Kizaki — Restaurant in Denver

Sadly, not worth the high price. I am a big fan of Izakaya and Sushi Den, so was excited to check out Kizaki, but was very disappointed. The price point is prohibitively high--$300 per person for the Omakase menu which includes a fixed and pre-paid service charge. $300 does not include drinks. This is extremely steep for a dinner, though for a rare special occasion, I will splurge. Unfortunately, I do not recommend spending $300 on Kizaki's Omakase. We were seated in a very small and sad side room which afforded no view of the sushi preparations or interaction with the chefs, unlike the seats at the counter, which is the same price!!! Our server referenced Kizai's use of fresh wasabi, and gestured to a green root in a basket in the next room by the counter, which we could not see. We asked to see it closer, but we were effectively told no. We simply wished to see it up close for a moment, as we had never seen fresh wasabi. The service was really shockingly poor. Midway through the meal, one of our party requested soy sauce and wasabi to go with her sushi and her request was declined twice before they relented and brought some begrudgingly. I understand that it is arguably a shame to use soy sauce and wasabi on sushi which has been specially prepared by the chef with a bit of wasabi already, but for someone who is accustomed to having these accompaniments with sushi, it is not an unreasonable request, nor a request that should be dismissed or the diner made to feel uncouth or shamed for the request. Especially not for such an expensive meal where top notch service is expected. The food was quite beautifully prepared and plated, but also too much and I would have vastly preferred less food and a more approachable cost. Some of the sushi (scallops and kampachi) were delicious, but others lackluster despite being pretty. Overall poor value for dollar, and was highly disappointed. This vis a vis other comparable tasting menus such as at The Wolf's Tailor, which has a deserved Michelin star and where I have zero complaints and can't wait to return. It's a shame. Poor service, poor value, very expensive to be prohibitive and not...

For perspective, I have not done omakaze in Denver but been to Sushi Den and Matsuhisa for regular sushi service. I've been to high end sushi places in LA, SF, Vancouver, and Hawaii. Overall, it was an amazing dining and flavorful experience. it was worth the price if you can afford it.

First, park in the Sushi Den Parking Garage ($2.50 an hour, up to $10) if you have a 5pm reservation. You can chance on the street but its only 2 hrs until 8pm.

Second, the restaurant to enter (Margot) is not open before 5pm. So you can't really have a cocktail before the dinner. When you checkin at 5pm, they'll have you sit at Margot's bar, but there is not time to have a drink.

Third, get a reservation at counter service. The people in the attached rooms had their sushi made by the sous-chef (i'm sure it was great). If you want to eat sushi personally made by Chef Kizaki, you'll need a counter spot.

Fourth, Chef Kizaki-san hangs out on the right side of the counter. (in front of 4 seats). I was at the far left end, probably because I got a last minute reservation. The service and food was still great, but it was hard to chat with Kizaki-san.

Fifth, you will probably be full after 23 courses. I did get an extra sushi of a fatty tuna that was NOT part of the set menu. It seemed like a steal at $10 a portion.

Sixth, there was a sake pairing with the omakaze service. Def do it if you're a fan or knowledgable about sake. I'm not a huge fan and would've like to save the extra $$$.

Overall, the courses were more delicate & flavorful that what I've tasted at Sushi Den and Matsuhisa. If you're a fan of complicated flavors like in a roll and can't afford $250+ a person, then save your $ and do a regular sushi service.

You also don't need extra soy sauce or wasabi in the courses. Chef balances everything out to get the max flavor. So don't complain if you can't get extra soy sauce or green...

The omakase at Kizaki was one of the best meals of my life. I highly recommend it if you are looking for an exceptional dinner. Every component was carefully crafted and thought out by Chef Toshi Kizaki. The setting is intimate and the atmosphere is quiet and calm. Perfect for savoring each bite. We have had the omakase at a few different restaurants including Nobu but this one surpassed them all. The quality of the ingredients make you truly appreciate the privilege of experiencing such a meal. Chef Kizaki knows fish better than anyone and you can taste his expertise with every bite. As we were eating we were talking about coming back already because it was so good. Oftentimes I like to try new things and I will only go somewhere one time because life is short. However this is one place that will be worth revisiting. Even if nothing on the menu changed and it was exactly the same I would still be excited to revisit. The only thing I would hope for next time is a seat at the counter so I could feel more involved. However we made our reservation on short notice so we sat at a table a little removed. Nonetheless, the servers are able to reiterate anything about the dishes. I would rather be at the counter though haha. I wouldn't be surprised if this restaurant is awarded a Michelin star in the future because it is that good. Kizaki is a must if you love Japanese food or...