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Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
325 Sharon Park DrWe are now serving November kaiseki menu. For…
Announced 1 week agoTue-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
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Phenominal. Completely authentic. Delicious. Beautiful. Incredible.
Nothing was less than spectacular. From first course through dessert and tea. Even the sake was some of the best I've ever had.
Really incredible.
Kaygetsu is probably one of the most $$$ Japanese restaurants we've been to in the area. So was it worth the $$? Hell YEAH!
The experience was not only unique but very satisfying as well. We ordered the set Kaiseki menu ($72/person on the menu, but at least $100/person without drinks after you add in the tip, tax & some "upgrades"). Kaygetsu offers different Kaiseki menu every month. Here is the October 2009 menu we had:
Starter:
The cold walnut tofu dish was definitely very un-ordinary. The tofu had this smokey nutty taste/texture which went very well with the sauce.
Sashimi:
I upgraded my sashimi dish to toro and amaebi. I have to say these were probably some of the BEST toro and amaebi I've ever had. The Toro was rich and buttery like it could melt in your mouth, and not fishy at all.
Hassun (assortment of flavors):
Stunning presentation! It was so pretty in every detail that I almost felt guilty eating it. My favorite was the rice cracker coated beef. The deep fried rice cracker coated beef was layered with perilla leaf which added just enough kick to your taste buds. It was nothing like the typical fried tempura or fried tonkatsu.
Onmono:
Minced duck wrapped with sweet rice in broth. My hubby loved this dish! The duck was obviously marinated well and the sweet rice kind of offset the taste which provided a perfect balance. The broth/gravy was definitely that extra touch that added the + to this already grade A dish.
Yakimono (grilled dish):
This was probably my least favorite dish of the day but the quality was still unquestionable. The presentation of the clay pot over the fire was a bit over the top. The cod was fresh but the miso sauce was too salty for me. However, loved the red miso soup with turnip!
Desserts (Japanese style cheese cake):
I've always been a fan of the Japanese style cheese cake so needless to say, I enjoyed the dessert very much. The form of the grilled apple puree was in chunks rather than in paste which I appreciated. The chestnut was a nice touch.
The portions weren't a lot, but we were left full enough and just enough for us to truly appreciate what we had. The experience was amazing not only because of the fabulous food, but also the incredibly helpful and attentive staff. The waiter took her time to explain every dish thoroughly and our tea & water were constantly filled. Both interior and exterior of the restaurant is not fancy looking but I like the simplicity and the coziness of it's compact size.
I still don't believe that you always only get what you pay for. However, with Kaygetsu, we were very happy with what our $$$ got us.
People thought this was:
Service: Attentive, friendly.
Decor: Ok, for a shopping mall setting.
Food: Good, but way too pricey. I know that good quality sushi can cost quite a bit, but I was really disappointed with amount on the $85 omakase. The rolls were a better deal and the appetizers were the highlight, although again kind of pricey. A dish of cold tofu was yummy, but should not cost $9.
After 3 years living in Japan, I feel somewhat compelled to say that this is unquestionably the best Japanese food I have had outside of Japan. Super-fresh fish and vegetables, superb sake selection, simple, clean and friendly atmosphere. No-nonsense, flavor is RIGHT.
Kaygetsu is one of the very few places you can have an authentic kaiseki meal in bay area. I would recommend trying the kaiseki menu on your very first visit to this restaurant. (Remember to make a reservation. They do not serve kaiseki without one.)
What I like most about this restaurant is not kaiseki but the sushi. On your second and third visit I would recommend trying their ala Carte sushi menu. (You do not need a reservation for this but still recommended) Their sushi and sashimi are the very top notch. Everything from their wasabi to the seaweed on the rolls are exquisite. (and of course, all of these are reflected on the price)
Having said that, I don't think Kaygetsu is a good starting place for sushi novice. It will either spoil the rest of your sushi experience or will be a total waste of money. If you are a true sushi extraordinaire you will probably enjoy dining here.
People thought this was:
+/- signs represent intensity of positive/negative sentiment
+++ highly decorative dishes--just about everything you can order will be aesthetically pleasing.
++ menu has quite a few things that non-japanese food buffs probably haven't had before.
++ pleasantly low-key atmosphere, even though seating space is limited. parking isn't a problem in the huge lot(s) available right next to the restaurant.
+ small but delicious dedicated sushi bar.
+ prompt, professional service.
--- pricing definitely on the high-end side, especially for the location (mid-shopping mall.)
--- portions are... diminutive, to put it politely. one mostly eats @ kaytesu to enjoy the elegant indoor space & marvel over how dashing & novel the dishes are, not to fill up up the belly.
- food is slow to arrive.
summary: it's a place to be seen at, & a place to spaz out over cutsey &/or decorative meals, & if that's what you're after, kaygetsu is an amazing destination. for everybody else, it's a quietly sophisticated but rather expensive outing, less about food & more about... being quietly sophisticated.
I have been wanting to dine at Kaygetsu for a few years now, and after being foiled last year, was determined to go for my birthday dinner this year. J called ahead and mentioned it was my bday dinner while making reservations.
Service here was phenomenal. I loved all the little personal touches. The kaiseki menu was personalized for me, and I was given a little birthday gift at the end of the meal. Too cute.
