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Amberjack
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
72 E Blithedale AveMill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 383-1327
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
45 reviews for Amberjack
Review Highlights
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"...poke was awesome and the beef asparagus maki was incredible." In 3 reviews -
"Yes, it's a small place so make your reservation ahead." In 5 reviews -
"I thought the miso soup was fantastic." In 6 reviews
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Tracey A.
San Anselmo, CA
Updated - 1/22/2012
My adoration of this tiny, casual place with only 6 little tables and 6 seats at the sushi bar continues.
Why? For starters, how about "Hamachi Kama Shioyaki" ($8), a grilled and salted yellowtail collar served with a tangy dipping sauce that had J and I clawing vulture-like through the bones, searching for every last hamachi scrap? There's so much edible fish hidden amongst this "neck" portion; I order this anytime I see it on a menu.
On past visits we've ordered solely from the sushi menu and the specials board. This night we pioneered into the "dinner" section of the menu, opting for "Nigiri Sushi Deluxe" ($16). For that, you get a California roll + 8 pieces of chef's choice nigiri + miso soup. It was quite a value, filling and tasty, but I missed being able to order the more exotic things (e.g. uni, Spanish mackerel) which the chef wasn't doling out for this dinner.
The biggest compliment I could pay here sort of speaks for itself: I'm a repeat customer who intends to continue repeating. I will be back.Listed in: Live Large!: North Bay Eats, Yes, I'm Worth It, Zuzhi! The good, the bad, and…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/19/2010
Oh, I just love this little gem. It's quiet, intimate, and warm. The cooked food is excellent, the… Read more »
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Review from Jody B.
Marin, CA
5/12/2012
I am a regular here. Tonight we ordered our regular, and one of the items was very off. I politely told the waitress, and she told me I was wrong, and that the food was fine. The chef tasted the dish, and agreed it was off- but nobody removed the dish,or asked us what else we might. They were not honest, not respectful, and not accommodating at all. I will never return.
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Review from D H.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2011
Very small restaurant with maybe 5 tables and a sushi bar. Had a short wait on this rainy night for a party of three. The kitchen area seems bigger than the eating area.
Food was good, as good as in San Francisco. Ordered the combo dinner - una don over rice, with miso soup and mixed salad. All good.
Bill for three people was under $50 so we were happy about that as well. Would eat here again if I was in the area. Only stopped in because other local places had long waits or pricey menus. -
Review from Takahiro K.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2011
Not a Japanese restaurant. It is totally something else. When they are too cheap not to provide regular condiments like graded daikon radish for tempura, or mustard and tar tar sauce for fries... They shouldn't call themselves a Japanese restaurant.
Plus, the quality of the food was very doubtful. Super skinny ebi fries and totally not fresh kaki fries... You could probably trick regular white Americans but is it really ok to get away with that kind of business practice?
If they want to call themselves a Japanese restaurant, they really need to work harder to get to the starting point... For now, they don't even fulfill necessary qualifier.
A horrible experience. -
Review from Roberto M.
Walnut Creek, CA
4/2/2012
Dinky hole in the wall with bad food and bright lighting. Nothing redeeming here.
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Review from Denise h.
Moorpark, CA
12/19/2011
Great for pick up dinner but not for dining for a party larger than two. It's very little, slow service, and customers don't know how to close the door when they leave (and it gets cold!)
The presentation of the rolls is not great either but for the price and the convenience, when you don't want to go to Sausalito or the city, is great. I love the spicy tuna rolls and the udon soup is pretty tasty and satisfying. I highly recommend the Misoyaki (if that's how you spell it... aka butter fish). -
Review from Alysha M.
12/21/2010 5 Check-ins Here
I work right across the street and often order lunch from here. I call in my order & take it to go. You know customer service is awesome when they recognize your voice over the phone & remember your name.
They have special lunch combos avail. I usually get the beef terriyaki with sashimi. It comes with rice, salad, & miso soup all for only $8.50. The portion is just right for me- not too hefty, not too light.
I've also ordered sushi too which is good & fresh. They use real crab in the California rolls which is a plus. I dined-in once at the sushi bar & remember everything being delicious.Listed in: Sushi Love
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Review from A G.
