Insider Pages Reviews for Bond St. Beverly Hills

1 Stars: Maybe not for lunch (by greenpaz)

greenpaz — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:00:00 GMT

We came here for a late lunch (1:30 or so) recently, and the place was only about half-full. Nonetheless, the hostess told us she only had one menu for us to share. Much later, while we were waiting for our waiter to notice us, she came back with another one. The waiter did finally notice us, came by to say he?d be right with us, but didn?t return to take our order for several minutes. Such slow service is odd considering most restaurants understand that weekday lunches need to move along quickly. (Strangely, we saw the occasional employee walking quickly by, with nothing in their hands, looking rushed, and then returning in the same rushed manner, also with nothing in their hands.) After waiting a while, my wife saw that the manager was walking by and checked her watch with a somewhat dramatic but very sincere look of exasperation. Miraculously, the food materialized soon after, but way later than it should have. (It also took the waiter way too long to proffer the bill after we?d asked for it.) It turns out there was a party of 20 somewhere else in the restaurant ? at least, that was the explanation we got from one of the busboys, who apologized for the slowness of service. Oh, also, the fire alarm went off toward the end of our meal. No explanation was offered.

Party of 20 or not, it?s hard to explain a lot of the delays (it was a sushi restaurant ? most of the food we ordered needed to be prepared, but not cooked), particularly the valet parking ? another interminable wait while they brought our car up, though no other patrons were around. The sushi was decent but not extraordinary. Perhaps dinners are better, but the next time I want a sushi lunch, I?m heading elsewhere.

4 Stars: Nice atmosphere (by merchantglobal)

merchantglobal — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Ok a restaurant shouldnt need to pump up its own reviews on this site and others, having said that, the place is posh. There is a nice rooftop bar with views of glittering LA, and reasonably priced small plates and appetizers. Cabanas are available with bottle service, but you don't need one to get in. I'd recommend this as a good date spot, not too crowded, and nice atmosphere.

5 Stars: Best Sushi in La! (by Katies23)

Katies23 — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

"I went to the newly vamped Bond Street last night and couldn't have been more impressed, in fact as a someone who makes a concentrated effort to try every sushi joint in town, I REALLY couldn't have been more impressed. The food and service were beyond the pale, fantastic, wonderful -- My boyfriend and I wanted to stop in for a few dishes before a party in the neighborhood and couldn't leave. It was a true delight for all the senses, and would highly HIGHLY go beyond recommending it and push my fellow Angelinos through the door. Our server, Jay P, so charming, on his game, and nice help me, with my many food allergies navigate the menu and allowed me to have a side order of what I believe will turn into a city famous spicy tuna. We recognized a flavor palette from the yellowtail restaurant in the Bellagio in Vegas and when we asked our server, the new executive chef came out and greeted us. He, too, was incredibly charming, so down to earth, not to mention he created delicate and fun sushi that you just don't see on the LA seen. From Katsuya to Nobu, this place is like no other. It combines small bites, with great roles and intresting sashimi dishes. This is just a new brand of sushi, and it is worth a try. The manager also greeted our table, was incredibly cordial and welcoming. The chef sent over farmer's marker fresh sorbet on the house and beautiful melt in your mouth bon bons that he was trying for the sushi house. We are continually in shock and awe, laughing, as each dish was more delicate and beautiful than the last. Even more incredible was the service: In a city where you often hear "no substitutions" or an unwillingness to accommodate those with food allergies, this super chic high-end establishment could not have been more accommodating.

My prediction to the manager was that this place with this new commitment to service, presentation, and food, will be jammed by the end of the month. I just hope I can get a seat!"

5 Stars: Better than ever! (by sammietorino)

sammietorino — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I've been to BondSt several times and it's always been good. I heard they have a new chef so some friends and I went in last night to see if anything was different. It was AMAZING. The menu still has some of their old dishes but I'd say about half of them are new. The manager was really nice and sent out these tuna tarts for us to try. They were so good that we ordered 2 more. The other dish that I really liked was the pork belly with olive oil powder. At first we all thought it was feta cheese but the manager explained to us that it was olive oil powder. Once you eat it, it turns to liquid in your mouth. I forgot exactly what the process was but he said the chef uses a lot of modern techniques in his dishes. Whatever. It was great. Whether you have been or not, definitely check it out.

5 Stars: Best Restaurant EVER!! (by StaceyRodgers)

StaceyRodgers — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I LOVE Bond St!! They have the BEST food! The Chilean Sea Bass is to die for!! Not to mention the spicy crispy shrimp!! I would recommend it to anyone! Great food, fun atmosphere and GREAT drinks!! Try the pear one.. forget the name but its great!!

5 Stars: Great Environment and Fantastic Food (by Rocky84)

Rocky84 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I recently went to Bond ST. in Beverly Hills and it was fantastic!! This was my first time going and it was for a friend's birthday. I had the sesame crusted shrimp roll. Overall, the service was excellent and the vibe was definitely very chill. Would be a great place for a date!!

4 Stars: New Chef! (by chilipep)

chilipep — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

So I have been to BondSt. a couple of times, the food was pretty good but nothing really "wowed" me enough to make it memorable. But, I went last night with a good friend and I have to say I was really impressed. They were offering some pretty stellar specials one of which I ordered. I had a pork belly dish that was beyond tasty. Our server told us that they have a new chef and the specials are kind of a preveiw for the new menu he is going to roll out in the next few weeks. If the specials are truley an indication of what is to come, I just might have to become a regular. I will def be back!

