99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant Abu Dhabi — Restaurant in Abu Dhabi

A Culinary Journey at 99 Sushi Bar: Moments of Brilliance with Room for Improvement

Entering the prestigious realm of Michelin-starred dining, I embarked on a culinary adventure at 99 Sushi Bar with high expectations. While some aspects of the experience left me yearning for more, the journey had its moments of brilliance that were worth celebrating.

To commence the evening, I opted for the edamame, the wagyu gyozas, and the king crab salad. Regrettably, I found these starters to be underwhelming for a Michelin-starred establishment. Although the ingredients were undoubtedly fresh, the flavors failed to excite my palate in the way I had anticipated. As a discerning diner, I had expected a greater level of innovation and culinary finesse to elevate these seemingly simple dishes.

Moving on to the main course, the soft shell crab rolls and the dragonfly maki brought a glimmer of excitement to the table. The combination of flavors and textures showcased the artistry of the sushi chefs, and I relished every bite. However, it is worth noting that while these dishes were undoubtedly delicious, they fell slightly short of the extraordinary experience I had anticipated from a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the main course was the Japanese Kobe. This exquisite cut of beef showcased the culinary mastery of the chefs, with its melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and intricate depth of flavors. The Kobe lived up to its reputation, providing a moment of true culinary brilliance that reminded me of the exceptional quality that can be found at 99 Sushi Bar.

For a sweet finale, we indulged in the cheesecake, and it was an absolute delight. The creamy texture, the delicate balance of flavors, and the flawless presentation all combined to create a memorable dessert. It was a testament to the skill and creativity of the pastry team, leaving a lasting impression that lingered on the taste buds.

In conclusion, 99 Sushi Bar offers a dining experience that demonstrates glimpses of brilliance but falls short of consistently meeting the expectations of a Michelin-starred establishment. While the Japanese Kobe and the delectable cheesecake provided moments of culinary excellence, the starters left me desiring more creativity and finesse. Furthermore, the service misstep with the added items detracted from the overall experience.

Ultimately, 99 Sushi Bar has the potential to wow discerning diners with its culinary offerings. With continued refinement and attention to detail, this Michelin-starred establishment could elevate its already impressive cuisine to...

Sushi 99 starts with a spacious lounge, a golden bar on one side and a glass window opening on expensive looking bottles thoughtfully arranged behind it. The interior décor includes expressive saturated tones and was highly elusive and slightly deceiving, as in my view it didn’t communicate Japanese. Comfy sofas and dark grey ottomans contrasted with vividly red murals and rugs and balanced the warmth of the light. A similar concept continued across the restaurant, and when my eyes adapted to the dimmed light, I started to realize how carefully the Japanese theme was crafted into the otherwise very chic Mediterranean surroundings. Bonsai trees, for example, did the trick for me.

The table was minimalist, with shiny wine glasses, custom made cutlery and crockery, a piece of art soya sauce jar and an adorable white cookie that, with water, turned into a hot towel. Greatly impressed and stunned, I mumbled to myself something about sincerity, peacefulness, elegance and passion, however a clear voice interrupted my chaotic sentence: “Japanese with Spanish influence. Not vice versa.”

The repeated theme of passion (think interiors, art and fruit) came up while ordering. Once the menu was open, our hostess started a conversation describing dishes, ingredients and cooking secrets to us. They source the world’s best and freshest ingredients. Their Spanish tuna was so incredible that some parts resembled a marbled Wagyu steak.

I placed myself in the hands of the very competent team to feed us with no regrets. Salted edamame, a complimentary starter, got me into sampling mood and the dinner began. It took the first dish, a juicy crab served in its shell, to announce my verdict: absolutely amazing. The best I’ve had in life, and a little spoon on the side made scooping easy.

A few other masterpieces tasted that night included: spicy tuna tartar with a secret Japanese sauce, foie gras rolls topped with sweet raspberries, a selection of salmon sushi flambé with slices of browned lime atop, and slices of tuna soaked in a trio of sauces - coriander, passionate fruit and soya. This was the moment the chef stopped by our table to grate fresh wasabi right in front of us, melting my heart completely.

While we were savouring these luxuries to our senses, the breeze occasionally blew through the open panoramic windows adding a touch of wildness to the experience. We selected a pot of green tea with mochi ice-cream as a final touch to the dinner and sipped the night away.

I can’t...

I've been craving for authentic sushi for so long but couldn't find any in Abu Dhabi, but I thought I finally found a right place. "One star Michellin sushi restaurant." How can it go wrong right? But without any exaggeration, the cheapest conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Japan or even the ones they sell in convenient stores taste way better than what they serve here. I'm guessing they put mayonnaise or some random sauce everywhere so they could hide the poor quality of the fish itself. I'm telling you mayo or any other than soy sauce on sashimi/sushi/temaki/nigiri is an absolute insult!! NOT tolerable. Imagine pouring ketchup on foie gras!! The hotate was smothered in lemon juice, could not taste the scallops but just pure sourness. The otoro was the absolute worst of all, never seen any tuna this thin and overly fatty (although it's supposed to be fatty but this one was on another level) except at a free buffet in some random convention center. I would have to go on and on about how poor the food was but I think I already made my point, this is not a place for sushi. I've been to numerous Michellin star restaurants in my life but this experience was just jaw droppingly the worst. I rarely leave bad reviews or no reviews at all but I thought I had to save those people who know what "real sushi" is, and thinking this would be the right place just like the past me. With this price, I would rather recommend you to buy a flight ticket to Tokyo and go to any random sushi place....