Kumoya - Denver — Restaurant in Denver

Omakase is too far and few in Denver, so my friend and I jump on the experience whenever we come across it (unfortunately, the quality of Sushi Den's Chef's Table experience has gone downhill). Chef Corey Baker absolutely crushes at his new restaurant. We sat at the sushi counter and he customized the experience for us on the spot, nailing all of our requests ("mostly sashimi/nigiri with a couple of kitchen dishes thrown in"). The fish was extremely fresh and we had some of the best bites of our lives, including the steamed egg custard (chawanmushi) that he topped with uni that was unlike anything we'd had before, the hotate, and a mindblowing uni-scallop-yuzu bite. As most people have said, the miso eggplant (nasu misoyaki) was also fantastic; it's different than other places' because it's so tender that it scoops like ice cream, but has the perfect crunch because it's hit with the broiler and topped with crunchy bubu. We didn't have any ins or hookups, but Corey, our waitress (his wife), and the GM were all attentive, knowledgeable, and engaged with us in a way that made us feel at home and excited for the experience; unfortunately, this is lost at most of the other high-end sushi restaurants in town and we hope it holds here. Dessert wasn't printed on the menu but Corey described a few, and I cannot recommend enough the amakaze, a matcha/pandan/pistachio creation with sweet rice ice cream; we unsuccessfully insisted on buying a pint of just the ice cream to take home. The meal was pricey but well worth the fine dining experience; we didn't come here to skimp. The entire staff, including the bartenders and other chefs, were warm, lively, funny, etc. and we had an absolute blast.

We went to their back bar, Bar Kumo, for another cocktail but probably wouldn't want to eat a meal there, which is an option instead of the front room; it's a dark, moody lounge that eventually features a DJ later in the night. The kitchen stays open until 1am (with a limited menu) though and if I'm looking for sushi that late, I'd be thrilled to be there. Otherwise, the vibe was great for upscale cocktails; we could hear each other (though the DJ wasn't there) and our server was always available. Was less impressed by their cocktails, which were on the sweeter end. I ordered one with salted plum liqueur but didn't taste much of it (overwhelmed by the onion), especially compared to the cocktail at Hey Kiddo where the salted plum really shines. Still, cannot wait to come back and try everything else...

Strict hours of operation and doesn't open until the posted start time.

Added photos because the presentation is beautiful from the drinks to the plates.

UMAMI BEVERAGE Aroma is amazing and flavors of butterscotch/caramel are heavy but lovely.

WILDFLOWER BEVERAGE Sweet and citrusy with a delightful foam, adding a nice texture.

WAYGU TARTARE What I consider a smooth and participatory app. The toast is light and perfectly crisp. The serving is great for two people and melts in your mouth with flavor. Visually appealing with the yellow yolk amid hues of pink/red meat covered in a dusting of toasted shokupan (milk bread) and accented with miniature white flowers. The flavor of shallots was great, and I highly recommend this selection to start your evening.

YELLOWFIN TUNA (Sashimi Hon-Hamachi) Farm raised with citrus; soft-fatty texture and delicious. (We ordered more of this because it was so good.)

YELLOWFIN TUNA (Sashimi Kinmedai) Glad it's served with toppings/extras as you can see in the photo. There's jalapeno to add some spice flavor at least.

(Ginger was delicious and my company wanted to take the wasabi home because it was so good.)

SPICY TUNA ROLL As you'd expect and seems basic; however, the team plates the roll beautifully, and the added crunchy texture is a nice surprise.

SAWAGANI Japanese river crab is beautiful and a new experience for me to try. Came with shiso leaf and kimchi. Delicious and crunchy (obviously).

(I heard the roasted eggplant here is amazing and I will be back to try later.)

AMBIENCE Kumoya offers a vibrant atmosphere with a pronounced Japanese aesthetic/decorum. The greeting between the servers and chefs enhances the dining experience, contributing to a welcoming environment. The staff is considerate and attentive, ensuring a pleasant visit. While the main dining area offers limited privacy, there is a more secluded room to the left of the entrance that provides a quieter space. The bar area offers an entertaining spot for guests who enjoy watching the bustling activity. The seating is comfortable and the bathrooms are...

If I could I would rate this place 0 stars!! I wouldn’t know how the food was because I never got to try it. The atmosphere looked nice but after what I experienced it turns out it’s just a snobby establishment. There were plenty of available tables and no line or wait. I went there for a date night with my husband which was the first since we had our baby (who was with us and now 4 months old). The staff was not very welcoming after greeting my husband 10-15 minutes after arriving they put him on a waitlist with no estimated seating time, which then my husband proceeds to show them the car seat he is holding and tells them he needs a booth or table and he asks them if they have a sling for my daughters car seat they say no but they do have upright booster seats that attach to the tables, my daughter does not sit up yet so I brought in her stroller. A group of ladies walk in and ask for a table and they tell them due to other reservations and a waitlist their wait would be 2 hours. I asked my husband how long his wait was expected to be and he said they never gave him a time. The host then goes to get the manager who then tells us the wait is an hour and a half due to reservations but that he could sit us at the bar, my husband again point out out baby with our obvious stroller we are pushing and the manager then explains how we should come back during the week when it is not so busy or make a reservation. Maybe they should specify that you need a reservation from the outside. I felt like they were judging us being there with a baby and because it was not convenient for them they didn’t want to serve us. I was appalled by my experience, maybe I also was not dressed the same as everyone else but my money is still the same. I grew up in this neighborhood. I am part Japanese and enjoy experiencing my culture. But it’s fine id rather give my money to some hole in the wall family owned business who can appreciate my money! I would never return here this...