Yamato

booklaw

Mrs. Booklaw and I had dinner at Yamato tonight. It was our first time there since its renovation/redesign.

The new design is very clean, simple and attractive. The menu is also quite different than before... they now consider themselves a "pan-Asian" restaurant.

The reason I'm posting about it is that our dinner completely exceeded our expectations. The food was as good as that at Applewood, Stone Park, Rosewater, Convivium or anywhere else we've been in the neighborhood (we've not been to Al Di La... I won't go anyplace that doesn't take reservations).

I had (against my own better judgment!) Peking Duck for my entree, and, as it happens, it was as good as any I've ever had. Mrs. Booklaw had crabcakes, and they were also excellent... and spiced differently than any other she'd ever had.

Two three-course dinners totaled $56 including tax (but before tip). I consider that a bargain considering how good the food was.

I'm posting because I want other people to go there. I don't want it to close for lack of patronage. I want to be able to go back... and back... and back.

daveon8th

Glad to hear they haven't gone downhill. I've only had their sushi and felt that I'd rather spend a couple bucks more and eat at Blue Ribbon.

I have to ask though; Never eaten at Al Di La because you won't eat anywhere that doesn't take reservations? That seems pretty silly.

booklaw

Not to me. There are many, many excellent restaurants which accept and honor reservations. I don't need to patronize those that don't.

zebra

Thanks for the review; I always liked Yamato.

Why not just go to Al di la early so you'd be guaranteed a table? Like in the 6-6:30 time frame.

daveon8th

booklaw wrote: Not to me. There are many, many excellent restaurants which accept and honor reservations. I don't need to patronize those that don't.

So you haven't eaten at Franny's?

booklaw

Busted! I've eaten twice at Franny's, both times in the late afternoon before the dinner rush started. Liked it a lot, too!

belzjm

yamato is mediocre and now owned by the absolutely horrible pan asian place on smith street. i forget the name.

oshima is tons better than yamato, in my opinion. and of course blue ribbon is super.

and i personally think the new yamato renovation looks cheap.

al di la is the best restaurant in the neighborhood and one of the best in brooklyn.

booklaw

Belzjm, when did you last eat at Yamato? Have you ordered anything other than sushi/sashimi there?

It was certainly not mediocre last night.

burns

I think yamato is way better than oshima and better than blue ribbon when price is factored in
Yay yamato
I missed them when they were renovating and very happy they are back

belzjm

i've eaten there since the remodel and the way you can tell a good sushi place is by the sushi and sashimi.

yamato is nothing special. it used to be authentic and now it's another pretty run of the mill pan asian place.

everyone is particular about their favorite sushi place though. i've never much been a fan of yamato. took japanese friends there once and they said it was terrible and they love oshima and blue ribbon.

booklaw

It may or may not be a run of the mill sushi place... I wouldn't claim to know.

It is definitely not a run of the mill pan asian place, which you might know if you ate anything other than sushi there.

chaplin'smom

we just ate there the other night and loved it (as per usual.)
the new decor was gorgeous. beautifully and carefully lit and designed. definitely NOT cheaply done.
it has not been taken over. it has maintained the same ownership. it has merely expanded to include, as noted above, a more 'pan asian' menu. meaning- dim sum, some thai and other tastes.
i've found it better and more reasonable than blue ribbon.
we didn't order sushi but rather the yamato roll which was positively delicious.