KAWA OMAKASE HANDROLL BAR — Restaurant in Dallas

I usually love to start a review from the beginning but I think this one is best started from the end. I found one of my favorite desserts here. So good I had to go back twice in a week. It is perfectly balanced. Not too sweet, a perfected blend of textures and flavors…. It’s the “miso gelato”… the dessert of dreams. The envy of other desserts. Not humble looking or humble tasting. An absolute must try ❤️

Now that I have spoken my hearts feelings, I will speak of everything else. There are two sections to this restaurant, the lounge and main dining area. The lounge is inviting, with an attractive bar(although I would say the restaurant seems to need a bit more room to store products aside from the bar area) that seems to have a carefully curated assortment of sake, spirits and cocktails. I don’t regularly consume alcohol these days. So, I can only attest to how well crafted the mocktails were and I would say they are wonderfully done. Featuring garnishes done in house, with flavor profiles that are well suited to the cuisine in the menu, I’d give it a 10 of 10. However, as an avid tea drinker, I was left with a little more to desire. While the basics are there, green tea, jasmine, chrysanthemum, I would like to see perhaps something a little more in line with the level of everything else at this restaurant. But honestly it’s not even a sin as this restaurant does so many other things well.

The lounge is the first place you see but the main attraction would likely be the back dining area. It’s intimate yet communal with fairly limited seating. You get to see the chefs work and you get an explanation with all of the sushi pieces presented to you. I did get the Omakase Set, as I did want to have the best experience, but I do suggest you bring a hearty appetite(maybe a friend to help too) if you do attempt it. As a person who doesn’t quite eat a lot at one sitting, it was a bit much for me. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every bite and as I’m writing this I wish I could just get back there.

I do need/must emphasize, the food is incredible! I am not a true connoisseur of omakase as the only places I have had it are at Uchi in Dallas/Houston and Yellowtail in Las Vegas… but Kawa is a standout in my experiences with sushi restaurants omakase style or not. It is obvious that true attention has been placed on the menu and that they are trying to do something different. Not in an intimidating and over the top way that certain other places value by using presentation to woo a person into believing they are eating something special. Kawa presents you something truly special. I must express my gratitude to all the people who made my experience here special. Y’all are all truly top notch and can’t wait for my next experience here when I return to Dallas.

With Love, A

P.S. Please don’t take the miso gelato...

If you have dietary restrictions, depending on the depth and severity, I'd recommend going somewhere else. It was my first time in a restaurant like this and eating raw fish. The ambiance was different than I expected; we walked into a beautifully designed room with pop music such as Ed Sheeran.

At least four people knew of my dietary restriction: the server, waiters and chef. However, one of the light haired chefs put an item with an inflammatory ingredient I'm avoiding on my plate. This item typically doesn't have the ingredient I'm avoiding. Still, I double checked by asking my waiter if it had the ingredient soaked/added in it. When he reassured me it doesn't, I ate it without hesitation. I trusted their menu knowledge and trusted the process. At this type of restaurant, why wouldn't I? It was my first time and judging by the atmosphere and value, I naively trusted it. Shortly after eating almost all of it, I was informed that it did have the ingredient I'm avoiding. Luckily, my vitals aren't impacted. However, quality of life and physical health is. Problems come a day or two after consumption. An apology from one of the staff and a plan from the chef were given to me on a silver platter. Nothing else to make it right. It was an expensive mistake.

Everyone here had superior customer service. I wish I could compliment their skill, transparency, hospitality, and passion for this business, craft and type of cooking. I truly wanted to enjoy my first experience and not remember it by paying premium full price to get hurt and disapointed while listening to Katy Perry.

I'm sitting in my room battling the aftermath. I'll survive. But if you have dietary restrictions, depending on the depth and severity, I'd recommend going...

2 stars because of food allergy concern for my wife was not fully headed. they were very welcoming and asked right away if we had any food allergies. that was nice and made us feel as though they were going the extra mile to make sure we were taken care of. we informed the lady up front that seated us, that my wife has a reaction to a particular ingredient, the waiter then confirmed that with us when we got to our seats. then another friendly lady came to us to explain the menu and also confirmed what items had that ingredient. so far, so good! they informed the chefs and the owner. we felt that we were in great hands 👌. we made our orders and started our lovely meal. when my wife tried the ginger that was served to her to accompany the sashimi, she noticed a particular flavor that is commonly associated with this ingredient. she asked the waiter how the ginger was prepared. he said that it is just ginger soaked in water, none of the particular ingredient she needed to avoid. we continued eating, trusting that it was free of the ingredient, as he claimed. it wasn't until after we finished our meal, that whom we think was the owner approached us and pointed out that the ginger has the ingredient in its water soaking process... now here we are, my wife is suffering the consequences. She can't leave the house for now, but will recover in a couple weeks. the chef did offer to make a special menu for us next time if we give them a week notice, so there is that. but honestly, after the trust was broken with the waiter assuring the ginger was free from the ingredient, when it was not, makes us really want to avoid restaurants again... they really seemed like they cared and wanted to make an effort, which is why this hurts...