Ebisu Restaurant

Inner Sunset fave is a worthy destination for fresh fish.. Within a three-block radius of the popular Ninth-and-Irving Inner Sunset junction, there are roughly six different options for sushi--so it's a testament to the quality of Ebisu's food that the newly remodeled resto is easily the neighborhood favorite. No reservations are accepted, meaning you'll likely have to wait an hour for your chance at one of the tiny tables positioned impossibly close together in the modest dining room. Instead of performing that awkward dance wherein you try to squeeze into your table without knocking over your neighbor's sake sampler, angle for a spot at the long sushi bar and watch the nimble chefs prepare a host of Japanese dishes, from creatively named house apps like Two Balls, No Strike (spicy tuna wrapped in avocado) to expertly crafted specialty rolls and simply presented nigiri. Prices on American sushi bar staples like the 49er Roll and Dragon Roll are easily a couple bucks cheaper than you'll find at similar restaurants, meaning you'll leave either a little fuller or a little richer than normal. Perhaps that--and not just the buttery fish cuts--is part of the reason this place is so popular.…

I honestly do not know what all the fuss is about.. I honestly do not know what all the fuss is about. I last ate at this restaurant with my husband after a lengthy 1 hour wait. The service was forgettable and the food was nothing special, whatsoever.…

Ebisu staff are incompetent!. Get it together, people! We had out-of-town guests wanting some great sushi. After finding Ebisu listed on this site as one of the top rated sushi places, I was thrilled. It's in the neighborhood! The website said it was getting remodeled, but would be completed the first week of 2009. I called the make reservations, the dialogue went as follows,

Me: "Hi, do you guys take reservations?"

Ebisu: "How many people in your party?"

Me: "Six, for 7:00 pm"

Ebisu: "OK, see you then, thank you."

After taking my name, I hung up, excited that I could get a table for Saturday night. HOWEVER, after arriving promptly at 7pm, they told us that they don't take reservations. I recounted my explanation, then the hostess told me that they only put people's names on the waiting list. To add injury to insult, she said, "I wish you told me sooner, I just gave away a table for 6 people." Inexplicably honest, and incompetent. She did apologize for the person on the phone, saying that they shouldn't have given a reservation. Excuses, excuses. I'm sure the fish is great, thus the line. But if you're counting on making plans in advance, don't count on Ebisu. By the way - the remodeling is not done yet, their website is wrong.…