RED — Restaurant in Madison

Red, nestled in downtown Madison, promises a culinary journey worth every reservation hurdle. Even with the main floor lounge as our backdrop, we found ourselves enveloped in an atmosphere charged with excitement. While the upper floor dining room, which we learned the locals referred to simply as the “6th Floor”, may be rumored to house the "better" tables, our experience left us believing we hadn't missed out on a thing.

From the moment we stepped into Red, it was evident that attention to detail was paramount. The decor exuded sophistication, setting the stage for an evening of culinary delights. Our server, Camille, proved to be the ultimate guide, navigating us through the menu with patience, grace, and expertise.

Our culinary adventure kicked off with an impressive lineup of libations. The Lychee Martinis and Toki Old Fashioned served as perfect companions to our exploration of flavors. A surprising yet delightful starter of prime beef tartare was a showcase of the chef's culinary innovation even in non-traditional sushi fare. Each bite of the tartare, adorned with truffle-caper vinaigrette, raw quail egg, and crispy shallots, was a symphony of flavors and textures.

As we delved further into our dining experience, the Sushi and Sashimi Dinner proved to be a highlight. Each platter, crafted with the day's freshest catch and the chef's creative flair, was a masterpiece. The Nigiri Sushi boasted slices of impeccably fresh fish atop seasoned rice, while the Sashimi showcased the purity of raw fish flavors without distraction. Complemented by Butterfly, Bliss, and Tsunami rolls, each dish was a testament to Red's commitment to excellence.

To cap off dinner, we indulged in the Matcha Custard Cake and Yuzu-Lavender Curd. Both desserts were a refreshing conclusion to an evening filled with culinary delights, leaving our palates satisfied and our hearts content.

In every aspect, Red exceeded our expectations. From the electric atmosphere of the lounge to the outstanding cuisine and impeccable service, it's a dining destination worthy of every accolade. Whether you find yourself seated in the main floor lounge or the elusive 6th Floor dining room, one thing remains certain - a memorable dining experience...

RED usually is a pleasure to come to when we choose to go out for a date night. My boyfriend loves the sushi here and I would definitely recommend this place for some good sushi. However, other food on the menu very much was lacking last night. This time my boyfriend and I noticed that the menu was a little different...they took off some of my favorite dishes, as well as raised the prices on a lot of their menu items. I can’t blame them for that due to the pandemic but it was a little disheartening. Also, they did add a 6th floor seating area which was nice to see, and gave them much more space to add spaced out seating and hold a lot more customers. We ended up sitting on the 6th floor in a very cute sectioned off little room. Very nice. So my bf ordered his usual Saki and sushi/sashimi platter and I ordered a red blend wine and the soba noodles...which I never had before since I usually got the udon noodle bowl but I thought I’d give it a try. The drinks took a while to come out which wasn’t a big deal but I tasted my wine and was not good...it tasted super old like it’s been sitting in the bottle for a while. Just super metal tasting honestly. Then our food came out, my bf loved his sushi he said it was delicious as always. But my soba noodles in broth was lukewarm...verging on cold. The broth was also tasteless so I asked for chili paste. That took a long time to come out as well and by the time that came my soup/noodles were definitely cold. Also, the paste was the weirdest chili paste I have ever tasted in my life. It was beyond disgusting. No idea what it was honestly but it was not the usual chili paste/sauce I get at different restaurants. So long story short, I love RED and it’s a great place to come for sushi but I would definitely advise RED to step up their other dishes and also update the wine list. The service was very good, our waiter was very nice but I do think the sixth floor does lack a little in speed of Service due to the floor difference and transporting food because my soup was cold and the drinks/food took longer than usual. Just a thought. We love red and I hope some changes will be made for...

What happened ! I’m sure a lot of people that have been going to Red for the past years have noticed a big difference. Went there the other night and was surprised how many people were there. Normally you can’t even get into this place last minute. Anyway we were surprised and happy and we said at the sushi bar. I noticed one of the water glasses sitting out on the counter with smudgy. The waiter was very nice replaced it, but I’ve never seen that before. In the past, I’ve eaten there and been from LA. I was surprised how great the sushi was at Red. The bartender at the Time told me that they get it directly from Japan. Well, that said it all because the pieces were like slabs and the sashimi was cut and also slabs couldn’t be better anywhere. But this last time it seemed more like a production line, sushi chefs were just basically putting rolls together sticking him in to go boxes mostly And making plates and just squirting stuff over the top of them there was no love and making that sushi. All the sushi is cut and they bring it in from the back so these guys in the front can just put it together and get it out the door. We still waited almost 45 minutes and we were the only four people sitting at the sushi bar as well as they were empty tables in the area. It’s OK we’re having a good time talking. I ordered sashimi and my wife and son and girlfriend ordered regular sushi rolls. Imagine getting sashimi that we’re pre-cut sushi and then fold it in half and sit next to each other on a plate. That’s what’s going down at Red. And the sushi it used to be slabs fish on top not that anymore. And the price of a roll is $22 Pretty much. More expensive less fish less love. I won’t be going back to Red. There are other places in town and I want to check them out. Sorry for the review but it’s a review. Last thing, the actual fish itself was good, but it wasn’t exceptional like it used to be. So maybe they’re not getting it from...