On the evening of Sunday, January 7, 2007, I invited my family of nine to dine at Nobu at 9:30 PM. That was my second visit, the first having enjoyed a wonderful culinary experience with my wife and daughter on November 2004.What a disappointment. First, the full table had to choose between the fixed course or order individually by the menu - no options. We opted for the fixed $100 per person course. The unfriendly head waitress (never got her name), pushed for the $120 per person course because “it would motivate the Chef to perform better” - without specifics. We bought it without questions, expecting something even better while under the spell of my prior experience.
The first serving was exquisite, albeit the explanation given by the unfriendly head waitress left much to be desired. Her hasty handling of service became so evident on the second serving that another waiter, Spanish speaking Bradley, came to the rescue to explain the contents of what was served which, by the way, was just as exquisite.
Perhaps that was too much for the unfriendly head waitress, as service for the ensuing servings collapsed as I have never experienced. For the third serving I felt as if the waiters were “throwing” the plates on the table, showing no sensitivity. For the fourth serving I had to ask for Bradley to make the round, as no one should up to the table. Instead the unfriendly head waitress admonished the table that “the kitchen will close soon so any additional orders must be made now.” At $120 per person, this uncanny head waitress was suggesting we may still be hungry at the end of the meal. Of course no further order was placed, and the table ended up with a plate of sushi no different from the ones eat at a neighborhood sushi bar. What a disaster.
Nobu is a far outcry of what it was. It has become a fast food outlet with “four stars” prices, obviously living on past laurels.
Carlos E. Jiménez
