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Review content:
I've been a regular at this sushi bar/restaurant for several years and highly recommend it if you're looking for a stimulating place to eat fresh, quality sushi in a friendly setting. The owner is delightful and seems to attract a really diverse, interesting group of patrons which, on any given night, can include Japanese judges, Berkeley doctoral students, cops, public defenders, Italian mathematicians, Oakland tradesunion activists, and local members of Taiko drumming groups, among others. The sushi chefs are always willing to point me toward what fish is best on any given day, and make creations that I come up with (and then remember them the next time I come in). In addition to serving good sushi, they have live music a couple of times a week -- usually on Mondays and Fridays (though sometimes when I've gone recently, they've been closed on Monday and have music on Tuesday instead. There's a guitarist who has played there for many years named Hideo Date, whose music is great. One thing I've noticed is that the atmosphere can be totally different from one night to the next, because it's so affected by what interesting people show up, so it's hard to judge after just one visit what the place is all about. If you go a few times, you can see whether it's a good fit for you and eat some tasty food while ""investigating."" If you're looking for upscale decor or to impress a hot date, this is definitely not the place for you -- the decor is simple and down home. On the other hand, it's hard to beat the place for its good sushi, interesting conversation, and free live entertainment. I could save a lot of money if I cut this place out of my routine, but it meets so many needs that I find myself there more often than I care to admit.
Pros: Good food and interesting patrons
Cons: Decor is nothing to write home about & occasional long waits to get food
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