San Omakase — Restaurant in Região Geográfica Imediata do Rio de Janeiro

I had very high expectations prior to dining here, given the local press and recent Michelin star award - unfortunately, the experience felt like a mockery from start to finish.

On the positive side, the staff was very friendly, the small counter made for a beautiful setting, and the fresh fish was of very high quality.

After some unremarkable starters, the chef made a show of the Shizuoka-imported wasabi root he would later use for the nigiri, but served sashimi with fake wasabi paste. Before starting the nigiri course, he explained the importance of rice and fish temperature in nigiri - true. However, he emphasised how the rice must be served warm, while the fish topping must always be served cold and to this purpose, used ice plates to cool the fish. The chef explained how this is standard practice in Japan. Having been to many top sushiya in Tokyo, Osaka, London, Paris, New York, this is the first time I have seen this, and it made for a terrible experience, as the fish cannot be properly tasted when cold - the neta should almost always be served at room temperature (of course, this can vary for some toppings). Temperature aside, while the fish was of good quality, the shari was unremarkable, and the soy used to top the nigiri did not have the right balance - not expected for a 1 Michelin star restaurant. The nigiri course ended with an eel temaki that had more rice and sauce than fish - in fact, I’ve had better unagi temaki at Tokyo’s convenience store Lawson.

Overall, despite the staff’s good intentions, the experience felt like a farce, perpetrating an inaccurate and ultimately disappointing image of sushi - this is unacceptable for the price of the meal, and especially for a 1 Michelin...

This was a great meal and I would give it 4.5 stars if I could, but I don’t feel it quiiiite deserves the 4.9 that it currently has. There’s a few things that could be improved for it to be 5 full stars for me!

First off, the welcome glass of sake was a nice touch, but it was watery and pretty tasteless (and I’m a fan of sake but not a sake snob!)

I really liked that they included a salad course, a gyoza, a Japanese omelette, a scallop, etc, aka items that were unique to other omakases I’ve been to. So that was a nice touch. And the cookstaff were very welcoming, great vibes, very pleasant beautiful atmosphere inside.

In general, many of the courses just didn’t wow me though, which is what I expect from a place with a Michelin star. Everything was tasty, but many weren’t WOW. The cocktails all seemed pretty meh, although they did have a very interesting-sounding mocktail, which I applaud. I wished they had an official sake pairing to opt into as I would have happily done that, but the sakes they offered by the shot/cup seemed crazy expensive so I didn’t try them.

The dessert was gorgeous but I found it too sweet/needed a bit more flavor. And then the chocolate truffles at the end had a very thick cap, which is an amateur issue that surprised me for such a fancy restaurant. The last little dessert, the mochi with salted caramel inside, was heavenly (and blew me away more than many of the courses..!) All told, for me it was not quite a 5 star experience, for the price point and for having a Michelin star. Very pleasant...

Absolutely Outstanding Experience! We had the pleasure of dining at this incredible Japanese restaurant in Rio, and we must say—it exceeded all expectations. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was serene and beautifully curated, offering a perfect blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics with a modern touch.

The food was exceptional. Every dish was a masterpiece, prepared with the utmost attention to detail and the freshest ingredients. The sushi was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the flavors were perfectly balanced. The chef’s creativity truly shone through in every course.

The service was equally impressive—attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. The staff made us feel genuinely welcomed and took the time to explain the menu and offer excellent recommendations.

This place is a gem in the heart of Rio de Janeiro ( Cidade Maravilhosa) Whether you’re a connoisseur of Japanese cuisine or just looking for a memorable dining experience, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. We will definitely coming back!...