Nimblefish is an intimate 12-seat counter restaurant in Portland, Oregon, specializing in Edomai omakase. It focuses on using ingredients sourced both locally from the Pacific Northwest and from Japan.
Customer Perception
Customers praise Nimblefish for its high-quality nigiri and the overall experience. Some note that due to the nature of omakase, they often wish for more after the menu is completed.
Additional Details
The restaurant emphasizes the simplicity and intricate personality of its food through its presentation.
Nimblefish offers a sophisticated, intimate setting that is ideal for a quiet business dinner or a date. The atmosphere is excellent, and the space itself is arguably the restaurant's strongest asset.
However, the overall Omakase experience fell short of the high expectations set by the concept. I was particularly curious about their "aged" sushi, but there was almost no explanation regarding the techniques or the aging process—the fish were presented by name only. While the Edomae-style approach aims to eliminate the need for extra soy sauce, I personally found that several pieces would have benefited from a touch of it to truly bring out the flavor. Additionally, the initial pieces of nigiri were served with noticeably warm shari, which I found distracting from the balance of the dish.
The service, while polite, lacked the attention to detail one might expect at this price point. For instance, there was no storage provided for bags or coats, which is a missed opportunity for guest comfort.
The beverage program also feels quite limited. Options for those who do not drink are virtually non-existent, and for those who do, I would love to see a broader selection of sake available by the glass. Offering more variety by the glass would allow couples to enjoy different pairings, which would greatly enhance the overall dining experience.
I see great potential here given the lovely space, but I hope to see more thoughtfulness in both the culinary execution and guest comfort to truly elevate the experience to match the caliber of the setting.
I had some of the most incredible bites of food I’ve ever experienced in my life!!! This place was amazing. There is very limited seating so it feels really intimate. The chefs were incredibly talented and it was so cool to see them make each piece right in front of you! The servers were kind and experienced. The sake list was WOW amazing. Great place for a date night if you’re wanting to try something new! But be warned - it will ruin all other sushi for you 😭
Perhaps one of the worst omakase experiences I've had. The chef in charge of me, only talked to the couple seated in the middle, and completely ignored the couple at the far end and my group. The far couple even tried to chat but received curt reponses. He was so engaged in conversation with the middle couple for whatever reason, he stopped giving the name of the fish to me and the far couple. When I ordered ala carte after the experience, he was quite rude that I didn't know the names of the dish I wanted (because he stopped telling them to me???).
The other chef seemed professional and observant so it's not everyone.
Sushi was delicious, albeit small compared to other omakase restaurants.
Such good things to say about this place! The price, first of all, pretty decent for an omakase considering the amount and quality of the pieces/dishes. I've been a couple times now and every chef I've had has been amazing, both in service and in knowledge on each and every dish (they'll tell you about where it's from, different names, and anything else you'd want to know). It's really nice getting to sit and watch them create each dish with care and you can tell how much work and expertise goes into each serving. I cannot reccomend this place enough. Best sushi I've had in Portland (one of the few good places I've found actually)
Amazing omakase experience. Made a reservation, seated on time, and the chef/staff was busy creating the course in front of us. Extensive Japanese whiskey selection and plenty of other options (sake, wine, a few Japanese beers). Staff was on point with service and provided extensive details about the food when asked. Chef was skilled and went into details when asked about the dish origins, presentation, or techniques used. Fantastic pacing of the dishes and great selection of fish from Japan and Spain. Loved the experience and would absolutely recommend for a nice long meal with good company.
