Nishino Reviews

Nishino offers great culinary experience. If you can, pre-order exclusive Omakase dinner. This requires 24 hour notice, and the whole table has to participate. But it's a great culinary experience. If you like Japanese/Asian food, you should try it.

Very nice food, dropped by impromptu after a visit to the Japanese Garden just around the corner. Had a great meal with tasty food and superb service! Nice and quiet restaurant, not too packed or too loud.

we were visiting seattle for fun and happened to get this recommendation from a local - our meal was delicious...was a wonderful experience...I am not one to take the time to write reviews but this was so delicious - and since we were debating between japonessa, another sushi place and nishino, I wanted to help others in their decision!! be sure to order the salmon!! so much better than any other I have had...was even wild which is very hard to find....loved this restaurant..will definitely visit again the next time I am in seattle!

Love the food with reasonable price.The food was like other reviewers described. Will be going to this place later.

Not sure what the hype is about this place. Izumi in Kirkland or I Love Sushi in Bellevue are so much better than this place. The nigiri was small and not particularly inviting. The tamago store-bought. Need I say more? Avoid.

We had spicy butte clam soup, tempura, kale salas, and a sushi combo, with a large chilled sake. Everything was perfectly executed. The service was impeccable. It was a very enjoyable dinner, as expected, as always.

Came back here again - and what can I say - proper Japanese cuisine - the Salmon Sashimi - is nothing short of the best i've EVER had... it melts in your mouth. Proper Sushi/Sashimi Chefs know how to cut the fish. The Miso Cod walks all over Nobu. Skip dessert. Try the clam miso...! Unfort we were seated next to a loud group even tho the rest of the restaurant was empty which kinda sucked. The service was good to solid. Not outstanding. I go here for the food. It's AMAZING.

Nishino was better the second time around. After reading some reviews, the service was outstanding and the food was on point. As far as sushi bars go, this one is more reserved and upscale, without the noise that traditionally accompanies sushi bars. Food- We had the miso (oustanding) and the rock shrimp for appetizers. We continued with sushi and ended with dessert that the staff brought out for our anniversary. The fish was fresh and the portions were perfect. We were at I Love Sushi 2 nights prior, and our bill was about the same. This beats I Love Sushi by a million miles. Service- Our waiter was knowledgeable and helpful. Always smiling and never said no. He gave appropriate suggestions and assisted with the experience. The only sour point to the evening was the hostesses. After the second visit, no improvement. There were 3 empty tables, but they made us wait 20 minutes... for no reason in my opinion. The hostesses acted busy in a pretty small restaurant. Overall, Nishino was great and worth the trip. It will always be on my list to Visit in Seattle.

great sushi and expensive

By far, one of the best meals I have had in Seattle- or anywhere, for that matter. We had the omakase menu. Every bite here was an experience. Amazing food. The best sashimi I have ever tasted. Just amazing. Our server was fantastic too- we admitted to not knowing much about sake, and had her choose different kinds for us to try. She picked some really wonderful matches to go with our food, and was just all-around awesome in every way. What a FANTASTIC experience. This is what we had, as best as I can remember it. :) First Course: Hamachi wrapped around asparagus, on top of cucumber, with ponzu sauce and pink peppercorn Green mussel with ginger relish Salmon wrapped in pickled cucumber with wasabi sauce Second Course: Cocktail of sunomono, crab, mango Third Course: Greens, sesame-ginger dressing, super white tuna sashimi, fried lotus root Fourth Course: Soup with matsutake (pine mushroom), nuts and white fish Fifth Course: Oyster tempura with a miso sauce Sixth Course: Cod with seaweed oil ponzu and cabbage Seventh Course: Sushi plate with tuna, hamachi, salmon, slice of Nishino Roll (wrapped in tamago), slice of another roll (asparagus, tobiko, salmon & tuna) Eighth Course: Kiwi Orange Grapes Pomegrante and Strawberries, Mochi (Mango, Chocolate Espresso, Cherry Blossom)

Best sushi in town.

The "exclusive" omakase was totally worth the price!

Our group of 8 (6 adults, 2 children) had a wonderful experience here. The food was stellar as was the service (thank you Mai!!). Every item we ordered was delicious - and our awesome waitress, Mai, - really made our experience. She was very helpful with our menu choices and very accommodating of our needs with small kids. She even brought out a special treat to recognize the significance of our celebratory dinner (a rare reunion of good friends). We were so happy to come across this gem, and would highly recommend it to those seeking delicious sushi and truly first-class service.

As this restaurant enjoys great reputation we had high expectation, but sadly I must say they didn't live up to the reputation, especially at the price they charge. We had a 6pm reservation on a Sunday and arrived on time, but there was no parking space left in the packed lot. When we made a reservation on the phone there was no attempt to warn us about it or to give us any helpful information about parking. The waitress was pretty, but her service very mechanical. The salad was a great combination of ingredients, but sadly, it was just glopped together without finesse or care; the flavoring was excessive and drowned all the flavors of the ingredients. My entree was a sashimi platter, but it was nothing to write home about. In fact, earlier in a week I had a much better sashimi platter at Izumi in Kirkland for a lot less. My husband had tempura, but the batter was overly thick, heavy and oily. They jammed the tables right next to one another and there was hardly any space between your table and the people eating next to you. The decor is interesting and pleasant, but the place is so echoey and noisy we could hardly hear each other across our small table. Definitely not for a classy meal for those who don't like to have to shout over a meal. This restaurant may like the idea of serving Japanese food, but it's not really a Japanese restaurant. None of the serene understated refinement, the calm, and care with which they put your food together is there.

quality and pricey

What a great surprise - was in Madison Park and used the tripadvisor app to find a great restaurant nearby - this was further away but with 4.5/5 and lots of reviews - definitely had to try this - and it didn't let down - amazing food, proper Japanese Sushi chefs and the cut of the sashimi was amazing - don't forget to try the Black Miso Cod - walks all over Nobu. The fresh salmon sashimi is nothing short of AMAZING. Will definitely be coming back.

Every time I go to Nishino it's a real treat. (As in I have great friends who take me there) The food, service, and the ambiance are all very good.

I keep on going back there as I really like it. Over the years, we've tried the omakese option, the foie gras & tuna, the various sashimi alternatives, the fried tofu, the sushi, etc... The food is super delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant, whether you go on a date, with friends or with family.

Very okay.

Every time we eat there we are amazed at the fresh flavors and wonderful service. We try to seek out Japanese were ever we travel and this is the best. We usually get the Omakase (Chefs Menu)

We recently enjoyed the best Japanese cuisine I have experienced outside Japan at Nishino. We ordered the "exclusive omakase" ahead of time, and we were blown away by the tastes, appearance, and service. The style was close to being kaiseki ryori, Kyoto's haute cuisine, but with Chef Nishino's creative touch with local food, his omakase becomes a unique dining experience. Do yourself a favor and try omakase at Nishino. You will not regret it.

Great selection of both traditional and unique sushi. Excellent service and suggestions by waiter.

Wife and I always come to Nishino for special days. Her father was a chef in Japan and she knows good food and proper preparation. Nishino always ranks high for us.

