Enso

What a nice gem of a restaurant. This place is small but has a nice outdoor dining spot. Parking is on the street. Me and some girlfriends went to this spot a few weeks ago and were very delighted with the restaurant. There were 6 of us with reservations made a week prior. For any larger of a group, it might be hard to accommodate due to the size of their tables and space available. Their reservations are held with a credit card too to ensure that you show or cancel. Their food menu doesn't have a large amount options but was still plenty to decide between. Several categories are good for sharing. Me and a friend did all the skewers, which provides 1 skewer of each available skewer... lamb, chicken thigh, mushroom, sausage, scallops, beef, and okra. My favorites of this were the scallops and mushrooms. We also ordered the octopus hushpuppies (which were on special) and the chili shrimp to share with the table. The hushpuppies are just that, hushpuppies... no overwhelming taste of octopus so don't shy away from them due to the name. The shrimp definitely had that strong chili taste but were good. A few other items ordered at our table were the fish & spaghetti, Japanese fried chicken, mushroom yakisoba, and broccolini. Everyone seemed happy with their choices. Upon service, you are provided with a warm wet washcloth to clean your hands and a welcome drink that was very refreshing. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful with our questions or with her recommendations.

Great starting point for an evening along Frankfort Avenue on a Saturday night. Parking was on the street within a few feet from the front door. One of the owners greeted us and was very welcoming. Waitstaff were attentive, polite, and professional and very helpful if we had any questions. We had a 5:15 reservation for the "chef's table" experience, i.e. seating at the bar overlooking food prep for salads and cocktails. However, there was little to no interaction with guests. My friend and I were having a catch-up conversation and had no issue, but I mention this for anyone else who might have an expectation. We were seated at the furthest corner of the large bar, so we had great views of the restaurant. It is a lovely open space, overall very modern and serene. Noise level was mild to moderate with the arrival of more patrons by the time we departed. Our service began with an introductory warm towel and a light cup of tea with ginger, which was very nice. I ordered an Okinawan Wedding cocktail, which was refreshing and had a beautiful presentation. We decided to order communal shareable dishes, particularly because this was our first visit and wanting to explore the menu. We began with the potato salad as a side, and it was phenomenal with soft creamy potato chunks, bits of carrot, and crunch topping with a mild mayo to marry the textures. We chose an array of skewers, including a charred okra with lemon wedges and sea salt (somewhat chewy and difficult to bite), tender scallops (cooked perfectly), Cajun sausage (nice amount of mild spicy heat), flavorful chicken and beef, lamb meatballs, and grilled zucchini (substitute for mushrooms on the menu during our visit, which was a great substitute). Overall, the skewers were a hit with the various flavors and textures and plenty for 2 to share. We passed by one of the owners as we departed, thanking him for the hospitality and complimented the aesthetic, food, and service. We plan to return to try other menu items in the future.

I've been here twice now. Once solo and once work a group of 5. Since I won't be returning, it's time for a review.My first visit, I sat at the bar and had great service from the bartender and my server. The food was tasty for the most part (frog leg skewers were the best, cheesecake was weak) and my cocktail was tasty. It was a bit pricey, but overall maybe 3.5-4*.However, my second visit was very different. With a group, we had to wait until everyone was present to be seated, even though the table was just sitting empty. Fine. We waited outside because there was no space inside to wait. Once everyone arrived, we were seated. The server quickly rattled off menu things, including what they were out of and the specials. We then looked over the menu, and had to flag our server down to get questions answered. Eventually, three members of the party ordered drinks. One of them had some interesting foam on top, but the server didn't know what it was and didn't help us in answering the question by asking someone else.We ordered a "side" dish and a "main" dish each. One person was served. Then, several minutes later, a few more "main" dishes were brought out. A few more minutes later, some "sides" brought out. For 4 of our party. The last person didn't get her food until at least 15-20 minutes after the rest of us and we had to ask about it. Even then, they brought the "main" a few minutes before the "side". I should add, the "side" was a bowl of rice! Needless to say, service was not impressive this time. I was quite annoyed, as was the rest of my party. I got the potato salad and the mushroom yakisoba bowl. The potato salad was.... ok. One of the better dishes of the night, but very rich with mayo and a slightly fake bacon flavor. Also, not the easiest to eat with chopsticks (we were not offered forks, although we eventually asked for two of them). The yakisoba was also OK. A bit salty for me, but decent. Not worth the price for either though. My cocktail was also just OK this time around.At the end of our meal, it was clear that we were not welcomed to linger and chat either.I should say, the interior is very very well decorated. The mix of wood, plants, and glass comes together beautifully. However, the acoustics are horrible. We could hardly hear and struggled to carry on a conversation.Second visit was 2*.Overall, I'll give them 3*, but I won't be recommending or returning.

the first time I've tried and and have been wanting to try it for a while because I've heard good things & it did not disappoint. I did make a reservation on opentable, and we sat out under the patio as a summer thunderstorm rolled through. we were completely dry! It was a totally enjoyable experience. the inside is tastefully decorated, and I would like to sit in there next time. we got a few different foods to split - most are smaller plates- and everything was different and exciting. if you want to step outside of the box with food and this is the place for you!

