Nakama Japanese Steakhouse

I am originally from Pittsburgh but am now in Columbus, OH.....anytime I make it back home, Nakama is usually a spot that I try to go back to. Not only is the food wonderful, but I have always been treated very well by the staff!! Each time I feel like it gets better everytime. I will be in town in 2weeks and my entire family is planning on going. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone that wants great food and great time!

Regards,
Ashley in Ohio

Pros: EVERYTHING ABOUT THE RESTAURANT IS GREAT!

Cons: I DONT REALLY HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS

Posted 09/19/06

Nakama is not your average Japanese steakhouse. From my first experience I gave it a 10+. I've been back there many times for the excellent food and friendly service. The deals far surpass any of the others I've ever had at any other Japanese steakhouse. I highly recommend trying Nakama for your next special occassion!

Posted 09/19/06

great sushi and atmosphere. highly recommended for hanging out after work or at the sushi bar for dinner. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and service.

Posted 09/19/06

Nakama is the best place to go with a big group of people to get great food, have fun, and get the best sushi in town!

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Parking

Posted 09/19/06

Nakama is an excellent place to take a new comer of a veteran of sushi and hibatchi cuisine. This is a favorite for me to take friends from out of town, truly a unique place in the heart of south side. Recommended to all!

Pros: Hard to get in on Fridays

Cons: Worth any wait

Posted 09/19/06

Nakama is one of my favorite restaurants EVER! My friends and I eat there at least twice a month, we just can't get enough! My fav is Bob's Triple, it is the best!! The service is great, the food is even better and theres even the entertainment of watching the chef cook right in front of you! You have to try, its an excellent dining experience!

Posted 09/19/06

Nakama is most definitely my favorite place to eat! I have been here many times and every time I have such a great time. I would never think you could have such a good time at a restaurant. The atmosphere is great! It is ideal for any occasions -- a night out with your friends, a date, or just to go and get some drinks and sushi! I highly recommend everyone try it....you will not be let down.

Pros: Sushi bar

Cons: none!

Posted 09/19/06

My wife and I have been to Nakama a few times since it has opened and I cannot say anything bad about the restaurant. The service has been good, food is excellent, the ambiance and atmoshere are fun. The place is usually pretty busy, so make sure to try and make a reservation. The Surf & Turf is my favorite.

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, valet

Cons: Busy

Posted 09/19/06

While some believe every hibachi restaurant is the same, Nakama stands out above the rest. It is definately more "happening" than other Japanese steakhouses and the atmosphere is what attracts different demographics of patrons. The food is amazing and the entire experience is just plain fun. Steak and shrimp keep me coming back!

Posted 09/19/06

I love Nakama. It is the only place that has great chicken livers. I only wish that they would start to serve the ginger sherbet again.

Posted 09/19/06

Not doing this for the $10 - I just honestly think it's a great place - food, fun, atmosphere. Very versatile place to go - good for dressing up and heading out for drinks, group dinner at the hibachi or even casual sitting at the bar to eat. Always had great service, usually sit at the bar to eat. Only negative is sometimes it's sooo busy- but that's what happens at a great place! Keep up the great work!

Posted 09/18/06

Good things: We emailed to make reservations and we sat very promptly. I really liked the email option for reservations. Once the food was brought out, it was good. My specialty drink was very good too.

Bad things: It is VERY loud in the restaurant and you can not hear the people sitting next to you. Our waiter was on the slower side and forogt to bring us the water we requested 2 times. I ordered sushi and my family ordered habachi items. I asked for my sushi to be brought out close to when their dinner would be complete, but it was brought out with the salads.

Overall, it was a good resturant, but I don't know how often I will go back because of the loud atmosphere.

Pros: quick seating if you make a reservation, good sushi

Cons: VERY loud, you have to sit around those habachi tables b/c there aren't other options, service a little slow

Posted 09/18/06

Other than finding parking (use the valet service if avaliable - so worth it), Nakama is the best Japanese Steakhouse I have been to. I drive 45 minutes to go to Nakama even though there is another one 5 minutes for my house. And if you like sushi...they have the best.

Pros: Great food & great value

Cons: Parking

Posted 09/18/06

My boyfriend and I have been going to Nakama for years and have been pretty happen with it. There have been times where I have gotten sick from eating there, but nothing serious. The bill is affordable only if you go during lunch, have a coupon, and order water to drink. Since we have been there more than once, it is quite noticable how inconsistent the quality and amount of food you are given....but the price never changes. I have had horrible services (both chefs and waiters) and wonderful services there.
I think it was horribly wrong for the owner to bribe people to get her restaurant's rating higher. Majority of these ratings were written simply to get the $10 coupon, which might buy you a drink.

