Kru | Contemporary Japanese Cuisine — Restaurant in Sacramento

On Thursday, January 11, we visited Kru/Contemporary Japanese Cuisine in Sacramento. Drawn by its promising reviews and higher-end pricing, we had expectations of a quality dining experience. Our reservation was made well in advance, with limited time slots available, a sign of the restaurant's anticipated busyness.

Upon our arrival, the restaurant was indeed bustling, filled to capacity both at the tables and the bar. Our order comprised Sapporo, a cocktail, and a rainbow roll, a standard benchmark we use to assess sushi establishments. However, the service immediately fell short of our expectations. We experienced a significant delay in receiving our first roll, and the wait for our simple drinks orders was even longer. This was particularly frustrating, as we sat looking at our sushi, unable to enjoy it as we had intended with our beverages.

The food itself was underwhelming. The soft shell crab hand roll was tasteless, with burnt and tough tempura. Though these early issues marred our experience, we remained hopeful for an improvement. However, as the restaurant gradually emptied, our waiter seemed to forget about us. Thankfully, another server was more attentive and assisted us multiple times.

Our frustration eventually necessitated a conversation with the manager, who was apologetic and offered us a gift card as compensation.

Given the restaurant's booking system, they should have a clear idea of how busy they will be and thus staff accordingly. Yet, the service suggested otherwise.

Our next visit was today, for a takeout order using the gift card. We were again inconvenienced by the restaurant’s policy against phone orders. The wait for our order, placed in person, was an unwelcome 25 minutes, especially with a child waiting with us.

To add to the disappointment, our simple request for extra ginger and wasabi was overlooked, indicating a lack of attention to customer service details.

In summary, despite its upscale pretensions, Kru/Contemporary Japanese Cuisine's service and food quality are average, with limited variety for a Japanese restaurant. Considering our experiences, we cannot recommend this establishment. Or, we strongly recommend NOT...

An Exceptional Journey of Flavors at Kru in Sacramento!

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A visit to Kru in Sacramento is truly a trip for your taste buds that you don't want to miss. The moment you walk into this sleek, modern restaurant, you're welcomed with an array of tantalizing aromas hinting at the delightful dining experience to come.

Kru's menu features a remarkable selection of Japanese cuisine with a contemporary twist. The attention to detail in every dish is evident, combining traditional techniques and flavors with fresh, high-quality ingredients that are masterfully prepared and presented.

One standout is their sushi selection, which is as creative as it is delicious. Their nigiri and sashimi are beautifully crafted, offering an explosion of flavors that melt in your mouth. The rolls are not only visually stunning but also a perfect balance of texture and flavor.

Their non-sushi items are just as impressive. Whether it's a bowl of their flavorful ramen, the perfectly seared Wagyu beef, or the vegetarian options, every dish is an exploration of taste that leaves you eagerly anticipating the next bite.

The drink selection at Kru is just as exquisite as their food. Their sake list is extensive, and the knowledgeable staff are always on hand to recommend pairings that perfectly complement the meal. They also offer a range of creatively crafted cocktails that are as pleasing to the palate as they are to the eye.

The service at Kru is exceptional. The staff is friendly, attentive, and eager to provide an unforgettable dining experience. They are well-versed in the menu and are happy to provide recommendations or explain the intricate details of each dish.

The ambiance at Kru is both stylish and welcoming, making it the perfect place for a romantic dinner, a business lunch, or a night out with friends.

Every aspect of Kru—from the food and drink to the service and atmosphere—delivers a top-notch dining experience that is sure to impress. A five-star culinary journey awaits you at Kru in Sacramento; it's an experience that you don't...

I was checked in and walked by the hostess Adrian introduce himself at the bar which is where I was he recommended not a traditional old-fashioned but the one that they make which is with Japanese whiskey not traditional bourbon and they used a ginger syrup that almost tasted like a ginger honeysuckle which is very impressive and complimented the more subtle Japanese whiskey. Alize AKA ZZ top recommended the Oscar rolls and they beet soup that they make as a seasonal miso type soup and the roll which is not on the new menu before the move I personally do not like beets but I could not deny the talent and experience of ZZ top

The Kru old fashions It has what I can only identify as cinnamon was made with Aztec chocolate bitters which will always have a hint of cinnamon just like a Mexican hot chocolate The ginger simple syrup almost like a honeysuckle with ginger I might have customized my experience by putting a small slice of the ginger that they place for cleaning the pallet on top of my class just so I can get the aroma before I took a drink.

The beat soup It has an amazing color The oder is was not overbearing like I typically think that beats are I normally do, not like the small red roots but I feel that the fennel that was added complimented to the earthy and nuttiness of a root I think while allowing grapefruit maybe grapefruit juice give that strong earthy taste a subtle approach

Zero Great blend of walnut infused or possibly blanched simple syrup with the single barrel bourbon gave good savory tones to the Oaky smokiness of the bourbon with The Tabasco bitters made the whole thing pop and add a 👊 that makes it memorable

The Oscar roll It was a mixture of a Ziggy roll with a firecracker kimchi sauce that surrounded the whole dish like trench in a...