Nobu Palo Alto in Palo Alto

This was my first time visiting Nobu that to in Bay area. Plenty of veg options. You need to reserve your table like 2 weeks before. So plan ahead. The hospitality is great. They have lodging upstairs and restaurant downstairs.Tried the crispy okra, roasted cauliflower, veg rolls and Kapp rolls. Also tried sashimi. All were so awesome. Freshly rolled sushis, fresh ingredients, and not to forget very delicious. Bit expensive. Definitely worth going.

Last night, our group of four ventured to Nobu Palo Alto, and it turned out to be an experience heavily reliant on branding to attract patrons. Did it live up to the renowned reputation of this chain in terms of customer experience? Unfortunately, its not even close. In fact, its one of my least favored Nobu locations. My friends and I have been regulars at Nobu across the US since the late 90s, and this particular visit disappointed us; it wasnt our first encounter with this location, but it was an off night for some reason. One of our dining companions, having managed a restaurant, had experience in the service industry, and she shared similar sentiments.When she and her partner arrived for our reservation thirty minutes ahead of time, they were directed by the young front desk host to wait either at the bar or upstairs. However, when they reached the bar, there was no available seating, and they were told they couldnt stand in the bar lounge area. Consequently, they headed to Tacolicious for a cocktail since there was still half an hour to spare. This marked the first problem and a somewhat discouraging first impression.Upon our arrival, we checked in ten minutes early, and they informed us that our friends had already arrived and were either at the bar or upstairs. Assuming, as our friends did, that upstairs meant a bar lounge, we spent some time searching for them, later discovering they were at a neighboring venue. This confusion constituted the second problem, causing an unnecessary waste of our time and energy.The third issue arose when the young host mentioned that our outside in the garden table was ready. I had specifically chosen the standard inside seating option, and she explained that it was considered partially inside. I am baffled how a patio table without a roof can be regarded as indoors. The entire point of selecting indoor seating is for climate control. Fortunately, our host arranged for us to be seated indoors, but we would have to be patient with the allotted turnover time.Upon realizing that our friends were at Tacolicious, we offered to meet them there, but they were close to finishing their drinks and opted to join us at Nobu. When we arrived at the bar again, there were four vacant seats. We informed the bartender that we were there for a quick drink while our table would be ready soon. The bartender insisted (probably due to policy) that we take a seat and save the remaining two open seats for our friends while waiting for them. However, we found it impractical since other patrons were waiting for dinner at the overflowing bar. We overheard the staff debating the situation, with one server favoring dining customers he could serve in those seats. We could not stand, although it would have made more sense from a business perspective. This marked the fourth problem and created quite a mess. None of us felt comfortable or valued throughout this ordeal, and we couldnt help but wonder where the management was all night. It felt as though a group of Gen Zs was running the restaurant.In terms of the food, some dishes were average, while others were exceptional, which is to be expected from Nobu. I had dined at Morimoto in Napa the previous week, and while their dishes werent as refined as Nobus, the service was on par with what one would anticipate. I should note that Noah, our young server, was courteous and attentive, as were some other staff members, such as Johnny and the bartender. They knew I would post this review the day after our dinner, and it wouldnt be glowing. If it werent for their efforts to make our dining experience pleasant once we were seated, I would rate last nights experience with just two stars. Unlike some harsh reviewers with nasty sentiments on Yelp and Google, I consider myself a generous and professional reviewer. This is a friendly note to management: please implement better policies and operational procedures.

Honestly, this was so mediocre….. I’m quite shocked that they have become this high end place for sushi.. I’ve been to the location in Tokyo and it was definitely more authentic Japanese food but nothing to die for… don’t get me wrong, the service is always great but it doesn’t make up for how average the food is there… don’t waste your money going here if you’re looking for authentic Japanese sushi or dishes… it’s very American influenced and I was surprised they even serve honey walnut shrimp, like what? That’s not even Japanese food. Glad I now say I will never go back. High end price for mid food, no thanks.

Food was amazing but unfriendly towards picky eaters. The service was ok with the waitresses having high attentiveness. The atmosphere was fantastic. Miso soup was either too sweet or too salty

Food is good, a little bit overpriced. We ordered a lot of fish, but my favorite is the wagyu beef. The service is kind of slow, so leave enough time for dinning.

The food is great and service attentive. We gave them a budget to stick to and they put together a menu to feed our group. Everything was delicious!

They can accommodate gluten-free and dairy-free but you’ll have a more limited menu. I chose sushi and sushi “tacos” with lettuce substituted for the typical tortilla. For dessert, you can try the sorbets with inventive flavors.Most of the iconic dishes cannot be made gluten-free and dairy-free and they fry in shared oil. There were a few hot options, but sushi had the most options.I felt safe eating here because the waiter was very knowledgeable and the manager even helped reassure me that they take precautions when I called ahead to ask. I greatly appreciate when restaurants accommodate dietary restrictions because it allows me to share in a nice meal with friends.

Miso Cod is amaze balls and the crunchy spicy tuna bites were yummy. I would not get the banana dessert again, kinda over the intense alcohol aftertaste, but have had the bento dessert before so wont dock a ⭐️

Incredible food. Was able to get seats at the bar with very little wait. We provided preferences to the waiter and he guided our courses. Didn’t have anything that was not delicious. If you want a table I’d recommend making a reservation.

My friends said they would take a first date here to set a high bar. Great service and food, but expensive. Ordered two King Crab tacos. They were delicious but liliputian, like tiny half-bites. Had the Sidecar drink, it was sublime.