Nanami Sushi Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Austin

It has been two years since my last food review on Google.

Nanami has dredged me from the depths of my Covid complacency with food that was so awful that I felt it would have been a greater sin to remain silent.

Baked Avocado - This is the only reason I'm giving one star (and because Google won't let me give half). It was only "good" with a generous application of the theory of relativity when compared to everything else. Somehow Nanami has perfected the art of alchemy and managed to make an avocado taste like a sweet potato. I was both disgusted and impressed...impusted? Dispressed?

Saketoro - I've done better jobs of removing the skin from fish at home. One of the pieces had the consistency of snot. If I die, Nanami will be haunted by my ghost.

Angel Roll - My wife reported to me that the heaviest taste of this roll was the salty rice. Yet again I have to belligerently compliment Nanami on their mastery of alchemy and managing to make rice a dominant flavor in a roll that boasts sporting cream cheese and spicy mayo.

Tiger Roll - Again, the wife said the soy wrapper was the most dominant flavor among jalapenos, cream cheese, and smoked salmon. Nanami on a roll with all this transfiguration and removing flavor from things that normally have lots of it.

Black Pepper Steak - I actually have to genuinely compliment Nanami on this one. They didn't lie when they said it was "black pepper" steak. Pepper pepper pepper. So much pepper. Just all the pepper. Think of the most pepper you've ever eaten, then add more. Thank God for the rice to cut all that pepper on my medium rare pot roast meat and three broccoli florets that missed out on all that seasoning and cooking action. The florets were somewhat sweaty and barely cooked. I think they might've been sweaty from all the black pepper, because I know I got pretty moist.

Mochi Ice Cream - Not sure if Nanami performed alchemy or just gave us the wrong thing, but the ice cream tasted faintly of strawberries to me. The wife insisted I was crazy, as she tasted nothing but sweet cream. The problem is that we ordered red bean flavor - yet another strong flavor, gone.

Mango Juice - This one is just a lie, plain and simple. It was orange water that dreamt of being mango flavored.

Overall we spent almost $100 on all of this. We kept the leftovers. Not because they were good and we look forward to eating them again, but because we've already spent this much money to throw it away now.

I am angry that Nanami has my money.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

This restaurant doesn't...

We have been customers since they first opened. Over the years we have become more and more disheartened. The food is always good, but they are pricier than other options in the area. The service has gone downhill. Before Covid it was very hit or miss, after Covid it’s been a consistent miss. The last time we were there it was a party of 7 at lunch, we were the only ones there at first and it took over two hours total. Not everyone had their drinks delivered so they were stuck with water. The food was ordered and delivered with reasonable time, however none of the food came out together, it came out in 3 separate trips. We never had our drinks refilled ( 3 other tables seated total, all 2 tops) and we were never checked on after that. Never offered dessert. We waited 45 minutes for our check to be delivered.

When it was I asked that the grat for 7 people be removed because the service was so bad, I asked that the drinks we never received be removed and the one app that never came. I asked that the check be split into 3 tickets, describing exactly what each person had. It took them another 20 minutes before they brought it to us, the grat was gone but all the drinks and app were still on there and they only split it into two checks. At that point 4 members of our party had to go so I told them I would pay for everyone and have them Venmo me directly. The person who served us was very kind and I honestly think he was doing his best. I don’t know if he was new, wasn’t trained properly or was just burnt out, but it was the absolute worst experience we’ve ever had there.

Really sad because we have celebrated several birthdays and anniversaries there. I have frequented solo, with my husband and with friends for lunch, late lunch and dinner so I have seen have experienced the atmosphere and service at all hours. I honestly don’t know how they stay open. There never seems to be more than 1-3 tables seated at a time. I do know that they have a pretty consistent pick-up or 3rd party pick up business, it must be what is carrying them. Unfortunately it was the last time for us. It used to be a shiny star, but is now sad, washed up...

it was adequate. Unfortunately we did not enjoy the food there.

TL;DR version - it is ok. They have a wide variety of Sushi Rolls (Nigiri) on the menu. The Teriyaki sauce they use is way too sweet, portion size leans on the small side. Most of the "sauces" they use for the many nigiri we ordered and the salads were over powering, and reduced the flavor of the actual item. I would not recommend this place.

Went with several friends for a celebration dinner on a Sunday evening, and while not crowded, the wait staff was a bit off. For example, taking our glass of water away, and not returning it during our meal ... we had to ask for another glass of water. Refills on hot tea had to be requested often.

The atmosphere of the dining area is dark, very dark, even at 5pm on a Sunday afternoon, it was difficult to read the menu. I was unable to get a feel for the establishment based on how dim the lighting was. At least the sushi bar seemed to be in well lit.

The food was lacking in flavor, but great presentation. The many rolls we ordered were nicely presented, but the many sauces they pour were very sweet, which took away from the experience. Stay away from the Sashimi Salad, for $15 you get a small salad, drenched in a sweet dressing that overpowered the plate. I could not taste the individual (and small) portions of fish.

Portion size; for the nigiri, it was the standard size. But the rest of the Kitchen Plates (on the menu) like Teriyaki Chicken, it was more of the same; small portions with over pour of sauce that took away from the dish as a whole.

I can not recommend this...