The meal itself was very good, but nothing earth shattering. Presentation was very nice-- a feast for the eyes. The sashimi was very fresh (my faves were the tuna and the melt-in-your-mouth hamachi. Even J enjoyed the sashimi course, and he usually dislikes raw fish). My favorite course was the grilled chicken in the yakimono course. When paired with the slightly sour and faintly sweet grated daikon... OMG HEAVEN. It was soooo delicious. Portion size was perfect.
Conclusion: J and I agreed that it was extremely smart of Kaygetsu to lower their kaiseki price and offer dishes ala carte. Personally, I'm glad we didn't make it last year, because when I imagine paying $100+ for 7-8courses of the same quality/taste as last night, I can't help but think that it wouldn't have been a very good deal. But 5 courses for $55? A-ok with me. J is happy that I saved him money. :]
People thought this was:
At the end of our meal last night, my wife said: "That was my favorite meal... ever."
Okay, I'm feeling pretty good about my selection. Might even make up for one or two of the bad action movies I've chosen in recent history.
We went for the Kaygetsu menu. The food was delicious, gorgeously prepared and just plain fun to eat with the scores of different flavors. The service was also pretty close to perfect... friendly, knowledgeable and at your beck and call, but never hovering. The view gets a C compared to some of the other top-end restaurants out there, but hey, something's got to give.
They change the menu monthly, so I won't bother listing things here. Some of my favorite flavors, however, were the:
- Fig, jicama and sesame cream salad
- Beef nigiri with dipping sauces
- Pork belly with chii flakes and an interesting side salad
- Sesame ice cream (who knew?)
The wallet can't handle eating here weekly, but I will look for a reason to come back again soon.
People thought this was:
Kaygetsu deserves four stars:
Food - 4.5 stars
Service - 5 stars
Performace/Cost - 4 stars
We went for a mini kaiseki dinner on a week night. The restaurant was surprisingly not busy - yay for us, but I wondered because I did hear horror stories from others how long they had to wait to make reservations blah blah. Damn it economy!!!
We sat down and were served a cup of hot macha while we looked over the sake list. We opted for the sake paring...didn't really know anything about the sakes that were going to be paired, but I wasn't really knowledgeable on sakes anyway so I let the restaurant choose for us.
The first course was sesame tofu bathing in dashi and topped with some fresh uni (allegedly from tsukiji market). It was a very simple dish yet very sophisticated in its taste - very nutty, creamy. The dashi was a bit salty for me...I was wanting a bit of sweetness to balance off the creaminess.
The second course was the sashimi course - we upgraded and got some judoro, anago, mackarel, and hamachi. Delicious and fresh. Two different kinds of sauces - soy sauce and rice vinegar sauce - complemented the fish. I wasn't presonally a fan of the vinegar sauce, it just had no taste.
The third course was really the killer - hamo (freshwater eel) in the red plum sauce, fried japanese root vegetable, fried ebi, and tako pickled in some sort of vinaigrette. It was so beautiful to look at and tasted great.
The fourth course was - some koshihagari rice with miso soup, sesame seared salmon with the egg yolk vinaigrette and grilled chicken thigh. The chicken thigh was okay....
The dessert course - homemade peace ice cream with peace gelee. It was a decent desert and cleaned off the fishy taste that I had in my mouth.
Overall a beautiful presentation and a good experience. I'd definitely return here for some a la carte dishes that I was eyeing on!!!
Excellent kaiseki. Rivaled top ryokans in Japan with the addition of a modern flair and seasoned local ingredients. The only drawback is it is expensive. However, it is fundamentally a different (and higher quality) experience of a meal: "top table" from a Japanese standpoint maintaining purity in the cuisine minus the frou frou Eurasian high priced martini with your sushi joint. Everyone should try this place at least once. $75 a pop for full Kaiseki menu with $10 supplement on snapper + toro supplement. Service is very good. Ownership is very friendly and responsive. Feels like a friendly neighborhood sushi joint but feeds like a continental Michelin classic.
People thought this was:
I'm willing to pay for great Japanese food, but I found this to be far too expensive for what we got. The sashimi was very fresh but about half the portion per $ of other upscale Japanese restaurants. We had to ask for the menu again after realizing the sashimi omakase ($70 for two) was a mere appetizer.
They did have the best, smoky dashi I've ever had. The special walnut tofu was interesting and delicious, and the sushi orders were more generous with the fish than the sashimi. Our meal cost $180 (including tip) for 2, and I was still hungry afterwards. Service was slow, and we often sat for a long time with our dirty dishes in front of us.
Went there last night and had the Kaygetsu set menu. Overall, the meal was decent, but definitely not worth what I paid. Here are the highlights:
Service - polite, attentive, and helpful. I suppose with 18% gratuity included in any meal you won't get lousy servers. I will say though that our main waiter really needed an Altoid. Dragon breath !
Food - opted for the main tasting menu. 9 courses, but very inconsistent. It almost seemed as if every other course was good. Here is the breakdown:
Sakizuke - The starter was a "tofu" made out of red pepper. Nice texture, but really needed the broth and some of the garnish to be tasty. 3 out of 5
Sashimi - This course was great. Wild salmon, thai snapper, and a sole. Fresh, tasty, and very well presented. 4.5 out of 5
Takiawase (slow cooked) - Very mediocre - bland, not much to the dish. A previous reviewer rightly pointed out that this was dish was more about texture. Included a prawn, which was very fresh but could not rescue the dish - 2 out of 5
Hassun - this was an assortment and was a bit all over the place. The soft shell crab was chilled, and seemed awkward in texture. The sushi piece (kampachi) was very nice, and the mix dish of anago, veggies and char was fantasic - 4 out of 5
Agemono - this was the deep fried course. Kobe in between bamboo shoots, fried in tempura batter. This was not tasty at all. The bamboo overpowered the dish, and the beef was way overcooked. My friend kobe was rare, mine was well down. - 1 out of 5
Yakimono - grilled course - chicken stuffed with fish cake. OK - could have been more flavourful. The salad accompanying it was terrible. Poor choice of veggies, and flavourless. - 2 out of 5.
