Giapponese

05/03/2008 Posted by AlishaandJesse

We love sushi, and we decided to venture out of the cities to try Giapponese because we were looking for a place that had a wide variety of fish. The first thing we noticed: They have a Jazz trio on Friday and Saturday nights, which was fabulous. A nice treat that we didn't expect, and made dinner more special. While they were out of Toro (we just missed out), they did have Walu, which lived up to the description of "melts in your mouth" along with Tazmanian Salmon (excellent) and Marlin. Other nice touches - red tobiko instead of orange tobiko, (not at an extra charge) our sashimi was arranged beautifully, and they had an impressive specials menu which included beef potstickers. The prices were average-to-high, with the special varieties of fish getting the higher prices. The service was responsive. All in all, the only downside was the location - it's in the middle of a new development in Woodbury, and it was a little hard to find.

Pros: fish variety, jazz trio on Friday and Saturday night

Cons: in Woodbury

04/18/2008 Posted by WBLFoodie

We went there on a Friday night. We were suprised when we walked in and there was a little lounge area with a live jazz trio playing. The sophisticated place didn't look like it belonged in Woodbury. 10 years ago this was farmland. My how far Woodbury has come. The place was lit with funky pink lighting and all I can describe is a furry pink wall. The service was OK. Our waitress seemed a little timid when we we asked about where the fish came from. But the owner/manager came over and gave us a little mini-sushi lesson and recommended the lava roll and mango roll. One was hot and one was sweet. Very interesting mix of flavors. I liked the lava roll much better. The place has an enormous sake list, something that is lacking in many restaurants. Overall, the experience was a good one. The music was a very nice addition. You have to be a little skeptical when it seems like there are just as many sushi places than there are Starbuck's but this place stands out. I hope that helped. Cheers.

Pros: Interesting sushi menu, great sake offerings

Cons: location is a little difficult to find

03/26/2008 Posted by Jexica

I heard about this place on the radio and decided to give it a go. First of all, the space is too open and plain, it feels like a corporate cafeteria. It could use flowers or candles on the tables, some wall art, dividers of some sort, something to give it character would be great. The waitress we had (it was a Tuesday so probably not first string) was NEW, at least I hope that's the reason she had no timing. Came by every few minutes to ask if we were ready to order yet when we were clearly still reviewing the menu, brought soup, salad, and main in slightly too rapid succession, brought us the bill before we were done with dessert or had asked for it- and left it face up on the table- kinda rude. We ordered the sake flight, while good, all three of them were chilled varieties, which isn't unusual from what I've seen around town, but was a little disappointing. For the meal we each went with the 20 piece chef's choice (must have been the same chef because they were identical), and an order of a roll that garnered a "that's really spicy are you sure?" warning that annoyed my dining partner. Again with the inexperienced waitress, no explanation of what we were served when it arrived. Overall the food was good, but not spectacular. Our favorite were those spicy Knockout Rolls and the lychee sorbet (with little chunks of frozen lychee, mmm).

Pros: easy weeknight parking, not super expensive (for sushi)

Cons: inexperienced waitstaff, ambiance depended on red lightbulbs

03/21/2008 Posted by SkinDoctor

Having eaten at all of the sushi joints in the Cities my girlfriend and I thought we'd try Woodbury's new sushi place - Giapponese. Food - We were pleased by the food overall. The three rolls that we had were good (although the mango one tended towards being too sweet) but not great. Drinks - She had the pomegranate martini (avoid - tasted like Kool-Aide and ill-tasting excessive amounts of vodka). I had the cucumber martini (excellent). Service - We sat at the sushi bar. For a Friday at 8pm it was surprising quiet overall. Unfortunately midway through our meal in a 1/2 empty restaurant we were asked to "slide down to the end of the bar " - with a wonderful view of the toilettes. This was odd and we didn't know quite what to do. Being Minnesotans we ended up obliging. What happened next was even more peculiar - we were expected to move all of our food, drinks, plates, sushi and belongings to the end. Very awkward. Awkward at "The Gopher Bar" (where you would never be asked to do this) but very awkward when you're dropping a Benjamin on dinner. A bit distraught we asked for the manager. The 20-something guy that came over was very dismissive. He didn't listen to our concerns. Instead he opened with "Can I buy you dessert?" We tried to explain that getting dessert wasn't our goal - a simple apology would have sufficed. Instead we got: "You should expect that at any sushi bar." Except that we've eaten at plenty and never been asked to move. Our waiter, a bit sheepishly, returned and explained that the manager's friends were in a group of four, had shown up late to their reservations and wanted to sit at the bar...in our spots. So what started as a great night ended poorly. Not because we were asked to move but because it was made fairly clear that our dining experience doesn't matter. The best food in the world can't make up for a careless attitude. In a town with great sushi places we would recommend avoiding this one.

Pros: If you're in Woodbury it's your best bet for sushi...

Cons: ...but there's better food just down the road (not to mention service).

03/07/2008 Posted by donnayoh

went here for lunch w/ 6 people - First impression: smelled strongly of bleach, NOT A SINGLE PERSON THERE AT NOON ON A FRIDAY. You know what that means w/ Sushi - it isn't turning over like it should. Food was mediocre, in some cases outrageously expensive ($16 for a roll? are you kidding me? At a place in Woodbury next to Dino's???) Best part is....4 of the 6 people went home sick afterwards, including myself - brutal. AVOID!!!!

Pros: Cute place, nice waitress

Cons: Made several of us sick, no one there to help keep the fish fresh

03/02/2008 Posted by AlanaClayton

I have to tell you that I have probably been to every sushi place in the Twin Cities area and am always looking for more. I am so glad that I was looking in the City Pages because I found this place. I have to tell you that not only is the sushi completely superb, but the selection unique and very fresh. We went during Happy Hour and got the pleasure and opportunity to meet the owner, Henry, who was full of recomendations and ideas. They make killer sakitinis and the rolls are delicious and rare. On top of everything the atmosphere was very elegant and trendy. It is a very comfortable place without the pretentions of some places I have been to. I can't wait to bring friends and I have already told people that they have to check it out. I would say the same to anyone else who sees this. This is completely worth checking out, even if you have to venture into the ever arrogant Woodbury.

Pros: fresh fish, unique rolls ever, great service and recomendations from chefs, heavenly sakitinis

Cons: None, not in a million years!