During our trip to Las Vegas a few years back, my husband and I had to make a stop at Nobu Las Vegas for dinner. While my semi-claustrophobic husband was unamused by the packed house, I was happy with my five inches of personal space and warm sake. The food? Marvelous. The vibe? Close and comfortable. And the beautiful tea cups – modern green china without handle, emblazoned with a gold Nobu logo. It was everything I had imagined it would be.
But has Nobu, helmed by celebrity chef and restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa, seen the last of it’s revered reputation? In a recent LA Times review of Nobu Los Angeles, the famed restaurant seemed to have missed the menu mark, delivering un-inspired meals at best. Times Restaurant Critic S. Irene Virbila could only pass along a dismal rating of one star. She noted:
None of it’s brilliant, but OK…Nobu L.A. is just another Nobu.
Ouch. Read the rest of Virbila’s review here. Looks like Nobu Hong Kong didn’t fare much better in 2007.