Gohan mono - rice dish. Also so-so. Fresh ingredients, but could have used a splash of soy. The miso was very good. - 3.5 out of 5
Dessert - one of the best courses of the night. The black sesame mochi was great. Banana cream with green tea cake. - 5 out of 5
In the end, the meal was reasonable. Nice ambiance, good service, so-so food. Not worth 3 bills however, and not sure I would go back.
People thought this was:
The wonderful things I've missed in my own back yard...We were looking for a simple light delicious meal at a quiet local spot at 8pm on Saturday night, actually somewhat hard to find...I suggested a Japanese place I had noticed while running errands at Sharon Heights...so we hopped on over and walked in to Kaygetsu with no reservations and were graciously seated after a short wait at the sushi bar at this sublime restaurant! Oh my oh my...each bite a wonder, artful presentation, far exceeding what we were looking for...we ordered warm sake, hamachi sushi (mmmm), a couple bowls of the red miso with clams (stunning) and split the October cod special with the tofu (heavenly), while enjoying the quiet intimate setting...we'll be back for the kaiseki menu...I bet my rating goes to 5 stars. Really special and thoroughly unexpected in it's suburban setting. If this restaurant was in The City, it would be creating a stir.
this place is best sushi i have ever had. i have been to all the best sushi bars in NYC, LA, and SF, and this place is way better. the atmosphere is very simple. don't go there if you are looking for a hot scene or fun crowd. this is just a place to go and pig out on exceptionally good sushi, and then go home and pass out. it is very expensive, and you will spend a small fortune, but it is worth every penny. i am drooling as i write this review.
People thought this was:
Went here this past saturday after seeing the 2009 28/30 Zagat review.
First impression was "oh no" when i saw it was in a shopping center close to a safeway. But once inside you forget where the location is as the decor is nice.
Went with the fixed menu and was impressed in that it was a very unique menu for a Japanese restaurant that both my wife and i never had.
Plus: service was good and attentive, fixed menu was diverse, fish is FRESH!, presentation is great and atmosphere is quiet and nice.
Negatives: price is higher that it should be, portions are small, gratuity (18%) added to all bills.
I would definitely go back - I would like to try just their sushi/sashimi vs the fixed.
Our first meal at Kaygetsu was wonderful and worthy of 5 stars. We celebrated my hubby's birthday with the kaiseki 8 course dinner, along with sake pairings (4 different sakes presented at appropriate points during the meal).
A nice touch was that they prepared a paper menu wishing my hubby happy birthday, and we had access to the menu throughout the meal. While our server did an excellent job of explaining each element of each course as she placed them on the table, I still enjoyed going back at the end of several of the courses to remind myself of some of the more obscure ingredients. And since we got to take the menu home, I've solved the mystery of the incredibly detailed reviews I've seen on Yelp!
All of the staff, from the hostess to the server to the bussers, were gracious and efficient. The restaurant itself is appointed very simply; we found it befitting the food and very relaxing on a Friday night. We were somewhat surprised that there were not more occupied tables, but that worked to our benefit as the ambience was restful and calm as we enjoyed our food.
The kaiseki menu changes each month, so this review is for July 2009. you can do 8 courses or for $12 less only have 7 courses, with a slightly less fancy sashimi course. We went for it all.
Starter: a small goblet filled with organic tomato juice and a creamy blend of tofu skin, embellished with a seared scallop and shiso buds (I LOVE shiso). Unusual but delicious and refreshing.
Takiawase/slow-cooked dish: Unagi and tofu in a fish broth with bokchoy and ginger. Unagi is not my favorite but this was wonderful, and the fragrance when the lid was lifted from the little soup bowl was yummy. The little kinome leaf on top was lovely and added a little bite.
Sashimi course: It was served in what looked like a crystal candy bowl with gold trim. Three fish: sea bass, fatty tuna, and a relative of hamachi (hamachi being my favorite sushi fish). Presentation included little carrot curls and a couple kinds of seaweed. This was first rate and suggested that a future visit to Kaygetsu for sushi on a non-kaiseki night should be scheduled.
Hassum/Assortment of Flavors. This was over the top. The tray included little treats in various small bowls or on little boards. Very diverse, a pleasure to look at, and each bite delicious. Included a slice of roast duck on a little skewer with a grilled pepper; two bites of dried and grilled sweetfish (ayu); and an egg custard square enveloped in dashi gelatin (can't figure out how they did that). There's more but this gives you an idea.
Shii sakana course. This was the optional course and we are glad we opted for it. We each received two pieces of nigiri made with seared washu beef. It was fun during the meal to hear and smell from the kitchen each time they seared the beef for someone's order. It came with 3 sauces and each was excellent.
Grilled dish. This was my husband's favorite - a nice little chunk of roast kurobota pork with accompaniments. It was juicy and very flavorfull.