Sushi Sashimi Heaven! Fish flown in from Japan and Northwest fresh catches. Sushi Gurus from the Gods. Sake assortment worthy of sampling. Oysters fresh from finest shellfish farms. Can I say how happy I am to come here?

Fantastic sushi, expertly prepared. Highly recommend the let the chef prepare something for you. Worth the extra drive if you're downtown, and the neighborhood is a little gem.

Our battle plan to deal with a miniscule parking and traffic down to Madison Valley is to eat right when they open on the weekend. Always make a reservation here to avoid disappointment! We usually go at 5:30 pm and even so, parking can be tough and people have been turned away without a res. We've gone here for years and never been let down. Favorites include new style sashimi. Or order the omakase and tell them what you like and don't like. Edward is a fabulous server and kept us laughing, eating, and generally feeling fabulous because the most delicious seafood kept sailing out to our table. Anything flash seared with extra virgin olive oil and sesame oil wins here. If you've never had soft shell crab or shrimp heads, DO IT. The kitchen fries it so exquistely. Finish with Bubbies mochi from Hawaii or special Japanese-style desserts from local Hiroki. Heaven! We usually eat here as a couple but regularly see families dining here. I'd hate to see their bill though, as for two we cleared almost a $200 bill.

This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Seattle. The authenticity and the fresh-ness of the food is magnificent! The atmosphere is laidback and relaxed and the service is on par. The staffs are knowledgeable and very prompt. I never had a bad experience there. If you want to taste the experience with real Japanese food with actual Japanese chef, Nishino would be the place.

Wow! They really know whst they are doing! Ask for help from the waiters, as its not the cookie-cutter menu. However, the food is outstanding and unique. The yellow tail collars are phenomenal. The fish cuts are as tender as warm butter. One if the best places ever! Not expensive

Best ever sushi!

The decor at Nishino was pleasantly Japanese, the wait staff very friendly, but then disappointment set in. We chose not to order standard sushi and sashimi, instead tried some of the innovative sounding special chef creations. We tried the Morel & Squid with Asparagus, the Dungeness Crab and Mushroom Bake, Miso and Eggplant with Zucchini and Yam, and finally Halibut Cheeks. We were expecting a nice presentation and light, well-prepared food, but for lack of a better description, all dishes were heavy, fried, mixed-up glops. The halibut cheeks were like fish and chips; the other dishes were like bad chinese. We will never go there again or recommend it to others.

I have tried different dishes. Most of them were good. I went there based on traveladvisor review. The food was like other reviewers described

slab o white tuna por favor

I recently ate at Nishino for the first time. The sushi rolls I had were excellent. One of the rolls had an egg crepe wrap, which I had never had before. The egg crepe wrap may be my new favorite wrap! The atmosphere at the sushi bar was very cordial and accomodating. The selection of rolls was fairly limited, compared to my local sushi hangouts, but the quality was excellent. I definitely would go back.

I'm no sushi expert, so I am reluctant to recommend some dive sushi bar even if it has incredible sushi. But if you want a guaranteed great sushi place, Nishino's would be my top choice.

Reservations are a must for this restaurant, especially on the weekends. Nishino offers classic Japanese food as well as seasonal offerings. The seasonal was hit or miss for our table. Fresh spring rolls, a stir-fry of mushrooms and pumpkin, and sweet onion tempura were ok. I wouldn't order these again and would stick to the main menu. Hamachi cheeks and steamed spinach were very good. The waiter was informative and attentive when needed. I got married at the restaurant over 10 years ago so I have certain expectations for the restaurant, so not easy to live up to. The visits before and after the wedding were more personable. This time around, everyone seemed rushed. No personal attention but that is ok.

Extremely fresh sashimi. The "specials" are definitely unique fare but are always good and novel flavor combos.

I don't know much about sushi other than it is close to an art to properly prepare and serve. We had an Omakase, the chef selects the many course dinner. I lost count of the courses, don't remember what each items was, but do know that they were all different and all good. The ingredients were fresh and the presentation was beautiful. The server not only explained what each items was and often specifics of the prepartion but also advised us on the best saki to pair with the meal. We spent two wonderful hours in conversation and eating. We will have to go back.

I have loved this place for a long time, but I do not recall whether I have reviewed it. You can not call it a sushi place; only one of the 7 omekase courses was sushi. Mostly excellent raw fish treated with the best sauces and accompaniments . Always a wonderful amuse bouche with several tastes, followed by a fragrant soup course with matsutake mushrooms. It is a fairly intimate space and usually quieter than most. We did not feel rushed, though service was prompt. The 7 course took just under 2 hours, and each course was explained upon serving, there was a pause between each course. If the first five delicate courses do not fill you up, that is what the sushi course is for! If you order the omekase, all you have to think about is what you want to drink. No pressure.

My kid loves Sushi, so we went to this place to order some sushi to go after visiting the nearby Botanic Gardens, based on the excellent review. Was disappointed by the quality of the sushi, which I thought wasn't better than the sushi from any grocery store or Costco. Very loose packed. Maybe we expected too much, maybe it's because of "to go". The reception was very friendly although, and offered us drinking water while waiting. Didn't mention it's a long wait for more than half hour at the pre-peak time of 5:30pm. YMMV if dine-in. But I believed a restaurant with reputation should treat all guests same.

We found this place from reviews online and it did not disappoint! It was a 10 min cabride from the Renaissance but worth the trip. It is a small place, make a reservation .. and it's loud, not romantic. There are about 20 seats At the sushi bar and about maybe 15 tables. The food was excellent, the highlights being the tuna tatare with taro chips and the crispy rice with salmon tartare both were amazing! Unfortunately, my husband decided he needed a little more food and ordered one more plate and it took another 20 min as the place had filled up.. So my suggestion order more than you think you can eat and go early..we arrived at 5:45 and service was good until it got crowded. The ceviche was also excellent!

We had a good dinner here with family in November. We ordered the seaweed salad, albacore tuna sashimi salad, vegetable tempura, udon, soba and some sushi. We really enjoyed everything, especially the seaweed salad.

Got an email invitation (one of those direct email marketing campaign)from tripadvisor.com to review my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Took me a while to think of one as there are so many of my favorites locally; I shortlisted to two restaurants (the other being Spinase in Cap Hill) and decided to rate Nishino as my favorite. We ordered Omakase from the sushi bar chef and throughly enjoyed the fare from beginning to end. I actually think the quality of fish surpassed the quality at Shiro's, which I have visited two months after visiting Nishino. At the Nishino visit I was hosting a (nitpicking though classy) foodie friend who came all the way from the east coast. I thought that he HAD to try Pacific Northwest fish so I took him to Nishino. Glad that he wasn't disappointed in the end! He said the sushi tastes better than the ones he tasted in San Francisco, I was thrilled to hear that of course. The only minor thing that he mentioned was that the sushi rice did not stick to the fish firmly enough, causing the sushi to disintegrate too easily when he tried to pick it up either with chopsticks or fingers. I'd still rate it five stars :) because I didn't have the same issue. :) :) :) I was especially fond of Chef Lee (maybe I remember name wrong, it was way too long ago) because in my opinion he has high level of craftsmanship in the art of Nigiri making; possessing a relaxed demeanor at the same time. Note: I have tried the a-la-cart a few years back but didn't remember it enough to write a review

I read sushi was very big in Seattle so wanted to try it one night during my visit. I then saw a WSJ review and Zagat score of 29 for this place and wanted to try it. When we got there we sat at the sushi bar and was told the owner and helmed chef Tatsu Nishino was working that night. He is only there one night a week. He was our sushi chef. Very nice man. We took his recommendations and everything was excellent. We had a nice conversation with him and enjoyed our meal immensely. Not on the cheap side but the quality of sushi was top notch and the service was great. I also enjoyed the garlic miso soup with clams and mushrooms.

