The view was spectacular, and the ambiance was great. Food wasn't the best. Much of it was bland, and the sushi rice and nori were not great quality. But the service was the worst. For spending over $400 on primarily sashimi and tartare for 2 people, we waited 20 minutes before anyone came to take our food order, another 30 minutes for the first 3 entrees, which we finished in less than 10 minutes bc they were small bites. Then we had to wait another 25 for the rest of our food. No apologies, no explanation; just slow and inattentive. I did expect much more for a supposedly fine dining experience. I wouldn't go back, but I might try my luck with Monarch
Sunny K.
Very expensive so I didn't leave feeling full but everything we had was delectable:) Also the setting is one of a kind. Great views and it kinda feels like a speakeasy.
Jasmin A.
We made a reservation at 9:15 and didn't get seated until 9:50ish. It was a Saturday night and the food did take some time to get to us, which is understandable. Everything we ordered was delicious, even the edamame!
Lindsey T.
Fantastic food and ambiance. I def recommend. The service was also excellent. A very sexy hidden sushi restaurant with beautiful views
José Luis Rivera
Never disappoints!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chante N.
fancy! fancy! fancy!! grab a date, a friend, an anyone and check this place out! 10s across the board for this place. service 10/10 ambiance 10/10 food 10/10 drinks 10/10 and did i mention the view??? make a reservation to sit at the window and watch the sunset i ordered the king crab roll with the truffle butter and it did not disappoint!!
Claire C.
Ouch - it pains me to write this because I was SO excited to surprise my bf with craft drinks & a fantastic view of Dallas. It just wasn't what we expected. Made a reservation for Friday @ 9PM, put my credit card on the line for $25/pp -- NBD. Arrived just before the rez and took a seat at the bar to wait for our table. Most of the seating is large booths down the middle of the room, and there are only about 6 or 7 two-top tables along the window (with the clearest views). *There is an observation deck that you can visit/walk around, but no official seating in that section* Anyway, the server came to seat us in the booth/middle section and we just weren't feeling it -- too loud, too crowded, too far from the windows -- so we stayed at the bar and proceeded to have some drinks. The bartender was attentive & friendly. We could KINDA see the views but were craning our necks to do so... and it felt awkward to be staring at other diners who were seated at the window. Without the views, I didn't really understand why we were sitting at a dark & busy bar paying $22 for each cocktail. We proceeded to watch multiple groups of two arrive after us and elect to wait for the two-top tables along the window, which was an option not conveyed by the hostess or bartender. If we had known that were possible, we would've held off and waited because many of those tables turned during the 9PM-10PM hour. I assumed (incorrectly) that the restaurant wouldn't accommodate these requests, as literally everyone walking in wants to sit at the windows. But apparently you CAN tell the server you'll hold off for the two-top with the better view. Overall... The cocktails are decent, though sweet; The atmosphere is loungey but a little loud & quite chaotic; The views are fun, though infinitely better if you're seated AT the window; The hostesses and bartenders are friendly and helpful, but be sure to ask for what you want/need; Didn't try the food... it looked good but the portions are probably a bit small for my taste. Probably won't be back, but I would like to try Monarch downstairs.
Victoria P.
We indulged in the chef's tasting menu expertly paired with sake, and to my delight, the standout was the king crab and soba noodles. Despite initial concerns about leaving hungry from a sushi tasting, the experience left my stomach thoroughly satisfied. The Fromage Noir drink was a surprising highlight; while its description may seem unusual, its goat cheese finish was unexpectedly delightful. Despite our table being two courses behind, due to our own tardiness the chef, servers, and sommelier seamlessly ensured we caught up. And can we talk about the vibe of the place? Those dusty rose velvet couches and vintage lamps with dangling beads totally had me mesmerized. It was like stepping into a cozy, bygone era.
MJ1023
I always have a wonderful experience and good food at Kessaku. It keeps me coming back. The only thing is that it was 75+ degrees out that evening and they had the heat on! Whyyy...I walked in and immediately felt the heat blow on me as I was being seated. This is TX! Set the thermostat at 70 and call it day! I was told the hostesses were cold. But I'm seeing patrons fanning and asking abt the temperature. Hostesses need a sweater...it's abt the patrons. No way I see ppl hot and not adjust the temp. Anywho, everything else was a win!
Willis C.