Rice dish. This was good, but if I had to skip a course it would have been this one, since by this point I was getting full but was anticipating dessert. Anyway the bowl of rice was topped with deepfried vegetables (looked like finely shredded squash) and shrimp. It was accompanied by a small bowl of dark red miso soup, which was the richest miso I've ever tasted.
Dessert: little squash flan and a scoop of sesame icecream and mochi donut. There was a yummy sauce for the ice cream but I don't remember what it was. They were nice enough to include a candle on my husband's dessert plate.
The 4 sakes we had were all quite good and presented beautifully.
As a parting nice touch, they gave my husband a beautiful pair of chopsticks.
This experience felt like a Japanese equivalent to the tasting menu at Manresa. Too overwhelming to do frequently, even if you were rich, but absolutely perfect for an occasional special night out.
#9 out of top 100.
Not blown away with kaiseki meal. Wakuriya is much more impressive overall in taste, though Kaygetsu may be more refined in its preparation.
People thought this was:
The best sashimi I have eaten.
Ridiculously expensive though. Maybe it didn't help that we just had the chef just send over his selection, twice. Nevertheless, without alcohol, it was one of the most expensive places I have been. I actually had to look twice at the bill because I was shocked. Without getting specific, let's just say you could get a table at the hottest club in Vegas on a Saturday night for the price of a good meal for 2 at this place. You do the math.
p.s. I am under the impression they don't have sushi every night so be aware.
Bookmarked since 04/07, you were well worth the wait. Your elegant dining room, friendly staff, and beautiful attention to detail (food presentation, flavors, and dining utensils) were all great!
My boyfriend and I came here on a Saturday evening, and tried the 8 course 'Kaygetsu' Kaiseki menu. My boyfriend also got the sake trio, which came with three different sakes to try.
Sakizuke Starter - Red bell pepper dish that looked almost like a square of red pepper mochi (but called 'tofu'), with a small sliver of avocado, uni, and wasabi - this dish was amazing and whetted our appetite for more. Smooth flavor, nothing overly strong or salty.
Sashimi platter - we had lightly seared salmon, toro, and a white fish that I forgot the name of - all were very fresh, thinly sliced, and well prepared.
Takiawase (Slow cooked dish) - It was a small bowl with a single shrimp, pieces of Japanese eggplant, one snow pea, and a perfectly shaped/pared piece of potato in a very light fish broth - so delicately flavored it was almost plain - but great for a simple/light palate
Hassun - This was my least favorite dish. It involved grilled soft shell crab (which I really don't like) which was served slightly cold with very crunchy shell (and not at all battered). It was too real looking and cold and crunchy for my palate. The sea eel with cucumber, mustard stuffed lotus root, miso grilled fish, and seared kampachi were all very delicious (maybe because I was still trying to get over the crab). Also there was a piece of tamago. But alas, the crab almost killed it for me.
Agemono (deep fried dish) - deep fried bamboo shoots and kobe beef wrapped in tofu skin. The kobe beef was thinly sliced and almost rare and sandwiched between two large pieces of bamboo - I have to say the flavor of the bamboo almost overwhelmed the beef flavor - good contrast, but almost too sharp
Yakimono (grilled dish) - Grilled chicken roll with fish wrapped inside, and a salad with carrots, mandarin orange slices, and wonton wrappers. This was one of my favorite dishes, the chicken flavor was very hearty. This was probably the least unusual tasting one though, since the grilled chicken flavor tastes almost like the chicken you get at those chicken teriyaki places. But with much more subtlety.
Gohan mono (rice dish) - One of my favorites of the evening. We got an almost fried rice like dish (rice cooked with veggies like green peas, corn, lotus root, bamboo shoots, etc). Also came with a dark red miso soup that was so savory.
AHH the desserts was another highlight - black sesame mochi -- MMMMMM so rich and smooth; also had a green tea/banana roll cake - the green tea sponge cake had a thick layer of whipped cream and banana inside.
Overall, very pleasant and enjoyable meal, especially for the price. I would recommend this for special occasions or fun nights out that won't break the bank!
If I could describe Kaygetsu in one word it would be ORGASMIC. No kidding, I practically jizzed in my pants!
I came here with my... person on a Saturday night. I wouldn't suggest going here with just a "friend" because if you are planning to do the kaiseki, its going to take up a looooooooong time. About 3 hours. Better have lots of stuff to talk about. :)
We did the 8 set "Kaygetsu" kaiseki. Everything was fresh and nicely plated. Sashimi was GREAT but for me the best part was the desert. :D
- Pricey but worth it
People thought this was:
Toro to die for... assuming your death will result in a life insurance pay out to cover the bill.
Great place for a power lunch... let the sushi chef go nuts and you will not be disappointed. It will be expensive, but worth the splurge.
That being said, the real draw here is the kaiseki menu. I HIGHLY recommend it. Also, despite being a hard core wine geek, I always get the full kaygetsu menu with the sake pairing. Both the tasting menu and the sake parings are well-constructed and worth the buy-in.
People thought this was:
This place is way over rated and the food are over priced. For 6 small pieces Simon sashimi , they charge $20. Yes, they are fresh. However, you can get the same fresh sashimi at other places for $14 and it comes with soup and rice and a small salad.
The business hour indicates the last seating is at 9:15, but they don't follow that. If you really want to go there, you'd better makes reservation.
Service - polite, attentive, and helpful. However, you don't get your freedom to choose how much gratuity you want to give based on the actual service you get. 18% gratuity is included in any meal.