Best sushi in town, great atmosphere

This is a top place, where you will have an amazing Japanese eating experience. You will find the basic and traditional Japanese sushis and sashimis, but the chefs at Nishino provides you much more than this. Although it may be qualified for high tag prices, you will find that the more traditional dishes are reasonable priced. On the there hand you can easily go overboard if you are more adventurous and want to get the top and full Nishino's experience. But t worth every penny.

Always fresh, pretty dining room, nice service, and a decent wine list for those who don't love sake.

I took my son for the omakase dinner & the dishes just kept coming. So fresh & so well-presented. Itall tasted as fine as it looked.

We were looking for something a bit different in the Madison Valley area when we walked into Nishino. It is not your average neighborhood sushi place, but rather an elegantly appointed restaurant with a diverse and at times innovative Japanese menu. We had some traditional sushi and were amazed at the generous cuts of hamachi, the fresh scallop and the amount of fish in the rolls. The chilled spinach salad was a surprise and so good I'm still figuring out how to duplicate it! We tried a special with halibut cheeks but found it a bit too "French" in its panfried flavor. We tried many things and enjoyed exploring tastes and textures. The place is pretty pricey but was a pleasant experience. My only gripe was that when we (two of us) walked in, we were told the empty tables were reserved and did we mind sitting at the sushi bar? We didn't--but most of those tables never filled up. Unless a restaurant has a specific reservation, treat the customer in front of you well and don't think about a larger party that MAY show up later. Tacky approach for such a classy place.

Being a sushi aficionado--we have our favorites. Have not written much about sushi places because there are so few that truly stick out for what makes sushi great--quality fish/crustacean and fresh ingredients. I also agree with some of the reviewers below that rich makes a big impact on the dish. We had a great time and a GREAT meal at the bar. The restaurant is not very big and has a cute décor. First--unless you have a reservation OR show up at 5:30 you are either not getting in or are going to wait (a while). We showed up early and got the final seats at the bar. Right away we saw many Japanese customers (not always a tell but usually means good things). The sushi chefs (itamae) were Japanese and they took orders from those seated at the bar directly--very cool. We ordered off the menu or could point to the fresh fish and you would be served accordingly. The miso, edamame, specials (eggplant), and other appetizers were top notch. The sushi itself was one of the best EVER (close to what I had in a hole in the wall in Kauai and in Tokyo). The fish (sashimi) was fresh, buttery, and served in good portions. They served real wasabi--that makes a difference. The presentation, combination of ingredients, and sauces on the rolls was excellent. They have an outstanding sake selection. Service was great. It was a highlight for the day and our bill was a lot lower than expected.

Interior simple but lovely- an immediate sense of tranquility. Tables nicely separated. Service charming and helpful, with good explanations of menu items. Oshitashi spinach and seaweed salad with ponzu sauce excellent starters.Have had seaweed salad in many restaurants, but this a stand-out. Kinoka tofu and saikyo miso marinated black cod a perfect pair. Simply delightful.

A special occasion required a special restaurant and Nishino fit the bill. This rather small restaurant requires reservations and has virtually no parking but typically street parking is easily found nearby. Located in the quaint, upscale Seattle neighborhood of Madison Park it is easily accessed from downtown but can be a headache if you're coming from the eastside, particularly when the 520 bridge is hampered by rebuilding. The sushi is terrific and well worth the pricey visit (our crowd of 6 ran up a $1,000+ bill before tip). Of course that included quite a bit of expensive sake. The open kitchen operates quickly and the service is top notch, efficiently whisking away empty platters to make room for the next - the tables tend to be on the small side for sushi dining. All in all this gem is well worth a special visit.

Nishino is a bit away from the tourist centres, but it is worth the drive. The freshest, well-presented, melt-in-your-mouth sushi I have ever tasted. Wonderful, friendly and knowledgeable service. Reservations a must as it is VERY crowded. All groups were well-represented: couples, families, friends. Will definitely return on my next trip. Outstanding! Anna D

WAY too much salt in both the miso soup and the kale salad. But the maguro sushi was probably the best maguro I've ever had. The rolls were excellently prepared with not too much rice, as is so common. I had the egg-crepe wrapped roll, which was both novel and excellent. The other rolls were quite good, as well. Service was top-notch. If there were 4-1/2 dots I would have given that rating instead of 4.

Just tried this place! Not exactly romantic but the food was absolutely fab. The foie gras was pure fatty indulgence :)

We're told that people in Los Angeles can be Sushi snobs. My wife and I are certainly counted in that group. We tend to stay away from the fashionable (do you hear me Katsuya?) and stick with the factual- actual sushi chefs who take pride in their work and respect the fish as well as the diner. As sushi becomes as popular as pizza in so many cities, finding places like this, places with real integrity, are hard to find. Thankfully our frined in Seattle turned us on to Nishino. Chef Tatsu is a true sushi chef, having worked previously with Nobu Matsuhisa, and creates meals that are nothing short of spectacular. On a recent visit, we started with the omakase, which included many pieces of sushi that were more intricate & complicated, and moved on to more simple sushi, asking for and receiving pieces of the freshest fish in the joint. At one point, we asked him to freestyle it and he broke out some of the tastiest rolls, including using home grown super hot peppers (more of an American thing, but when in Rome...) that blew me away. This is a high quality as good as it gets restaurant in a great neighborhood. We will return for sure!

It is famous for its omakase. The taste and varieties are excellent, except, well, the sushi dish. It is not bad per se, but comparing with the other dishes, it lacks character. Still, it should not deter you from ordering the omakase. Parking is difficult (there are a few spots on the premise, but it is easily filled), but if you circle around, it should be OK (this is surrounded by residential area).

We heard Seattle has the best Japanese and Thai food so our last night we decided to have Japanese. Our local friends recommended this restaurant. I called in the afternoon to make a reservation (they are not open for lunch). When we got there 6:45pm Saturday it was full. Glad we made a reservation. (There was a second wave of customers arriving 8:30pm.) The restaurant is in a residential area with no view to speak of. Decor was interesting but more importantly food was excellent. We had miso soup with clams, cold spinach, assorted sushi and curried Hamachi cheeks. All were excellent. Green tea tiramisu tasted like green tea cake. Would definitely return. Service was prompt and good.

Exceptional service, innovative menu, wonderful food. We found Nishino by accident - we made a wrong turn and then googled sushi near me. What a find - loved the salmon tartar on crispy rice, the cold spinach, the dungeness crab spring roll, the fried oysters, and the soft shell crab tempura roll - each item was tasty and beautiful.

