Uchi
Austin, TX 78704-1509
Phone: (512) 916-4808
- Price:
- $$$
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 5:30pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-11pm, Bar opens at 5pm
Editorial Review for Uchi – by Dirk Sonniksen
In Short
The vibe at Uchi is sophisticated yet relaxed, with the well-heeled and tattoo-laden coexisting in harmony. On any given evening, it's filled to capacity with diners conversing beneath a bold, red expanse intermingled with golden flowers. Dimly lit lanterns hanging from the high, vaulted ceiling provide a romantic ambience. Tender Muscovy duck, grilled on Japanese charcoal, are appetizers to salmon or striped bass sushi, Brie tempura ringo or pan-seared scallops served with samiso sauces, baby bok choy and shiitake mushrooms.
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Insider Tips
The ExtrasFor $11, you can sear your own small cut of wagyu beef on a Japanese hot rock.
Know Before You GoIt's often difficult to snag a table, so reservations are strongly recommended.
Dine at the BarThe sushi bar is the perfect spot for making new friends or dining solo. The friendly, menu-savvy staff makes dining effortless.
User Reviews for Uchi
05/16/2008 Posted by lizlovestoeat
Sushi is my favorite type of food, so I enjoy Uchi once or twice a year to treat myself. Be prepared to savor your food - don't rush the kitchen or the sushi chefs, and you won't be disappointed. Take advantage of the attentive waitstaff to order just one dish per person at a time. The sushi (both nigiri and rolls) is lovely, always just what I'm after. I don't usually order sashimi, but this would be a great place to do so - the fish is impeccably fresh and expertly prepared. I order the buttery-rich maguro with goat cheese every time I visit, though I also make a point of enjoying a couple of the daily specials as well. The grilled mackerel is also always particularly succulent and satisfying. I hope they never take the Valrhona wasabi fondant off the menu - it's an indulgent finish for a chocoholic. Uchi gets a bad rap for being pricey, but everything needs perspective. Frankly, it's not expensive on the same scale as, say, New York or San Francisco sushi; and Austin IS a landlocked city, after all. A leisurely hour-plus dinner for two (with 3-4 cocktails) usually comes to about $100 before tip.
Pros: Perfect for intimate dinners and small (3-4) groups, excellent food, consistently good service, quality cocktails and great wine/sake list, hip ambience but still relaxed
Cons: Parking is limited, reservations available only before 7 pm, impractical for groups larger than four
05/10/2008 Posted by jujubeelee
Uchi has way too many negatives that cancels out the only positive: good sushi. 1) Ridiculous wait time 2) Snobby hostess (unprofessional on the phone and in person) 3) Our waiter asked if we've had sushi before. We told him indeed we have. He continued to speak to us like we were hillbillies trying something raw for the first time. 4) That place is L O U D. All we could do was eat. Shouting would've been the only way to carry a conversation. 5) Cramped table spacing and the table itself was T I N Y. my husband and I were seated at a cafe-style table - for dinner! more thought and consideration to the table setting/arrangement should have precluded using family-style dinnerware. We spend well over $100 for sushi no matter where we go. We are much happier spending it at Musashino.
Pros: Good sushi, great place for showboaters
Cons: Bad service, cramped tables/table arrangements, loud, overpriced, rude hostess