We didn't try the tasting menu because there are things we don't eat. If you do want to give this place a try, maybe the tasting menu 9 courses worth trying, but be prepared everything is over priced
Sakizuke - The starter was a "tofu" made out of red pepper. Nice texture, but really needed the broth and some of the garnish to be tasty. 3 out of 5
Sashimi - This course was great. Wild salmon, thai snapper, and a sole. Fresh, tasty, and very well presented. 4.5 out of 5
Takiawase (slow cooked) - Very mediocre - bland, not much to the dish. A previous reviewer rightly pointed out that this was dish was more about texture. Included a prawn, which was very fresh but could not rescue the dish - 2 out of 5
not sure I would go back.
Good Kaiseki.
Okay, to start I have to out myself. This is my first kaiseki meal in the U.S. And this girl, she loves her kaiseki. For the uninitiated, kaiseki is like a multi course French meal just Japanese. The courses are usually odd numbers and usually written down so you never get the same meal again. Part of the charm that is happens only once in your life, a special meal that will never repeat. You usually have a savory course followed by a sweet, a crunchy dish followed by soup... you get the point.
Kaygetsu was nice enough but not kaiseki special enough for me. The food is good and the preparation is also nice but it is not kaiseki exceptional for me. The beautiful thing about kaiseki is all the different, small and beautiful dishes that are paired with your meal. I had a soup in a tiny mushroom tureen filled with hundreds of tiny, tiny mushrooms in Japan (that level of thoughtfulness). It's more a nicely arranged sashimi on a pretty plate you may have seen at another high end sushi restaurant.
The food and prep is thoughtful but not other worldly, which is what I expect from kaiseki. If you are coming for really nice Japanese food and a slow romantic meal. This is your place. If you are coming for real kaiseki, not so much.
People thought this was:
I'd been wanting to eat here for a year but just never got down to Menlo Park for dinner. Last night I finally made it with a buddy of mine. I haven't had a good Japanese meal in a while and was ready for it.
An unassuming building in a shopping center led to a pleasantly appointed room. We were seated right away and the house was about half full. Immediately service was friendly, efficient and helpful. Offered menus, there's really only two choices. The Kaiseki Menu came either as a seven course (Chrysanthemum, $86 per person) or an eight course (Kaygetsu at $98). Sake pairings were offered and additionally priced. We each went with a flight of three sakes.
Our Sakizuke (starter) was usui tofu (green peas "tofu" topped with chevril and ikura). Mild in flavor, the ikura (salmon roe) lent a saltiness that offered exactly what the mildness of the peas called for. Nice.
Next was our Takiawase (slow cooked dish). It consisted of turnip, broccoli rabe, carrot, potato, snap peas, warabi fern, yellow pepper and dailon radish cooked in a clear fish broth. Again, very mild in flavor I was almost searching for the flavors. This was more an exercise in textures. Again, nice.
Sashimi came next...yellowjack, scallops (and I can't recall the third fish). Very fresh with great wasabi. Truly terrific. A high point.
Next was the Hassun (assortment of flavors). This came served both on skewers and in dishes. A quail egg, shrimp and cucumber on a skewer, kobe beef with grated mountain yam, bamboo shoot covered with bonito shavings and plum paste, squid and green onion mixed with miso/vinegar sauce and tai snapper sushi with ginger. The kobe was delicious, the squid was maybe my favorite taste of the night. All lovely and offered a nice variety of flavors and textures. The bamboo was my least favorite although by no means unsavory. It offered a nice crunch but little flavor.
The next course was the Yakimono (grilled dish). It was ocean trout marinated in miso and grilled brussel sprouts and grapefruit salad with bonito shavings. The fish was delicious although perhaps a bit overcooked. The miso made gave it a lovely sweetness.
Next was our Gohanmono (rice dish). Organic tofu, cooked with ginger, thickened kudzu sauce topped with rice with house pickled vegetables. It was fine but not particularly memorable.
Finally dessert. Mochi rice with red beans wrapped with a cherry leaf. Kaygetsu style pound cake with whipped cream and strawberry. Again, subtle flavors but a nice ending.
My overall impressions were...superb service, fine ambiance...food expertly prepared and served. Everything brought to the table was a little work of art. Flavors were subtle and textures were well balanced. The sakes were all very different and enjoyable. I walked away from the table feeling full but light. A terrific experience.
People thought this was:
BEYOND RUDE / INSULTING -- WILL NEVER RETURN.
I booked a dinner reservation two months in advance to celebrate my boyfriend's graduation from Stanford. We had read wonderful things about the food and were very excited to try it out. We had a last minute cancellation for our party--so I called to adjust from 6 to 4 about an hour before we arrived. I'm not sure if this upset the owner/hostess--but she was very curt on the phone and when she sat us at our table.
I ordered some sushi and after it arrived realized they had put wasabi on my rice. I can't eat wasabi and since the flavor was on my fish I kindly asked to have it remade. The lady who sat us (I think she's the owner) became very rude with me. She asked if I had ever eaten at a good sushi restaurant before because they all put wasabi on their rice. I was completely offended by her question -- especially since I've been a regular at Nobu and similar restaurants in Miami Beach and NYC for years. When I explained that most other restaurants do not put wasabi directly on the sushi (unless noted) she argued with me insisting I was wrong. I was completely taken aback, especially since I asked very nicely to have it switched. I returned my uneaten portion to the kitchen and was eventually served new sushi. Later, as we were beginning to finish our meal, the waitress started clearing the table--rushing us to finish while we were mid-conversation and still eating. Then she dropped the check (with a double-charge for the sushi) before asking if we wanted dessert or tea. I couldn't believe it.