1 Stars: Only go to the one in NYC -- where you will be treated with respect. (by ced16)

ced16 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I'm incredibly disappointed. After going to Bond St. in NYC for 10 years (I am even on their Christmas card list!), I moved to LA. I was so excited that a branch was opening in LA.

I've been four times since they opened. The food has been almost as good to just as good (depending on the visit), but what happened yesterday compelled me to write my first review on Citysearch ever...

I arrived in the afternoon. There was exactly one other patron in the entire place. The woman who sat me was very sweet. The waiter on the other hand could not have been more rude. There were no pleasantries, he acted as if my presence was an inconvenience, I had to flag down the hostess to get more water, he didn't say anything when he delivered my food, was clearly exasperated by my being there, no "thank you" when he delivered my check...I paid for my food, STILL tipped the guy 15% (I don't know why), and then paid $7 to pick up my car at valet, plus a tip. One would think that in these economic times, one might be trying to retain customers, not make they feel as if they don't belong there.

I still make it back to NYC for work and still go to the "Bond St." there. At the Bond St. in NYC, the people and atmosphere are top rate. Maybe that's why they're still thriving, and this LA outpost was nearly empty.

Regardless, I will never go back to the one in Beverly Hills. If it's the same owner(s), I hope he/she/they have a serious chat with the folks running the LA operation.

They're giving one of my favorite haunts a very bad name.

5 Stars: Go to Bond St. (by GinosPizza)

GinosPizza — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Don't believe all the haters, this place is legit. I certainly don't work at Bond St., but I'm giving it a glowing review anyway. I've been there maybe a dozen times and each time I've had a great dinner with great service. I strongly recommend any of the sushi selections, as well as the beef short ribs, and the sea bass. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but those are my favorites. To the person who complained about the portion sizes - get a life. This is fine Japanese cuisine, not the bloody Cheesecake Factory! Show me a Japanese restaurant with huge portions and I'll show you a Benihana. The staff is courteous and helpful. Perhaps if you got an attitude from them you did something to deserve it. Each time I've been there, the staff , including the managers, has made it a great, fun experience. I'll keep going to Bond St. as my top choice for Japanese in this town. The staff, food, and atmosphere can't be beat.

5 Stars: totally worth the trip (by supper368)

supper368 — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Just got back from the poorly reviewed Bond ST. and have to say that the LA times got it WRONG. The vibe was great. I was expecting some pretentiousness from all the reviews I read but quite the opposite. The staff was cool. They were actually chill yet informative. I usually have sushi at the beginning of the meal but I went through the motions, you know to have the full experience. I was worried at first that I'd be too full but not the case. I left happy not stuffed...with a cool buzz and won't have to get a second job to pay the tab! We were invited to the lounge for drinks which was nice. The music was cool so we scoped out a sofa and grabbed it and camped out till we reached our limit. Gotta say the Thompson and bond st. are quite a destination. Food 3 stars, service 3 stars, ambiance 10 stars!!! we'll totally be back.

5 Stars: incredible entrees (by ididyoursisterlastnight)

ididyoursisterlastnight — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

The chicken was amazing! I know...who goes to a sushi restaurant for chicken but seriously, it ROCKED! Crispy crunchy top and juicy on the inside. Service does need some fine tuning, no doubt but my food stole the show so I kind of blocked out that part. I tried cold sake for the first time. Not sure which one I had (the list has a lot of choices) but it was very fruity and refreshing. Used to the hot stuff which always makes me feel good but this was a new experience and I'll definantly try it again. I doubt ill get a chance to go to New york to compare so it's LA all the way for me

4 Stars: not bad (by winey1)

winey1 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I actually had a good experience. We must have ordered right. The waiter was helpful with recommendations and even steered us away from dishes he didn't think were great. He did seem a little miffed when we ordered a few things to share.. there were just 2 of us girls and even with our shared plates and drinks we still spent over $130 before tip so he didn't need to get so huffy! : ) The dishes don't seem too bad price-wise but it adds up quickly!

1 Stars: HORRIBLE ON ALL LEVELS!! (by betty696969)

betty696969 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

All of the good reviews are from people that work there... they are trying to make it sound better than it is.
This place is a rip off and heavily guilty of "tryin too hard" to be cool.

Go to someplace else!

4 Stars: Super Cute place!!! (by simplyjg)

simplyjg — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I had a friend staying at The Thompson Hotel and we decided to try their restaurant. Surprisingly the place is hip and had good service. The food was surprisingly good too. The table for two are really tiny so order a little bit at a time. The place had a good atmosphere.

5 Stars: Rockin Saturday Night (by thawk)

thawk — Sun, 11 May 2008 02:00:00 GMT

just got back from Bond St. Beverly Hills. Great sake list. The vibe there is awesome, service was informed and not pretentious. I was kind of worried since it's in beverly hills and the thompson hotel but everyone was so friendly. The spring rolls were tight, full and crisp. SPICY SHRIMP are finger licking good, even with chop sticks. We loaded up on sushi but saved room for the short ribs and NY steak. Totally worth the visit and its now our new "go to" restaurant for all celebrations. Panna Cotta was like silk. You can't get this food anywhere else in LA

5 Stars: Cool place, authentic flavors, nice people watching (by nightr1der)

nightr1der — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

A friend who has lived in NYC and LA said I should check this place out. Yesterday I took a friend visiting from out of town. Good recommendation. Busy, dark and sophisticated, friendly vibe, s@xy place to catch up and people watch. Feels more urban than the surrounding environment or perhaps most of LA. It is upscale and prices are to match, dinner and drinks for two were $161, so... not the kind of place I will eat every night, but definitely quality. Some true authentic flavors in the dishes too. Service was classy and genuine. I need an expense account so I can go to places like this more often.

