Nobu — Restaurant in New Providence

Third time’s the charm!

Last time I come to Nobu at Atlantis….

I want to start this off by saying the food was amazing and it is unfortunate that the Nobu brand has such appalling representation at Atlantis.

Service here is a real turn off and 100% the reason I won’t return.

Our visit started off with being told “we are clearing a table for you now.” I think most people would assume a maximum 5 minute wait when being told this.

But no, the usual 30+ minute wait past our reservation time (that’s right, we made a reservation and waited about the same time as walk ins).

Previous 2 visits were a 30 minute and 50 minute wait time after our reservation time

If there’s one thing I really hate, it’s being told to expect to wait a short period of time for something only for those saying it to likely know that’s not the case and lie about it. If the host was honest about this, I’d be giving a 3 star review.

I should have known this time would have been no different after two families immediately went up to the host asking when their table would be waiting as they had waited 30+ minutes.

We waited 40 minutes past our reservation time. I went up twice to the host to ask about our table to be told again “we’re just cleaning a table” and “you’re up next.” After the second response, we waited an additional 10 minutes just to wait several more minutes.

The host that brought us muttered a “sorry”under their breath while bringing us to our table.

Apparently if I made more noise about this issue, I would’ve been given a free round of drinks as another table who came in after us and waited 30 minutes were given this offer.

Got it, 30 minute wait, free round of drinks, 40 minute wait, an insincere apology.

Our server then played off food items as being included only to then be reminded by my partner that everything offered came with a charge.

The only relief from this horrid experience was the food. Really great quality and flavours. Again, I will likely eat at another Nobu, just not the Atlantis location.

Finally to end off our night, as with most service establishments at Atlantis, they automatically charge a 15% tip.

During payment, the card reader prompted me to add either an additional 18%, 20%, or 22%. Because yes please, I’d love to tip at least 35% on top of my $400 bill for horrible service.

After handing the card reader to the server selecting no additional tip, the server scoffed as if 15% for subpar service was unacceptable. I’d agree with that.

Folks, if you’ve made it this far in my review, you’re probably reading this waiting for a table you made a reservation for…. The Canadian in me would like to give you a sincere sorry.

I highly advise you to reconsider ever going to the Atlantis location… trust your gut….. there’s a reason this location is below a 4 star.

If you’re the type of person that can easily afford $200 + per person and don’t mind sub par service, this place is for you.

If you’re like me and have to put in long hours at work before each visit to justify going hoping for exceptional service relative to the exceptional cost, don’t bother. You will surely be disappointed and find yourself asking why did I bother spending all this money and mandatory tip just for a horrible service experience.

P.S: I saw a number of reviews expressing similar horrible service at the Atlantis location. With most establishments I see on google, a typical response would read “Sorry for your experience, please contact us so we may find a way to continue having your business.”

The responses to the negative Atlantis reviews I see from management are something akin to “sorry for your experience, we have made a note and will let staff know.”

For those of us who have worked in customer service, there’s a likely chance that last response means “Here’s a quick response to show people we care, but we don’t actually care and will do nothing to change.”

I expect a similar cookie cutter response to this review.

Please save your money and experience the wonders of Nobu at...

Nobu was our second dinner in the Bahamas. Nobu is a name we know, and we were excited to eat there.

One thing to note is that the restaurant is situated within the casino, and there isn't any real isolation built into the restaurant. The ambiance suffers quite heavily from the smell of stale cigarettes and the sounds of people losing their money to cheerful machines. Acoustically, this wasn't designed well - it was hard to converse with my wife without repeating ourselves.

Service in the Bahamas is rarely attentive, but we felt flat-out ignored to begin with. Multiple people sitting right next to us were able to order and begin receiving their food before we even got menus or water. When we finally got the menu, we decided on the omakaze. We elected for the Nobu signature tasting, after hearing that the chef's daily selection only upgrades the ingredients' quality (at a $50 premium).

Our first course was a toro tartare with a tiny spoonful of caviar on top, rested on top of ponzu-wasabi sauce. Neither my wife nor I are a fan of toro tartare as it comes out mushy. We also found fish scales in both of our preparations. The ponzu tasted only of wasabi, it was hard to taste anything else! We weren't impressed.

The next course was tako (octopus) carpaccio with dried miso crust, fried garlic chips, and accompanied by thinly sliced cucumber. The dressing was fairly acidic and the sesame oil helped round that out nicely. The octopus had medium bite to it, perfect for a carpaccio. The portion was small, four thin slices per person is not enough to experience the dish fully.

