Two of us went to Live Sushi on a Sunday afternoon; finding parking was not a problem. The music played seemed more appropriate for a club than a sushi restaurant. Our server was great! We started off with the hamachi salad which was excellent, very fresh and crisp. Then we had the Nemo scallops which were very bland and not warm enough. We then had two sushi rolls, the DJ and the Rainbow. The DJ was very spicy with jalapeno slices but we both love spicy. The rainbow was excellent as well, nice and crunchy. We also decided to have the teriyaki chicken dinner, which is actually my favorite. The portions are big, the chicken was very tender, and the sauce is the perfect amount of sweetness. We also had the sashimi albacore side dish which is also excellent; very fresh. However, the Mochi ice cream was nothing out of the ordinary. If I were to be in the area craving sushi I would stop by.
Name: Rachel
Occupation: Physical Therapist
Location: Corte Madera
Favorite Restaurant: Bistro Vis à Vis
Reviewed Live Sushi: Saturday, April 13, 2013
Live Sushi is a high-end romantic oasis nestled between a funeral parlor and seedy bars in the outer Mission area of San Francisco with precarious street parking. My husband jokingly asked his six-foot-four brother to hold his hand as we walked to the address. However, once you walk in, the atmosphere is calm and sophisticated with pleasant background music. The service is polite, attentive and accommodating. Cucumber-adorned water is served immediately as well as some of the best fresh wasabi and ginger I have ever had. The sake menu is extensive and Joe is very knowledgeable and gave a wonderful description of a variety of different sakes before he recommended the “special” Tedorigawa cold sake that was delicious and superbly complemented the fish. However it ended up being about three times more expensive than what I have commonly paid for other comparable cold sakes.
The fish we ordered was incredibly fresh and well presented by very talented sushi chefs. Each dish was smartly adorned with flowers, green leaves or fruit but they were not overly fussy. The sashimi melts in your mouth, especially the “special” Blue Fin toro that also ended up being three times more expensive as well. They partially redeemed themselves by serving us samples of mini Spanish mackerel toro and their signature Cherry Bomb, a cream cheese salmon and rice ball that we enjoyed. The uni is firm and delectable with the perfect mustard color and a pleasant odor. The giant clam is sweet and crisp. The chef opens the live giant clam and literally slaps it to make if firm up and sprinkles it with salt before nestling it onto a bed of rice. The perfect ending to the meal was the complimentary Mochi ice cream served in 3 flavors: floral green tea, rich sesame and refreshing citrus. I would return to Live Sushi and recommend it to friends for a special night out, but I would warn them to stick to the standard menu and watch out for the price on the “specials.”