Not the best restaurant on any one parameter--food, service, presentation or decor, but wholistic ally it all worked fine, and was worth the hefty price tag. Great place to celebrate a special event, but for day to day Japanese food, the top places in the ID are my favorite.

My husband and I always love eating at Nishino. We can't get there often enough. We decided to go last Saturday and try a few different items. Outstanding!!!! The black cod hot pot was so good. But we had to order another round of Hamachi and Toro because it just melted in our mouths.

Omakase is the way to go.

Excellent place for Sushi in Seattle's Washington Park neighborhood. Enjoyed the uni, hamachi, nagi, and tako. The appetizers were also excellent (including the edamame).

Been here 3 times. Thefood presentation is amazing . Sake is good. Service is wonderful. Limited parking.

It's a little off the beaten tourist path, and that's a good thing. It's a little dated, but it still feels appropriate. And the food is just outstanding. Whether you have the sushi or another dish (my wife had a miso glazed black cod that was divine), you can't go wrong. It is said that Ichiro Suzuki used to patronize this place and I can understand why.

Nishino is very clean and well run. The nigiri was fresh and excellent, some of the best I have had. The tempura however, was lacking in taste but crisp and light. The prices are too high, two nigiri tuna cost twenty dollars, the cheapest wine was $16 for a relatively small glass and other prices were as high.

We tried Nishino with our son and daughter-in-law to celebrate her birthday, and we were very pleased. Located next to a fitness gym, the outside of the restaurant does not accurately reflect the inside. Inside, it is elegant and well-decorated. Suchi chefs dressed in white impressed as they waited to prepare orders. Service was excellent. Our server described each menu item carefully. We ordered a variety of sushi to share. Every dish was excellent, fresh and tasty, and superbly presented. A very nice dinner indeed - highly recommended!

We have eaten at Nishino off and on for several years. At no time did they ever let us down. The service is always attentive, friendly and professional. The Japanese and fusion dishes are all consistently good, the sushi fresh and well made. Though the cost is fairly high, we always count on getting good value for money at Nishino. Though my wife and I tend to order our favorite, it is always worth trying one of their specials.

I come here a lot!!!! A LOT!!! Majority of the food I've had were all delicious! A few weeks ago we had Omaski dinners... It was fantastic! Restaurant is clean and waitstaff are attentive.. Love coming here... Parking can be iffy...

The sushi and sashimi is super fresh, the toro is melting sensuality. If you are on a date and you don't think you will get laid then eat the toro it will more than make up for it. The tempura is really good but could be lighter, the salmon teriyiaki was a tad over cooked. The staff are paragons of attentive friendly service .The room is cool and adorned with art. All in all a great meal, a good evening , don't doubt just go. ...................What follows is irrelevant editorial...... in the west X$ buys a big bag of almost tasteless apples, in Japan the same number of dollars will buy you one apple but it will be the most sublime apple you have ever eaten. Here lies the gap between the cultures, its an issue of values and its hard to bridge. It is a chasm. Thus its hard to be a great Japanese restaurant transplanted into another culture.There are exceptions to the following statement, but essentially you can not get great Japanese food out side of Japan, if you have not eaten in Tokyo, Osaka , Kyoto , or other parts of Japan you can not know what great Japanese food is like. This will be dismissed as snobbery, or just wrong but none the less its true albeit an unpalatable truth. So Nishino is a great Seattle restaurant serving satisfying Japanese food. just go, and enjoy it .

For years we have been coming to Nishino when we visit Seattle for delicious uber fresh sushi and sashimi , which for the most part is still the case. Our disappointment can last night when we did the Exclusive Omakase , so very disappointing. This is now a mostly cooked and fried series of small dishes with a few sushi pieces and 2 slices of a ordinary roll, nothing to do with what the Sushi Chef prepares based on today's fresh selections, in fact the sushi chef never really engaged you with most all also dishes coming out of kitchen the dessert was laughable at with some Mochi in team and pieces of fruit flat on a dinner plate- service was also off this night.

Great Sushi in the heart of the Madison Valley. My wife and I's favorite luxury Japanese restaurant. Took a Japanese friend there they were really impressed. A bit hard on the pocketbooks.

very very good food. everyone there treats you with great kindness and respect.

We're Sushi snobs and have tried to find a restaurant that meets our taste buds. This restaurant is it. What a find. This is authentic Sushi at it's finest. Try this restaurant. You won't be disappointed.

Best sushi in the city. Staff needs to be bit nicer.

This is not a 'sushi' place!

We recently went there to try the 3-course dinner. The service was excellent. But the portion was so small that both of us had to order $40 additional food. I'm 5'3", wt. 105 lb. Food was good but not worth the value. Will go back to our regular Japanese restaurant.

Liked it a lot - I always order a chirashi bowl. They put shittake mushrooms in the chirashi which makes for a very interesting flavor. Tried the spider roll, and I wasn't a huge fan.

We had a variety of appetizers, sashimi and maki rolls. Everything was delicious and well prepared. The cocktail I had was one of the best I've ever had--I am very picky when it comes to drinks. I always describe my likings to the server and rarely the drinks come spot on. This was one of the rare occasions that I LOVED my cocktail. The restaurant was not cheap but well worth the expense.

Food good, excellent presentation Our host was kind but hesitant to recommend things despite our request for input Quite expensive. the number of text reminders about reservations was insistent, to be kind. I've had this on my list for a long time and now have it off my bucket list. We can find excellent sushi in many places in Seattle-- nothing here moved the magnet ... unlikely to go back unless someone else I know chooses the place

Wonderful sushi and really fresh ingredients. Sake served in the bamboo flutes :)

Pricey and ohhhh soooo good!

Exquisite food quality, personalized service...and great date nights!

Wish we could come here more often. Great sushi and very inventive fusion dishes.

The price, location, and atmosphere are the best around. I appreciate its location away from the inner city yet easy to locate. There is extra parking provided under the building reached from behind the building. They have the greatest owner who oversaw his business and customers with courteous style keeping the food and service on target. The preparation is clean, professional, and fast. The taste is with little equal. The proper amount to each meal every time.

After visiting Seattle's beautiful Arboretum Park, we walked to Nishino, located in a small strip mall on Madison St. It is Zagat's top rated restaurant in Seattle and ranked # 9 in the Country. It did not fail us as we enjoyed a sip of warm sake before wading into an extensive menu. Favorites include Seared Fois Gras, Spicy Salmon Tartare, Curried Seared Halibut, and Albacore Sashimi. The owner/chef Tatsu Nishino received his training at the famous Nobu Restaurant in Manhattan and has carried on this tradition on the West Coast. We started out with plates of edamame, garlic green beans, and the seared Fois Gras. Then we moved on to the spicy salmon tartare, and finally, a five course Omakase. After a 22 oz. Sapporo beer, I was full. Noone had room for dessert nor did we care. Nishino is an experience that must not be missed if traveling to Seattle.

The food was excellent and the service was nearly flawless. My wife and I had the omakase for the first time. Each course was innovative and very tasty. I will probably chose more conventional sushi and sashimi in the future because that is really our favorite and the omakase was pretty spendy. Be sure to get there early on weekends if you want to sit at the bar. It was full by the 5:30 opening time on the Friday we went.