Tiburon, CA
5/30/2011
This place has been our neighborhood weekly go-to for years. And it's consistently good - incredibly fresh fish (oh, butterfish!), generous portions, fantastic, personal service (they always remember us), great variety and really really good prices. The rolls are not always built to withstand much (i.e. sometimes they fall apart), but I can handle that.
We never hold back and we (2 people) can usually get out of there for under $50. It's not Sushi Ran, but who needs Sushi Ran once a week?
Go here. You'll like it, I promise. -
Review from christine e.
Oceanside, CA
8/13/2009
This is my go to place for lunch when I need a sushi fix. My favorite place is only opened for dinner :(
I have eaten here for over 3 years, and for right now, I can give it 3 1/2 stars. It has a limited fresh fish menu, but what they have is fresh. The only thing I do not care too much for is the way they present their sashimi. It is in cube style. I like mine a little thinner, like nirgiri cut.
Their rolls are great, especially their special one, and I love their scallop mix.
Michelle and her husband run it, and they are two very dedicated and nice people.
True, the place is tiny and the tables very close together. I bring a book to help block out the conversations on each side of me. Some times it helps, sometimes it doesn't!
Their prices are reasonable, the service great and the quality of fish good. -
Review from Reese P.
San Francisco, CA
9/13/2011
We have been going here once a week for 4 years...so respect my 'authoritay' (j/k)
Why, because the food is very good and the price is excellent. The folks are always friendly.
This is a solid restaurant at a great price point; highly recommend! -
Review from Josh L.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2007
I can't say enough good things about this place. So instead, a simple haiku for Amberjack:
Your fresh Nigiri,
Beef Asparagus Maki,
Ten stars aren't enough -
Review from k ..
Mill Valley, CA
10/1/2006
As we entered, we were hopeful as I saw the linguistic correctness on the menu. No obvious errors, and there was clear evidence that much care went into writing the menu.
However, the hope was quickly dashed. While the fish was a standard fare, nothing special, but the rice was so dense. The rice, or shari is the foundation of good sushi, and here it earns one star.
Also, I was troubled by the sight of salad mix in Chirashi-zushi. Should have been a shiso leaf. The "dashi" or the stock used in the miso soup was miserable, without any fragrance of Katsuo-bushi, and was just salty.
My eternal search for good neighbourhood sushi in southern Marin continues. -
Review from Sasha R.
8/12/2008
this has become my latest fave place to go on those nights when I. Must. Have. Raw. Fish. and fish-fearing husband be cast aside. the salmon is consistently like buttah, the portions generous. the uni has been fresh, the couple of times I've had it. the cooked items also not bad -- agedashi tofu in particular, unfortunately the hamachi kama was pretty dry the one time I had it.
the space itself is itty bitty. I usually take out, because having people from the sidewalk peer at my plate is a pet peeve. but service is adorable, the sake choices fairly numerous, and food is CHEAP. -
Review from Bev L.
San Diego, CA
9/9/2008 3 photos
Love love how they pour their sake into martini glasses ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! Just the kind of place you want to unwind with close friends after a long day at work!
Yes, it's a small place so make your reservation ahead. Sushi is nice and fresh. Simple menu that does the trick! -
Review from Parichehr M.
Sausalito, CA
6/4/2011
Hello Yum. Nice to meet you. Sushi is super fresh. Small and quaint little place. Portions are perfect and the sake is great.
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Review from andree t.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2008
Very small and intimate place. There are maybe 4 tables total.
This place is fun to come and listen to other peoples conversation(s). The service is pretty good. I stopped coming here because my bf has a surprise hawthorne leaf in his salad...he bit into it and cut his mouth and they said it was part of the salad..hm strange? the best thing to get here is the butter fish entree. omg. its so buttery and delicious. the sushi is ok, not the best. come here early if you want to get a seat. theres no place to wait for one unless you sit outside. they have sweet cups here too. -
Review from vic b.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2011
I hate writing bad reviews on small businesses, but I hope they read this and take my suggestions to heart so that others have a better time than I did!
