Nobu
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 814-4124
- Price:
- $$$$
- Specialties:
- Seafood, Sushi
Editorial Review for Nobu – by Erin Chambers
In Short
On the left side of the Hard Rock Hotel lobby, the thick wood doors leading through a dark corridor feels more like the entrance to a swanky New York nightclub than a Gaslamp restaurant. Once inside, Nobu's famously simple sushi bar bustles on the right, the generous bar/lounge area sits to the left and main dining room fills the back. From soup to sushi, the menu is pricey but worth every penny.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoIt's pricey, it's crowded and the crowd is very jet-set international. Dress to impress and make a reservation well in advance to ensure a good seat.
What to EatCheck out the "mains" section of the menu. Item range from $30-$55, but that includes salad, miso soup and rice.
When to GoIt's not open for lunch, and the lounge is open later than the dining room (until 12am) for drinks and nibbles.
Fun FactActor Robert DeNiro is a partner in the Nobu franchise, and he made an appearance at the San Diego opening in December 2007.
Where to SitThere is a great private chef's table available (up at the front near the entrance) for up to 20 people for private events.
User Reviews for Nobu
07/07/2008 Posted by nhonzel1
Nobu is great! The service in the bar was a little lackluster and the server there seemed uninterested in being at work but once we were seated in the dining room everything was wonderful. The food was fresh and flavorful and our server knew every ingredient of every dish! Definitely worth checking out!
04/28/2008 Posted by critiqgal310
My husband and I stayed at the Hard Rock to catch a game at Petco and didn’t originally plan to eat at Nobu as there are so many restaurants in the Gaslamp. At the last minute I decided to give it a try since we’re not in town that often and I had heard good things about the menu. Our dinner was probably one of the most amazing meals I have ever had! Our waiter, Christian, was very nice, just attentive enough, and helped us navigate the variety of choices on the menu. All his recommendations were spot on. We started with Edamame and Baby Corn, which was very interesting (I’ve never eaten husk before!). Nobu’s famous Black Cod with Miso was a generously sized filet infused with salty sweet flavors. Every bite is to be savored. The Rock Shrimp Tempura with Creamy Spicy Sauce is served on a bed of baby greens in a large bowl. The portions were bigger than we expected so we had to stop short of trying the delicate looking Sashimi (the table next to us had at least 2 orders). We will definitely have to come back and try the sushi side of the menu. The service was more Euro speed than American paced – each course is presented one at a time and you are given time in between courses. Since we were hungry when we first sat down, we were a little antsy. In the end, we appreciated not being rushed and having time to enjoy each dish. We rounded out our meal with the Banana Tobanyaki – caramelized bananas served with pecans and a sweet wine ice cream. The ice cream was a really nice surprise with just a hint of alcohol. I’m a native Sandiegan transplanted to LA, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that this very big city restaurant still embodied the small town atmosphere of San Diego. The crowd ranged from the trendy club ready to families with children. We can’t wait for a chance to go back!
Pros: Delicious Food, Super Friendly Staff, Proximity for Hotel Guests
Cons: Not having room to try more dishes!
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