We thoroughly enjoyed our omakase dinner, with excellent service. The restaurant inquired about food allergies in advance and was able to adapt the offerings to avoid shellfish.

spendy and somewhat small portions...but good!

I've been here several times and have never been disappointed. There is traditional food as well as their own creations. The presentation is spectacular. It's a comfortable and relaxing environment with attentive service. It's fun to see so much activity at the sushi counter. Make reservations as the place is usually hopping with regulars.

Nishino is located in the Madison area, which is residential area adjacent to the arboretum. The restaurant is very spacious with an open and relaxed feel. I was in Seattle on a business trip and my client suggested we dine there, telling me it was one her favorite restaurants in Seattle. I am now a fan. We shared a soft shell crab for an appetizer which was delightful and some other delightful items which I can't recall in detail. We both had Black Cod for our main course and it was spectacular. The highlight was the Green Tea Tiramisu we shared for desert! The menu is very extensive and I can't wait to return and experience it first hand.

The Wife and I were directed to Nishino by the clerk at the hotel. He even called ahead to reserve us a table. The décor was beautiful, service was very good. But the sushi was excellent, some of the best salmon I've ever had. The uni was divine as well. I rarely order mirugai since it usually not fresh, but this was spectacular. All our selections were first rate quality fish. This place is pricey but worth it.

my favorite japanese so far

We've lived in the neighborhood for years but haven't eaten here together. When we walked in it was very crowded, which always bodes well, or so we thought. We sat at our reserved table, and noticed that people were very casually dressed and that suited us fine, since we like to dress casually. Some people were wearing their gym outfits and that seemed a bit much for the caliber of reputation this place has. Anyway, we were still game to try the food. I thought the glass by the wine was overpriced. The glass of white wine I had was $12.50. When I came home and looked it up online, I found the bottle sells for $16.99. That's a bit of a rip-off. So beware of that. My husband had a cocktail and that was priced at $11.00, which seemed to be more at market rate. We didn't have any appetizers. My husband had the tempura and I had an eggplant and mushroom dish, which was one of the specials. It was very, very oily. We both thought the food was tasty and really enjoyed it at the time. Dessert was delicious...a green tea tiramisu cake. Yum. Unfortunately, on our walk home, we both started to feel weird and now both feel rather uncomfortable. The price tag for two entree's, an alcoholic beverage, each and one shared dessert, including tax $80. Quite a lot when you think about it. Don't think we'll be going back anytime soon.

Been here many times, this time for a special occasion and been disappointing. Food not inspired and fish likely not as fresh as before. Dropped $150 here easily for 2 and didn't feel that satisfied. There are other places I would go for sushi, ikazaya and ramen.

This place is pricy, so I wouldn't come here unless I was planning on spending a good amount of money. But, the quality is excellent. The atmosphere was very Japanese- peaceful and quiet. The menu had traditional rolls as well as some very creative ones to showcase local cuisine. We ordered both the traditional and non-traditional rolls, and both were outstanding. They also had non-sushi items, like noodles and grilled meat. Their menu was extensive, and there was definitely something for everyone. The service was very friendly and polite. Also, as a side note, their hot tea was very high-quality Japanese green tea, which was lovely. Great place to come to for nice sushi.

Went there with a couple of colleagues for dinner, arriving with high expectations as some of those colleagues always visit this place when they're in town and highly recommend it. We've ordered some starters and a variety of rolls. The food and atmosphere were nice, but I can't say that it's one of the most memorable sushi places I've been to.

We've been going to Nishino for many years. Quality is pretty much consistsent. Except last week was a huge disappointment. We ordered soft shell crab and when he brought that out it was horrid looking! The crab was the size of a large spider and was over cooked. Color was off and so was in taste. The salmon carpaccio was so so compare to a week prior. I'm hoping next time we are back and it will be delicious as usual. Or else I will make comments to the waitstaff.

Not being a sushi afficionado, in fact knowing next to nothing about sushi, we took our kid's recommendation and scheduled a birthday dinner at Nishino. We booked a table and ordered ahead - one of the special dinners where the chef chooses the dishes from what is best and freshest that particular day. Our server helped us choose a bottle of saki, and was otherwise very helpful wthout being obtusive. The meal was fantastic. There were an amazing amount of courses, all presented gracefully, an each one was great. We had soup, salad, an a miriad of other things including tempura. No California rolls in sight. I was actually relieved when the server told us the next course was desert!

We haven't been to a sushi restaurant since this all began. And the high end restaurants have a harder time making it special right now. But Nishino succeeded. All the doors were wide open so fresh air flowed through the space. The sashimi and sushi is as fresh as its always been and their special appetizers like the salmon tartare on sticky rice were excellent. Best sushi in Seattle for our palates. Their outdoor deck is open now so if it's not raining or too cold that is a good option.

Crispy rice is fantastic. The spider rolls are just delicious. Nearby parking is quite limited, so be prepared to hunt around. Would recommend booking ahead of schedule otherwise you might be in for a wait.

It was not the first time for us to visit this restaurant. I am pleased to confirm again my satisfactio for the food, the service, the courtesy of the personnel, the cozy atmosphere. My only negative comment concerns , the wine pricing policy. We took 2 bottles of Gruner Veltliner that we found fairly good for our menu. Once at home, I tried to find the same wine on the market, and tomy unpleasant surprise I realized that at Nishino I was charged 4 times the suggested retail price of the market

It's not quite Nobu, but it's pretty darn delicious. The Omakase menu is a must.

best sushi in seattle? very likely

We had a free night recently and realized we hadn't had good Japanese seafood in a long time. We called 24 hours in advance to reserve the exclusive Omekase (9 course). Even though the head chef was not there, it was just a dream as usual. Starting with a plate of four diverse tastes, followed by hot and cold dishes, nigiri, sashimi, soup all seasoned to perfection so no need for soy sauce or wasabi. Sashimi courses included one beef this time! Next to last dish is always enough Maki Sushi and nigiri to be sure everyone is full, followed by dessert. Omekase courses are all small, but we noticed our neighbors do quite well with two dishes of the menu, with the second a huge sushi platter. That could be a more economical and quick way to enjoy this great Japanese place. We have not enjoyed sake with our food here. We have gone with riesling (Dr Loosen "Eroica") or one of the Sauvignon Blancs. Wines are generally $40-50 by the bottle.