1. Why did the two groups of people get served before me, when I came in alone and ordered something fairly standard (a Bento box with sashimi)? The woman next to me ordered Chirashi (way more fish than what I got) and she got hers first!
2. The tea was so hot I burned my lip. It still hurts.
3. The service was slow slow slow, though there are maybe four tables in the whole place. The waitress never asked me how things were (I needed ice for my lip since the water was lukewarm!)
4. The food was decently fresh, but the rice was suuuppper dry and bland, like it had been sitting out in a grocery store sushi place.
I want this place to be good, and I think these things can be fixed! But for now, I'm not going back. -
Review from Tracy B.
Tiburon, CA
3/16/2009
This is a teeny tiny place with great sushi. I love the chef and the usual waitress - they're very friendly and attentive.
Nice sake selection and surprisingly large menu for such a small place. While I'm definitely a raw fish girl, if you have a dinner or lunch date who doesn't do sushi (who are those crazy people) there are plenty of choices for them, too.
I'm not wowwed by the heavy garlic in the Ahi Poke and while my boyfriend loves the beef asparagus maki I'm less impressed. But the nigiri is FABULOUS. The hamachi and the hotate are foodgasmic. I've never once had a visit where the fish wasn't deliciously fresh and the rice perfectly cooked.
I know this place is connected with Amberjack in SF and with a couple other high quality sushi restaurants. I'm hoping Amberjack in Mill Valley has continued success and becomes a neighborhood institution. -
Review from Nikki C.
Mill Valley, CA
7/12/2011
Love Amberjack. I've tried the other sushi places in Marin, but nothing beats Amberjack. It may not be fancy but the interior is cozy, I would even say intimate. We'll go here on dates or just get take out- either way it's our go-to sushi place. Take out is easy and the people are friendly. And the sushi is great- always fresh and they never seem to get it wrong.
The best part? Cheap. Fantastically well priced, especially for this area and considering how great the sushi is...you really can't get much better in this area. -
Review from Alison N.
Oakland, CA
3/4/2008
So far in my hunt this has been my favorite sushi in Marin, that i can afford. The Maguro is always perfect, melt in your mouth delicious. Fish is very fresh and prices are great. (Nigiri $3.50 -$5.00, rolls $4.00-$10.50)
They have asll the basics and done well. Not a lot of fancy rolls if that is your thing but there luch specials can not be beat (if you can get to MV for lunch)
I have such an addiction I eat there at least once a week for dinner. -
Review from teresa g.
Mill Valley, CA
1/18/2011
While we've never gotten what I'd call a warm welcome here (no smiles or verbal greeting), we continue to go back again and again for their DELICIOUS sushi and sashimi. Fresh and addictive. Lunch special is a great deal, too. Tiny but cozy venue.
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Review from Jeph F.
Tiburon, CA
3/6/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Good sushi in Marin that's not Sushi Ran. The price is right and the cuts of fish are generous.
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Review from lisa w.
San Francisco, CA
6/17/2007
holy mother of god. how on earth did i *not* know this place was here?! it was so good that i even ate a piece of sashimi (which i never eat). our total bill was $54.00 for the kind of meal that i think should've cost about $70 because we had a beef-wrapped asparagus special and 4 rolls *and* 10 (!) pieces of ungodly fresh sashimi in addition to some other food and sake. wowzers! oh, and it's open on sunday nights! it's my new go-to sushi happiness.
UPDATE:
i went again tonight and amazingly it got even better! the poke was awesome and the beef asparagus maki was incredible. wowwww. this is my new go-to!Listed in: friendly places where people…
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Review from Gabrielle C.
San Rafael, CA
11/14/2008
Nothing to write home to Mom about...but definitely something to Yelp about. The prices are fantastic but so far, the non-sushi items I've tried are forgettable. The Oyako Don wasn't the best I've had, but it wasn't awful. I'll have to write an update once I try the sushi. Really, the prices are the best aspect to this place
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Review from Anna H.
