Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago

Hands down the best meal I have ever eaten. If you’re looking for quantity this is not it but if you relax and let your taste buds guide you it’s. Next level. Great service and food. Way too expensive though but it’s an experience… 5 starts

Phenomenal experience! Sushi places will never be the same again ....

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Spectacular sushi and service. Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place is incredible. Best omakase of my life. If you’re thinking of going, stop hesitating and just book it. It is worth it if you love your sushi. Victor was a sick chef and you’d be lucky to have him prepare your sushi.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Not even close - this was the best dining experience of my life. Chef and her crew were funny, welcoming, informative, and engaging. The food was incredibly fresh and clean and creatively prepared. In total, something like 19 courses (make sure to arrive the 30 minutes before reservation time). We got lucky and got a spot from the wait list only a day in advance, so even if they're booked, give the wait list a try. Thinking about booking another trip to Chicago solely to come back here.

Dietary restrictions: They did a great job accommodating dietary restrictions! I don't like spicy food and chef made some excellent substitutes so I could enjoy every course.

Kid-friendliness: So long as the child is an adventurous eater and enjoys sushi, take them along! The family next to us took their 9 and 14 year old kids and they loved it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Wagyu, Sushi

This is one unique experience. The Omakase is certainly not the typical japanese one we are used to, but a kind of reinterpretation.

However, the 5 stars is for the overall unique experience. From the speakeasy entrance, to the drinks area, down to the dining bar.. the chef, the jokes, the atmosphere, and yes it is very good food.

We had an excellent dinner and night.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

We went here for our anniversary dinner and it was by far and simply one of rather strange experiences we had. We have been to most omakase restaurants in the city and we could say this is not typical traditional omakase that shows chef’s culinary craftsmanship.

The sushi quality itself was good, but the garnishes and the balance of salt/sweet flavors felt somewhat rushed and basic. It basically felt like fast food version of omakase.

The biggest fluke was in the atmosphere and the attitude of one of chefs/service. Maybe it was off night, but the atmosphere felt “cheap” and not high-end/elegant like some of omakase experiences we had in Chicago and New York. The main chef spent most of her time talking to one customer that we were left hanging and waiting for our next piece. The chef in front of us was a bit eccentric and kept trying to make small talk that felt very misogynistic and aggressive. One example is when he asked which one of us made reservation and told me to love my husband because his wife always makes reservations. What? And then he asked us which piece we like the most and when we answered, he gave us a big thumb down. It felt very passive aggressive. Again, there was no class and sense of craftsmanship in the encounter. Also, there was time when he missed placing one of garnishes on sushi and the main chef gave him the biggest stink eye and sigh. We had to laugh amicably in order to ease the tension.

Overall, this was pretty stressful. Stressful enough that we would not pay pretty steep prices to get ourselves into.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 4

Service: 2

Feels very personal (in a good way.) Chefs are skilled. Quality ingredients. Highly recommend additional dishes bcos IT IS WORTH IT. The foie ???

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Wagyu, Sushi

One of the best omakase experiences I've had to date. Amazing atmosphere, fun and engaging chefs, and above all spectacular and creative sushi. Each and every bite was unique and mind-blowing, and the head chef described the backstory to the creation of each . Absolutely worth the cost. Loved the speakeasy vibe, including the complementary playlist (felt like I was transported in time)!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Amazing group of chefs! Fun, engaging, welcoming, and very hospitable, went for my birthday and they make a few of the sushi courses special for things like that! The food was heavenly, absolutely to die for. Its hard to imagine you'd love everything in a 16 course meal equally. The person training (i think his name was victor?) was doing so well, and was sweet, attentive and personable. All od the chefs were so knowledgeable and talented, Naomi is the best chef iv'e ever seen at work, truly passionate about the dishes she makes. 20/10 will be coming back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent omakase experience. The fish is excellent and they amplify each piece with small additions like a brushed on sauce and/or topping. We were seated at the end so it was a little hard to hear the central chef giving the explanations but the chef on our side was happy to repeat and answer any questions. It is a chefs table only experience and I would come back and get the sake pairing next time!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A great experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious sushi, very attentive and humorous crew, sophisticated atmosphere. If you have dietary restrictions the chefs go above and beyond to accommodate you and include you in the whole experience. Shout out to SONG!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Wagyu

This spot will ruin other sushi restaurants for you. In the middle of my meal I wanted to pull out my phone to rebook. I loved the whole team, atmosphere and food to the point I truly didn’t want to leave. Every dish was an absolute dime. 10/10 every bite. Take every option they give you, from the early cocktail to staying the minute they kick you out. I just left and I can’t wait to go back. Big thanks and shoutout to head chef Naomi (sorry if misspelled) for making sushi by scratch, an unforgettable experience and our new favorite restaurant in Chicago.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great sushi. Fun atmosphere. Engaging team. I got a little drunk. Good times.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5