Having been here a few times within the past year, I am very impressed with Kessaku. My first visit was following an awesome dinner at Monarch (one floor below); a friend and I stepped up here for post dinner cocktails. Considering it is a lounge, the vibe was energetic without being club-like and the amazing cocktails only added to that vibe. Add to that, are the amazing cityscape views. While there is window seating available, do not fret if those seats are taken as there is a space that wraps around the building which provide excellent views of the downtown and the surrounding areas. On this visit, we noticed they also have a nice selection of sushi and sashmi to accompany the various cocktails but since we had just dined, we skipped that part on this visit. Since my initial visit, I have returned for some of the Saturday afternoon events hosted at Kessaku which have been lots of fun. In addition to the fun times, these events have included an array of cocktails along with small bites; some directly from the Kessaku menu and others customized for the event. The food for the events (usually 3-4 courses) is always fresh and flavorful. The cocktails are tasty and always compliment the entrée. I highly recommend checking out their events! The staff has been phenomenal on all my visits. The servers do an excellent job of clearing plates, refilling water glasses, etc. and they do by being just visible enough. As for the bartenders, they do an awesome job creating some tasty beverages and do it while keeping wait times down. Kudos to them!! Kessaku is located downtown on the 50th floor of The National which also houses Monarch. Parking options included street parking, nearby garages along with valet which is shared with the other businesses in the building (Thompson Hotel, Monarch, etc) I really like Kessaku and look forward to future visits.
Food was incredible. Sashimi and Nigiri, spicy tuna roll, flourless cake dessert, very very good. Sunset view was amazing.
Maria L.
For the price, it's overrated. Had the Tower for $250 - good but nothing that's memorable - there are just as good or better Japanese in Dallas for less. Ambiance could be better as well; it's a bit too dark and the music is a bit too loud. Staff was good but not great. Would have given 4 stars but it's too pricey. I was expecting more.
LalinN
View was amazing, server was great, sushi were fresh. A bit disappointed that we didn't get a table by the window despite request- also saw host moved out seats from window to inside.
Dr. Joe Cribbins
Wonderful Asian cuisine with breathtaking views of the Dallas
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kessaku Tower, King Crab Roll
Chris
Food was not nearly as good as expected and it's on the pricey side. You definitely get the view you wouldn't get at many other places though. Nice place for a drink with a date but not somewhere I'd go often honestly.
The view was spectacular, and the ambiance was great. Food wasn't the best. Much of it was bland, and the sushi rice and nori were not great quality. But the service was the worst. For spending over $400 on primarily sashimi and tartare for 2 people, we waited 20 minutes before anyone came to take our food order, another 30 minutes for the first 3 entrees, which we finished in less than 10 minutes bc they were small bites. Then we had to wait another 25 for the rest of our food. No apologies, no explanation; just slow and inattentive. I did expect much more for a supposedly fine dining experience. I wouldn't go back, but I might try my luck with Monarch
Very expensive so I didn't leave feeling full but everything we had was delectable:) Also the setting is one of a kind. Great views and it kinda feels like a speakeasy.
We made a reservation at 9:15 and didn't get seated until 9:50ish. It was a Saturday night and the food did take some time to get to us, which is understandable. Everything we ordered was delicious, even the edamame!
Fantastic food and ambiance. I def recommend. The service was also excellent. A very sexy hidden sushi restaurant with beautiful views
Never disappoints!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
fancy! fancy! fancy!! grab a date, a friend, an anyone and check this place out! 10s across the board for this place. service 10/10 ambiance 10/10 food 10/10 drinks 10/10 and did i mention the view??? make a reservation to sit at the window and watch the sunset i ordered the king crab roll with the truffle butter and it did not disappoint!!
