Nakama Japanese Steakhouse

If you want to go somewhere so crowded you can't move and so loud you can't talk go to Nakama! The food, and service here is below average. This is simply a trendy place to "be seen" at. Little toyko bistro down the street has much better food, the service is excellent and you can actually enjoy your meal there!

Posted 11/08/09

I went to Nakama for lunch because I keep hearing that everything was so good. In short, shoddy service and horrible food is all I can say. But that's not fair - you the reader should know how bad it was in detail. Too bad I didn't take photographs!!!

First the tea came, the tea pot was missing it cast iron lid so the waitress thought to put a tepan sauce dish on top!!! WTF? Maybe she was just not too smart. However, the appearance was not the only thing that was horrible, the tea was just horrible too. It was supposedly green tea but it tasted like the paper tea bag. Unbelievable!!!

We should have left then...

We ordered four kinds of sushi, albacore, spicy tuna rolls, scallop rolls, and their spider roll (softshell crab).

The rice for all the sushi had a funk to it, and I don't mean good music type of funk, it was noticeably bad. Further the rice was not prepared properly, it fell apart while eating it. It just didn't hold together right.

The sushi, while served promptly, was vile. The albacore sushi was the first thing I tried and it was dry, over-sized and the fish fell apart while eating. It would have been better in presentation and eat-ability if it was four small instead of two huge portions.

The spicy tuna rolls were bombastic in a very bad way. The flavor was not properly mixed and was uneven as well being blah at one moment and overpowering the next. They make up the spicy tuna mixture in bulk, which is not uncommon, but I had the unusual "pleasure" of watching as a ham-fisted so-called "sushi chef" brutally squirted mayo and spice on huge slabs of tuna and recklessly mixing it together in a huge trough.

The scallop roll was next and did not have too bad a flavor, but the problem was it was too big to properly eat in one bite and furthermore the nori (seaweed) was all soggy and would not easily tear when biting so it fell apart. The scallop roll should have been made immediately after ordering and the nori shouldn't have been soggy. It looks like they had a lot of the open rolls made up in advance and it went soggy. Further the roll should have been actually four rolls instead of two oversized ones. The hotate was actually strange in that it was in mayo and cut up, perhaps this was how they infused their spice.

FINALLY, the spider roll. The spider roll is supposed to be a soft-shell crab and vegetables. It tasted like they used KFC inside. In fact if they had used KFC it probably would have tasted better!!! It was nothing short of disgusting. The KRAB fake crab was predominate and very dry. I am not sure if any real crab was involved, if it was it probably wished it wasn't. The fried portion was oily and overcooked. For this they charged $9.99!!!

To be honest, I found nothing redeeming at all about my experience at Nakama. The sushi chefs were had no proper training they must have been fry cooks they put out there because the real sushi chefs quit or something. I pointed out each of these problems to the sushi-master and he looked like it was the first someone had every said anything!!! He reassured me that those were the sushi chefs, and that was not reassuring at all.

The food was truly disgusting for the price. I would not have complained if I had purchased some supermarket sushi, but this is a restaurant that people say is good. The only way their food would be good is if a person was so drunk that they could not see, taste or smell. I chose to pay so that I would not be bought off and could have the privilege of writing this scathing review in good conscience.

BEWARE - wherever you go for Japanese food, DO NOT go to Nakama!!!

Pros: None.

Cons: Horrible food, bad service and deceitful practices.

Posted 10/19/09

I love the food here and is a cool place to be. Good service and usually has hot people in the evening.

Pros: Great food and atmosphere

Cons: crowded

Posted 06/23/09

Not for me. Don't buy the hype. It's overpriced, it's dirty, and they definintely do give coupons for good reviews; I've seen it.

Posted 06/11/09

Server stole two credit cards, didn't even feel bad. Manager did nothing and still charged the meals on the cards even though there were no signatures! Super disappointing for a place that's supposed to be award-winning. Go at your own risk, but I'd rather have sushi or hibachi somewhere else.