Third course was a tuna tataki with daikon-wrapped greens (shiso and mixed greens) and a pickled shrimp, all covered in a sesame oil and carmelized onion dressing. The tataki was done well, and the wrapped greens were refreshing with the exception of one roll being very heavy with the shiso leaf. The shrimp tasted okay, but overcooked (perhaps from the pickling method) and did not add anything to the dish. We do not get why they would serve back-to-back courses with heavy amounts of sesame oil, which muddled our palettes and our experience.

The third course was followed by a miso soup; this signified the start of a comeback in this meal as the soup was full of miso flavor, without being overly salty. It warmed our bellies in preparation for the sushi moriawase - a nigiri assortment containing (from right to left): aji, tai, sake, hamachi and maguro.

All of the nigiri was well-prepared, though we felt the hamachi cuts were too thin. The seafood was very fresh, and the sushi rice exceeded both of our expectations. The accompaniment of real wasabi root was appreciated.

The fifth course was a miso-glazed black cod, served inside a banana leaf. The fish melted in our mouths, and the glaze was quite sweet. We hoped that the glaze would be more caramelized than it was, but overall it was a good dish.

The main course was a claypot steak, cooked with asparagus, enoki mushroom, and onions. The light pool of beef juice at the bottom helped to enhance the flavor of the vegetables, and the char on the otherwise rare beef (we like it this way, but not all diners would like their steak this rare) added a nice depth. The asparagus was al dente, borderline raw, but we both liked the crunch it added to the dish. We were stuffed by this point!

Dessert was a pairing of chocolate fondant cake (aka molten lava cake) and matcha (green tea) ice cream on top of a sesame wafer. Both desserts were tasty, but we could not finish either one of them - we simply had too much to eat.

When we were finished, we waited a while before we could flag someone down for the bill. Again, we felt forgotten amongst a sea of other diners.

The food was okay, but the service and atmosphere detracted from the experience, which, at this price point, would not merit our return. We have access to the same quality (if not better) at a lower price at home in the Bay Area. If sushi is uncommon in your locale, you may find your experience...

My partner and I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a romantic dinner at Nobu, Paradise Island, The Bahamas, and it exceeded all expectations!

From the moment we arrived, we were treated to impeccable customer service. A team of welcoming hostesses greeted us and quickly checked us in, leading us to our reserved table. Once seated, we were introduced to our server, Glennique, who took the time to walk us through the menu and offered thoughtful recommendations for signature dishes we simply had to try. Following her advice, we decided to sample a variety of dishes to get a taste of everything.

While Glennique was fantastic, the true standouts of the evening were the runners—particularly Yvannia (who I cannot praise enough), Leon, Ron, and Ramone. They went above and beyond to make sure every aspect of our meal was perfect. Yvannia was incredibly attentive, ensuring that we had all the necessary utensils for each course, checking in on us regularly, and always maintaining a friendly yet professional demeanor. Her attention to detail was remarkable, as she consistently refilled our water glasses and coordinated the timing of each dish perfectly with her colleagues. Leon, Ron, and Ramone were equally impressive, always ensuring our experience was seamless and adding to the overall warmth and hospitality of the evening. It truly felt like a well-oiled team dedicated to making us feel special.

As for the food—wow. Every dish was a masterpiece, but a few items stood out in particular. The Miso Glazed Cod was absolutely divine, with the perfect balance of sweet and crispy flavors. It was definitely my favorite dish of the night, with the next runner up being the Yellowtail & Jalapeños.

Honestly, the Cod dish alone would have been worth the visit. The cod was cooked to perfection, with crispy skin and a tender, flaky interior. The miso glaze was the ideal balance of sweet, salty, and savory, creating a complex flavor profile that felt both comforting and refined. The contrast between the crispy exterior and the soft, flaky fish inside made every bite pure bliss. I could easily return to Nobu just for this dish!

Hats off to the Kitchen/ Sushi Staff for the amazing dishes, that were not only fresh and the perfect temperatures but all insanely unique and delicious. This truly made our date night one to remember and cemented our desires to come back …SOON!

Lastly, I’d be remiss not to mention the "Rum Connection" cocktail, which was delicious and refreshing—an ideal pairing with our meal.. and another great recommendation from Glennique.

All in all, our experience at Nobu Paradise Island was unforgettable. From the exceptional service to the flawless execution of each dish, it’s clear why this location is renowned for offering world-class dining. It was so very clear how important amazing customer experiences are to them and kudos to the management team for upholding this expectations. I was so happy to see the managers walking around checking in on guests all night and ensuring things were nothing short of perfect. We can't...