5 Stars: GREAT service and quality food! (by lovezoe)

lovezoe — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I am from Japan and I am picky with my Japanese food, but this place was pretty awesome. My husband and I went there on late Thursday night, and the place was all booked so we ate at the bar down stairs. The handsome Asian bartender was so friendly and attentative. We ended up having lots of dishes and drinks (perfectly made always). The portions were small, but that's normal for Japanese food in Japan. The quality of food was good and I appreciated the excellent service. I'm not sure if we enjoyed the food more or the lively conversation with the staff. I would go back there again just to relax after a stressful work day.

1 Stars: smallest pieces of sushi I have ever seen (by crchen)

crchen — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Sure, the ambiance is great, and I know this is Beverly Hills, but can they make the sushi any smaller? For my birthday, my girlfriends took me to Bond St for dinner. We ordered several dishes to try, but all the portions were very very small. Take for example our cut roll order, the pieces were cut to the size of a quarter. I still wasn't fully satisfied after several orders of sushi and other appetizer/entree dishes, so I decided to order a bowl of soba noodles to "fill up" a little. When the noodles came out, I kid you not in that I can pretty much count how many pieces of noodles there were. It looked like someone already had eaten more than half the bowl of noodles, and what they served to us was leftover. On top of that, the service was EXTREMELY slow. I wasn't kidding when I commented that they were probably out fishing for the sushi meat. If it's sushi you want, go to Urasawa. If it's ambiance and sushi you want, go elsewhere like Koi or Nobu.

5 Stars: Fun Fun Fun (by foody888)

foody888 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Great experience from the lounge upstairs for pre-meal drinks to the amazing atmosphere of the dining room. It was so great i had to come back and try lunch the next day. Also great!! Try the Bento Box.

5 Stars: Love the Food! (by chefnic)

chefnic — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

We've been to Bond St, NY many times. I used to be a Chef in NY. My husband and I love to eat. When we lived in NY we used to go to a new restaurant every weekend. Bond St was one of our favorite places. We recently visited LA and heard that there's a Bond St in Beverly Hills. We tried it out over the weekend and I have to say, it's just as good as it is in NY. I am a big fan of their sushi chef, Chef Hiroshi Nakahara and as expected he delivers with amazing sushi. We also tried out some of their entrees and it was equally good--maybe even better. Everything on their menu is delicious--you can't go wrong. I definitely recommend this restaurant.

5 Stars: Best Ambiance, Best Food, Best Service (by niclovesfood)

niclovesfood — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Wide variety of wine and sake. Service was superb! Love the restaurant's vibe. Decor was very trendy but not over the top. Best of al, the FOOD WAS FANTASTIC!!! We ordered a sushi platter that was out of this world. We also ordered the seaweed salad, scallops, sea bass, and chicken. Everything was season properly and cooked to perfection. Hats off to the Chef! I can't remember the last time we enjoyed LA dining this much.

5 Stars: Best Food (by ncabs)

ncabs — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I just moved from NY, and I love the Bond St. When I found out they were opening one in Beverly Hills, I was so excited. Finally had time to check it out and my husband and I both loved it. Love the decor! The hotel and the restaurant is just gorgeous. Love the food! I recommend the sea bass for your entree, and the steak tartare for your appetizer. You also can't go wrong with the omakase. Definitely worth every penny! Great dining experience.

4 Stars: love the sushi!! (by Thomas557)

Thomas557 — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

one of the best sushi and japanese restaurant in the area
the crab rolls are incredible, the service very good
dont miss it

1 Stars: horrible vibe in the lounge - don't waste your time!!! (by redeyeregular)

redeyeregular — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

As someone who works a few blocks away, I was so excited to have a new after work spot. While dinner downstairs in the restaurant is worthwhile (the sesame crusted shrimp roll rocks!), the lounge is a waste of space.

I have visited the lounge several times to check it out, and every time it was completely empty. I really wanted to be able to entertain my clients there, but it is not welcoming at all. One night, my clients really wanted to have dinner at Bond St, so we headed up to the lounge for pre-dinner cocktails.

The scowling manager who thinks he's too cool for school refused to let us sit down at a table unless we ordered food. We had reservations downstairs and simply wanted to enjoy a drink before dinner. Meanwhile, there was literally no one in the entire place. And there were tacky "reserved" signs on every table, as if they wished it was an A-list hotspot. Yeah, right.

So retarded. I can't stand pretentious places with way too much pompous attitude, and nothing to back it up. Please. Why do all of these wannabe trendy places think nastiness = hipness. That's so done.

I ended up taking my clients to the lounge bar (which was also empty), and the surly Eurasian bartender reluctantly made us drinks. He had a chip on his shoulder and seemed bitter and miserable. Wow. No wonder this place is dead. And the bathrooms reek of fermented sewage. Gross.

It's a pity. I work at a top talent agency, and I thought it would be a great place for all of my coworkers to also entertain guests. Well, they just lost out on a TON of business. I've warned everyone at my agency to stay away.

The whole place needs a major attitude adjustment (and new plumbing). There are way more fun and exciting places to have a drink in LA.