Cons: service

Posted 10/08/08

Last Thursday night while eating at Nakama, I gave the server my credit card to close out my bill. After waiting for over 20 minutes I asked to please have my bill/credit card back. Approximatly another 20 minutes passed and the server came back to inform me that he did not know where my credit card was. My friend and I were shocked and asked to speak to the manager who said they would hopefully find it by the end of the night. Obviously they did not. Nakama comped the meal (which they had no choice b/c I had to CANCEL my bank card after it was stolen/lost by the restuarant) but did not offer any other sort of compensation or apology. The least I would expect is an apology from the owner or a gift card for the trouble of cancelling my account and having to change all of my automatic bill payments. Please be careful when using your credit or bank cards at this restaurant.

Posted 09/14/08

Nakama is one of the best restaurants in the city...the food is wonderful, the atmosphere is great as is the service....i eat there at least once a week and am never disppointed.

Posted 08/20/08

Sorry this is going to be a bit long winded. I was visiting family from out of town and had never been here. I pulled up the dinner menu online and looked at the great selection. I then called to make a reservation and they said that only the Hibachi tables could be reserved. When I looked back at the menu the dinner items I was looking at weren't designated at Hibachi so I didn't think I needed a reservation. We arrived and I asked the server to get on the list and she asked if we would be eating a Hibachi meal. I said no we would like one of the other menu items and wanted to sit at a regular table and order a non-Hibachi meal. She then proceeded to say that everything on the dinner menu was a served and cooked on the Hibachi and the wait would be an 1 to 1.5 hours. I then proceeded to ask her how is someone that has never eaten here to know that everything on the dinner page is served at the Hibachi. She proceeded to point out 3 of the roughly 20 meals on the page that had the word Hibachi in it and state that can't you tell that these are all served on the Hibachi. I said no, what about the other 20 meals that aren't designated with that term. She didn't have a response. The basic point to this is that if it was clear by some designation or by even proper labels or text on the menu that "everything on this page is served at the Hibachi table" I wouldn't have been so confused. The staff offered no explanation and couldn't see how I couldn't understand how their menu / restaurant works. I don't work there and was not familiar with the set up. So instead of treating me like I worked there they should treat customers as if they never experienced the Nakama restaurant and help us understand how it works. I will never recommend this place for that reason alone. And preferably over the phone not when the customer is going to have to wait an hour or more.

Posted 07/16/08

While Nakama is the perfect place for a few cocktails and some 'okay' sushi and steak, don't come here expecting the world's greatest meal. You will leave unsatisfied. A few things to understand before making your reservation at nakama: it is expensive, it is crowded, it is loud, and it is filled with 20 and 30-somethings. So, if you are looking for a more upscale but still young scene, Nakama is a great place. If you are looking for SUSHI, walk about 8blocks up the street to Sushi Too. There you will find better prices and MUCH better sushi. The review below me said new to Pittsburgh, and I am happy to tell you, friend, that luckily that is NOT the best sushi in Pittsburgh. Try these places:
Sushi Too (south side)
Little Tokyo (Mt. Lebanon)
the Fish Market (in the Westin Hotel)
and surprisingly, the stand inside Wholey's is great if you get there when its open (i.e. lunchtime)

Hope you find a place you like:)

Posted 05/31/08

I made reservations at Nakama on a Friday night. It was very busy and valet parking was the only way of parking. We waited about 20 minutes past our reservation and were seated at large table where our chef performed "tricks" for us while cooking. He wasn't very good.

One of the first things I noticed when entering the restaurant was all of the sushi chefs were black/hispanic. I thought this was slightly odd. My girlfriend and I ordered strictly from the sushi menu. The rolls were very small and the taste was less than mediocre. This place is not a place to go if you want a good Japanese/Sushi. I wouldn't recommend this place for anyone who wants good food.

Pros: Trendy

Cons: Expensive, poor service, subpar food

Posted 05/28/08

I wrote my original review (below) and was wondering who these people were that were giving Nakama 5 star ratings. So I did a little exploring and found that most of the five hundred and sixty some reviews were given in a 1 to 2 month time period in 2006... all the users who gave these reviews only gave 1 review using their citysearch accounts... and that review was for Nakama. I'm sorry, but I have to call shananagans on this. Looks like 'someone' decided to get a good rating on citysearch and wrote themselves a whole mess of good reviews. I just couldn't believe that Pittsburghers have as poor a pallatte as these 5 star reviews led me to believe. Shananagans!


