by Aaron D. on Even though the experience was slightly uneven, I still think Hayakawa is one of the best Japanese restaurants that I have had the pleasure of visiting in the U.S. (The only U.S. cities where I have had better Japanese food experiences are New York at Geido and Boca Raton at Morimoto Sushi Bar.) First of all, Mr. Hayakawa himself is an extremely gracious host. Second, the ikura (salmon roe) are simply amazing. If you like ikura, you have to try these. The cooked appetizers that we tried - ika (squid) and tako (octopus) - were delicious. The green tea and the sushi rice - the bedrocks of a good Japanese food experience - were perfect. The ambience is very nice and comfortable. The wait staff is good - professional and courteous. I tried the Zuke Don (collection of fresh cut fish marinated in house special wasabi Soy sauce arranged over sushi rice) since I had never seen it on a menu before and thought the fish cuts were a little rough. I also think I just prefer regular chirashi to fish that has been marinated in sauce. In any case, I hope to go back and try regular sushi or chirashi, after which I fully expect that I'll be able to elevate Sushi House Hayakawa to a 5-star rating. Overall, this was a wonderful experience and a fond memory.
by Peter Y. on I see a lot of mixed reviews for Opera. Seems people either love it or hate it.....well, I guess I'm right in the middle. There are merits to both sides of the arguments but as the occasional club goer, the Top 40's music, long lines, and overpriced drinks are expected so it doesn't bother me much. As I walked up this fine Saturday evening, I was a little hesitant to get in line because it just looked like a tiring wait but it actually moved very fast and I probably got in the door 20 mins later. By midnight, the main dance area was packed so our party moved around a bit. I survey the layout and my favorite part was the outdoor balcony. As far as the interior goes, the layout is a little weird and I didn't really notice any of the decorations. Looking up, I noticed the VIP/ bottle service section. I would like to go up there one day but paying hundreds of dollars for bottle service just isn't my thing. Maybe I'm just getting cantankerous in my old age. I don't go clubbin anymore but I would come back here.
by Oleta Wenstrand on Please PEOPLE, if you aren't going to drink real Champagne (and I'm not talking here about cheap California sparkling wine), then there is NO REASON for you to come here! With all the bars in the city, why come here and ruin my evening? This is a Champagne LOUNGE, not a BAR! With all due respect to Amy L., you are absolutely right, this is not your place. Please don't come in here looking for Pabst. With all due respect to Janelle T., if I saw you here in that gold dress and those gold pumps, I would say that the crowd is not my favorite too. With all due respect to Josh "cheap bastard" G., this is not the place to be cheap, nor a bastard. With all due respect to Eric W., maybe when you move out of the frat house you should try coming here again. With all due respect to Tommy O., you and your homies can flash your silly gang signs somewhere else. With all due respect to Robert "I like cheap" L., why are you ordering ghetto-ass Long Island Iced Tea at a Champagne lounge? With all due respect to all these people, I'm sorry you did not enjoy the Bubble Lounge. But in not enjoying what could be a really unique and enjoyable place, you have made the experience all the worse for the rest of us. Next time, try to put more thought into where you are going to get hammered, but PLEASE don't do it at the Bubble Lounge!