I was so upset because it completely ruined a dinner that was a celebration of my boyfriend's accomplishments--one of the most important days of his life. Instead, we ended up arguing over the bill and dealing with an extremely rude staff. It was completely unacceptable.
At the end of dinner, I quietly pulled the owner aside to express my disappointment about our experience at the restaurant, her rude attitude, clearing the table during our meal, dropping the check before we were ready, and for her insulting comments. I also explained how much we had looked forward to the meal--and how important the day was. I told her her behavior was completely unacceptable. As i walked out of the restaurant, she said (under her breath, but loud enough for me to hear) that I was being rude. I couldn't believe it. I came back in and quietly exchanged more words with her, but it didn't matter. She was intent on not apologizing, nor recognizing how her behavior had ruined such a special dinner.
I was extremely angry at the time--but afterwords I had to laugh. She is obviously an uptight, unhappy, unkind person who has know idea how to treat good people, good customers. It's her loss, not ours. Sure, the food was good (though I do think overpriced compared to other meals I've had of this caliber), but I will never return to that restaurant. I cannot in good consciousness support someone who's behavior is so completely uncalled for.
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I've been meaning to write a review for a while, but clearly I've procrastinated since my experience is from July 2008. But I'm getting around to it now!
I took my boyfriend for dinner here for his birthday. In previous years, I would take him to a steakhouse, but he stopped eating red meat and pork last year. Since he likes Japanese food, I figured the kaiseki menu that Kaygetsu offers would be a good treat for him. They gave me a call prior to our visit to confirm my reservation. During the call, they asked me if it was a special occasion, so I mentioned it was my bf's bday. They asked me how to spell his name, which I found curious, but as you'll read later, it was for a good reason. They also checked to see if there were any dietary restrictions, so I informed them of his.
The restaurant exterior does not look too special, but the interior was nice. We checked in and the hostess wished my bf a happy birthday right away. After we were seated, the waitress wished him a happy birthday as well. She brought out 2 paper menus that we could take home with us after the meal and which had all of the courses we would be served. On my bf's copy, they had personalized it with the date and his name to mark the occasion.
Our waitress was excellent. Every time she brought us a dish, she would describe all of the ingredients and how best to eat it if there was a certain way. She would also discuss the plating, like one dish which was designed to look like a lake and had elements which represented a boat, a pier, etc.
The food was really great as well. Before our meal started, they double-checked the dietary restriction, making sure they had it right and if there were any additional ones that hadn't been mentioned. It only mattered in one dish which was a salad wrapped in kobe beef, and they substituted the beef with a fish. It was all handled very well. All of the dishes tasted good and were attractive. Japanese cuisine has to be up your alley though for it to be truly enjoyable. We had one dish which featured a fried fish which I admit I had to 1. cover its eyes with a decorative leaf and 2. flip over as I ate it so I wouldn't see it staring at me. (I know, what kind of Asian am I?) There was another dish that had all of those super tiny fish mixed in with the rice, too, which I am used to having but could be unsettling.
The dessert came out with a candle in it, and my bf was wished a happy birthday again. At the end of our meal, they presented him with a wrapped birthday present, which was a total surprise. It was a lovely pair of mulberry chopsticks. We were totally touched by it.
All in all, the restaurant ensured that we had a memorable and enjoyable experience. The kaiseki meal was pricey ($98 if you opt for the sashimi upgrade), but it is worth it for a special occasion. And since we saw a couple other tables celebrating birthdays as well, special occasions do seem to be their focus, at least on kaiseki days. If you want to try it, the kaiseki menu is offered only Wednesday-Saturday, and that is all they offer on those days. On Sunday and Tuesday, you can order a la carte and sushi.
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The sushi is beyond fantastic. Finally, sushi in California that rivals what you can find in Japan. Toshi is a master sushi chef. ;-)
If I could be a restaurant, I'd want to be Kaygetsu. Classy, friendly, and fancy. And serves the best Japanese food in the Bay Area. Also kind of sneaky, because that delectable Japanese food comes in a restaurant in a strip mall! But don't worry, since that strip mall is located on Sand Hill Road, it's worth about $20 billion.
There is no higher praise than freshness for sashimi, and there is no fresher fish in the area. Exquisite presentation, the best ingredients, and the kitchen's creativity make Kaygetsu one of the finest dining establishments around.
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I had the pleasure of being taken here. 1st time I came, no reservations just walked in. Not a seat in the house was available the whole night and the lady turned us away. 2nd visit, I dove into an 8 course meal...my 1st! Each dish, although can't tell you what they were, simply unbelievable!
Fresh
Creative
Simple
Healthy
Perfectly portioned
Dessert and grilled dish were blah, but everything else...mmmmmmm.
Had the Kaygetsu "Kaiseki" dinner last night. Had high hopes, and left a dissapointed.
Hmmm, it was good, but not comparable to Kaiseki dinners in Japan as some might suggest. I have had Kaiseki from Kyushu to Hokkaido and many many places in between (Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Nagano, Ueda) etc. etc.. To compare Kaygetsu Kaiseki to Kaiseki in Japan, is like someome saying Taco Bell is the best " Mexican Food " I have ever had (because I know Mexican food) "
For those unfamilier w/ Kaiseki - then I understand the 5* reviews. (maybe it was the Sake sampler that did the trick)
For those who claim to have had Kaiseki in Japan.... I really don't understand how they can rate Kaygetsu more than 3*.
