Taka - Sushi and Passion; Atlanta, GA

Neighborhood: Buckhead
385 Pharr Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305

(404) 869-2802
www.takasushiatlanta.com



MY YELP REVIEW

This is more like a 4.5 given the city and pricing.

I was pleasantly surprised by my experience at Taka. People have been talking up this place for a while, but I've never made my way over to the restaurant until earlier this year. Despite the good reviews on Yelp, I'll be honest, I was pretty skeptical and wasn't expecting much. We've been disappointed with quite a few sushi recommendations in Atlanta that didn't live up.

Our experience was a good one. We had some excellent cuts of fish, and I'll probably go back. (Actually I have been back)

First Impressions: The parking lot is tiny, but we were able to find parking with no problem. The interior was tasteful although I didn't really get much of a chance to soak that in since we decided to be seated outside each time. The outdoor seating is great for a nice relaxing spring day.

Service: The service was pretty good. It wasn't anything spectacular or memorable in this department, but I have no complaints at all.

Food: Fresh fish. Great with the traditional menu but some of the rolls are quite nice. I think it was the tuna tartar roll that has a nice twist to with a wrapping that has smokiness to it. I also had some of the best Ama-ebi here. Overall, I thought the sashimi was pretty well selected, although I feel Tomo has better consistency in quality. I had a grilled seabass here that was delicious. One disappointment was the uni, the time we ordered it. Also, the pork belly pales in comparison to that served at Tomo. (Although you'll pay much more at Tomo for it)

One thing that I've noticed is that Taka has a blog. I'm not sure how well he keeps up with it but he makes information available about the freshest selections and specialty items he is currently serving. You can tell this man has passion for what he does!

All in all, a good experience. It is one of the only four Atlanta restaurants that I will go to for sushi.

Tei Tei Dallas, TX

I'm not going to review this one on yelp because I can't justify giving it a four, but I don't want to give it a three either but it fits somewhere in there.

It has been a long time since I have written. Trust me, there are many places I would have liked to blog about but it has been a bit hectic in my life lately. I am trying to get back into the groove of things though.

This entry has nothing to with Atlanta. After recommendations from friends and a bit of help from Yelp, we ended up at a place called Tei Tei Robata Bar located on North Henderson. The area seems to be a center of good eats, or at least restaurants with many people lined up to get in. The restaurant wasn't incredibly large, but there was a separate bar area where you could drink and have appetizers while waiting for a table, and be enticed by the smokey aromas of the grill.

It was a fun environment with an attentive staff and friendly manager. This certainly helped with the experience because the food did not live up to the recommendations. Off night? I'm not sure. The food was still good and I'd probably be willing to try it again. Also, in all fairness, we had all recently returned from Japan. (unfair comparison)

I think the best course of the night was the sea bass.

All in all, I'd like to try this place some time again in the future. I wasn't particularly "wowed" by anything on the night we went, but I think it has potential. The restaurant was formerly part of another group (with one called Teppo) so it appears that perhaps they are trying to find their bearings right now. The staff also seem quite passionate for the restaurant, so I'm hoping for better on return. As for now, it is a bit more trendy and glam than solid good eats. It is worth a try for a fun night though.