Casa Sensei — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

We chose to dine with CasaSensei this evening because of the glowing press. We arrived at the place around 6.30pm on a Saturday, we didn’t have a reservation and was seated quickly enough with almost no wait time.

Our waiter Terry was very courteous and very helpful. He explained the restaurant since it’s our first time. Made a couple of mistakes (which could’ve been prevented if he had repeated the order prior to leaving our table), but we assumed he’s new. Some details below:

The Manager stopped by to say hi and to thank us for dining with them just before our drinks came to the table just about time (not long of a wait). This was good sign.

Ordered a few items: a. Las Olas Roll - this item never made it to the table, however it was never billed. Was ok.

b. Kung Fu Lo Mein with Beef - This item arrived on the table without the beef. Terry was apologetic and brought it back to the kitchen and was back on the table in about less than 10 minutes. Flavor of this item was great. However; for a stir fry noodles, there is about more than 5 tbs sauce sitting on the bottom of bowl and no charred pieces making me think that this dish was executed by blanching all ingredient, beef being sautéed with sauce and then all mixed together towards the end to achieve a quick dish.

c. Senses Special Fried Rice - not very special after all. As a self taught experienced cook, I felt that this dish was executed poorly: the grilled chicken breast felt like a frozen items rather than a fresh chicken breast sautéed prior to putting in the rice. It was too oily/wet, which is possible from a quick sautéing the pork, instead of deep/flash fry which would’ve made a difference or from the use of frozen peas and/or shrimp that was thrown in frozen/unthawed. Flavor was just ok; nothing special, which could have been elevated by adding some fish sauce+a little sugar on top of using sesame oil and light soy sauce. There isn’t any charred pieces which would have been a normal thing to find on any fried rice. The highlight of this dish was the ‘Korean style pickled’ apple wedges served on top.

The sriracha buttered popcorn was a nice touch. HOWEVER, we were never provided any utensils nor dinner napkins until we asked after our food arrived. The manager also missed this considering he stopped at our table early on. We asked for napkins twice with the food runners (2 different person) and never received until in the middle of the meal when Terry came to check on us. Unfortunately, to be quick, he grabbed us cocktail napkin (which works since it is essentially napkins regardless).

Overall, it was an ok experience. We assumed that there is a kitchen manager that should’ve inspect all the food quality prior to getting it out, must’ve missed ours (?). Or, just like everywhere else, they are being short handed and having difficulties/overworked for handling the size business they have.

I had leftovers with the fried rice and I am planning on ‘fixing’ it and repost/add after pictures when I have one of my meals just to show how much more ‘special’ it can be.

Edit: after reading some reviews (with pictures attached), it seems that CasaSensei has consistency issues. There will be days where the food would be perfect and meets expectations, there were other days that it wouldn’t. Since they are in touristy area, consistency is probably one of the ‘battle that isn’t worth fighting’ for them since they are not depending much on returning customers.

Second picture (with white plate) is leftover that I restir-fry (note that I only have glass cook top). I decided to not add anything to see with even giving the rice some of the char (lightly soccarat style char) will elevate the flavor and IT DID! I’m sure this is something that is easily achievable at the restaurant considering they have commercial level equipment and even possible gas-powered stove.

Best of...

I will say that I loved the food. The food was delicious and had amazing flavor. Was made with terrific ingredients and everything worked well together. We came as a party of 9 (4 kids and 5 adults) so we ordered a little bit of everything.

