Utzutzu

Another wonderful experience at Utzutzu.Dinner here is always such a treat, one that I eagerly anticipate from the moment we make our reservation, a month in advance. I love that this place is still a relatively hidden gem in Alameda.The eight-person seating per service makes for a perfectly intimate omakase experience. Service is refined, with a quietly attentive staff that observes in the background, and are quick to anticipate and respond to guest needs, but never hover over you.I am picky about where we go for sushi, and when you're eating raw fish, you should be; quality is everything. The quality of the fish at Utzutzu is excellent, and really comes through in the flavors, texture, and appearance of the bounty of seafood you will be tasting here. The price per person is currently $145, which for as many courses as you get, is a deal. Extras are, of course, extra. My favorites this time around included: -Amberjack -Golden Eye Snapper -Toro hand roll There are too many individual courses for me to list here, but check out my pics for many of the standouts.We ordered an extra serving of the amberjack each, which we agreed was one of our very favorites.I do wish the dinner service was longer, though I completely understand they only have two seatings a night, and need to stay on a schedule. But I could easily stay for another hour, ordering extras. Thank you to the Chef and staff of Utzutzu for another special, memorable meal. Already looking forward to our next visit.

Exceptional cuts of mind blowing fish - and at the right bite sized servings so you finish each bite savoring the flavor and mouth feel easily. The sushi chef is very kind and mindful, noticing all the details and making the most top notch sushi selection flown from Hokkaido. Some notable selections: tako, torched black sea bream, shrimp, okra ... A well curated selection. Superb. Highly recommended. The price isn't bad for the super high quality and personal service a

Favs were the sweet shrimp, uni, waygu and toro nigiri! Wish there were more desserts. IG: @sierra_notnevada

If any restaurant in Alameda has the potential for a Michelin star, it's Utzutzu.I must have walked by this place a thousand times over the last 10 years and never even knew it was there. It feels like a secret, exclusive club because it's located above some storefronts on Park Street. You enter through an unmarked door, head up the stairs, and suddenly, you're in a tiny omakase spot that seats only eight. The setting is intimate, with a front-row view of the chef at work.I loved how personal the experience was. Throughout many dishes (I lost track!), we heard the chef's stories--his Okinawan roots, his family, and fishing in his hometown. Every dish had an explanation--where the ingredients came from, how the fish was prepared, the nuances of each bite. It wasn't just a meal; it was an experience. And even when I encountered a texture or flavor I didn't personally love, I still appreciated every moment of it.Two things hold it back from being a full 5-star experience. First, each dish could use just a little more pop--something to elevate the flavors just a bit more. The plating was beautiful, but some dishes needed a stronger finish. Second, while the small space adds to the intimate charm, it also feels a little too dark and could really use a refresh. That said, the service was impeccable--attentive but never hovering.Pro Tips:- Reservations can be tough to get, so check Resy often.- This is an omakase place, which means it's the chef's choice--you eat what the chef prepares. Every night is different. If you need control over your meal, this isn't your place.- There are two seatings per night: 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM. If you're late, you'll miss plates.- Finding the entrance can be tricky: look for a door directly to the left of Mommy's Trading Post, then head upstairs. The address is on top of the door.If you love omakase and are up for an intimate, chef-driven dining experience, it's absolutely worth a visit.

A fair-valued okimari (like omakase, but with more than just sushi) counter in a very-hidden (unmarked and up a flight of steep stairs) location that is substantially cheaper than similar-quality spots in San Francisco. Nothing stood out as extraordinary, and the fish selection was exactly what you'd expect (shima aji, hotate, uni, different types of tuna, and wagyu).The chef is friendly and attentive to the guests; he's working solo, with two servers working mostly on water/alcohol, and bringing out the non-nigiri dishes. It's a wonderful restaurant that doesn't necessarily surprise, but if solid sushi at an affordable price is what you're craving, and you don't want to deal with the nightmare that is parking in San Francisco, this is a great option.