5 Stars: Highly recommended (by KellyL81)

KellyL81 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

My friend and I went in last week for dinner and it was amazing. There are so many sushi places in LA and before going I was a afraid this was another one with overly modern decor...like one of those places that wants to come off as "cool" to have sushi when it's really just tacky. My friend told me she's been to the one in NY and that it was good so we decided to give this one a try. I was really impressed by the design and ambience when we arrived. It was simple, classy, and not overdone at all. The food was amazing (my favorite was the braised pork belly) and moderately portioned so we could try quite a few things. Our server was so sweet and great about making suggestions and checking up on us. On top of that she was gorgeous, as was the rest of the staff. I would recommend this place to anyone!

5 Stars: Yeah, not bad... not bad at all. (by LarsV)

LarsV — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Place-Bond St Bev. Hills - Day... BUSY Saturday night.
Hostess-Smokin hot little exotic beauty. (no attitude) Seated in less than 10 minutes. (Party of 3) ...
Server - Another smokin hot beauty (this one -blonde)..."Start us off with signature cocktails?" - Sure! (Gin Basil (thank you, indeed)
Complimentary edamame? (nice touch) ...
Apps -Spicy crispy shrimp (with chipotle aioli sauce), sake braised short rib, and yellowtail sashimi in chili oil -(thanks Mr. Bloom look-a-like)
...
On to the entree's - Sake steamed cod in a black bean broth, NY strip, and grilled lamb ... one word for each - SUPERB.

Sushi? Sure! 6 Bond Nigiri, spicy tuna roll, spicy yellowtail, blue fin toro, sun-dried tomato avocado and then some...(thanks young Mr. Pacino look-a-like).

Overall, smokin staff, friendly, good food, GREAT ambiance, moody lighting always a favorite.
Welcome to LA, Bond St.

4 Stars: Friendly Service! - Hooray!! Oh, and food was fantastic too ;) (by sufisonic)

sufisonic — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I went to Bond St. Beverly Hills with mild enthusiasm as I'd read some less than stellar reviews, but I (along with my party of 6) decided to take the plunge and check it out for ourselves.
The business for a Monday night was busy so we waited about 15 minutes and then they accommodated us with a swanky patio booth in the corner. Our server delighted us with a fantastic personality and promptly took control of our dining experience and we couldn't have been more satisfied! We started with their signature saketinis and a few salads. The organic mixed greens with ginger dressing was ridiculously yummy (considering it sounds like a bore) but every bite surprised. The Duck confit salad with a citrus vin was stellar as well.

We shared a few plates of the Sea Bass (in some sort of sweet miso sauce with poached japanese white radish) - Excellent!!!! And a few NY strips that were to die for (along with fried dice potatoes and an 18 year aged reduced balsamic - my husbands favorite dish, of course.

The sushi was spectacular - our server selected the 6 Bond Nigiri, Sushi Sextet (both on the exotic side), and about 5 other rolls (most notable - the spicy tuna roll with chili mayo, and the arugula crispy potato roll with carrot ginger dressing) ...All of our sushi came on a MASSIVE platter beautifully presented and with a side of fresh wasabi hand grated from the root!

All this to say, my party and I were happy with the food but particularly refreshed with our server who was genuine and keen on meeting our every need. The rest of the wait staff seemed friendly as well, (Thank you hostess for not giving us attitude, and kudos to the cute guy(s) bringing our food and letting us know what we're eating)
We will be back again, I'm sure ... but next time - a girls night out without the husbands for more of those Saketini's!! ;)

5 Stars: A stunning decore with the special addition of a professional/friendly staff (oh, and great food) (by NewYorkBondPatron)

NewYorkBondPatron — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Our Bond Street Restaurant in New York City has become a classic. We are happy to see its bringing new success in Los Angeles (certainly a refuge for jetlagged New Yorkers). The restaurant is a visual treat even as you go to your table. The staff friendly and professional (a hard balance to achieve). The food--simply superb and a good balance of entres. Don't neglect the deserts!

1 Stars: Stick to NY... (by hungryinhollywood28)

hungryinhollywood28 — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I had the horrible misfortune of going on a business dinner at Bond Street this past Friday night. We requested at 7pm reservation but were told they could only do 7:30. When we arrived at 6:45 for predinner drinks, the restaurant was empty. And by empty, I mean literally 3 tables had people seated at them. We sat and had drinks in a small area so dark we had to use candles to read the special offerings. Since we were a party of 7, we thought it best to ask the waiter to bring food for the table instead of having everyone order individually. Well, the waiter could not have been more confused by this. 2 hours and almost $1000 later, we were done and I left hungry. The only positive to this place is the handsome assortment of young waiters who make up for their lack of food service experiene with good looks. If you are looking for Asian food in the Beverly Hills area stick with some staples as this restaurant missed the mark.

5 Stars: New sushi fan (by toini)

toini — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

We stayed at the Thompson Hotel for a week when we were in town visiting our daughter. One of the nights she insisted we go to the restaurant in the hotel called Bond Street. When I heard it was Japanese my immediate reaction was no, absolutely not. But she guaranteed I would love it, so we made a reservation. In the back of my mind I thought, well Ican always order a sandwich from room service when I get back. To my surprise I loved everything that was brought to the table! I've never been crazy about sushi, but everyday for the remainder of our stay, my husband and I went to the bar for our afternoon martinis and had a little sushi snack. My favorites were the hot eel roll, arugula roll and short ribs. The staff was very attentive and pleasant. Even for breakfast we were always greeted with a smile, I guess that's what CA weather will do to you. The breakfast was also topnotch. We will definately come back next time we're in town.

