Elegant outpost serving a modern Japanese izakaya menu with California & global influences.
Sam
This was my first time at Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya. It was very busy and I would recommend a reservation. The food was good, but somethings were a bit dry or tasted overcooked. I ordered the Sencha because it was cold. The Sean Bean & Corn Tempura was good, but oily. The Ika Karaage was okay. The Chicken Katsu was a bit dry. The Deluxe Sashimi Moriawase was good, but some of the cuts were tough or tasted weird. Over a good experience at this body establishment. Service was good.
… moreOlivia Konstam
The deluxe sashimi is amazing. Chef Aki Prepared a beautiful dish with incredible flavor and attention to detail. The sashimi melts in your mouth. Will definitely be back.
… moreDee S
Went here for my husband’s birthday. We both had the pre-set menu.
Food: The sea bean and corn tempurawith a side of matcha. They were tasty, but no different from the tempura I’ve had at other restaurants.
The sashimi salad was also tasty, but nothing special. Just a salad with a few pieces of various raw fish.
I had the Salmon Kasuzuki. I have to say this was actually delicious! A perfect blend of sake and miso with the salmon. It was a lovely cut of meat and perfectly cooked. Delicious!
My husband has the Wagyu Bikini Hamburg steak. I would say it was nothing special. A big chunk of hamburger. Good quality hamburger and not too oily, but still just ground beef.
The Matcha Tiramisu was tasty. Not too sweet.
Overall, I’d say a little over priced for what you get. About half the dishes stood out as above average.
Atmosphere. The atmosphere was pleasant, although the music was a bit loud. The high ceilings help with the noise. While we were there, the table next to us brought a DOG into the restaurant…not a service dog ..which I thought was against the health code, but no one said anything to them.
Service.
The service was attentive. She checked in with us after each dish was brought to make sure everything was good. Although my husband’s main dish was brought to the table at least 5 minutes before my dish arrived. Not good for, but not the server’s fault. That’s the kitchen’s fault.
Overall a good experience, but a bit pricey. It was about $200 for two prix fix meals , drinks, tax and tip.
… moreAlethea D
This was my second time at Fish and Bird. I love it each time I come. There’s a lovely, calm atmosphere, the food is delightfully unique, a playground for the pallet. We always order the house tofu and the Fried oysters, and this time got the sushimi platter. It took a little while to get the platter but it was worth the wait. The fish was delectable, high quality and fresh. We closed our dinner with the cold udon and that was refreshing as well.
… moreHass Noeb
Came back last night when we used to love this place for sashimi, but it was soooo bad. It was clearly not fresh because when you touch it, the fish falls apart in flakes. The quality was clearly previously frozen sashimi and worst of all, I got sick!!!!!
still in pain and hoping that I don’t need to see the doctor
… moreNina Park
We went there for my son’s birthday dinner. I brought a cake and they charged us for cake fee $5 each. I never had a restaurant charging me for cake fee per person before. The food was just ok. Over priced for sure. The charcoal grill menu i saw on the photos are not available anymore which was huge disappointment. Other Japanese restaurant near by had way better food. Never go back..
… moreHeike Woodward
Made reservations for New Year ‘s Eve Prix Fixe Menue ( $145 per person) of Shabu Shabu Three Ways. We came in, received no greeting, were just shown to our table. Food was just ok, pieces of tempura, consisted mainly of string beans, 2 slices of kombucha & one shrimp. The Wagyu beef striploin slices were too long, so was the berkshire pork belly slices, hard to handle & eat with just chopsticks. The broth was also almost unretrievable, due to the fact again, we didn’t get/ have the right utensils.Our server was friendly, yet not knowledgable, about saki, food etc, but made an effort. The Owner, didn’t even thank or wish us a Happy New Year ,when we left. We thought it wasn’t worth it, especially at that price, quiete a disappointment. I / we, would not recommend this place to eat.
… moreVenus Zhang
We arrived on a rainy chilly Friday night, with most other places in Berkeley packed with at least 30mins waits. Luckily, we squeezed into the bar counter here, and it was worth it. The vibe was warm and inviting, perfect setting for a cozy izakaya experience.
The menu didn’t disappoint. The wagyu beef was delicious, and Basque cheesecake was light yet creamy, and the fried chicken stole the show: juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor. To top it off, we were pleasantly surprised with complimentary drinks. All in all, a fantastic warm up before our trip to Japan
… moreAngela
We were in the area looking online for where to eat. My friend was really craving Japanese food at that time so we decided to come here. The interiors had an upscale vibe – tall ceilings, open kitchen, and sleek decor. Staff were super nice too.
I got the Chicken Katsu and it was really good! Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The ratio of breading to chicken was also just perfect.
Portions are on the smaller side but izakaya food typically comes in small plates anyways.
… moreR H
What a great find in the Berkeley / East Bay Area! Restaurant is spacious, and all food items we ordered (from small dish, appertizier, main to dessert) taste great. Particular highlight will be the Agedashi tofu (homemade!) and oden dishes.
… more