Takanami

Worse sushi ever, got sick from eating here. The platters are nice to look at but taste another story. Wait was way to long and the service was horrible.

Being an Iowa City local for my entire life, I have learned to appreciate the wonderful things this town has to offer. I feel I can safely say that my first dining experience at Takanami was truly exceptional.

There are a few things I look for each time I visit a new restaurant. I will summarize them below and describe how Takanami met my expectations.

Wine List-Not only is the wine list the most expansive and comprehensive I have seen in Iowa, it is a selection of brilliant wines derived from their strengths. For example, they have Italian Pinot Grigio, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (the best wine I had that night), and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Simply outstanding choices from an intelligent wine enthusiast.

Diversity in menu-I feel I could go to Takanami once a week for a year and find new favourites each time I visited. Their obvious strength is sushi, and they have a dizzying array of choices in that menu alone. However, they have tremendously unique entrees. I had pheasant served in a sweet miso sauce on a bed of butternut and acorn squash, and carmelized parsnips. For a side was an unorthodox, but very compelling, black eyed pea chili. If you are used to ordering "surf and turf" from Red Lobster, get ready to take it up a notch here!

Atmosphere-Going in on a Friday night at 8 pm, the house was very busy. I called in an hour ahead to make reservations and was seated with no problem. The place was full, and a little loud. There is plenty of seating available, but it can diminish the intimacy factor a little if you were looking for a quiet evening with a loved one. However, all of the employees were very courteous, and all of them had smiles at the ready. My waiter, Ryan, was very receptive to me and was incredibly knowledgeable of the products the restaurant served. From appetizer to dessert, we were probably there for almost two hours, trying a little bit of this, a little bit of that, try a drink of this...I think you get the idea. It was very relaxed dining without getting a bum's rush.

In conclusion, the meal went very well. The courses came at a very casual pace that allowed my wife and I to savor the intricate delisciousness in each one. When all was said and done, my wife and I had ordered:

1 appetizer (a delicious tortellini appetizer with organic ricotta)
2 glasses of wine (pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc)
1 cup of coffee
1 maki sushi ("Godzilla" roll)
2 entrees (pheasant, steak)
2 desserts (warm apple streudel with ice cream, chocolate cake {that was almost like fudge})
1 cognac

All of it was tremendous and delicious, and we got out of there for about $100 (plus gratuity).

I feel Takanami is wonderful restraunt for those that enjoy wine and cuisine. Whereas it may be well suited to host a group, my wife and I, as a couple, had a very nice time there. It is simply one of the best in Iowa City, and I give it an A+.

love it: I have only been to this place a few time but the food in GREAT! and the restaurant is wonderful