I decided to try Nishino after seeing it had such a high rating. My favorite sushi restaurant is Umi Sake House, but I wanted to branch out and try some other places (I had already tried Shiro's). Since so many people said this was the best or one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle, I had high expectations. I thought Nishino was okay, but it didn't measure up to the 4.5 star rating and all the glowing reviews I read. I thought the prices were on par with a few other sushi restaurants, but when the rolls came out they were small and didn't have very many pieces, so I felt like I was paying a lot and not getting much in return (whereas at Umi, I'd pay a little more but get double what I got here). The thing I didn't like was the rice. Even though it doesn't seem that important, rice can make or break a sushi roll. This rice had a similar taste to the rice that I would get in Publix sushi (Publix is a southeastern grocery store). One of the things I ordered was the spicy salmon tartare on top of crispy rice. The taste of the rice overpowered the salmon tartare, and the tartare could have used some salt and wasn't spicy at all. The salmon itself was good, but the overall dish lacked the flavor I was expecting. Nishino has good quality ingredients and fish, but it was too pricey for the small amount of food I got and there wasn't anything special about it. I don't know what I missed that most reviewers seem to love, but I was underwhelmed and probably wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

We have eaten here numerous times and the food and service has always been outstanding. On our latest visit, the food once again was terrific. However, we encountered some truly annoying service problems. We called for a reservation and was told that only 5:30 and 9:30 were available. We opted for 5:30. We were there until well after 7:30 and there were always at least half the tables empty. I have no idea why they could not offer us a later time. I try to not order too much food so when we finished our sushi we decided we wanted some more -- 2 simple sushis (yellowtail & ell) and our waiter promptly took our order. After about 20 minutes, he circled by to say they were coming "shortly". After another 20 minutes, I flagged him down to ask for the status. He said they should be coming "soon" since he requested a "rush" on them but gave us the option to cancel the order. We asked him just how much longer. He checked and said it would be about another 10 minutes. We opted to cancel the order. All this time, the place was never more than half full although he said the sushi chefs were very busy. I don't know if they were understaffed that night, had an insanely large take out order or what. When the check arrived he made a big deal of the fact that he had taken the sushi we never got off of our bill expecting me to be wildly grateful that they hadn't charged me for non-delivered food. No other adjustments to the bill nor an apology from the owner/maitre'd or anyone else. Unlike all my earlier visits when I left wishing I could return soon (I live out of town), this time I left with a real feeling of annoyance and may well being shopping for another top quality sushi place. (The food quality remained great)

Best sushi in Seattle

The sushi is fresh. The presentation is creative and the dishes are innovative. The atmosphere is gorgeous. The service is attentive. The experience is expensive. Excellent for a special occasion.

Very large menu forced us to go for the 7 courses Omakase which included most of the dishes we wanted. Everything was very good the "main course "fish was exceptional

Favorite place in town!

Rightly renowned for its seafood, Seattle serves up some wonderful sushi, and nowhere is that more evident than at Nishino. Presentation and service are of utmost importance in a Japanese dinner, and on both fronts Nishino excels. Every plate is a feast for all senses (with the possible exception of hearing) and the polite yet personable service is attentive but never intrusive. Unafraid of spicy flavors and interesting sauces, Nishino matches its striking wall art with equally-impressive dishes. Opening with the Oshitashi spinach – a chilled, cooked compress of dark foliage topped with those magically-undulating bonito flakes – the evening begins with late summer/early fall perfection. Following that, the heat and crunchy texture of the Maitake mushroom tempura is balanced by its own meaty richness. An unexpectedly-gorgeous effect is achieved with the Hamachi jalapeño – a delicate fish served with garlic chips and cilantro, both of which add to the flavor explosion at hand. All the fish served was immaculately fresh, and some was so decadently rich that you’d swear it was part butter. One of the last plates I tried was one of the best ~ a shiso shrimp dumpling with spicy Yuzu sauce. It encapsulated the essence of the restaurant – electrifying, elegant, and just a little bit fiery, in the best possible way. My server was both knowledgeable and inspiring, helpfully answering questions, but also injecting her own favorites to provide a selection that more than satisfied expectations.

Good sushi, nice outdoor seating, but expensive.

The sushi here is wonderful and highly recommended, but to me their black cod is a superstar. Relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Love this restaurant!

Fine dining Japanese style. Sushi, sashimi & a collection of unique menu items. Going this evening --, the second time this week. Not cheap but well worth the expense. Good for family dining, dates, or business entertaining.

We dined on Sushi (fish only, no veggie), veggie rolls, Miso soup and some odd things I didn't know. All good and nicely presented. It was noisy and hard to hear conversations with a 5 person round table.

I was craving sushi. This neighborhood location had been one to try for a while - soon on a whim I dropped in and they were able to seat me at a table for one. My waiter was knowledgeable and after understanding my “nos,” he assembled a special array of varied tastes- each perfect on their own and combined for the most exquisite sushi meal I’ve had since moving back to Seattle from SoCal. If you’re in the area, and love sushi, this is a must! Easy to reach from Downtown, and all surrounding areas- with free parking too. Don’t let the somewhat busy-street/multi-function location be a deterrent, this is serious sushi perfection!

The sushi was very good and it is a very family oriented restaurant with lots of kids. Interesting specials that are worth trying. The seaweed salad has three kinds of seaweed and three different sauces. It was great. The seared albacore with foie gras was also excellent and a different way of thinking about sushi. Tempura with seafood was another treat. Well worth the visit.

I have been to Japanaese restaurantes all over the world, including Japan, so every time I try to find the best in the town I am at the moment. I chose to go to this restaurant because I had read the reviews. Well, I cannot compare it to the others in town, so the only thing I can say that it's a good one but nothing extraordinary. I chose to have the menu offered in the "Dine around Seattle" and had as a starter the "Pacific Oyster and French Bean Tempura on Seaweed Salad" which was really very good and I must pay a complement to it. Then, I had the "Sushi and Roll" which was just ok, nothing special and this to me is always the "highlight" of a Japanese restaurant. And, finally I chose the "Mango caramel cheesecake" which was also good, but I could hardly feel the taste of mango. By the way, this option also comes with a a miso shiro that was really tasty! The other members of the family also enjoyed their meals but described it as "Good"!

Solid sushi, but too pretentious. Omakase is waaay too much food.

We took our family of 5 here on our first night in Seattle and loved it. The sushi was fresh and quite different/better than what we are used to in the DC area. We had a variety of dishes and enjoyed them all.

Party of four. One of the members of our party got stuck in traffic and the server was really accommodating. We had fresh sushi & excellent tempura. But the server was exceptional. We heartedly recommend this restaurant.

Great food, one of the best sushis and seafood in town. Not close to downtown, but totally worth the ride. Definitely recommended!

Setting is good. A good place to entertain. Food and wine are excellent. Desserts are good too. The waitresses are very knowledgeable on the menu details

We're long time Seattlites and have dined at Nishino many times over the years -- though not for a year or so and we've never reviewed them for this site in the past. We've had many wonderful dinners here -- but not this time. Never want to base too much on a single dinner not up to their usual standards (it was only two days after the Seahawks won the Superbowl and the kitchen staff may have been still in recovery mode) -- but we sensed more systemic issues. On the up side -- the raw oysters were absolutely amazing and the miso soup was complex and soothing comfort food -- whether with tofu or clams. Just wonderful. But other dishes were mixed. The French green bean tempura was beautifully prepared and delicious -- but lost the magic by being served at room temperature. For such a thin a delicate tempura it really needed more careful attention to the service. Similarly with the saba sushi. It was dry and metallic and looked tired. Sushi in Seattle isn't what it was in 1990. If you're going to serve sushi in this town, it has to be fresh and this wasn't. The spicy garlic calamari, a long time standard, was OK but under spiced. So maybe this was just an off day for the kitchen. But this has been a consistently 4 star restaurant in the past and, even given day-to-day rough spots, it seemed the menu and the kitchen staff need a wake-up call. We've had several recent trips to Japan, most recently to the more remote islands of Kyushu and Hokkaido, and can vouch for the wonderful innovative food scene there. We love this restaurant, but would like to see a total re-assessment of the menu -- keeping the best of the old, but introducing a lot of the new Japanese cuisine, which is focused on fresh and seasonal ingredients. Also -- Japan produces, arguably, the best pork and beef on the planet. Yes, it's pricey and hard to import, but why not feature it??