I just moved to Pittsburgh recently and was hoping to find a decent place to get sushi. Everyone has been talking about Nakama, supposed to be a great place to eat. So, I took my wife to try it out. I actually enjoyed the atmosphere, which some people didn't like. It is loud, but isn't supposed to be a quiet suit-n-tie place. We ordered strictly from the sushi menu. First things first... ordered hot tea, which was cold. Asked for another, got it... still cold. Never got the miso soup we ordered. Got our sushi which was missing some of the order, which we had to ask for. The sushi itself was just ok... nothing spectacular. sushi should be fatty... this was not. Very lean... kind of bland. And the check was quite hefty for the low quality of the meal. This was a real dissappointment. Will not go back here. I hope this isn't the best sushi place in Pittsburgh.

Pros: Atmosphere

Cons: Food, Service

Posted 05/09/08

Been there 3 times....shame on me but wanted to give it a chance....nothing good to say. Overpriced, terrible service and is way over packed/booked on Fridays and Saturdays!!

Pros: nothing

Cons: nice building...wippy

Posted 04/02/08

SO expensive..try some of the other places for hibachi in pittsburgh and you will see they are so overpriced.

Average food and the sauces are horrible.

Pros: nice place

Cons: price, food quality, attitude

Posted 02/12/08

The only thing this place has going for it is it's atomsphere- and by that I mean the building and decor. It was noisy and over crowded as soon as we walked in. The place was completely packed and had a line around the restaurant waiting to be seated. Enough is enough- take a reservation or stop accepting walk-ins! I have never had such a bad server experience as well- unattentive and horrible! Our entrees came out before our apps... the food was horrible... our order was wrong... and the sushi was HORRIBLEEEEEEE. I have been to many sushi restaurants and restaurants in general... never again.. not recommendeddddddddd at ALL.

Pros: none

Cons: long wait, over crowded, horrible service

Posted 01/01/08

I am a regular at Nakama. I must say, delicious food ( I am addicted to the sushi Maki Platter ) However, service is dreadful. My last 5 times at Nakama the waiters had no idea what came with my meal ( I had to litterally tell him what came with it! ) and almost seamed as though he was high on some reefer. They all seem very untrained and lazy. Its a shame, but I keep going back because of the delicious food.

If you decide to go to Nakama, dont expect great service, but expect some good sushi!

Pros: Great Sushi ( depending on the chef of course )

Cons: Staff are morons.

Posted 12/18/07

Nakama WAS my favorite restaurant...four years ago. Yes, it's been around that long but most of its current clientele won't be able to recall the days when the seating was ample, sushi was uniquely fresh, or when you could still find parking on the South Side.

I've lived in the South Side for 5 years, and my, have I seen a dramatic shift. Nakama is a quintessential example of what can happen to a great restaurant or neighborhood. The establishment traded good food, fun and quality for martini's, bad (live?) music, and halter tops in January. Yin'zers go to Nakama so that they really feel like they are "going aught, aught" to the "COOLEST!, HIPPEST!, EDGIEST!, HOT SPOT IN THE 'BURGH! " Why? Because Nakama has done a phenomenal job of marketing itself as such.

The bottom line? The food is lackluster, the crowd is obnoxious and the staff is over worked, (and occasionally rude...hey, they're not hurting for business so few ticked off customers are just a drop in the bucket).

If you want to escape the monotony of suburban life and pretend like you're eating exotic (aren't we SO worldly with our saki-drinks and new duds from the SouthSide Works) then by all means go. Pay for the valet, otherwise you'll be circling around looking for parking for 20 minutes (yes, even on a Tuesday) but know that you'll be taking parking away from residents and run the risk getting side swiped by your fellow party pals since the valet simply huts for street parking so you don't have to.

