"When thinking about where to take my friend from Miami, Japonais came to mind. The reputation and the experience were two very different things. We were treated like two kids emptying out our piggy banks. When I asked our waiter a question about the menu, he said it was "normal sushi." Can't they at least coat the description with fancy words if they're going to snow you on price? The waiter pulled a Houdini, never to be seen again. We got an arm workout trying to flag down ANYONE to order more bar drinks and food, with staff breezing past us at every turn. When it finally came time for dessert, we simply gave up and went elsewhere. It was surprisingly easy to get the check though. The icing on the cake was when our waiter briskly walked back to loudly announce, “We don’t take Discover.” Would you like Visa, MasterCard or Amex, you ninny? I will never go back. And I'm spreading the word — don't waste your money on their self-proclaimed "normal sushi.""

Read Anonymous' Chicago reviews | Comment

"The food here has made all of my other sushi experiences seem pale and bland. The overall decor and vibe may have something to do with it. The bar was awesome. It has both indoor and outdoor space and backs up to the river. It is a great place for a night out."

Read Amy's Chicago reviews | Comment

"Japonais is a fantastic, Nobu style, japanese restaurant on the chicago river. Curved wavelike slats of wood adorn the ceiling and boxy chandeliers illuminate the hip crowd. The food is as good as the sweet space. We let the chef bring us what he wanted which was a great descision. Great variety and quality of dishes all prepared deftly. There is a nice mix (like Nobu) of traditional and more fusion creations. My second favorite restaurant in Chicago after Blackbird."

Read haonusa's Chicago reviews | Comment

"I had been to this restaurant before, and was excited to bring my wife, which I was able to do and what this review is based on. Besides talking again about how cool this place is, with the downstairs bar overlooking the river, the perfect architecture and stunning interior. And without bringing up again the scores of beautiful people that consistently occupy the space, and without going into detail like everyone else about the impeccable presentation of the food (“The Rock” is a must for an appetizer) or the delight that accompanies each and every bite of this world class food, I’d like to write a review about why it was special to us. As a younger woman, (still very young, and beautiful, hi honey!) my wife had tried to eat Sushi on occasion, all ended up badly and she swore it off for good a few years ago. I had convinced her to try just one more time, as I like the style and substance of the food, and hoped to again include it in our dinning options at home and as we travel. I was betting that Japonais could convert her. I was right. The waiter took the time to listen to what we wanted, the hesitations of my wife, and the time to describe to us certain things about the menu that we could not have known. A perfectly balanced assortment of dishes kept coming out, some I picked as I know her tastes and I liked very much, and some the waiter and chef suggested as a little more daring. The quality, variation, and quantity was perfect for us, and we have now expanded our dining universe once more. We will certainly be back to Japonais, as well as think about it each time we visit another Sushi style restaurant."

Read Gustonian's Chicago reviews | Comment (1)