Wonderful restaurant with excellent sushi. The wine pairings are really very good. The decor is really beautiful. Very good service. The star though is really the wonderful food. The fried oysters are delicious, as is the asparagus tempura roll. Highly recommend a visit.

It’s a little out of downtown, but worth an Uber or a ride on the No. 11 bus. This is the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle with inventive cuisine and absolute knockout sushi. The food is fresh, inventive and consistently interesting. The sushi chefs know their craft and you can sample it whether you eat at the sushi bar (no reservations) or in the dining room (reservations accepted). The owner is always present — look for his pepper pants — and the service top notch and informative. There is a wide variety of choice but we like the noodle dishes and the tempura when we are not in the mood for sushi. The omakase option is a good way to explore and, if you are adventuresome, try the shrimp heads.

Last time i had been was in 2007 and the quality remains top notch. We focussed on sushi dishes and weren't disappointed. Tuna belly was our favourite. The sockeye salmon tartare on rice that had been placed on hot plate was awesome. Oysters were a great starter.

We're big sushi fans, but being new to the area, we've been relying heavily on recommendations from friends. A trial and error approach to Japanese in Seattle would be too time consuming. This place was recommended by our landlords, and was outstanding. Nothing missed. Great service, the freshest fish, creative and flavorful dishes, and nice atmosphere. We tried several specials, including the soft shell crab spring rolls, the ceviche, the tempura lobster and oyster special. All excellent. We dined early on a Monday night, and the house was nearly full when we left. Reservations a must. Highest recommendation.

I wanted to give 5 stars, but for some reason, it won't let me. Best sushi in Seattle!

Great sushi bar. Wonderful ambiance. Fresh fish is best we have found in Seattle. The tuna jalapeño appetizer is great. We prefer sitting at the sushi bar and order direct from our sushi chef. Good wine too which is not always available at sushi restaurants.

I have never been disappointed with my experience at Nishino. The food is very good and the service is excellent. I have really enjoyed the wine pairings. I highly recommend a visit.

A really great place to have sushi or steak. Both were great. The service was wonderful. Even when we asked for forks. We especially enjoyed sharing desserts at the end of a delicious meal.

Best Japanese in Seattle; put yourself in the hands of the chef with kaiseki.

This is one of the better sushi restaurants I've ate at in Seattle so far. They keep it simple, fresh, and delicious. The staff is very professional and friendly. The waitress recommended the salmon on crispy rice and we tried it and tasted so so good. The menu is interesting...has traditional Japanese food/sushi mixed with a non-traditional/modern twist! Environment is clean and upscale. Highly recommended.

Best sushi in Seattle.

Stumbling upon Nishino after having just moved here was quite an experience. The restaurant exudes an understated sense of perfection that feels like an embrace from a long lost friend - warm and welcome. The staff going out of their way to make us feel comfortable even though we had no reservation and had to wait a bit for a seat at the sushi bar. Every dish was better than the previous one. This was by far the best Japanese sushi experience for us. Everything was fresh, expertly prepared with a sense of dedication and calmness that made our dinner even more enjoyable. Despite its position as a fine dining restaurant, I found the prices very reasonable.

Parking in front is limited. Food is outstanding--reservations are almost a must. Service is top notch. We highly recommend this sushi restaurant.

I visited Nishino with my wife who is usually not overly enthusiastic about Japanese food but even she was impressed by the quality of the food and the innovativeness of the menu that had been put together. We indeed choose the tasting menu and had a variety of different dishes, all of them, i have to say, were excellent. And, in my view, the value for money is as well.

Really good sushi and unconventional.

Had the omakase dinner expecting chef’s choice sushi and instead got a Japanese culinary journey with only 1 course being sushi. Everything was perfectly cooked and I wanted to eat it again. You will likely need a reservation. I can’t wait to go back.

The nouveau sushi and tempura offerings at Nishino were first-rate. The service was also excellent. Of all the restaurants where I had dinner during my one-week stay in the Seattle, this was my favorite.

One of my favorite places.

Finally had dinner here, year after moving to the area. I wish I had not waited so long. We are outside, and it was raining hard that night. We stayed dry in the cute tent they had set up, which was romantic. There was a space heater on our legs, and we kept our jackets on. We enjoyed sushi, miso and vegetable tempura. He had the spicy mushroom soup which was delicious and definitely worth ordering. The dungeness crab dish (crab and mushrooms baked in a spicy creamy sauce) was a dish we were divided on... he liked it, I did not. It was too creamy for my taste. The shrimp dumplings were my favorite. Service was great! I look forward to eating here again!

We consider Nishino our favorite Japanese restaurant in the Seattle area. The fish is always dependably fresh and the restaurant sets an admirable service and quality standard. We especially like the Omakase dinner. The dishes are creative but not over the top and the chefs prepare a nice variety. No better spot in Seattle! Parking in the front lot is tight, but there is more space underneath the building (go around the back).

Nice ambiance, good sushi

Nishino is on par with Shiro's and the two restaurants are arguably the best sushi spots in Seattle. Great sushi - if you have the opportunity, sitting at the bar is a must. The omakase is more than generous in terms of portion, size and quality. Fatty toro and uni were the standouts.

go. the fish was fresh, atmosphere is beautiful, service is great, and the food and drinks were presented well. I really liked the sweet tea vodka lemonade, saki, and the spicy tuna roll was great as well as some of the house specials. reservations a must.

Once upon a time in Seattle, Nishino was the premier sushi spot in the city. I used to dine there monthly in the 90’s and early 2000’s. Then more sushi joints started opening all over the city and there wasn’t a reason to drive all the way to Madison Park for my sushi fix. Last week my friend was feeling nostalgic and suggested that we dine at Nishino for old time’s sake. We sat at the sushi bar and left it up to the chef to create sushi pieces for us instead of the regular omakase on the menu. You keep on eating until you are full. It’s a good alternative to omakase. Anyway, sushi was good, but not amazing. Didn’t blow me away or make me crave for more. There are better options in the city like Shiro or Sushi Kashiba in the Market.

I have eaten here yearly since it opened back in 1990. The sushi is good but nothing special compared to other such Seattle restaurants. For the portions, the prices are a genuine rip off. Service on the deck outside was very good but I was hungry when we finished.