Mill Valley, CA
9/22/2006
Friendly service and fresh sushi. I visited here last night and enjoyed an appetizer from their specials board, beef asparagus roll. It took some time to make, but it was very well flavored and good. Previous to this a nice miso broth was served. It was short on contents, but the broth was good. My main dish was chirashizushi. It was ok, they passed the saba (mackerel) test. Saba is a fish that easily tastes 'fishy', and theirs was quite fresh. I wasn't so impressed with the addition of mixed greens under the egg -- I would have preferred a leaf of the more traditional shiso. The patrons seemed to be neighborhood folk who well-appreciate the place and enjoy meeting there. A small place, with a friendly atmosphere that transcends just the staff. It was my first visit, so I'll be visiting again and revising this review if necessary.
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Review from Drea L.
San Francisco, CA
12/11/2009
While I wouldn't venture to say this was the BEST sushi I have ever had in my life, it was a good solid place if you just are feeling the need for some fresh fish. If you are looking for creative or more fusion type rolls this is not your place. It's small, the service is good, and over all it has a nice atmosphere.
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Review from Christian U.
Mill Valley, CA
2/27/2007
I love sushi and I've been all over the place. I think Amberjack in Mill Valley may be my favorite so far. There are other places that have crazier rolls, but the Amberjack in Mill Valley serves sushi that's so super fresh that you can really taste the quality. I love their Tiger and Dragon rolls so much that I order them every time I go. A word to the wise, sit down and eat there; their sushi loses much of the magic if it sits for 15 minutes because you got it to go.
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Review from Lizelle G.
San Francisco, CA
7/21/2005
Hit or miss sushi. We've been here about a dozen times, mostly for take-out, and about half the time their salmon, unagi and rolls are fresh. Other times, food taste a bit like it's been sitting in a pre-packaged bento box for too long. I'm not a fan of their agedashi tofu and I wouldn't recommend ordering it if you like a crispy outside and tender center. Here, it's a bit greasy and soggy. It's a small place so we usually bring it home. Prices are low so you may want to order a bunch of things and see what you like.
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Review from barbara s.
Mill Valley, CA
Updated - 4/7/2009
I've dined here 5 or 6 times over the past year. All but one of the times were quite satisfactory. It is small, and 3 of their 4 tables are side by side along the front window. We have consistently conversed with the people on one or the other side of us and have always had fun and interesting conversations. The food, is yummy. I judge a sushi place on the freshness and quality of its Uni, and Amberjack always meets my high standards. They make good handrolls, excellent salmon rolls, creative salads, excellent miso soup...all round I love this place.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/30/2008
I haven't eaten enough items there yet to give it a higher rating. However, I will say that the 49er… Read more »
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Review from Lynette P.
Sausalito, CA
9/24/2008
I'm sorry to say it but I just had the worst meal from this restaurant! I love sushi and I recently moved to Mill Valley - I'm so disappointed I have to go to go back to my old stomping grounds in Sausalito to get my sushi fix. I ordered the dragon roll from Amberjack, which is my favorite, and it was falling apart and it tasted so bad I literally could not eat it. I also ordered the tempura udon which was very sub-par, overly battered tempura and lackluster udon. I WANTED to like, if not love this place and all I can do is post this so other people don't waste their money here.
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Review from Linda C.
Mill Valley, CA
11/18/2010
Great food, reasonable prices, nice owners - one of our favorite places
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Review from Becca V.
Sausalito, CA
1/12/2009
The space is, indeed, small, but we didn't have to wait more than five minutes for a table. Though to be fair, it was only 6:30 or so on a Thursday night. We got four rolls to share, the Tiger maki (eel, shrimp avocado), the Rock-n-Roll, the Rainbow Roll, and a tuna avocado roll. I thought the miso soup was fantastic. And the Rainbow was perfect. Piled high with slices of various tunas, salmon and avocado across the top, this was easily the standout of the bunch. The rolls with the unagi were only so-so, and came off as a little bland compared to the others. But four rolls easily left the two of us feeling quite content, and, for the most part, were fairly priced. Will definitely be back to give some more of the menu a try in the future.
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Review from M. C.