Let me start with some positives in this review because my experience at the beginning was really nice. Immediately, the ambiance and decoration impressed me and I felt that I had walked into a modern restaurant in LA. Such a fresh and upscale vibe without feeling dark like some restaurants. The noise of the restaurant also hit me as well as I waited inside. I was part of a reservation for 5 and were not seated till all of our party arrived so please keep this in mind for large parties. Initially, our server was very detailed and answered the many questions we had about certain ingredients on the menu. There were a lot of things they were out of and it was quite overwhelming to take in when it seemed like it was one of everything in each section. The towel was a cool touch as well as the complimentary tea but some of us did not like the taste. After we got our orders in, I feel our experience went south. One of us received our food about 10-15 minutes earlier than the others. The problem arose when another one of us didn't get our order and probably wouldn't have gotten it unless we grabbed the server. The server seemed annoyed that we had brought this up and had no urgency or remorse. Not only was the service underwhelming but so was the food. The raw fish I had was basically overpriced sashimi that I feel I could have gotten at a different Japanese restaurant for a much better value. The chicken thigh skewers were pretty good though but I just don't think it was enough to save the experience. We all sampled several things from each other's dishes like the various salads and entrées. Everything was hit or miss. Hits were the chicken skewers and Japanese potato salad - misses were the Fried Chicken and the turnip greens to name a few. Instead of the towels or free tea, I really wish the attention could be steered more towards friendlier service and overall more consistent flavors such as the chicken skewers. Our experience ended with the lights being turned out on us at around 9:15 despite there being other customers in the bottom level of restaurant and the closing time being confirmed as 10pm online. I am disappointed for sure.

My friend and I had been meaning to try their food but we couldn't find a reservation for the days we were looking at coming. We decided to wait until after Derby after all the hype had died down.We finally got to try it last week! We had a reservation, but it wasn't all that busy. Lots of open tables but definitely a good number of groups dining in here and there.Once we got seated, our waiter explained the menu and asked about allergies/dietary restrictions. We both got broth to start. Since my friend is pescatarian, they gave her a mushroom broth. We both enjoyed them!I decided to order hot tea, the Mujicha, while my friend got their version of the old fashioned. We shared all of the food except the meat. I got myself lamb skewers to try, which I thought were a bit rich. Good seasoning but the sauce on it was almost too much.We also shared: turnip greens, ginger salad, octopus hush puppies, mushroom skewers, and the potlikker soba. We both loved the turnip greens and the hush puppies! But I was not a fan of the soba. My friend said it had the same flavor as her mushroom broth. It was just too sweet. I'm used to savory flavors for soup. But it was vegetarian, so I'd come back to try their chicken broth soup options instead.For dessert, we shared egg custard. Delicious! It wasn't overly sweet which was perfect.Staff was really nice and friendly. Bathrooms and the entire space was clean. It's not a large restaurant, but it does have a nice atmosphere.I will add that I wasn't all that full after I went home. The food portions were small, but I could've eaten more. One thing to note is that this is a fusion restaurant. It's not authentic Japanese. It's someone's take and more of a Southern cooking version of Japanese. It's very innovative so it's definitely worth a try!

With all the hype and the high prices, I expected the food to be spot on. Maybe they're still figuring out a new menu? (food pictures online didn't match current options at all). But I went with a group of five and between us we had 9 varied food items (which we all tried) and 3 cocktails. The group only liked (not loved) 3 of those 12 items (cucumber salad, chicken skewers, and noodles). And not a single one of them evoked a "wow - y'all have to try this!" Even with the small portions, not everything was eaten.Everything took long - from food to the check. Staff were aloof in general, and it felt like the waitress was annoyed by our presence. It was also hard to hear inside, which I hate, and the hot towels and tea were gimmicky for me.On the plus side, the restaurant itself is super cute, and there's a nice outdoor seating area. I appreciate that they use some local distributors, and the food seemed "clean." Folks who are more into trendy spots would probably like this better, but food is most important to me. I want food I would be excited to eat again at prices that align with its exceptional-ness. If prices were 25% lower, this probably would have been 3 stars for me. (Like a slice of cheesecake for $12 instead of $16)

came on a whim with a close friend with no reservation on Friday 10/4 and waited about 40 minutes for a bar seat and it was definitely worth it. The bartenders were so knowledgeable and great at describing dishes that you aren't familiar with. We split about 4 items and dessert and it was the perfect amount. Octopus Hushpuppies were our favorite item. I loved the layout and simplicity of the detail inside and can't wait to come back!

Wow oh Wow. There's a reason this place is held in such high regard.For starters, I typically don't like Japanese food but I would eat Enso's food off the floor. Yes it's that good.Food: there was not a single dish I did not enjoy. Everything I had was exploding with flavor and exceeded expectations. I was going to go into extreme detail about how much I enjoyed each and every dish but as of two weeks ago (mid March 2024) the menu was updated and a lot of the things I had are no longer available. The octopus hush puppies are still available and VERY delicious. The toppings really bring this dish over the top and make it something special.Although I am sad to see my favorite dish (creamy scallop udon) no longer on the menu, I am equally excited to have a reason to come back and try other things.Service: impeccable. My waiter was kind and helpful and well versed in the menu. If you have any questions about portions or menu be sure to ask because this group is amazing and will get you answers!Atmosphere: I came on a weeknight about 10 minutes after they opened and I was the only one there until closer to 5. The space is very simple but sleek. Price: This is where I advise to understand what you're getting into. This is not a fast casual spot and one shouldn't expect those prices. But the prices are not outrageous for the quality/quantity of food you get. It was around $100 for enough food for 2 people. Obviously this is where it can vary depending on what dishes you get, but trust me, you'll want to try a skewer or the octopus hush puppies. Overall: amazing food and I can't wait to bring my husband back for a date night.

First things first... Sunday is half price sake bottles and oh my goodness, they have a great selection. Food was really good. I do recommend you go with a group because they have many small plates and that way you can try a bunch of different things. We had five dishes and we're so full that we could not even get to the hot noodle.dishes.Our waitress was very knowledgeable and helped figure out which dishes would travel wellbecause I needed an order to go..they were also knowledgeable and asked up front about any dietary concerns or preferences.Finally, I think if you are gonna go anytime after right after they open up for the evening, you might need to get some reservations they did fill up pretty quickly..