Posted 09/18/06

I can't believe how petty some of you people are and how some of you can do nothing but moan and whine and complain about something that you don't agree with! Give it a rest already! Sit back and enjoy life, stop trying to make it bad for everyone else just because you're miserable! If Nakama wants to offer its loyal, happy customers an extra incentive to spread the good word, then so be it. Personally, I think you're foolish if you don't take advantage of this opportunity. It's not every day that a corporation gives away free money, folks!

In my honest, unbiased opinion, if you like entertainment, Japanese cuisine, and a change of pace, then you definitely need to check out Nakama. The food is great, the service is always fast and friendly, and it's one of the coolest places in The Burgh to visit. Nakama, you've got some of the most creative marketing tactics around. Keep it up! And keep my $10 - I know you're worth every penny!

Pros: Entertaining chefs, great sushi, awesome atmosphere

Cons: Not the best place for a quiet, romantic date

Posted 09/18/06

THE REASON THE RATINGS ARE HIGH IS BECAUSE THE OWNER BRIBES PEOPLE TO SUBMIT POSITIVE FEEDBACK!!!

I'm known for consistently having a small appetite and usually am satisfied with children-sized portions when I eat out. However, while dining at Nakama I found the full-price portions to be much smaller than other Japanese steakhouses offer and twice as salty. Considering what they charge, I would expect a much larger portion of food. Needless to say, after the meal I was still hungry and extremely thirsty from the high sodium content.

Cons: Stingy with food ... it is not their mission to satisfy even a mild appetite

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama has a great atmosphere and fabulous food. The trendy bar offers a great spot for happy hour drinks, while the restaurant offers the traditional steak house experience. The food is excellent, the service is quick, the chefs are talented and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. There is something for everyone, whether its going out to get a drink, sushi on a date, or Habachi with the family, Nakama is absolutely wonderful.

Posted 09/18/06

Who cares about a $ 10 reward for saying what we feel -- Noone is going to write something we don't absolutely feel is true. Why would we stay on the Nakama email list ?? We love the food and service -- that's why ,,,The gift is just a promotional reminder to do the right thing.

Pros: servers are great

Cons: parking tough to find if go late -- friday night is to crowded.

Posted 09/18/06

I have recently started eating sushi and will not go anywhere but nakama. Its a great place to share meals and wine with friends....great spot

Posted 09/18/06

This place is great. Everytime my cousin comes to Pittsburgh, we have to go to Nakama! Best sushi and a fun atmosphere.

Posted 09/18/06

All I know is I used to somewhat enjoy Nakama until the last time I was there. I agree that it is VERY overpriced, but when I was there with my two girlfriends, one of which didn't have a seat and the owner and a few of his friends were at a table in the corner by the bar and there were two empty seats and when we asked if we could have one for my friend to sit down the OWNER said no.... with an ATTITUDE. If that was my restaurant, I would have stood up and gave a customer my own seat. How inconsiderate is that. After that experience, I would NEVER go back to Nakama and all of you writing "great" things about them to get a BIG $10 off your next visit... you all should be embarrassed. Hopefully the owner reads this and remembers the time this happened and realizes what a _____________ he is. I WILL NEVER GO BACK THERE and the service is horrible, the food and drinks are overpriced, but the atmosphere is nice. JUST GO SOMEWHERE ELSE PEOPLE!!!! What a way to try to win over people by offering $10 to everyone who writes something GOOD about Nakama. If it was that GREAT you wouldn't have to give $10 gift certificates to everyone.

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama has amazing sushi and food!! I have been there more times than I can count. If you sign up for their newsletter they send you upcoming events, deals, and coupons which make it even better! If you do have to wait to be seated the bar is a wonderful place to wait with an order of sushi. I would recommend this place any day. The service is always fast and friendly. The food is always hot and tasty!

Pros: Great atmosphere

Cons: Parking in southside is sometimes difficult

Posted 09/18/06

Recently I celebrated my 30th birthday @ Nakama. Nakama was able to accommodate a table for 20 of us. I can't tell you anywhere else in town that can pull that off at one large table. It was a crowd pleaser for several other reasons. First is the obvious, the chefs are fun to interact with. Second and more import is the food. My girlfriend is real picky, so she went the chicken route. Several others just had sushi. I had sushi and a steak. The food is great and can be appropriate for the pickiest eaters and adventurist a like. Great time at a great place!

Posted 09/18/06

I like to go to Nakama because they have some of the most unique forms of sushi that I've ever seen. Their Maki rolls are fun and inventive. The chefs are very personable and will help you to decide what will work best for your tastes! Its a trendy spot with trendy cuisine.

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama is by far the most fun, friendly, and delicious restaurant in Pitt. The staff is always friendly, the food is great, and even when it gets crowded, they always find room and have awesome service. I highly recommend.