If you want to try REAL sushi, go to Kiku in the nearby (and equally trendy) Station Square (oodles of parking!) or try Wholey's for a less expensive (and less classy) option.

Oh and a side note:

Attn. Frat Boys: Please try to remember after your 8th Yager Bomb that there are tax-payers, elderly and families residing in your party central. PLEASE! Stop the unnecessary vandalism and violence! And call a cab for God's sake!

Pros: Feel like a hipster, parties can be fun

Cons: Crowded, noisy, no parking, unauthentic food, over worked staff

Posted 11/29/07

had dinner htere last night on a reccomendation of a friends wife, really bad - sushi rice was overcooked and when we mentioned it the staff was less than concerned. Fish was obviously frozen and of poor quality to begin with. It really reminded us of sushi purchased in a grocery store or cafeteria lunch kiosk, really!
The catchy menu items do not live up to thier descriptions, sublime service with no emotion or feeling.

Overall I will not return - there are far too many places that offer good attempts at traditional sushi items around to have to put up with this typ of bad impression of classic japanese food.

Pros: Trendy location which probably saves this place.

Cons: Service, beat tired american versions of otherwise supposed good cuisine

Posted 08/31/07

I have been to Nakama a few times. The food is SALTY. The bartenders ARE TERRIBLE. My bachlorette party started here. We had a reservation for one of the private rooms for 9 p. m. We showed up at 8 p.m. and were told that the room would be ready. At 10:15 the hostess finally told us that a table opened up and we could have it but we wouldn't be sitting in the private room. The waitress took 20 minutes to come over and take the drink order. Not friendly. The chef...not friendly. I have visited for drinks on seperate occasions and apparently I am not cool enough to get a refill on my cabernet. After sitting for about 10 minutes with an empty glass the bartender, after flirting with a bunch of women, walked by and I grabbed his attention and asked what I had to do to get another glass of wine. He replied, smuggly mind you, "sorry, you don't have to get snippy". I have never snubbed any person tip wise but that chump got zilch from me. I say....don't waste your time. Especially if you really enjoy Japanese food. If you are 22 and superficial, by all means have a ball. The first time I went to Nakama I met the owner. Boy would I like to see her again.

Pros: They have electricity and running water

Cons: Too many to list

Posted 08/22/07

I didn't even have to read all the reviews to figure out that there are still people out there who appreciate good food. I have eaten here months ago and honestly it a young hip place to impress the girl or your group. That's about it. Yes it is busy, but the quality of the meal....yuck. Simplified sauces nothing unique. I could of stayed at home and cooked some chicken and vegetables with soy sauce and saved my *beep* 50.00. I did not have a good time, it almost seemed chaotic. People hustling everywhere, the floors getting wet and oily. Servers too busy to bring my hot sauce after asking seceral times. Don't try to ask for a refil,box or the check . That might take a little while. This was a celebratory dinner and instead I got semi uncooked veggies, already cooked fried rice. (Where is the freshness?), thirsty mouth, and no hot sauce. Well you have to try to see if you like it or not. Didn't like it and will not return. The only thing the restaurant has to show for is on the outside. I don't even want to know how the kitchen is.
Not recommended

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Food,service,food,did I say food

Posted 07/25/07

I have mixed feelings about this place. Firstly, it is amazingly successful with throngs of people visiting every time I have gone. The place is very popular with the "In" crowd. Lots of smartly dressed professional men and women are found there. From a first look, the place is looks good. And if your just having a drink or a hibachi steak, its OK.

However, if authentic Japanese cuisine and preparation is your forte, skip this place. The sushi bar is abominable. The sushi fish is left sitting around in the open for extended, which is extremely dangerous. Often, the sushi chefs look more like bus-boys or dish washers than professional sushi chefs. Appearance tells you alot about the seriousness of the establishment.

The main problem with this establishment is that it is working very well. Throngs of people go there. I think that this has more to do with the "chicness" of the place than the quality of the food. I also think that the customers are less sophisticated than they want to appear to be. If your out for sushi, skip it entirely. If you want good, authentic and healthy sushi, there are really only three places in Pittsburgh: Kiku in Station Square, Sushi Kim in the Strip, and Umi (which is a a fusion of art , western tastes and sushi, not authentic but definitely good and prepared using traditional safety techniques).

