Stephen Iwanyk on Google
(February 22, 2009, 9:26 pm)
Wondering why you've never heard of Gonpachi? No advertising, at all. Like the Japanese restaurants of its homeland, Gonpachi goes on word of mouth and pride, so this unbelievably gorgeous and delightfully tasty $15mil dollar establishment is unknown to even the most informed restaurant goers. With all the buzz in Hollywood about places like Koi, Katsuya, and Benihana, it's amazing to find a place like Gonpachi - hands down the most beautiful of them all, with a cuisine that rivals ANY restaurant in LA - hidden on the very same restaurant row that makes all the other places famous.
When you step into Gonpachi's courtyard, you feel like you've stepped into the heart of a real traditional Japanese home -- with a Koi pond and beautiful gardens surrounding a little stone bridge that leads to the front entrance. Walk into the main restaurant and most people I've been with comment about how it feels like they're on a set -- like the ambience is just too good to be true. The main dining room has a wrap-around two-story deck and the main floor rests underneath a black ceiling, so it feels like you're outside under the night sky. Pretty much the whole first fifteen minutes your there is spent appreciating the ambience, and I can't stress that enough.
But you haven't even had half the experience of Gonpachi until you get to the food. Between the two sushi bars and the special charcoal grill, you get a wide-ranging menu with tons of options and flavors -- ALL fantastic (and trust me, I live 2 blocks away so I've had the run of the menu). Prices range from low to pretty high, depending on what you get (wagyu beef anyone?), and if you wanna keep it really casual the bar is fantastic. $3 beers and sakes, with a tasty little bar menu that has samplings of their sushi and kushi offerings all in the $6-12 range. As an added bonus, the bar's deck overlooks the koi pond, so it makes for a great casual date spot.
Service is not traditional Japanese, but the waiters, waitresses, and managers are all really enthusiastic, knowledgable, and helpful (remember, no advertising, so they're doing all they can to rock your world so you go home and tell your friends).
Bottom line, this is my favorite place in LA, and it can be yours too...