Sono Japanese Restaurant

The food is great. The sushi is fresh and the variety is nice. I love that they have some items that other places don't have...such as Japanese snapper(yummy) and giant clam among many other fresh fish. Their entrees are not authentic yet very well presented and tasty too. Their special rolls are delicious as well but at time too heavy on the sauces....I always ask the server to tell them go light on the sauces or sometimes on the side. I love this place. I really think this place has the top dogs(waraji, mura, kanki) beat. I go here about once a week and haven't had a bad meal yet...even when it's really busy like on weekends. The servers tend to run around a bit when busy but that's to be expected when the place is packed and people are in line. I've tried almost all their menu items and I only found that I wasn't too fond of the scallop appetizer...maybe because I'm not really a salsa person but that's just me. Overall, the place looks nice and the food is amazing....when you get a chance or are lucky to catch him behind the sushi bar..sit in front of the young co-owner that works there..he usually gives you little tastes here and there and sometimes even some desserts. I really enjoyed the strawberries with melon sauce...I told him he should put it in the menu.

Pros: Everything. All was very good.
Cons: inconsistant temperatures...sometimes too cold and sometimes hot.

I am so happy to finally see a great sushi restaurant in the area. A great addition to the downtown dining repotoir along with Mint and Fins. This is a fabulous restaurant with great food and awesome sushi. I've been here multiple times and only had one sketchy experience...even then, the manager handled the situation very nicely and turned the situation around to make it a great experience for us. It does get a little crowded and loud in the weekends but it is a small place...definitely make a reservation on the weekends or come in early because this place is packed at peak hours. I hear that this place is owned by the same person that owns Mura but I think this place sets it self apart. Don't get me wrong..I've been to Mura and had a good experience most of the time, but overall... this place is a step above in taste, presentation, and service. Great to have you guys here.

Pros: Wonderful food and sushi
Cons: Way too cold inside...but let them know and they'll turn it down.

After looking at the menu for the first time and found lots of non-traditional items I was a little worried that this was just another "NOBU" wanna-be but decided to sit at the sushi bar and try them out. I was surprised by the extensive sushi items on the sushi menu and that they carried so many fresh fish. So I began by asking the sushi chefs what was good and they recommended surprisingly large number of things...usually they will either say "they are all good" or just mention one or two things. I had the kanpachi, japanese snapper, blue fin tuna, toro, flounder, giant clam and few of their special rolls along with risotto that the server recommended for my companion. I was very satisfied with the quality (extrememly fresh). The sushi and sashimi was one of the best I've tasted in these area in a long time and their screaming o roll was great...a must try for roll lovers. And the risotto..I didn't have much expectation since it's a Japanese restaurant but wow..it was delicious and my companion loved it. I'm a sushi freak and I dine at japanese restaurants frequently...around two to three times a week. I usually dine at Waraji or Mura but this is a great find. I am anxious to visit this place again soon and If it's as good as the first time... they'll be seeing me alot more often.

Pros: Very good sushi and sashimi selection and the freshness. Risotto was a delightful surprise
Cons: I bit chilly inside...valet parking service(slow but atleast it was free)...little loud for my comfort

This place is run by the same successful duo who own Mura in North Hills. Very nice interior with stylish bar in front, booths, tables and sushi bar in back.

Got off to a rocky start when I ordered my usual Gibson and the waiter returned from the bar saying they had no cocktail onions. Choose a bottle of sake instead.

The menu presents some items I doubt are on most Japanese menus you've seen before: sauted foie gras with sweet ginger glaze and butter poached lobster tail with saffron tofu cream sauce---to name just two.

Seaweed salad with frise, cucumber and mustard vinaigrette is large and very satisfying.

I had one of the sushi bar's special maki (roll), Tuna Ecstasy: crab salad and tempura shrimp topped with a salad of spicy tuna and cherry tomatoes. Very good.

Pan seared sea bass with truffle soy reduction was cooked perfectly with a wonderful buttery crunch on one side. But, the overall dish was way too sweet and a turn-off for me. Served with a very good risotto (and plenty of it!) plus some asparagus.

Although dinner was okay, I really think I want to return to Sono for lunch. The sandwich menu looks great: kobe beef burgers, pork tenderloin burgers, Korean bulgogi Philly cheese steak, panko white fish filet with wasabi tartar sauce--- all served with sweet potato french fries.

Total bill: $100 for two, before tip, booze included, no dessert.

Next time I'm in the neighborhood for dinner, I'll go to Fins instead!

Excellent sashimi. Also, their specialty roll is the Screaming O. We had it, and it's definitely worth the risk, as it was very nicely prepared. Free valet parking is nice also. However, it took 15 minutes to retrieve our car maybe because it was 9p Saturday when we left. Service was good. Quite a romantic evening downtown, and sushi always makes us a little randy. Very nice place.

Pros: Great sushi. Great location. Quite romantic for a sushi place.
Cons: Kinda high dollar. Valet took 15 minutes or more to retrieve our car.