Pros: Trendy, Chic People, In Crowd

Cons: Sub-par sushi and prep. Not authentic Japanese sushi.

Posted 06/01/07

The food is the best I've ever had. It's a fun nite out. I've been there many times and took my 7 year old there to celebrate a good report card. She had a blast. And no, I wasn't "paid" for this review. I just love Nakama. Those few bad reviews sound like sour grapes from jealous restaraunts.

Posted 05/18/07

Terrible experience. I wanted to bring my wife and son (17 and had never been to a japanese steak restaurant before). It was to be a real treat. First, my wife is allergic to fish and we ordered appetizers after ensuring there would be no fish in the dish and of course, there was. The waiter even lied and said there was no fish (after he served it) (later to be corrected by the chef). I had two days before asked for a good showman to chop and grill the food and we got a guy who only wanted to go home quickly and refused to do almost any "chef tricks"). We were not served for over and hour and 15 minutes after reservations and just sat till they filled the table. I was very dissappointed. If you are 22 years old and going there to simply get bombed and picked up, maybe this is your place. Not for anyone who expects more than basic rude service and overpriced food.

Pros: My wife did not die from the fish they said they did not serve her

Cons: horrible service

Posted 01/26/07

The first time I went my party was forced to sit with a bunch of bimbos that marinated in their cheap perfume that actually gave me a migraine. (yep, we had to share the table with other people even though it wasn?t crowded AT ALL). We asked to be moved to a new table and even wait for the chef to be done with them and then cook at our table and the manager flat out refused. We had about 10 people and it was a company paid dinner so they definitely made a pretty penny off us and wouldn?t let us eat in comfort.

Then at lunch another time they brought one person?s food about 40 minutes after he ordered (it was crowded, I?ll give them that). But they lost the rest of our order and didn't realize it until an hour after we placed it. Then it took them another 40 minutes to make it again for some reason, there was nothing special about the orders either. No manager came over, the guy that brought it out apologized but that's it....and I think in a situation like that where is takes over 2 hours to get lunch the manager should at the very least come and apologize.

I will NEVER go there again. There are much better sushi places in and around town and they treat me like a customer.

Pros: food is ok for the price

Cons: Absolutely the worst service

Posted 12/14/06

If you like Japanese food (and who doesn?t?), then this is the place for you. The food is absolutely outstanding. And the variety is overwhelming, to say the least! They have an extensive beer menu also, very important to a beer lover such as myself. I prefer quality over quantity and this restaurant shows quality in everything they do. The soups, the salads, the entrees, oh the entrees! All of it is done to perfection. Fortunately, the serving size of the beer does not match the serving size of the food. Be hungry! If you believe dining out should be a memorable experience every time, go to Nakama.

Pros: Great food in an easy to get to spot.

Cons: I don't have a big enough belly to eat as much as I'd like to when I go here!

Posted 11/11/06

The only downfall is trying to get in without reservations. Best Sushi in town! Great service, i have never had a complaint!

Posted 10/20/06

I am a Nakama regular. As a business person who often takes clients to lunch and dinner, I can always trust Nakama to provide a fantastic atmosphere/dining combination! The staff is always friendly and the Japanese cuisine is superb. I whole-heartedly recommend Nakama to everyone!

Pros: menu variety and quality

Cons: none

Posted 10/16/06

Food is good, but not great. It is very noisy and crowded. . . don't go if you plan on having a good conversation during your meal. They recently offered a gift certificate to anyone who would post a good review about them. I think that is shady and wouldn't want to give a restaurant like that my business!

Posted 10/16/06

My boyfriend and I ate at Nakama tonight. We had an amazing time. Our server was great, he was very friendly and our drinks were always full! Best of all was our chef Luke, we asked him if he knew any tricks and I'm pretty sure he did them all! Plus the food was absolutely perfect. Luke is the best chef at Nakama!!! We both had Bob's combination trio on the Monday night special. I love the salad dressing and you can't skip out on the fried rice. If you're planning a fun night out or want to entertain out of town guests, Nakama is the perfect place!