The reason for my 3 stars is the service. The waiter started by asking us if we had been there before, which we had not. He then proceeded to tell us that portions are small and made to order as well and he made us aware that it will come out pretty randomly so we should order what we want, but be ready to share with the rest of the table family style as the food comes. He said that it can take time for the food to come out of the kitchen so it's just easier to order and share. That was our expectation, so we did just that. Got a few rolls, a few entrees, and a few appetizers and waited for the food to come. Well, instead of getting things to come spread out, as he told us, everything came out almost at once. They took out orders and then kept bringing food to the table as if they didn't have anyone else to cook for. We ran out of space at the table and yet the wait staff didn't understand to pause the food service to us and kept bringing more and more food. We had dishes on the floor as things just no longer fit on the table. The staff was laughing at the amount of food we had and how much more they needed to bring. We asked 2 or 3 times for them to stop bringing food and give us time to enjoy the dishes individually and pace ourselves. They smirked and said ok but then kept bringing everything anyway. This was my wife's bday. I was trying to make a toast for her and was interrupted every other word by the staff coming with more food, announcing it over everyone, and then battling where to put it. This was awful and truly the WORST dining experience I could have imagined on my wife's special day. I finally saw our waiter and he came to check on us. He looks at the table and I ask him if this is how they normally operate. He, embarrassingly, said no and asked if I wanted to take any food away so he could bring it back later. I told him no as the last thing ever want to do is send anything back into the kitchen but also, I did not want to take even more time to figure out what to send back and then ask to bring out as I just wanted to enjoy time with family and friends and celebrate my wife's birthday. The waiter then came back saying he spoke with the general manager and would comp my wife a dessert for the trouble. Great, ruined a birthday dinner, made us stuff ourselves with each dish at the same time. We ate cold food that was supposed to be hot and warm food that was supposed to be cold. We could not appreciate any of the dishes individually as we needed to eat fast to make more room, and all you can do is comp a dessert? Why even bother doing anything at that point? We spent around $800 to be rushed and felt uncomfortable the rest of the night.

With that, some of the food that we did try was great. Great flavors in each dish. If I had been given a minute to breathe between dishes, I would have posted more about each dish individually, but it's all a blur. The other side of the table had dishes on it that I forgot about but didn't even want to taste afterward because it was just standing there for so long while I dealt with what I had in front of me.

Good restaurant otherwise, just need to get their ordering system figured out. The wait staff should have been more intuitive and understood when they are overwhelming people. They need to know when to pause service instead of doing it the way they are...

A Gastronomic Journey at Casa Sensei: A Sushi Experience to Remember

Nestled in the heart of culinary innovation, Casa Sensei stands as an emblem of gastronomic excellence, melding traditional Asian craftsmanship with contemporary flair. On a crisp evening in 2024, I immersed myself in an experience that not only tantalized my taste buds but also transported them to a realm of unparalleled delight, particularly through one dish that will forever redefine my sushi standards.

Casa Sensei exudes an ambiance that is both inviting and exotic, enveloping patrons in an atmosphere that oscillates between the serene tranquility of Eastern tradition and the vibrant energy of a modern gastro-pub. It's a place where each meal is not just eaten but celebrated, a sentiment that couldn't be more accurate when it comes to their sushi, especially their signature creation that has indelibly marked my culinary journey.

The dish in question? The "Sushi for One”, a masterpiece that elevates the sushi experience to an art form. Crafted with the precision of a seasoned chef, this roll is a harmonious symphony of flavors and textures. Each piece is a carefully constructed piece of beauty. It's akin to the final stroke of a brush on canvas, transforming an already remarkable dish into a transcendent experience.

What elevates Casa Sensei's sushi from merely great to extraordinary is the evident passion that informs every aspect of their food preparation. It is a testament to the chefs' mastery, a culinary ballet wherein each ingredient is given a chance to shine, yet the ensemble is far greater than the sum of its parts. Moreover, their commitment to freshness is palpable, with each slice of fish boasting the ocean's brine and each vegetable adding a crisp, refreshing note.

In an era where dining experiences often become indistinct memories, my meal at Casa Sensei stands out as a vivid tableau of flavor, culture, and artistry. The "sushi for one” ; it is a narrative of tradition and innovation, a feast for the senses that resonates long after the final morsel has been savored.

Casa Sensei doesn't just serve food; they craft experiences that linger in your memory, urging you to return. For aficionados of sushi and seekers of culinary adventures alike, this dish, and indeed this restaurant, represents a pinnacle of dining excellence—an experience not...