Service was good, attentive, but a bit robotic. Not going in to a "bite by bite" or "course by course" routine ... I will say their fish is good and fresh.
Service fee "TIp" 18% added to the check is an insult to the customer (unless you have a party of 10 or 20 people....) I will would like to choose the appropriate tip. An authentic Japanese food experience....... to add the service fee for 4 people ????.... don't think so.
I found Kaygetsu Kaiseki uninspired, kinda routine, kinda bland, fresh ingredients, good service, but overall for me, disappointing
Matsuo.
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the sashimi lunch is a huge hit. will definitely go back for some more lovin'
Wikipedia describes kaiseki as a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner analogous to Western haute cuisine. Hey I'm always up for new things so when my friend OrangeJenn says, want to try this place, I was like, let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel. A minus is that it's in Menlo Park...in a very nondescript strip mall. We had to drive around the mall to find it. The interior is fairly simple, dimly lit, small sushi bar area, and several tables that seat anywhere from 2-6.
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this. Was it going to be like a Keller tasting? Was I going to be wowed? I was giddy like a teenage girl at her first N*Sync concert. We ordered 2 glasses of a cherry infused Daiginjo sake. The aroma definitely was scented with cherry and the first taste that hits your buds was also cherry, but then the alcohol hits you and you know you're downing some good hooch.
First course was the Soup - "Kyo Zoni", Mochi, Satoimo Potato, Bonito Flakes, and Seaweed. The miso broth had a smoky taste to it and the potato was a good accompaniment, adding some texture to the dish. The bonito flakes helped provide some needed seasoning, but I must say the Mochi seemed out of place in this dish, like the red-headed stepchild.
Second course was Sakizuke (Starter) - King Crab and Celery with Kudzu Vinaigrette. This dish was a great followup to the first one. It was cool and refreshing, in contrast to the piping hot broth of the first course. The crab and celery paired well and the Kudzu Vinaigrette was tart but light. The celery was cut thin so it was crispy but only slightly and the expected taste of celery was not overpowering in this dish. I was left begging for more.
Third course was Sashimi -Tai (Snapper), Kampachi (Amber Jack), Otoro (Fatty Tuna). The Tai was cut so thin it was translucent. The Kampachi came with a lemon slice and a twig of Shizu flowers. I thought the Shizu masked the flavor of the fish. It was perfect by itself. The Otoro literally dissolved in your mouth like a small pat of perfectly churned butter. They put some 24K gold leaf on it, but I found this unnecessary. I loves me some Sashimi so this dish hit the spot for me.
Fourth course was Takiawase (Slow Cooked Dish) - "Furofuki Daiokon" Slow cooked Daikon dish topped with Yuzu Miso and Japanese Parsley. I don't know how long they cooked the daikon for, but it broke apart very easily. It doesn't have a lot of flavor on it's own so the big flavor in this dish came from the Yuzu Miso and zest on top. Both of these seemed disparate initially. The first bite came as a bit of a shock, but by the second piece I was buying what the chef was trying to sell.
Fifth course was Hassun (Assortment of Flavors) - Kobe Beef Sushi (all I tasted was the rice, the beed was lost in translation), Miso Marintated Cod Fish (seemed a little overdone, I like my cooked fish a little flakier), Turnip Chrysanthemum (was a beautiful presentation, but tasted like pickled vegetable), Shrimp With Egg Yolk Sauce (was an interesting flavor, but shrimp seemed a little tough), Smoked Salmon with Potato Cream Sauce and Chives on Toast (a flavor explosion with the toast adding a nice crunch and each of the components coming forth at various times), Herring Roe and Kelp (another beautiful presentation, but tasted of the ocean, as expected), Burdock in Sesame Sauce (sesame sauce was all I tasted, but I liked the texture though), Sweet Kidney Beans (wish I had been given these as a kid, I would have eaten more Kidney beans!).
Sixth course was Mushimono (Steamed Dish) - "Kabura Mushi" Grated Turnip with Kikurage, Shitake Mushroom, and Duck Dumpling with Wasabi and Orange Zest. You mixed all the various components of this dish together, the grated turnip comes out with the consistency of cream of wheat. The Shitake and Kikurage gives the dish an earthy flavor, but I felt the duck dumpling needed something, maybe more seasoning.
Seventh course was Noodles - "Kama Age Udon" Napa Cabbage Wrapped Spinach, Chicken, and Green Onion. This was the simplest presentation, but may have been the best dish of the night. Broth, Udon, Chicken, Green Onion, Spinach wrapped in Napa Cabbage, all in a metal plate sitting over a ceramic tableside oven. It came with a sauce which you dipped all the various elements into and I have to say, I was slurping away contentedly for awhile (there's an inappropriate joke in there somewhere I'll leave you to find.) Homey Japanese comfort food at its best.
Dessert course was Red (Green Tea filling) and White (Red Bean filling) Macarron, Green Tea Gelee in Japanese Molasses with Mandarin Orange and Whipped Cream. The Gelee went really well with the whipped cream and Japanese Molasses, but there's that damn red-headed stepchild again. The Mandarin Orange slices seemed out of place. I don't know what it was trying to bring to the dish, but it failed. Saving the best for last, the macaroons were like 2 bites of pure bliss.