Mill Valley, CA
3/18/2008
This is a small but pleasant sushi/Japanese restaurant near downtown Mill Valley. My experience over 3 visits is that the sushi is the focus--it is nice (fresh, attractive) and quite affordable. Try the deluxe sushi plate (chef's choice) for a great selection. The other dishes we've tried have not been so successful. Vegetable tempura is mostly sweet potato and onion (on two separate occasions); an udon dish lacked flavor; the chicken teriyaki was nothing special. In contrast, at Sushi Ran the vegetable tempura is both inexpensive and DELISH! The service at Amberjack is pleasant but not exceptional. I cannot rave about this place, but I will return for the sushi.
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Review from Serge D.
Larkspur, CA
5/7/2007
A quaint sushi bar with a few desirable additions to the sushi menu. The quality of the fish is excellent and the rolls creative. Very friendly service.
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Review from Margarita B.
Menlo Park, CA
3/18/2010
I love this place. Yes, it is small, quirky and sometime they do not remember your reservation and you have to wait but i do not care.
The fish in this place is delicious. I especially adore Saba, the lightly marinated mackerel. The service is prompt and friendly. -
Review from bongo c.
Mill Valley, CA
1/23/2011
I love sushi. I love the weird stuff. You know, the I'm not putting that in my mouth-is it supposed to smell that way-did it just move-kind of esoteric pablum. The kind that grows just a few more hairs on your chest or burns a couple of them out your nose. So, I wasn't happy here. The sushi is safe, sanitized and sterile. Okay, I like the sterile part but BORING. FIrst off, the fish pieces were generous but inconsistent, sometimes the sushi chef must have been feeling expansive and we got hefty pieces of maguro in our nigiri. It was tasty so we had to order more. Second time it was smaller. We dare not order another for fear of needing a pair of toothpicks instead of chopsticks to eat them. The amaebi, was okay but the fried heads were a bit oily and heavy. The sushi rice was so poorly flavored and cooked it detracted from the fish. The rice is so important in this style of cuisine and it was totally bland and dry. The chef must be wasabiphobic because it was not used in putting the sushi together, either. The futomaki would have been helped with the proper rice, the oshitashi was tasty but skimpy. I love uni and wouldn't you know it, they were out. We were there before 6 PM! I love unagi and wouldn't you know it, they had it but were trying to re-enact the basket of fish/5 loaves of bread trick. I believe we got the smallest pieces of eel that is possible to prepare with the unaided eye. They do a bustling take out business which may explain all the fury in the open kitchen. I just wish they would spend some of that energy in the dining room. We were half way through the meal before we realized that the chef was not a deaf mute! Not a friendly bunch, could it be that's because we're not regulars? Well, not planning on changing that status for a long while.
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Review from A B.
Mill Valley, CA
7/21/2008
Limited menu, nothing special makes this place have an uphill battle for a high rating. Nevertheless, the food is good, the service is too, and the prices are reasonable.
They can pull off giving me Ikura with Quail Egg at desert. -
Review from Jay E.
Santa Barbara, CA
1/31/2010
Small place with room for 15 people maybe, but it was not crowded on a Saturday night which is unusual for most places in mv. Good sushi, friendly staff, small seating area creates a fairly intimate environment. Better than Samurai across town for sure!
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Review from Mark G.
Mill Valley, CA
3/7/2010
It's not horrible, but certainly not good. The music is TOO LOUD, and the waitresses seem more occupied with personnel matters.
I didn't have a bad experience, but I won't go back. -
Review from Jack R.
Mill Valley, CA
3/12/2010
Although I have been to amberjack time after time I feel that going thier is somewhat of a hassal it takes such a long time to get a tempura appetizer. But obviously what keeps me coming back is the fantastic assortment of qaulity fish their is no doubt in my mind that they pay close attention to the fish they use. Now back on the note of tempura, although it takes quite awhile I would say that the tempura is thier best dish. My only complaint is that it takes to long and the menu could be bigger. But yet again hats off to the exellent sushi chef and tempura chef! I would recomend this to anyone who is ready for great sushi and great prices.I t is a great place for adults to have a few pieces of sushi and a sake.