5 Stars: Excellent service and great food (by DntheV)

DntheV — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Well well, after all the hype and talk around town I finally decided to go and check out the venerable Bond St. When I arrived I was greeted by a very attractive host who sat my wife and I immediately. So far so good. We asked the waiter for some of his recomendations and he listed off some things that were supposedly "amazing" in his words. Well, he was right! Even though he looked like Brad Pitt with an odd haircut. We had the best greens salad I've ever had, the spicy shrimp were amazing, and I almost died when I tasted the seabass...because it was soo damn good. The waiter was extremely knowledgable about the menu and was even able to make some intelligible recomendations on a bottle of sake we ordered. All in all I'd say that for being open for a few months they really have it dialed in. And oh yes...you must try the seabass! Great atmosphere, love the ambiance, I'll be back.

5 Stars: One Star My FANNY! (by dannyb819)

dannyb819 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Don't believe all the haters, this place is legit. I certainly don't work at Bond St., but I'm giving it a glowing review anyway.

I've been there maybe a dozen times and each time I've had a great dinner with great service. I strongly recommend any of the sushi selections, as well as the beef short ribs, and the sea bass. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but those are my favorites.

To the person who complained about the portion sizes - get a life. This is fine Japanese cuisine, not the bloody Cheesecake Factory! Show me a Japanese restaurant with huge portions and I'll show you a Benihana.

The staff is courteous and helpful. Perhaps if you got an attitude from them you did something to deserve it. Each time I've been there, the staff , including the managers, has made it a great, fun experience.

I'll keep going to Bond St. as my top choice for Japanese in this town. The staff, food, and atmosphere can't be beat.

5 Stars: Go to BONDST (by buddahvibe)

buddahvibe — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

So we went to BondST after hearing all of the hype about the sushi and the attractive staff, thinking that it be like any trendy new restaurant in LA...big deal about very little. We were pleansantly surprised and very satisfied after our experience. Firstly, the room and enviornment is very comfortable, the lighting perfectly dim, and the elements of wood, stone and mirrors all sophistically combined. The staff is very attractive, but what is more important: Our server was VERY knowledgable about the food and gave us just the right amount of attention. The food was delicious! Especially the spicy crispy shrimp, short ribs, spicy tuna roll, and the wagyu tataki. Our server suggested we check out the lounge upstairs after dinner; once we were at the top of the ominously dark staircase, we were in LOVE! This room looks like they picked it up out of the middle of NYC and dropped it in Bev Hills. The staff upstairs is even more attractive than the ones in the restaurant, and very accomodating. We were offered a table by the very chic japanese hostess, and lounged for an hour and a half sipping delicious Thai Basil cocktails and watching the cool crowd.
All in all, I would highly recommend BondST. A taste of NYC right here in Bev Hills.

5 Stars: Its about time-great service and food (by LA90069)

LA90069 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

You guys all know them, the restaurants we all go to, hard to get in and always a scene. Most of the time, these places are not worth the hype. This place is different. If you want to go out and be treated like you matter, with great food, better than any other sushi place in town, if you add all the elements together, then go here. The service is vastly improved from the 1st time we went, same with the food. Both of those we so/so the first time. But that was in the first month-which is always a little shaky. Plus, we have talked to a few friends and we all agree, we had really high expectations since we have been to the NYC one a few times. Well, they have really gotten it together in the last couple weeks, dead on for matching the New York Bondst. Great atmosphere, actually cooler than the NYC one. Great food, unlike anything here in LA-except little strip mall places, and really HOT staff, knowledgeable and good. Thank goodness we finally have a really cool Japanese place to go to.

5 Stars: Great NY vibe (by oneangelicbabe)

oneangelicbabe — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I went here for the first time last night for appetizers and drinks and I was impressed. Beverly Hills definitely needed a hip, young local hang out without having to drive out to hollywood. Food was good, ambiance was great. highly recommended.

5 Stars: Yummy! Can't wait to go back. (by spkhar)

spkhar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Food is as scrumptious as NY! Great to see that the favorites have made it out west. As always, a great vibe, beautiful people, and delicious cocktails. The service is definitely coming along.

4 Stars: Solid Sushi (by joshua4223)

joshua4223 — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I've been to Bond street a couple times now. Not only do I love some of the rolls but the sushi is delisiously fresh! I also love the steak and the seabass although the first time i had the seabass it, it was much better than the last time. The space is beautiful and a has a cool vibe.

2 Stars: Not Like to NY Restaurant (by Tuberosela)

Tuberosela — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

All I can say is, what a shame. Its nice ot have a trendy NY'y bar in Bev Hills, but I couldnt even finish my sushi it was so mediocre. There are too many sushi places to choose from and in order to stand out, you have to be exceptional, this was not.

3 Stars: Nice place - unfortunately, that didn't save the food. (by adelly)

adelly — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I was excited to hear this New York sushi spot opened an LA outpost in the new Thompson Hotel. I went with my hubby on a Friday night and was impressed with the decor and ambiance. Unfortunately, the food didn't impress me at all. We had the lobster appetizer as well as some other hot appetizers, and all of them were too salty! I didn't think this was a place to get straight out sashimi, so we just ordered a couple of their specialty rolls, and none tasted special (although not bad). For the price of each item (appetizers and rolls rang at about $12-17 each), you could get much better sushi elsewhere. Skip the food and hang out at the bar instead.

