Nimblefish — Restaurant in Portland

TLDR for those who don't want to read the full review: incredibly mid service teeny tiny portions and it did NOT feel like I ate anything at the end of the meal expensive for the cuts of fish we received (basically mackerel hell) I walked out with a nosebleed because of how salty everything was

We decided to finally come to Nimblefish after hearing so many good things, but we should've known better when we walked in. I was so irked spending $200 for an incredibly mediocre meal, it brought me out of Yelp retirement to detail the tragedy my dinner was.

Walking in I already cringed at the extreme hipster atmosphere, which to be fair, is quite prevalent in Portland, but was still hopeful the meal would be good. The decor was nice and modern, but I wish they prioritized comfort over aesthetics in some aspects. My partner and I are skinnier people and the chairs were hellish for us, low wooden chairs with a backing that pressed uncomfortably into our spines the whole time. The wait staff was attentive enough, but the chef was aloof, only stopping to whisper the Japanese name of the fish to us whenever they introduced a new piece of nigiri to us, with basically 0 explanation. They also came off as extremely pretentious, commenting on how they (the chef) really knew sushi and how he only eats all sushi with his hands. Not sure if that's really the case when all the slices of fish were so thin and all irregular/unevenly cut.

The nigiri was extremely disappointing. Like I mentioned before, we had the tiniest pieces of sushi and fish. Not to mention, it felt like we were getting a never ending stream of mackerel. When I'm paying $200 for two, it definitely raises an eyebrow getting this much mackerel vs any of the other choice cuts. Every single piece of nigiri was also brushed on with way too much soy sauce. I'm not sure what made them decide on this format, but each piece was way too salty. I found myself downing cups of water after each piece (which was tiny to boot!). One of the most disappointing pieces has to be the toro, which they finely minced with pickled korean yellow daikon--another strange choice which completely ruined the texture + taste.

After choking down each piece of nigiri (which also took forever because they definitely favor people who order extra and will make you wait for your piece if you stay on the main course), we were given miso soup which was also horrible. They left the miso boiling for way too long, overcooking the miso and ruining the flavors, creating a sour abomination with measly pieces of tofu, served in a bowl that smelled of cleaning chemicals. It was so awful I couldn't bear finishing, so we moved onto the dessert course which was just a sorbet.

All in all, I tried my best to be open minded with this place, but $95/pp is just not worth it here. I walked out feeling like I didn't eat anything, (and a parched throat) and felt that the nigiri from momiji was better than what I ate. Soon during the drive home, I had a nosebleed from the excess sodium.

Save your money, at this price point you can definitely find much better...

Nimblefish, in the heart of Portland, Oregon, is a place where the sea speaks clearly and kindly through rice, vinegar, and immaculate knife work. I have eaten sushi in a few fine establishments, in cities that glitter and in alleyways that hum, and while this may not be the single greatest omakase of my life, it sits among the saints.

There were seven of us, and we occupied nearly the whole of the sushi bar. It felt conspiratorial, reverent. We were pilgrims and the altar was hip-high and lacquered. From the first starter to the final spoonful of sorbet, the experience unfolded with the precision of a pocket watch and the warmth of a handwritten letter.

The chef, a man who treats fish with the seriousness most reserve for funerals or first love, spoke to us not just of what we were eating but why. This fish came from Hokkaido. That one from the California coast. The trout, rainbow and shimmering, was a particular surprise, new to me, and now unforgettable. Another chef talked about his rice like a poet would talk about meter. The host, too, guided us gently through the meal with enthusiasm and knowledge, like a teacher who remembers what it's like to be young and curious.

The structure of the meal was intelligent and satisfying. Thirteen bites of sushi, each different, each deliberate. Soup that quieted the mind. Egg custard that felt like an apology from the universe for all the things that have gone wrong. The sorbet was a gentle goodbye, a kiss on the forehead.

The whiskey and sake list is the kind of thing that could cause trouble in the best possible way. We tasted a few and they were each better than the last, the way good short stories are. If you find yourself there, let yourself be led. Trust them.

It took two hours and not a second of it dragged. We laughed and whispered and stared up at our planks like children watching snow fall. The bill, at around $165 per person, felt less like a transaction and more like a tithe.

If you're interested, and you should be, book ahead. There are few seats and many seekers. Nimblefish is not just a restaurant. It is a gentle argument for precision, quality and beauty in a world that too often forgets...

This was the worst part of my trip to Portland. My partner and I love sushi and try to do one omakase in every city we visit - I wish we would have skipped Nimblefish.

We were seated at 8:30 and everyone at the counter was seated at different times meaning different food is being prepared and presented to each guest at different times. This is the first time I’ve seen this for a counter omakase. Because of this, the chefs were very busy and non-interactive with guests. By our 4th nigiri the chef stopped explaining to us what we were eating, this upset my boyfriend as he was genuinely interested in learning about what kind of fish were being presented. When it came to drinks our waitress was terrible. We had a glass of unfiltered sake and when asked for another, we were told they ran out. Okay, no problem. We asked what might have a similar palette and she answered with “I don’t know”. Um, ok. Then we asked if we could just get a bottle to simplify things and asked if there were any on the sweeter side. Her response, “I’m not sure”. At this point we’re pretty frustrated as this was supposed to be an experience and while not posh - at 125 a head, it’s still pretty expensive and a level of professionalism was expected.

We asked to speak with a manager and 10 minutes later he arrives and before we can even get a sentence out he cuts me off with a defense tone and tells me what I’m saying isn’t true because his staff doesn’t do that. I told him this is no way to speak to guests if you wont speak in a respectful tone, I won't be arguing with you in front of other guests/staff. I was simply hoping to voice my concerns about my experience and provide insight into what I felt like went wrong. This manager should not be in the service industry if his idea of resolution is to argue with customers and be combative. This was the first time I’ve ever gotten up from a meal and a 0/10 experience for the worst omakase we’ve...