This is truly a great experience! I suggest you let the bartender and chef guide you to make the most your evening. Come with an adventurous spirit and be respectful that this is not a restaurant but a immersive experience to enjoy and appreciate beverages the reward for that is amazing food to compliment the beverages.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus, Custom Sake Tasting, Hot Sake
Brian Six
Excellent food, drinks, atmosphere.
Jenny Ulla
Extremely rude owners. The man especially is the worst. I can’t believe they treat their customers so poorly. I do not recommend going here given the terrible manners of the owners.
Jenny U.
Owners are extremely rude, especially the man. Be aware that the service will be terrible. I can't believe they treat their customers so horribly. I don't think they realize they are in the service industry. Be aware that when you go here, the owners (the two behind the counter) are the worst.
Jenny W
Be aware the owners are extremely particular. They will deem whether you have ordered enough drinks and then decide whether you can then order food. Overall the owners are just very rude, especially the man. He doesn’t realize he is in the service industry. I don’t recommend coming here unless you want to be treated poorly.
JERRY DUNMIRE
Great place to learn about sake. Just drinks (and a few small but wonderful bites that can compliment the same) so plan on eating somewhere else before or after.Wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrei Shliakhau
This is a great place to go for dinks and small plates. They have a great selection of sake. Great atmosphere and very refreshing!
Jenni Ray
I finally made it back. The mustard greens alone are worth the trip. (Trust me your granny never made them like this) Still the experience of communal dining is my favorite part. There's nothing like it in all of Lexington. Have a date? Like sashimi and sake? Good with standing. This is your spot. Alone, need to make new friends? This is your spot. Lived in Japan feeling homesick? This is your spot. 10/10 just go!
Brit P.
Fun cultural experience. My friends and I shared our drinks and appetizers. Had a good time chatting with the owners and other patrons as well. They do have “rules” written on a board which serve as a guide to pairing your food and drink, which are pretty simple. I suggest grabbing dinner somewhere else first. The appetizers are small, but interesting! They also have a nice outdoor garden with high top tables, which was really enjoyable on a breezy summer night.
Amir Bahrami
I will preface this review by saying that Mr. Yamaguchi and his wife have both an excellent selection of Japanese Sake and Liquor, well-chosen food pairings that are both authentic and often creative, and a good concept and location. I also understand and respect their policy regarding wanting to be a "drink and make merry" establishment, rather than one focused on food.My respect and appreciation for their vision has caused me to visit the establishment over 10 times in 3 years, even recommending it to friends and coworkers. I don't expect them to know that, but I would at least ask them to try to be a bit kinder to customers who stray from what they consider to be "correct".I took my Japanese wife to SRO after a long day at work as a surprise. She saw an item on the menu she wanted, the Mentaiko (a treat from her hometown area), which the menu said had to be ordered with sake. My wife hates drinking but out of respect, we nevertheless ordered her a mix drink ($8) and I ordered two cups of sake for approximately 10 dollars each. Having spent 30 dollars on alcohol, I though it would be acceptable to then order the mentaiko for my wife.Unfortunately, when I asked for it, it was pointed out to me in front of my wife that I and not her had ordered the sake and thus Yamaguchi-san would not be making the mentaiko for us, simply because I made the mistake of saying that the mentaiko was "for her". I was so shocked when I was told no that I honestly did not know what to say. Thinking it was a joke, I laughed and said "could you make an exception?", only to be explicitly told "no exception". I did not argue further, I simply ordered another item and we took them to the garden to finish.This was embarrassing for me. My wife was extremely shocked and angered by this treatment as well. Given that we were hoping to relax after a difficult day by "celebrating" with a visit to SRO, this is not what we were hoping for. I understand refusing food for people who do not order alcohol, but please try to have a little bit more empathy for patrons who come to your restaurant willing to spend $50-some dollars while not perfectly satisfying your expectations. Change your menu, your rules, or whatever, I do not care, but whatever choice you make, please have a little heart when dealing with people who are doing their best as well.
Amazing. This is an amazing place to enjoy a great environment, amazing drinks, and they might (wink) have some amazing snacks. Just to make sure I am clear on this post it is not a restaurant to get a meal. This is a one of kind place that you have to come experience. Follow them on instagram to find out what they are about.
Erin Drain
I made a stop in Lexington specifically to go here and it was totally worth it!!! Yamaguchi and Shima are fun, savvy and welcoming. A note: most people in the US are lacking experience with this type of service. Don’t go if you don’t like to stand. Don’t go if you don’t drink alcohol, and don’t go just for food. Go expecting to drink from their top-notch rotating selection of sake and chuhai cocktails. Definitely plan to eat but be aware these are small bites meant as companions for drinking … Uncertain? check out the Instagram feed for the “rules” ahead of time so you can manage your expectations. Lovely patio too. Having been to Japan I’d say this is one of the closest experiences I’ve had in the Midwest/near south ever.
Carol S.
I instantly fell in love with this spot the second I walked in the doors. Everyone was standing around the counter being served yummy Japanese food and drinks. It was such a great time! Thank you.
Moses Yi
Amazing atmosphere and wonderful owners. Apps and drinks are amazing! Drinks and small dishes for a very cute date night!
Nari H.