1 Stars: Not worth it!!! (by crysucker)

crysucker — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:00:00 GMT

The hype is over rated. NY is much better. Took the waitress some time to get our drink order when we sat down at our table. We had to wait another 20 minutes to get our Sake, another 30 minutes to get the "free" edamame and another 45 minutes to get some sashmi. It is raw fish how much preparation goes into it that worth a 45 minute wait. The food was less then average. The sushi was bland and dry. The shrimp roll was like cardboard. All in all this was a 5 hour dinner for some sushi.

1 Stars: undeniably one of the worst (by JamesonV)

JamesonV — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Great Ambience worst service and below par food. I stopped into Bondst earlier when they were doing their pre-opening tastings and I was very pleased with the quality of food. So pleased I talked about how great the bond stop was and I immediately took a group of friends as soon as it was open to the public. We were sat and we had some questions for our waitress that she couldn't answer we then asked others around us for input and they seemed to have the same cluelessness about the menu that we did. Our food came out completely at random it was below par and we were pretty mad already so it just made me really hot under the collar as I heard our waitress daintly ask if we wanted another bottle of panna and I just forked over my credit card and said im cutting my losses. Now i never leave a "nice" dinner without dessert so even this evening I decided to grab some of their sweets. It took nearly 35 minutes for it to come out!!! I mean we were so ticked i swore to never come back. Well, I decided to give Bond st one last chance yesterday after work since it is close proximity. I had a craving for some real good sashimi I mean I was going to skip past all that fancy mitake verbage and right to the good stuff the blue fin the meat! I stopped in and was a little hesitant to even get a table because I kinda just wanted to order from the sushi chef directly. I sat at a small table and knew what I wanted to order I was ready! My waiter comes over and does his routine I order some tap water this time ;). I explain the various sushi items I was in the mood for and gave him quite a list of good stuff. He waited for me to finish then as if educatiing me tells me that the propper way to eat this cuisine was to first have a cold appetizer then a hot appetizer or soup then a main entree and lastly I should be ordering my sushi! AS IF!!!! I completely kept my cool because I had a female friend coming to meet up and I don't like to loose my cool. I got stiffed again at the Bond

1 Stars: ARE THEY KIDDING? (by tbfreak)

tbfreak — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Decor - excellent
Food - below average - I was told that my seabass was marinated for 2 days! Who wants to eat 2 day old fish! Then on another visit - my cod was served with cold shitaki mushrooms & aspargus.
Service - Yes they are pretty - but not knowledgeable of the food. Also, somewhat rude - when we placed our credit cards down to pay with our parking tickets - we were told to take our tickets upfront for validation. When we went up for validation the hostess was swamped with trying to seat people, so we had to wait. Don't mind waiting - but that system needs work.
Overall- terrible experience.. I would spend my money else where and avoid getting sick with 2 day old fish!

4 Stars: fun place, good drinks (by socajas)

socajas — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

went there with a small group and sat upstairs. good drinks, yummy sushi, excellent service. would go again.

1 Stars: Bond Street not the place for me (by misteryummy)

misteryummy — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

So i was really excited for bond street to open and make it's debut in LA. I stopped in on Tuesday night and decided to try a couple of sakes and as many entrees as I could. First of all the food was so slow coming out of the kitchen and it was not up to par for me. It tasted awefully mediocre and it was priced very high. I tried the chilean sea bass and it was rubbery. I tried the kobe beef and it was cold. I trued the spicy crispy shrimp and it was like beef jerky. I really think bond street needs to step it up if it wants to succeed. I advise everyone planning on going to bond street to take really rethink their plans because you will only be let down.

5 Stars: If you're craving SEXXX-Y, this is IT!! (by SoDelish)

SoDelish — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I rolled my eyes to yet another sushi place coming to LA, as I'm sure most of you did. And now I am ashamed to admit I did this because my mouth had the final word. BondSt has THE epitome of Haute Cuisine!! Sure there are celebrities sitting next to you like Kate Hudson and Derek Jeter, but who cares! They did things with monkfish liver, melt in your mouth short ribs, and creamy shrimp that I could never have imagined. The sushi was so incredibly fresh and right on! The Chilean Sea Bass was to die for and the presentations, well you've just got to see it for yourself!! The sake selection was impressive and kept us warm and fuzzy all over. Our server taught us how sake is to wine with a meal, and how to pair it with our courses. That was a real treat. I know it's a new place, and I'm sure they have a few kinks to work out, but the food- DEAD ON my friends!! I have been back 3 times in 2 weeks... HELP!! Let's not even go into the desserts... I'm going to rehab because of their hand-churned black sesame ice cream. It's a SIN!

5 Stars: Definitly the place to go for a FUN or ROMANTIC night!!!!!!!!!!! (by EAD2008)

EAD2008 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I was very curious about going to this new LA eatery because of what I had experienced in the times visiting the NY location--absolute fun! I was pleasently surprised to see the beautiful design and the attractive staff. The lighting was nice. I went with a group of girls, but am very excited to go back with my boyfriend next week. Best place in BH for fun or romance. The food took a little longer than maybe it should have, but it was definitely worth the wait and our waitress was very kind. I recommend the fuji apple salad, the kurabuta spring rolls and the seshwan (spelling?) yellowtail were all amazing. I tried many other things off my friends plate, but those stick in my head as my favorite! Their cocktails were fabulous as well, my personal favorite the lychee martini. I will def be back to BondST for another fun night out with my friends. Especially since the word is that the roof will be opening soon!

