Sushi Mambo

03/29/09

thumbs up

by dinah1

While on vacation my family and I stopped at Mambo Sushi

I have to say this was one of the best restaurants I have been to sushi-wise that is.

Freshest fish, creative chef,

we tried all sorts of sushi combinations we hadn't had before

The atmosphere was warm and friendly

My kids liked the spicy rolls

can't reccomend it highly enough

• Pros: kid friendly
• Cons: none

03/29/09

Addictively Good!

by Arthur

"What a find! When my wife and I moved our family from Pacific Palisades, LA to Bainbridge Island, WA we considered the quaility of the schools first and the access to great sushi second! I envy anyone living within driving distance of Napa Valley's Sushi Mambo.

Seattle Sushi joints are known for their fresh fish and our Faves in LA, like Hide and Hamasaku always accessed the best available, so I asked Jose, the Mexican-American Owner how he managed to get hold of the freshest Hamachi my wife and I have ever tasted. Great story: This guy, is not typecast as the perfect sushi restaurant owner, no less sushi chef but 30 years in the biz, apprenticed in SF's Japantown and handling all fish acquisitions, he established the key wharf connections that serve his now 12 year-old biz in Napa. He's like the Mob Boss of the Fish World.

We didn't make reservations and the counter was full so we had to wait a bit. I prefer the counter but a table opened up first and I guess the Mayor of Napa is the hostess because she knows everyone and everything in and about Napa and it looks like she's in charge of the joint too, But she got us seated, introduced us to a young, rather overwhelmed waitress and we placed our order of Hamachi, Ahi and a Dynamite appetizer. Fantastic across the board, The Hamachi was smooth, well proportioned and with just the right amount of wasabi. The Ahi, my fave, looked so perfect in its red that I had to manage my expectations that it would be as good as my Hide Sushi's masterpiece. My wife tasted it first and just nodded. I dove in and that was it; when Hamachi and Ahi come together in perfect union, you know that the owner's got a connection to the fishing fleet! Someone's gotta write a book about this guy, prepping incredible sushi and entertaining the counter with his masterwork.

Okay, onto Rolls and forgive me my memory but I think it is the Diablo Roll which is absolutely unique to anything I've seen out there which is such a relief. I'm bloody tired of the same old roll. The Diablo was a combo of Salmon, Hamachi and Ahi and they broiled it over a spicy tuna roll, topped with Tobiko, which I asked for because I crave the crunchy.

They have this "Mambo" sauce which has chili in it! Chili! They have sauces with cilantro! They make their own Mayonaisse! Even Hide doesn't do that!

So we learned to make a reservation for dinner and we still had to wait but not long. That was a little irritating and the same hostess remembered us and sat us at a table that didn't have enough light but fine with me. I wanted the counter but it was full again.

We started with a chicken yakatori appetizer and nicely salted edamame plus steamed muscles with a spicy soy sauce. Gotta admit, we had the Hamachi, Ahi and the Diablo Roll again and then we felt a bit guilty about hanging out at our table while people were waiting so we got going.

My favorite Sushi Restaurant ever, doesn't exist anymore because a NYC joint stole the owner/chef, from us here on Bainbridge Island. My wife and I are sushi snobs. We like good sized portions. We like excellent quality. We like clean restaurants. Mambo Sushi takes great care in these areas. The ambience is pretty good but in truth I could care less.

I am not only giving 5 stars for the above but also for creativity. The combination of flavors even in something as simple as the Dynamite is just super.

I wish we had a Mambo Sushi joint here on Bainbridge Island. You know its good sushi when you crave and I mean CRAVE having it again and again.!

My recommendation: Make a reservation well in advance. We visited at a supposedly dead time tourist wise, and it was still packed so I guess the locals are wise to what they've go. Also, make friends with the Mayor-Hostess."

• Pros: Creative, Fresh and Addictive
• Cons: Tough to Get a Table; Impossible to get the Counter

03/26/09

Absolutely Terrible Experience!!!!

by cowgirlwithaford2004

I have no clue how there are so many positive reviews on this website! Must be the owner signing up under different accounts! My friends and I had a terrible experience at Sushi Mambo. There were 6 of us there but only 4 that ordered any food and we were still charged 18% gratuity!! I'm sorry but $134.87 seems a little pricey for 4 people to eat. The service was ridiculously slow and the food took forever to come out! I will never eat there again and have told EVERYONE I know never to try it.

• Pros: NONE!
• Cons: Terrible Service!