I've tried. Twice! Once on my birthday (too many people/too short notice for a reservation) and once for lunch (closed). I didn't try hard enough, because although sushi is my favorite food in the world, I'm really, really cheap sometimes. And I've heard how easy it is to drop $100 at Uchi and leave hungry. So I held out. And now, I'm glad I did.
Uchiko is the new spin-off of Austin's hippest sushi restaurant -- “child of Uchi,” loosely translated. And though Uchiko has not yet opened to the public, I'm on the email list (thanks, Jodi!) of the PR people who represent Uchi, Uchiko, and Gumbo's, among others.
So when I got an email a couple of weeks ago inviting me to Uchiko's soft opening at 50% of the regular menu price, I jumped. Literally. Out of my seat. Then I quickly sat back down and frantically replied to the PR contact. Once my reservation was secure, I suggest Jodi and Adam contact and make it a four top.
I studied the Uchiko menu days before our reservation; I even printed it out and circled the items I planned to try. I didn't want to be unfamiliar and overwhelmed by the options.
All told, our dinner came to $60 a person (that included a healthy 25% tip; the service was fabulous). Would I go back and pay $120 for the exact same meal? Grudgingly, and it'll have to be a very special occasion. But our comment card, which allowed us to rate everything on a 1-5 scale, came to a 4.75 average as agreed upon by our Party of 4. We left very, very happy -- and very, very full.
Here are some photos, with a promise to fill in actual details later. For now, Top Chef (Season 7, episode 3) awaits!
Wow, that's awesome you got to try it out at 50% off! There is no meal I would pay $120 for, unless I was about to declare bankruptcy or die.
ReplyDeleteThen I won't tell you what we paid for our dinner at the Royal Mail in Australia! But the more I think about it, there are plenty of places in Austin where I can get very good sushi for $25-$45 ... so like I said, it would have to be a very special occasion. Like a rich uncle footing the bill :)
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me, next time my parents visit, I need to convince them that they want to eat at Fonda San Miguel.
ReplyDeletehahaha!!! FSM has the *best* mole in central Texas. next year for your birthday, you need to have your friends (ahem!) take you there. :)
ReplyDeleteThat was a memorable and delicious meal. We loved sharing it with you two!
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