Also, just come prepared that parking may take a little longer than desired.

1 Stars: BOND ST. KEEP THE SAKE COMING (by jessemcklin)

jessemcklin — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

the food was below avergae quality and I swear I saw a rodent scurry towards the light of the kitchen besides that the food was very slow coming out and the service was pushy make sure you dont ask for flat water or you'll ahve to buy another small bottle of pana for every refill. I was pretty much let down by bond street.

2 Stars: dissapointment (by CartierLighter)

CartierLighter — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Well what can I say I have always been a optimistic person and try to look on the brighter side of things. As far as my visit to Bond St. Beverly Hills over the weekend the brighter sides of things are limited but still worthy of mention. First of all the cocktails are amazing gin basil, lychee martini's, sweet saketini's are gum lickingly satisfying to the very last drop. If you want my suggestion just come to Bond Street for the drinks. I have to say that the service was painfully bad. Expect to have a waiter or waitress that will attempt at ordering for the table and trying to wrack up the bill in the name of "shared" proportions. This would be fine if the food could back it up and if the service was to par. The service was bad for us and the surrounding tables. The food came out and some of it was actually lukewarm. I don't know about you guys but I love my sashimi ice cold. Order the scallop carpaccio it comes on ice ;). I tried just about everything and even smiled when my waiter came over to see if I was buying his Bs about the food being incredible yet still I couldn't explain to my friends why I was exctied to eat at this place tonight. Bond Street needs an extreme makeover starting with the food and working foward. Great space and great cocktails though and the lounge is a nice place to check out too.

5 Stars: LOVED IT! (by nick1900)

nick1900 — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

OH! The place was amazing!! Every place in LA is the same with the same boring food and same boring ambiance, but not Bondst. The people on here that wrote the bad reviews need to stay away because you are bad taste with bad energy that no one wants to kiss. Anyway, Bondst is the perfect place for a date, meeting, or anyone you want to impress. It has an amazing energy to it with a wonderful alluring ambiance with a gorgeous staff that makes you want to come just for the eye candy : ) But seriously, when normal people go out to eat they want to have a cool hip place, good food, and relaxing atmosphere with professionals. A.K.A. Bondst in Beverly Hills. You must try the Chilean SeaBass with a spicy tuna roll....simply amazing. Oh and another thing to those writing nasty reviews, what do you expect when a business first opens? That everything goes perfectly? Well, wake up, it doesn't. Try reading a wall street or NY times instead of "O" for a change. Go to Bondst if you want a scene with good food...period.

3 Stars: aoua (by divinentd)

divinentd — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Be yourself: Write like you?d talk to a friend. Are you a burrito expert? Was this your first massage? Say so. Be yourself: Write like you?d talk to a friend. Are you a burrito expert? Was this your first massage? Say so. Be yourself: Write like you?d talk to a friend. Are you a burrito expert? Was this your first massage? Say so.

4 Stars: Impressed (by tedonthetown)

tedonthetown — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I did NOT love Bond St. in NY so many years ago and even went just a few back. But the one in BH has a much better design and more vibrant atmosphere. Sultry seating throughout although the sushi bar is in an interesting spot. The wow factor was high due to the best looking crowd to date. Food is good- though never thought much of its East Coast sibling's fare. Its nice when LA takes a "good" thing and makes it GREAT!

5 Stars: My new favorite spot (by pageheim)

pageheim — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Since my friends i NY have always raved about Bond Street NY, I had to try it when they finally opened here. I went with five friends with a long list of things to try, it was everyones first time. We were seated at a cozy booth with a view of the sushi bar were things seemed to get lively at times. The music was cool and it definately gave me the feeling that this was the place to be. It did worry me a little bit since I've never felt food and chic go together. But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. We shared all the food which was great since I love trying new things. My favorites were the duck salad and the sushi, perfect sized pieces and amazing presentation. Their house cocktails were really yummy too, can't remember what they were called (had quite a few, oops!).
I can't wait to go back

1 Stars: BondST LA not with my recommendation (by agentpro)

agentpro — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

As you walk in you notice the dim lights and incredibly sultry Dodd Mitchell design. There is an ultra sultry wooden table that seats something like 13 people and is the best looking table I have ever seen. The pleasure ends there though. We had to wait 30 minutes for our table even though our full party was there on time. THen there was the service the staff seemed so nervous and confused and I heard them being critiqued harshly several times by their manager who seemed like an italian militiaman just hovering over their evey move. THis NY import doesn't work also because the food was so poor. I mean wagyu tatake (kobe beef) it shouldn't be cold and it was terribly. The sushi is not even mediocre our bill was 800 dlls and seriously it wasn't worth 150 dlls. If you want the scene that this place thinks its good for go to Koi LA's real local spot and get everything you want including great, relaxed but prompt professional service and incredible food. Take your service eslewhere my friends, BONDST takes them say way way way too seriously and for not real reason.

