Clever Koi — Restaurant in Phoenix

If I could rate Clever Koi a 6 out of 5 I would, simply a phenomenal restaurant with a fantastic staff. The atmosphere is outstanding, the service crew is top-notch and the amazing people who create culinary masterpieces are freeking awesome! It was really cool to see one of the experienced chefs coaching and giving positive, reassuring feedback to the new guy who was manning the wood fire grill. The crew got along like a family that actually like each other, that made quite a positive impression on me.

Now to the food, the incredible food. I started with ice cold water and a tasty pilsner draft while my tow buns were being prepared. One was a perfectly cooked soft shell crab with a touch of cabbage and a tangy sauce drizzled over it. The second was a sensational pork belly with a sweet sauce adorning the crispy outside, soft, chewy inside of the pork belly. Both were nestled inside of a pillowy soft "bun". I knew I was in for a treat with just that scrumptious appetizer.

My entree was the pork ramen...don't let the simple name fool you. This bowl of lusciousness was simply the best ramen I've had anywhere...including the five years I spent in Okinawa, Japan. The complex, meaty tasting broth was perfectly balanced. Submerged in this brown goodness were perfectly cooked noodles, some kimchi (sounds odd, but it added yet another layer of flavor with its slightly sour note, add some crunchy bamboo shoots, a soft boiled egg, cut in half, and four pieces of that outstanding pork belly. All I can say is OMG!

I was given a piece of one of the most amazing desserts I've ever had. It was their take on a pineapple upside down cake. A hot, moist cake that included cardamom in the mix. The sauce was a caramel type sauce with a splash of coconut water, topped with some crispy strings and basil - the basil added a great earthiness to the dessert.

I gave credit where it was due and let James, the chef who prepared this bowl of goodness, know my feelings of this outstanding meal. I truly appreciated their attention to detail and care they put in the dishes they served.

Thank you CK crew, you are truly...

I've been coming here for years and I can't believe I haven't given a review!

I, as a server in the restaurant industry, have had the pleasure of serving the co-owner, Nick Campisano, of Clever Koi in the restaurants I've worked at and he would come in with his wife and daughter. They were the sweetest and most respectable people I've ever met. It's been years since I've served them but they impacted me so much, I think about them frequently and hope their family is blessed.

When I come in, I must get the Crispy Chicken Katsu, with a side of Thai Salad, the Bang Bang Dressing is so wickedly delicious with a kick of spice! The Katsu is very crispy with a toasted bun, the sauce on this sando is savory with a light wasabi or horseradish kick. It is a must. I did try two items I've never had before like the Krazy Fries. They are very indulgent, a little heavy, but the sauces are savory and the pork belly was crispy. We then finished our dinner off with their Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, my friend, this was the perfect amount of sweet with a strawberry jam like yumminess swirled through, I honestly wish there was more of that jam. The ice cream may be a seasonal item so get it while you can.

I cannot end this review without mentioning Erin S. and the rest of the team. We were instantly greeted when we walked in, immediately seated, our drinks and food came out promptly and my water cup was never empty. The restaurant wasn't too packed and the tables are perfectly spaced out. The restaurant was clean from the table, silverware salt, and pepper to the floors and windows. Every employee was circulating and taking care of the guest and they all seemed to be enjoying their shift. It was a pleasure meeting you Erin and look forward to seeing you again...

I really wanted to like this place because of all the hype. Unfortunately I was very disappointed.

Pros: really great atmosphere design, aesthetic, music, vibe were fantastic. Would be a perfect date night spot if it weren't for the cons.

Cons: Food was average. Not bad but not great by any means. There is much better food of this sort to be had in Phoenix for probably cheaper. all three of the steamed buns I ordered were pretty good flavor but were cold and felt stale. Not sure if they're supposed to be cold but it was pretty unpleasant. Service was pretty slow and there were a total of 6 people in the restaurant including myself so not sure why it was so slow. they charge an extra 3.5% service fee on every bill so be aware of that going in... I understand that the fee is to help pay for the staff which I have no problem with, but I'd prefer they just adjust their menu pricing. It feels deceptive to the customer when you try to sneak in extra fees hoping they won't notice the small warning at the bottom of the menu. Just adjust all menu items and let the customer accurately choose their dining option based off of accurate pricing. my biggest gripe... They charge $7 PER GLASS of iced tea! That means no refills. I was not made aware of this beforehand and found out when the bill came that I owed $14 just for a glass of tea plus one refill!

That last con was the anvil that broke the glass camels back. Extremely disappointed. Will not return. But hey, that's just my opinion. Some people can and do...