Posted 09/18/06

I went to Nakama a little while ago to celebrate my boyfriend's brother's birthday. The atmosphere was fun and suiting for large parties! My boyfriend hasn't stopped talking about it since! We will actually be going for his brithday next month! Sure it's dark, and a little noisey, but what restaurants aren't any more. It didn't bother me in the least! I actually enjoyed the fact that it was a little loud - It made me feel like everyone there was really having a good time!

Everyone really enjoyed the food, the chef, and especially the drinks! I will be expecting a similiar experience next month!

All and all, Nakama's a great place to get dressed-up a little, enjoy a fun atmosphere and great food!

Pros: Fun atmosphere, great entertainment, great food and good service!

Cons: Parking is hard to come by & food is expensive but well worth it!

Posted 09/18/06

my husband and i have eaten at nakama several times. we always have a great meal.
the noise level is a little high for intimate dining but the food is well worth it. the cooks are very accommodating to individual food preferences!

Posted 09/18/06

I love this place. The entertainment is excellent! The service is wonderful! I have recommended this steakhouse to all my friends and they have came back to me with complete satisfaction.

Pros: food made to order

Cons: the parking

Posted 09/18/06

I'm apalled that people would give up their opinion so easily for a 10.00 gift certificate. You want to save 10 dollars? Eat at Benihana, it might be a chain, but the food beats Nakama's and it's less expensive. I spent one birthday at the restaurant--the food was overpriced, 2 orders at our table were incorrect, and the atmosphere is horribly loud. I won't be going back!

Pros: Great location

Cons: Loud, poor service, poor value

Posted 09/18/06

My boyfriend and I have recently started eating sushi regularly and this was one of the first places we ate it. It was excellent and we have gone to at least 10 different places since then, in Pennsylvania and Florida, and it is still the best that we've had! You must try the Hawaiian rolls, they are awesome!

Pros: Great sushi, good service

Cons: Parking always a problem on south side.

Posted 09/18/06

We absolutely love Nakama. Everytime that we have family or friends into town we take them to Nakama....often for dinner, sometimes just for cocktails. Every time has proved to be a great experience that keeps us coming back! The Hibachi chefs make the dining experience so fun....and the food is always delicious! We will be back...to one of our very favorite restaurants in the city real soon! Thanks to Nakama for the great food and great fun...keep doing what you are doing!!

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama is a great place to have a fun time while eating great food. The location is perfect for all city-dwellers and is definitely not too far from those that live outside the city. The food is great (i've never been disappointed). The service is quick and very efficient. Highly recommened!

Pros: food, service

Posted 09/18/06

Best Hibachi I have ever tasted! Highly rec. the filet. Bartenders very friendly and the atmosphere is great! If you looking for an excellent place to have dinner you have found what you are looking for!

Pros: Great Food, service and ambience

Cons: parking

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama should be ashamed. They are buying the good reviews. Do not listen to the raves on this site- they are not pure. Nakama sent a mass email offering $10 to anyone that posted a good review. Look at all the suckers that Namaka bought with $10 for a few simple good words dated 9/18 and 9/19. Honestly, I liked Nakama, but this was a BAD PR move! Although the sushi is good, the place is super crowded, staff rude, and its highly overpriced. If you want good sushi- try Koto Buki, its hidden in North Park- its a true Gem, more affordable, and their salad dressing is to die for!

Nakama, you've lost my respect and business. Shame on your for tainting this online service with biased reviews. You DO NOT DESERVE to be noticed amoung the best in Pittsburgh because you aren't.

Cons: They buy reviews. too busy, highly overpriced, bad service.

Posted 09/18/06

Best place around and its great for the kids. the food is excellent and the service is outstanding.I wish I could eat there all the time. Tim Zola

Pros: food service

Cons: parking

Posted 09/18/06

If you like energy, buzz, this is the place for you. Not your boring restaurant. The food is excellent, maybe a little pricey but not when compared to other restaurants of this level in other cities. This is the place to be and be seen!

Posted 09/18/06

Ever since Nakama and the big orange fish atop it's roof were introduced on Carson Street, South Side Pittsburgh, it has been a frequent stop of mine. Whether the occasion be a birthday, date, or group outing with friends, Nakama has always lived up to its outstanding reputation. Although I have been to other Japanese Steakhouses, Nakama offers a comfortable atmosphere with a wealth of food and drink options other Sushi Bar's don't. I have recently started attending lunches at Nakama, and I have fallen in love with the awesome portions! For lunch Nakama presents its customers with the same great food, but with a much smaller check! Great place to bring out-of-towners!