Omg what a hidden gem. I feel sooo blessed to even have even found this place. Everything with the sake flights was AMAZING!! This is a must stop for me every time I come to Lexington. Get everything with sake flights.!So fricking amazing.
This is truly a great experience! I suggest you let the bartender and chef guide you to make the most your evening. Come with an adventurous spirit and be respectful that this is not a restaurant but a immersive experience to enjoy and appreciate beverages the reward for that is amazing food to compliment the beverages.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus, Custom Sake Tasting, Hot Sake
Excellent food, drinks, atmosphere.
Extremely rude owners. The man especially is the worst. I can’t believe they treat their customers so poorly. I do not recommend going here given the terrible manners of the owners.
Owners are extremely rude, especially the man. Be aware that the service will be terrible. I can't believe they treat their customers so horribly. I don't think they realize they are in the service industry. Be aware that when you go here, the owners (the two behind the counter) are the worst.
Be aware the owners are extremely particular. They will deem whether you have ordered enough drinks and then decide whether you can then order food. Overall the owners are just very rude, especially the man. He doesn’t realize he is in the service industry. I don’t recommend coming here unless you want to be treated poorly.
Great place to learn about sake. Just drinks (and a few small but wonderful bites that can compliment the same) so plan on eating somewhere else before or after.Wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is a great place to go for dinks and small plates. They have a great selection of sake. Great atmosphere and very refreshing!
I finally made it back. The mustard greens alone are worth the trip. (Trust me your granny never made them like this) Still the experience of communal dining is my favorite part. There's nothing like it in all of Lexington. Have a date? Like sashimi and sake? Good with standing. This is your spot. Alone, need to make new friends? This is your spot. Lived in Japan feeling homesick? This is your spot. 10/10 just go!
Fun cultural experience. My friends and I shared our drinks and appetizers. Had a good time chatting with the owners and other patrons as well. They do have “rules” written on a board which serve as a guide to pairing your food and drink, which are pretty simple. I suggest grabbing dinner somewhere else first. The appetizers are small, but interesting! They also have a nice outdoor garden with high top tables, which was really enjoyable on a breezy summer night.
I will preface this review by saying that Mr. Yamaguchi and his wife have both an excellent selection of Japanese Sake and Liquor, well-chosen food pairings that are both authentic and often creative, and a good concept and location. I also understand and respect their policy regarding wanting to be a "drink and make merry" establishment, rather than one focused on food.My respect and appreciation for their vision has caused me to visit the establishment over 10 times in 3 years, even recommending it to friends and coworkers. I don't expect them to know that, but I would at least ask them to try to be a bit kinder to customers who stray from what they consider to be "correct".I took my Japanese wife to SRO after a long day at work as a surprise. She saw an item on the menu she wanted, the Mentaiko (a treat from her hometown area), which the menu said had to be ordered with sake. My wife hates drinking but out of respect, we nevertheless ordered her a mix drink ($8) and I ordered two cups of sake for approximately 10 dollars each. Having spent 30 dollars on alcohol, I though it would be acceptable to then order the mentaiko for my wife.Unfortunately, when I asked for it, it was pointed out to me in front of my wife that I and not her had ordered the sake and thus Yamaguchi-san would not be making the mentaiko for us, simply because I made the mistake of saying that the mentaiko was "for her". I was so shocked when I was told no that I honestly did not know what to say. Thinking it was a joke, I laughed and said "could you make an exception?", only to be explicitly told "no exception". I did not argue further, I simply ordered another item and we took them to the garden to finish.This was embarrassing for me. My wife was extremely shocked and angered by this treatment as well. Given that we were hoping to relax after a difficult day by "celebrating" with a visit to SRO, this is not what we were hoping for. I understand refusing food for people who do not order alcohol, but please try to have a little bit more empathy for patrons who come to your restaurant willing to spend $50-some dollars while not perfectly satisfying your expectations. Change your menu, your rules, or whatever, I do not care, but whatever choice you make, please have a little heart when dealing with people who are doing their best as well.
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing. This is an amazing place to enjoy a great environment, amazing drinks, and they might (wink) have some amazing snacks. Just to make sure I am clear on this post it is not a restaurant to get a meal. This is a one of kind place that you have to come experience. Follow them on instagram to find out what they are about.
I made a stop in Lexington specifically to go here and it was totally worth it!!! Yamaguchi and Shima are fun, savvy and welcoming. A note: most people in the US are lacking experience with this type of service. Don’t go if you don’t like to stand. Don’t go if you don’t drink alcohol, and don’t go just for food. Go expecting to drink from their top-notch rotating selection of sake and chuhai cocktails. Definitely plan to eat but be aware these are small bites meant as companions for drinking … Uncertain? check out the Instagram feed for the “rules” ahead of time so you can manage your expectations. Lovely patio too. Having been to Japan I’d say this is one of the closest experiences I’ve had in the Midwest/near south ever.
I instantly fell in love with this spot the second I walked in the doors. Everyone was standing around the counter being served yummy Japanese food and drinks. It was such a great time! Thank you.
Amazing atmosphere and wonderful owners. Apps and drinks are amazing! Drinks and small dishes for a very cute date night!
Omg what a hidden gem. I feel sooo blessed to even have even found this place. Everything with the sake flights was AMAZING!! This is a must stop for me every time I come to Lexington. Get everything with sake flights.!So fricking amazing.