with the exception of the vegetable category, my tapas sharing friend and I got to try something from each category of the menu.Bites - Sea Beans and Corn Tempura - I was surprised how much I loved this that if she wasn't treating me for my birthday, I would have ordered a second. Specials - Iwashi Fry - I thought I would like this more than I did but it was a bit fishy for meRaw - Sashimi Moriawasi - super fresh sashimi that just melts in your mouth Seafood and Poultry - Chicken Karaage - you can never go wrong with chicken karaage and this one deliveredShime - Korobuta Nabe - I was sold when I saw korobuta but I didn't think this was worth the priceDessert - Basque Cheesecake - I was hesitant on trying Basque Cheesecake as my previous experience elsewhere was way too salty. This one however, hopefully is more indicative of what it is supposed to taste likeOverall, a solid 4 star experience though and I would return to try more of their menu as well as for more sea beans and corn tempura and that delicious sashimi.
The Kaki was not fresh, the green beads were good but not enough and the Rock Fish was not enough and a bit weird looking. The drinks were good but walls need to be painted as had a lot of chips in it. Prices too high for quality of food. Service was wonderful and servers were really nice.
Overpriced. The have a rosemary duck which is totally out of place. Tastes good, but doesn´t fit the vibe. Be wary of the fish head. No meat! It´s priced like a super authentic place, but the menu is all over the place and it is very pricey. Disappointed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4