I don't know where these good reviews come from. The food was awful but it goes way beyond that. We ordered omekase. after being told that the 'deluxe' must be ordered 24 hours in advance, we settled on the regular, anticipating something good. Only after our meal was done and only the last plate was actually sushi did the vapid waitress laugh and say 'oh, I know omekase is usually sushi, ours isn't, I guess I should have told you that in the beginning.' worse, the sushi that they did offer was literally disgusting, the salmon skin roll was rancid, I had to spit it out. I can't even describe what came before, one was blander and worse than the next A martini glass with watery cucumbers, a lemon slice filled with pits, some shreds of crab. Soggy, over-breaded popcorn shrimp covered in what tasted like a ketchup based sauce with overcooked asparagus. A watery clam soup that was just 'off'. (when the same waitress picked up my still full bowl, she trilled, 'wasn't that fabulous', are you kidding? I didn't eat it). You get the picture. No apology, no money off the bill. Simply awful. My advice is to stay away.

We ate here last week during our trip to seattle. We reluctantly tried the chef's choice option because we had had an extremely disappointing experience earlier in the week at Shiro's. The waiter assured us that they were all about flavor there so we decided to give it another shot. Boy were we glad we did! Every dish was amazingly presented and full of flavor. They really take pride in their food and the dining experience overall. Our only tiny complaint is that our waitress was new and shadowing another waiter so our green tea came a little cold a couple of times. There was another waitress that came to refill our tea and it was piping hot every time. And the water guy was just amazing to watch as he poured into the glass from two feet above the table. We always had plenty of water. There was a currant cake at the end ringed with fresh fruit that was gorgeous and delicious! It was also fun to watch one of the chefs cutting long thin sheets off cucumbers for the rolls. The food was delicious and the staff was extremely helpful, patient and friendly. I would definitely go there monthly if I lived there and if I'm ever back in town I will definitely return.

I ate at Nishino with a couple of friends. We all must eat Gluten Free. The chef prepared multiple courses for us, that met our requirements. The food was very fresh and delicious. There was a mushroom soup I found particularly memorable. The ambience is relaxed and warm, and the service was very good.

We were looking for a more "up-scale" sushi restaurant and Nishino was a great choice. No loud music, nice linens, families, and obvious regulars being greeted by the chefs. We ordered the Omakase and really liked all of the 8 courses. (You need to call in advance if you want to order the Special Omakase, probabaly due to the foie gras.) We especially enjoyed the Cucumber Salad with Hamachi, Black Cod Soup with Maitake mushroom, and Arctic Char with Papaya. They also have a good wine list. Bring your VISA. The Special Omakase is $85.00 each and by the time we added wine we were around $500.00 for three of us. We don't normally spend $85. per person when we go out for sushi, but this wasn't ordinary sushi. We recently had the Omakase at Morimoto in Philadelphia and the cost is in-line. We will go back, but we will order from the regular menu.

Nishino is my idea of the ideal restaurant for a special occasion. Every course of our nine course omakase meal was delicious, many were quite original and all were interesting and varied, The fish was some of the freshest fish we have ever eaten and many types were presented including flouder, black cod, salmon roe, crab, oyster, lobster and artic char. The service also was superb also. Our waiter introduced each course and explained the ingredients and preparation. We never felt at all rushed, and yet never abandoned either. We also enjoyed a lovely Grgich Hills Fume Blanc which complemented the food well....altogether a lovely evening.....Probably the best Japanese meal we have ever eaten (and that includes two trips to Japan.)

We walked in and actually got a table without a reservation. Chris, the server, was very prompt and attentive. Overall, excellent service. Outstanding sushi, especially the sockeye salmon! The main courses were quite creative and tasty. Great mochi with green tea.

Nice.

From the second we sat down, we were rushed through the meal. We barely pulled our chairs up to the table before we were asked for our drinks selection. We hadn't opened the multi-page wine menu or put our napkins on our laps. We asked for some more time, the wait person, hovering six feet away, returned to ask us for our selections a minute later. We asked again for some additional time, she came back in less than a minute. What's going on here? Then she asked for our dinner selections, we hadn't even opened the dinner menu! We asked for some more time, she stood six feet away watching us, gave us about ninety seconds and returned to ask for our dinner choices. Wine had barely arrived when dinner began arriving at the table (all less than ten minutes after arrival). Worse, as far as I am concerned, before we finished each and every course, the wait person or a helper tried to take away the food. I couldn't keep up with them or stop them. Every time I put my fork down, a staffer ran over to remove the plate regardless of whether the plate was empty. I literally had to tell the waiter to put the plate back on the table, "I'm not finished." The whole night, we were engaged in an ongoing battle to keep our food on the table. This place is crazed, for heaven's sake, let your guests eat in peace! Would never go back to a place where you have to guard your food from the waiter. PS the food was just average and the prices are high.

I went here for dinner tonight and was soooo disappointed after hearing so many great things about this place. I started with the albacore tuna sashimi salad; the tuna was very good, but the ginger dressing on the salad was just okay (nothing special); the presentation was alright, but I expected the flavors of a sashimi salad to dance in my mouth and instead they fell flat. Next I had the foie gras special -- it was seared foie gras on top of tuna on top of mushroom; I couldn't taste the foie gras or the tuna.. the mushroom overpowered both. And given that one piece of this was $7.50, it was a real bummer to only taste the mushroom. The textures of the foie gras and the tuna didn't meld well, either. Then came the baked dungeness crab with creamy spicy sauce; this dish was crap... zero flavor, boring texture, and unattractive presentation. The last thing I had was simple salmon sushi, which was extremely good; the soy sauce that I dipped it in was sweeter and more floral tasting than any other soy sauce I'd ever had, and I was very impressed. If I do come back, I'd stick with the raw fish (which was great) and avoid everything else (which was lousy). Also, it should be noted that the service was very good.

I'll say..it's an OK!

Omg can only describe how great the food at Nishino recently when I was back in Seattle visiting.. Yummy and fresh with creative combinations of flavors.. Great neighborhood haunt upon Madison Park. Well worth the visit.. We Ines on several of the night specials and wow... Could have licked the plate...

Exquisite sushi! Great selection of fresh sushi. Ahi tuna w/jalepeño was delicious!! Service was excellent! Try the saketini!!!

Beside high quality sushi, their japanese home style dishes is tasty too

We had the Omikase dinner and we were served 9 courses over the course of about 2 hours. Each course featured some type of fish and everything was simply divine. The cost of this dinner was $75 per person which in my mind was a bargain considering what we had. I would return here without hesitation.

Wonderful, artful sushi. Check the fresh sheet for unique seasonal offerings.

We sat at the bar and let Brian guide our choices for the most part. And what he presented was delicious and beautiful. We started with Sashimi for 3 people. Fresh, elegantly presented, and tasty. Then he made us a sushi roll. We didn't specify, just let him determine it. I still don't know which it is or if it was on the menu, but it was scrumptious. Then we had him do another roll, again no idea what exactly, but fantastic and maybe better than the first one though I didn't expect that to be possible. The smoked eel was dreamy. My companions went on to order other things, and I chose the Udon noodle soup. It was tasty, but didn't compare to what I have had in Japan or other stateside locations. We are looking forward to returning for the Omakazi experience next. Parking is a bit tricky, but they do offer spaces under the building (go down the alley). We arrived early and got a space at the bar, but the restaurant was filled with a few people waiting by the time we left. My companions loved their sake, and I had a delicious Hendricks gin cocktail. Yummy - all of it!!