Ouch - it pains me to write this because I was SO excited to surprise my bf with craft drinks & a fantastic view of Dallas. It just wasn't what we expected. Made a reservation for Friday @ 9PM, put my credit card on the line for $25/pp -- NBD. Arrived just before the rez and took a seat at the bar to wait for our table. Most of the seating is large booths down the middle of the room, and there are only about 6 or 7 two-top tables along the window (with the clearest views). *There is an observation deck that you can visit/walk around, but no official seating in that section* Anyway, the server came to seat us in the booth/middle section and we just weren't feeling it -- too loud, too crowded, too far from the windows -- so we stayed at the bar and proceeded to have some drinks. The bartender was attentive & friendly. We could KINDA see the views but were craning our necks to do so... and it felt awkward to be staring at other diners who were seated at the window. Without the views, I didn't really understand why we were sitting at a dark & busy bar paying $22 for each cocktail. We proceeded to watch multiple groups of two arrive after us and elect to wait for the two-top tables along the window, which was an option not conveyed by the hostess or bartender. If we had known that were possible, we would've held off and waited because many of those tables turned during the 9PM-10PM hour. I assumed (incorrectly) that the restaurant wouldn't accommodate these requests, as literally everyone walking in wants to sit at the windows. But apparently you CAN tell the server you'll hold off for the two-top with the better view. Overall... The cocktails are decent, though sweet; The atmosphere is loungey but a little loud & quite chaotic; The views are fun, though infinitely better if you're seated AT the window; The hostesses and bartenders are friendly and helpful, but be sure to ask for what you want/need; Didn't try the food... it looked good but the portions are probably a bit small for my taste. Probably won't be back, but I would like to try Monarch downstairs.
We indulged in the chef's tasting menu expertly paired with sake, and to my delight, the standout was the king crab and soba noodles. Despite initial concerns about leaving hungry from a sushi tasting, the experience left my stomach thoroughly satisfied. The Fromage Noir drink was a surprising highlight; while its description may seem unusual, its goat cheese finish was unexpectedly delightful. Despite our table being two courses behind, due to our own tardiness the chef, servers, and sommelier seamlessly ensured we caught up. And can we talk about the vibe of the place? Those dusty rose velvet couches and vintage lamps with dangling beads totally had me mesmerized. It was like stepping into a cozy, bygone era.
I always have a wonderful experience and good food at Kessaku. It keeps me coming back. The only thing is that it was 75+ degrees out that evening and they had the heat on! Whyyy...I walked in and immediately felt the heat blow on me as I was being seated. This is TX! Set the thermostat at 70 and call it day! I was told the hostesses were cold. But I'm seeing patrons fanning and asking abt the temperature. Hostesses need a sweater...it's abt the patrons. No way I see ppl hot and not adjust the temp. Anywho, everything else was a win!
Having been here a few times within the past year, I am very impressed with Kessaku. My first visit was following an awesome dinner at Monarch (one floor below); a friend and I stepped up here for post dinner cocktails. Considering it is a lounge, the vibe was energetic without being club-like and the amazing cocktails only added to that vibe. Add to that, are the amazing cityscape views. While there is window seating available, do not fret if those seats are taken as there is a space that wraps around the building which provide excellent views of the downtown and the surrounding areas. On this visit, we noticed they also have a nice selection of sushi and sashmi to accompany the various cocktails but since we had just dined, we skipped that part on this visit. Since my initial visit, I have returned for some of the Saturday afternoon events hosted at Kessaku which have been lots of fun. In addition to the fun times, these events have included an array of cocktails along with small bites; some directly from the Kessaku menu and others customized for the event. The food for the events (usually 3-4 courses) is always fresh and flavorful. The cocktails are tasty and always compliment the entrée. I highly recommend checking out their events! The staff has been phenomenal on all my visits. The servers do an excellent job of clearing plates, refilling water glasses, etc. and they do by being just visible enough. As for the bartenders, they do an awesome job creating some tasty beverages and do it while keeping wait times down. Kudos to them!! Kessaku is located downtown on the 50th floor of The National which also houses Monarch. Parking options included street parking, nearby garages along with valet which is shared with the other businesses in the building (Thompson Hotel, Monarch, etc) I really like Kessaku and look forward to future visits.
Restaurantji Recommends
Food was incredible. Sashimi and Nigiri, spicy tuna roll, flourless cake dessert, very very good. Sunset view was amazing.
For the price, it's overrated. Had the Tower for $250 - good but nothing that's memorable - there are just as good or better Japanese in Dallas for less. Ambiance could be better as well; it's a bit too dark and the music is a bit too loud. Staff was good but not great. Would have given 4 stars but it's too pricey. I was expecting more.
View was amazing, server was great, sushi were fresh. A bit disappointed that we didn't get a table by the window despite request- also saw host moved out seats from window to inside.
Wonderful Asian cuisine with breathtaking views of the Dallas
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kessaku Tower, King Crab Roll
Food was not nearly as good as expected and it's on the pricey side. You definitely get the view you wouldn't get at many other places though. Nice place for a drink with a date but not somewhere I'd go often honestly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4