Dined here when it was Ume but haven't dined here under the new ownership as Utzuzu. We came here recently on a Friday for a birthday celebration after making reservations on RESY for the 5:30pm seating. Their other seating is for 8pm. The restaurant is obscure on the second floor with no name on the outside or at the door. The sushi counter sits 8 for the omakase, so it is quite cozy with your fellow diners which were fellow Alamedans as well. After the servers take you drink orders, the chef arrives and welcome us and show us the types of fish/seafood and its origin that he will be preparing. He asked if anyone had allergies. Two patron were allergic to shrimp and uni so the chef provided them with another item during that course. It was a 20 item meal that consisted of Black Goma & Kabocha, Nanbanzuke, Sumiso-ae, Uni Chawanmushi, Akadashi, 14 nigiris, including blue fin tuna, kampachi, spot prawns, Hokkaido scallop, saba, toro, ocean trout, salmon, tuna hand roll and wagyu beef, and a Hojica Pudding for dessert. You can order additional items as add-ons. The meal was very enjoyable and delicious. Service by chef and staff was friendly. The seafood were fresh and you can taste the quality. A nice omakase experience in little Alameda! A hidden gem.

Food: 5/5 superb!! Been coming here for the past two years!! Always quality cuts and the flavor mmmm!!!!!! Will be coming back!!! Service: 4/5 could be more on top of wiping the sushi plate. Aside from that staff is engaged in refilling the tea and water Ambiance: 5/5 cozy little chic spot

Came on a Sunday and was lucky to get 2 open seats online 3 days prior. Small upstairs room, ventilation is not great here and place is quite old. Seats 8 people. I'd rate the omakase 2/5. Service was 4/5. Used the same ingredients (mint Perla leaves or something) in most of the sushi and the cuts aren't the most expensive. Servers were very aware of refilling drinks, bringing more condiments like ginger, and ensuring the plate for next sushi was clean. Very respectable and intimate setting.

Utzutzu in Alameda offers a decent omakase experience, but it doesn't quite hit the high notes I expect for the price point. Please note that they don't have any signs, so finding this restaurant can be tricky if you haven't been here before. Utzutzu is located on the 2nd floor, so you'll have to take the stairs on the left side of the building to get to the restaurant. Utzutzu provides a very intimate dining experience with a seating space for 7-8 people. Their focus on minimalistic Japanese esthetics becomes evident the moment you step inside the restaurant. Their service was good and fast. The dishes were coming out back to back once we started. Thankfully, our server was very attentive and made sure that our glasses were full and the counter was cleared before the next dish came out. Our omakase experience included -1. Black Goma-Ae (Japanese asparagus with black sesame)2. Kabocha (winter squash)3. Nanbanzuke (sea trout)4. Nigiri pieces (8) - opah, striped jack, barred knifejaw (ishigaki dai), horse mackerel, bluefin tuna, amberjack, spot prawn from canada (or golden eye snapper if you are allergic), ocean trout belly with yuzu5. Sumiso-ae (seaweed salad with octopus and miso vinegar sauce)6. Uni Chawanmushi7. Nigiri pieces (6) - scallop with citrus juice,marinate mackerel, toro, wagyu with garlic chip and radish, uni, cooked squash roll8. Akadashi9. Mango sisho sorbetOverall, the fish in each nigiri was fresh, but the cuts were small & thin. There weren't any unique or complex flavors that stood out. Some nigiri pieces were better than the other, but mostly because of the fish itself. The whole omakase experience definitely sufficed our hunger because we got plenty of dishes. However, it fell short as far as the flavors go. Looking back at it, each item that we tried was decent, but none of the items left us craving for more.

Went for the omakase (chef's choice, pre-fixe) dinner here with my wife for her belated birthday. We had a wonderful time! We made reservations through Resy, and everything worked out fine. The restaurant is on the second floor, which gives it a homey feel. The clear distinction from the street made it feel like a short trip to Japan. The room is small but carefully catered. They were playing some 70's rock-and-roll in the background. The food was amazing. It was a 7-course dinner with dessert. The two courses of nigiri consisted of 14 types, with fish from different regions of Japan. It also included a nigiri with wagyu beef - grade A5 of course. The chef gave us a preview of all the fish as an introduction. His knifework was phenomenal. It felt like a dinner and a show. My favorites were the maguro, scallop, and amberjack. The Wagyu was good too. It was seared with a blow torch for a medium rare. The uni chowanmushi (custard) was delicious as well. It's an expensive meal for sure, but one that is unforgettable.