5 Stars: Sushi that has earned its place in a Beverly Hills hotspot (by lalux)

lalux — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I was invited to Bond Street by a friend for a birthday dinner. We decided to go early and check out the lounge. It had a swanky, chic vibe and was a good place to get a drink before going to the table (there is also a bar in the lobby). The restaurant was packed and we were anxious to start eating. Edamame was placed on the table at no charge (unheard of in LA). We started with the tuna tataki, salmon ceviche (small for our large party, but everyone got a taste) and seared scallops; all were well prepared and tasted great! My favorite was the sea bass tempura; it melts in your mouth and is accompanied by an amazing sauce. We then ordered a ton of sushi rolls?spicy tuna is a must, and sashimi?go for the blue cheese marinated tuna and the blue fin toro, we also ordered fresh wasabi (it was a special for that night) which was incredible and is rare to find at any restaurant. I will be going back to eat there again soon because Bond St will certainly be a fixture in the LA dining scene. Be sure to end with a ricotta cup for dessert ;)

5 Stars: Best Spicy Tuna and Shrimp Rolls (by dan4495)

dan4495 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I went to Bond Street once in New York many years ago. I live close by so I thought I?d give it a try. I?m more of a foodie so I don?t have much to say about the design other than it feels pretty warm and welcoming. My table started with the risotto, kanpachi salad and the shortribs. All were exceptional. The kanpachi salad could have used a bit more dressing but other than that it was solid. Both the risotto and shortribs were exquisite. We waited a bit longer than I would have liked between courses but when the sushi came I forgot how long it had been. The spicy tuna and shrimp rolls were seriously the best I?ve ever had. The sauce they both came with was beyond delicious. The sashimi was fresh, melted in my mouth and was cut perfectly. It?s my pet peeve when sushi is disgustingly big. Overall my experience was great and I can?t wait to make this my new spot.

1 Stars: Worst Restaurant..horrible service, terrible food what more could you ask for? (by rbluchs)

rbluchs — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

If you want to go to Bond Street, you'd better catch a plane to NY cause LA's version is like going to sizzler. All of the food is fried (so if you're watching you're weight LA gals..this place is not for you) and what isn't fried is meiocre at best. They even put curry on sushi rolls...yuck. Another roll tasted "like a babys diaper" Our bill for 5 came to over $500 and we all left hungry....REALLY HUNGRY. Not all of the items made it to the table that we ordered. We ended up surrendering and heading to fat burger to compensate. By the way, $50 of our bill was on the bottled water the waitress insisted on bringing. Oh did I mention that the dimmed lights went on bright as can be about 3 times throughout our horrible meal. I can say the decor is lovely, but if you want to go to the bathroom and wash your hands, bring your own paper towles because they don't have any...We will NEVER go back to LA, Bond Street....

1 Stars: AVERAGE food and HORRIBLE service (by lovinglifeinla)

lovinglifeinla — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

We arrived at 7:35 for our 7:30 reservation and were asked to wait 35 minutes. We ordered tons of different things including the lobseter tempura (tasted like fried shrimp from Sizzler), the short ribs (reminded us of a piece of meatloaf and was luke warm), the chillean seabass entree (over cooked slightly and again luke warm), the yellow tail sashimi appetizer (fish was NOT GOOD). After our first round of ordering about 7 appetziers/entrees we were still starving. We then ordered a lot of sushi (yellow tail hamachi sampler, toro/scallion rolls, spicy tuna rolls, other sushi). The sushi took almost an hour to get to us and again it was NOT GOOD. Overall, the meal took about 3 hours and we were all starving at the end. The waitress recognized how long everything took and how we clearly were not satisfied so she offered to bring us complementary desserts. She brought us two orders of chocolate fondue with fruit and some chocolate bread. The plate was pathetic looking and the chocolate was AVERAGE. Our bill came and the food was very pricey. For five us (3-women and 2-men) the bill was $500. More importantly, NONE of us were satisfied and were all hungry when we left. There is much better sushi in LA. We've been to the Bond street in NYC a few times and the meal was great. I'd stay far away from this place!

3 Stars: OK for the hype (by notasurfer)

notasurfer — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

4 of us stopped in to check it out just after it opened, just for casual drinks and sushi in the lounge. One of us had been to Bond St in NYC. Everyone was buzzing about the new LA spot, and maybe that's why it didn't quite live up to our expectations. Sushi wasn't bad -- we all were keen on the sundried tomato and avocado rool -- and I really liked the porkbelly (though the others in our group didn't). Wine list is international (nothing California) and really pricey, and they'e still working out the kinks of service. At times we felt ignored by aloof servers, and at times they hovered too much. the crowd is def a scene, but I don't think we'll go back to be a part of it. Overall, it's just OK.

5 Stars: Cool and Delicious (by foodloverdavid)

foodloverdavid — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

After living in Los Angeles for many years I've had the pleasure (and at times pain) of eating at the gamut of sushi places. When my friends made an 8:00pm reservation at BondSt. For a Friday night I admit I was apprehensive for all typical reasons one is apprehensive about a trendy new place - the inconsistent food, frantic wait staff, over anxious customers and I could go on. Upon entering the restaurant (through the hotel lobby) I began to relax. The vibe was busy but relaxed. Now to the important part - the food. The spicy tuna and sesame crusted shrimp rolls were simply delicious and I couldn't get enough of the sauces. The seabass was cooked perfectly. Sweetly rich and flaky. Even the boring old green salad was extremely tasty and perfectly dressed with a ginger dressing and crunchy filo dough. We didn't have time for desert, but next time. Overall my experience was exceptional from food to service.

I admit I can somtimes be overly critical of restaurants but I also like to throw a complement when it's deserved. Ok, I can't resist - just be prepared to wait for your car. I think they're still working the kinks out of the valet.