Pros: Great food, Great Service

Cons: Parking

Posted 10/15/06

Nakama is by far the best dining experience I've ever had. The service is wonderful, the entertainment is great and the food is unbelievable! It's no wonder the place is always packed!!! Go there and see for yourself!

Pros: Excellent food, great atmosphere

Cons: Little pricey, but worth it

Posted 10/11/06

I have been to Nakama on several occasions. They have the best sushi in Pittsburgh, especially for the price. Customer service is always great, and I love the decor and ambiance. It is definately unique for Pittsburgh.

Posted 10/08/06

The food at Nakama is wonderful! You get so much for a reasonable price and its so fresh. Plus, there's always a nice crowd there. A mix of different people but great for young, professional mingling! One of my favorite restaurants of all time!

Posted 10/04/06

I absolutely LOVE this place, always a great atmosphere, and the drinks and food are to die for! I love going here on Sundays!

Pros: atmosphere

Cons: parking

Posted 10/03/06

Great Food - Great Food - Great Food!!! Isn't that what you are looking for in a restaurant? If you want peace and quiet... dine at home! If you want romance... light some candles and dine at home! If you want great food at a reasonable price... dine at Nakama!!! The chefs are a delight and the food is awesome. My favorite place to dine with my teenagers and their friends.

Pros: great food... great food... great food and value

Cons: can't think of even one!

Posted 09/30/06

When my sister and her husband visited from Celle Liguria, Italy, Nakama was our 1st stop- straight from the airport! The food is excellent and the hibachi chefs have never disappointed. Our favorites are the steak and chicken. The ginger dressing is my wife's favorite. Never a bad meal and prices are in line with other restaurants of this type. Remember... you pay for what you get so get what you pay for!

Pros: great food, great fun

Posted 09/30/06

Nakama is my favorite restaurant. I happened upon it about a year ago while visiting Pittsburgh. I have been to numerous sushi/hibachi restaurants & Nakama is by far the best! I drive 500 miles roundtrip just to visit Nakama at least 6 times a year. Join their VIP rewards. You'll get coupons for your birthday, anniversary, Mother's Day, etc. Try the Kobe Beef, it's my favorite!

Posted 09/30/06

AAAAA+++++ first class all the way.Excellent food,service and atmosphere.Bar staff go out of there way to make you feel #1.

Posted 09/30/06

Tonight I enjoyed yet another delicious meal with great entertainment! Our hibachi chef was pretty impressive...especially when it came to lighting the fire (those of you that have been there know what I'm talking about!. He even made a little volcano out of the onions and soy sauce. I've never seen anything like it!

Pros: It's a unique experience

Posted 09/28/06

Since the time it's opened, Nakama has been my favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh. I've been there over a dozen times and not once have I been disappionted. The sushi is incredible and works as an amazing appetizer to what is always a fantastic main course, regardless of what you order. The chefs, although not always authentic, are entertaining and fun. The bar is trendy and stocked with amazing cocktails, my personal favorite being the martinis like the Sexpot-tini.

If you love hibachi and are in the area, this is a place that cannot be missed by any means!

Pros: Sushi, fun with groups, so much food!

Cons: Noisy, bar area too crowded

Posted 09/28/06

Wonderful for the entire family, any occasion. We have enjoyed both the dinner and sushi bar. The service is the best and the food is unsurpassed in the Pittsburgh area. It is a great place for that special "celebration" or just a night out. I recommend it above all others in the area and I have sampled sushi from several different restaurants. After Nakama opened "it's the only sushi spot I go to now". The "rolls" are to die for.

Posted 09/27/06

Nakama is one of the best new resturants in the Pittsburgh area. It has excellent food and outstanding service. I recomend that everyone goes to Nakama at least once for the experience.

Posted 09/26/06

I have been to Nakama many times now, and I absolutely love it. Every time I go, I take someone new with me and I have never had a bad experience. The food is excellent, the service rocks, and we never leave with an empty stomach! I would reccommend it to anyone!