Cons: Parking, Reservations

Posted 09/18/06

I love everything about Nakama. I love the steak, the appetizers and I love the way that a large party can sit at the same table!

Pros: everything else

Cons: Parking, cost

Posted 09/18/06

The chefs, managers, servers are all so friendly & talented. My son Timmy & I have been going to Nakama since it 1st opened. We try to eat there a few times a month. They offer a wide range of delicious foods at reasonable prices. We enjoy our experience every time we go! Kudos to chefs: Ron, Tom Chee & Luke!!!!! Awesome cooks! Plus, the quality of food is so outstanding! Can't wait to go back!!! Everyone should at least experience it....you'll go back again & again!!!

Pros: Everyones takes care of you so well. It makes me go back often! Great food!!!

Cons: none

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama chefs are the best in town. They cook your steak just the way YOU want it, not the way they feel it should be done. They ask and then do as you please. They are fun to watch, fun to talk to and great when there are kids present!!!

Pros: food, ambience, value

Cons: sometimes hard to get into because it is so crowded

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama is by far my favorite restaurant! The food is absolutely wonderful! There hasn't been one selection that I didn't like. If you like great food with a positive atmosphere and an attentive wait staff, Nakama is your place. There have been several occasions where I have taken a large group of individuals to nakama and they were extremely accommodating. To this day, the group has been requesting a return visit to the restaurant.

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama is a wonderful resturant that serves the best sushi and japanese food in town. The dining experiance is very relaxing. The chefs cook in front of you and the food is amazing!! You can also choose to sit else where in the resturant where the chef does not cook in front of you. The decsion is yours! I highly recommend you eat at Nakama!!

Posted 09/18/06

From excellent hibachi to superior sushi, Nakama is one of the best places to eat or drink on the Southside. Nakama is sure to fulfill your appetite.

Pros: Excellent food, Excellent Sushi

Cons: Eating here my cause you not to eat anywhere else.

Posted 09/18/06

I think the whole $10 certificate thing is being blown out of proportion. It was to serve as an incentive in exchange for validation, evaluation, and an invitation to share a positive experience at the restaurant. Most people are too busy to do this sort of thing so the gift certificate was implemented for motivational purposes. Nothing more!!!! I love Nakama and I visit every chance I get. But I never would have posted my opinion if I had not been prompted. Once I received the email claiming that Nakama was referenced in an unflattering manner, I was more than happy to oblige. KEEP THE CERTIFICATEthis one is on the house.
The first time I spent an evening at Nakama, I was hooked. The atmosphere is LIVE and everybody in the place seem to be enjoying themselves. I had never seen so many attractive smiling faces in one place. The weekend lures a mixed crowd of Pittsburghs beautiful people, and the chefs' are entertaining and artistic with their craft. The bartenders make all kinds of colorful exotic drinks to comfort you during your wait and keep you excited. If you want candlelight and romance, Nakama is probably not for you. But if you want to meet people over drinks and good food, then you need not look any further.

Pros: great singles atmosphere

Posted 09/18/06

My wife and I were frequent visitors to Nakama prior to the birth of our daughter. She was born in June, and we've been back three times since then. The staff are always helpful with seating arrangements to make us comfortable. The food is always excellent and the show is always entertaining. I've taken several other family members and friends there. They enjoyed the atomosphere as well!

Posted 09/18/06

My husband and I love this place. It's always the first pick for special occasion dinners. The food is fantastic, the atmosphere is a lot of fun and the portions are more than generous. The bartenders are super friendly and the hibatchi chefs are a real trip. This place ranks among our favorites in the city, not only for the food, but for the experience.

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama is by far is the best restaurant in Pittsburgh!! This restaurant has a trendy atmosphere, has professional and friendly servers/hosts and the chefs are not only very entertaining, but take the time to educate you about the food and their craft. More importantly, the food is DELICIOUS!! I frequent Nakama and have had a WONDERFUL experience every single time I have been there and will continue to visit this restaurant. HIGHLY RECOMMEDED!!!

Posted 09/18/06

Excellent service. Quick, even though very busy. Awesome food! Loved it!!! Can't wait to eat there again.

Posted 09/18/06

Nakama is one of the few trendy spots in Pittsburgh. The ambiance is great... very attractive to a young professional crowd. The food is awesome and you always get plenty. I would recommend Nakama to anyone!

Posted 09/18/06

I visited Nakama for the first time on my birthday, and I was thoroughly impressed. The show was fantastic, and the meal was even better. They brought me a pineapple with sparklers flaring, while everyone at the table sang happy birthday to me. It was a great time. I was surprised at the portions, too. Normally, restaurants skimp on amount of food, but not price. Nakama prices are reasonable, given the amount you get to eat.

Posted 09/18/06