People thought this was:
Sorry....there's too many other good sushi restaurants in the Bay Area to have to put up with...rude attitudes and a no can do response to "spicy"....I was told "do not ask the sushi master to do anything spicy or non-traditional"...we were turned away seveal times, while the place was half empty, for not having a reservation...hey, the dot com era went bust a long time ago!!!
The food looks great. The taste couldn't be more bland and uninspiring.
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They offer kaiseki from Wednesday thru Saturday only, but we decided to go on a Sunday anyway with our parents visiting from Japan. I needed to impress them before they flew back the next morning, and the four mini tables at Wakuriya were already booked. I screamed hard, and would've screamed harder if by doing so I could scare away the patrons who had those tables... But such is life.
* FOOD *
We blindly ordered a whole array of dishes, including cold and hot appetizers (ippin-ryori, such as butano-kakuni, agedashi-tofu, tenpura-moriawase, miso cod, salad, carpaccio, etc.), assorted sushi and a large sashimi plate. We had several kinds of daiginjo and beer over the two hours that we were there, and finished our meal with chazuke and dessert (an-mitsu).
Everything was delicious. It'd been a while since I had tempura that was prepared so well - light and crisp. No doubt that this is one of the two finest kaiseki-ryori restaurants we have in the Bay Area, the other being the Wakuriya in San Mateo. Personally, I was proud to have finally convinced my parents that we don't necessarily have to fly back home for solid washoku/Japanese food.
However, I will have to return for what they are famous for - the kaiseki, because based on this one dinner alone I was NOT blown away like I had dreamed of.
And here are some possible reasons why I did not particularly enjoy dining here. 1) Our orders were served too RANDOMLY. For example, we got the pork kakuni (clearly an appetizer) served at the very end. 2) The sushi chef was not as accommodating or friendly as we'd liked. His response to our request was quite unpleasant. 3) Simple lack of "mmm"s and "ahhh"s at each bite.
* SETTING & SERVICE *
The room is surprisingly small, modest and comfortable. It's funny to compare it with the almost-fake decor of Yoshida, a pseudo-kaiseki place in Cupertino, and how ambiance has little to do with the actual food. The service was extremely attentive, and our waitress (with the world's coolest name, KEIKO-san) was courteous and professional.
* SUM *
TO BE UPDATED. First, I need to somehow succeed in making a reservation on a kaiseki day - again, Wednesday thru Saturday. I might as welll bookmark http://opentable.com while I'm at it.
People thought this was:
Solid sushi and sashimi. The location is kinda random. It's in the little strip mall area with the secret safeway off sand hill but as far as the food, it was def. the best sushi I have found in the area.
Didn't try any rolls... just nigiri and sashimi. None of the fish were particularly crazy in the sashimi lunch but they were all fresh. The service was somewhat slow, but if you're looking for a good place to have lunch, check it out.
Just had to add that my wonderful husband took me here for my birthday on Halloween. We were decked out in costumes and a little wary of going to a nice restaurant, but the lady at the front said, "Finally, someone wearing a costume!" and put us at ease right away. The food was still amazing, though this time around I didn't have wine or sake :-( They had a personalized birthday greeting on my menu, and gave me a nice set of chopsticks as a birthday gift...very nice touch!
And okay, we went to Japan after our first visit to Kaygetsu and had amazing kaiseki for half the price, but I don't know anywhere else in the area I can get Japanese food of this quality (and quantity of courses!)
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An amazing, unforgettable culinary experience! It started off on a slightly bad note because we had… Read more »
happy birthday to my mom
so we head to kaygetsu " the beautiful moon"
ordered tons of sushi to start off the menu a la cart
ordered salad, soup and entrees the waitress brought them right away
miso grilled black cod to me sounded odd so i ordered it
guarantee the specialty of this restaurant is everything exquisite and fresh only the best of the best
sesame spinach salad was a must
the agedashi tofu i did not trust ...
try the sushi if you try anything it's melt in your mouth buttery fresh be sure to go on tuesdays when you can order off the a la carte menu instead of the kaiseki menu which is sake pairings menu.
( brought to you by great sushi and too much M.J
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I must admit along with these fellow Yelpers that Kaygetsu is the cream of the crop when it comes to sushi. Definitely top 2 sushi restaurants I have ever eaten at. (Could very well be the best?) My sushi snob of a boss (& I say that with the highest regard) took me there for my first and second time when we used to work off Sand Hill in the building behind that shopping center. I always know if he approves that it must be top notch and it most certainly was. We both got the chef's choice lunch, combination sashimi plate. It was the definition of fresh. Talk about perfection. The presentation was just as gorgeous as its taste too! Their tea was great too! The second time I went was with my boss (again) and my dad. Another amazing lunch. Two thumbs WAY UP. I wish we had a Kaygetsu in Redwood Shores where I work now!
Update: My boss went there again last week and told me today his dinner with ONE business colleague cost him a whopping 500 bucks!!! He said you are no longer allowed to order a la carte for dinner that there is only a pre fixed menu. He told me to book him at Kanpai Sushi in PA for business dinners now. 500 for 2 is WAY too much! That is just outrageous! He said it was great as usual but for that amount of money you don't get a lot of food so it's not that worth it.
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Menlo Park, CA
Category: Japanese
Menlo Park, CA
Category: Sushi Bars
Palo Alto, CA
Category: Japanese
Redwood City, CA
Category: Japanese
Menlo Park, CA
Category: Japanese
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