Posted 09/26/06

Watching the chef prepare our meal made me want to learn to do it myself! The sushi looks like art work and the bar keeps you busy while you wait for a table. I've been there a few times and will definately be going back in the new future. I highly highly recommend Nakama! :) Whether you stop in for a light sushi lunch, or a full hibachi steak dinner, you are sure to enjoy the atmosphere and exquisite food. Perfect for a romantic night out

Pros: location, food, atmosphere

Cons: none

Posted 09/25/06

Everytime I go to Nakama - I have an experience like no other. The food is always hot and fresh and service is fantastic. My friends and I always have a night to remember of good food and fun times. Keep up the good work Nakama! See you again soon!

Pros: Close to home

Cons: parking

Posted 09/25/06

Nakama is one of my favorite restaurants to meet up with friends at. We always go at least once a month for sushi & drinks and just hanging out in the bar. The bar staff is exceptionally friendly and attentive. No matter who you are, the bartenders always treat you like a VIP. The sushi (and all food) is always fresh and served to your specific requests. The upbeat and lively scene makes it a great place any night of the week. Tuesdays are our favorites b/c it is "double points" night and the crowd is perfect. Nakama is not your typical Pittsburgh restaurant, the crowd and the atmosphere are very hip and trendy, but no matter who you are, you are made to feel like you belong!!! I would highly recommend that everyone gives Nakama a try!

Pros: sushi, bar staff, atmosphere

Cons: parking

Posted 09/25/06

anagement -
I guess I am just an unlucky patron I gave your restaurant another try, with a party of four. Dinner reservations made for 10:30 p.m. Saturday, September 23rd. Being aware of the restaurant's 15 minute window for ALL parties to be seated, we arrived at 10:26 p.m. Three of us got out of the vehicle, the fourth person pulled up to the Valet area. Twenty-five minutes later, the driver arrived. The driver did not have a cell phone with him so we did not know what could have caused his delay. Finally, when he arrived, angry and out of breath, he informed us your Valet service had just closed. He parked at Giant Eagle lot six blocks away. Not a good start to what should have been a relaxing meal.
Why oh why would Valet CLOSE with people still arriving? And, if Valet closed, why was the Valet sign still displayed outside on both Carson Street AND the side street? Especially when you enforce the 15 minute seating window and parking in SouthSide is next to impossible?

Pros: Good for groups

Cons: Valet service closed, no authentic chefs

Posted 09/25/06

I have dined at Nakama many times but my last trip there was the best. I took my girlfriend and her daughter to lunch. The wait staff and the chef were just simply incredible to the 3 of us. My girlfriend's daughter loved the chef and how funny he was while cooking our lunches.
The smile on her face was priceless.

Just wanted to say Thanks to all at Nakama for such a wonderful experience. You truly know how to make your customers young and old feel special and welcome.

Pros: Wait staff, the chefs and the food

Posted 09/25/06

My friends and I love driving from Latrobe, PA out to the South Side of Pittsburgh just to make a night on the town based around dinner at Nakama. We are college students and love to try new things. We tried Nakama one Saturday night before one of our college dances actually held in Pittsburgh. This was our first Japanese style dining experience and we had such a fun, fresh and invigorating experience, that we began making it one of our popular spots to dine at when we were looking for a night out. And actually, we love it so much that I bet my best friend dinner at Nakama based on the outcome of this past World Cup. While my team actually lost the bet, I didn't mind picking up the tab because we always have an outstanding time visiting Nakama. Thanks for the outstanding Japanese cuisine and fun environment!

Pros: Ambience, Parking, Service

Cons: Privacy/Romantic dining - dining is more group style

Posted 09/25/06

Nakama is definitely the place to see and be seen, with one of the best happy hours for young professionals in the 'Burgh. There are many vegetarian options at the hibachi and sushi bar, so non-carnivores will be right at home.

Posted 09/25/06

We were in Pittsburgh for a Pirates game and we stopped at Nakama. We sat at the Sushi bar and we met Kim, Nakama's Sushi chef. He gave us recommendations and made us the most wonderful Sushi. We will definitely be back

Posted 09/25/06