Oishii
- Food served: Apr–Dec: Mon–Sun noon–10.30pm. Jan–Mar: Mon–Sat noon–10.30pm.
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 5
- Also offers: Children's portions, Wheelchair access, Outdoor tables
- Music on stereo: mellow pop
- Capacity: 22
- Largest group: 22
- Open since: 2009
Tell us more about this place.
- Average price:
£7.50 (set lunch)
£15 (evening meal) - House wine: £14 per bottle
The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2012) edition.
Oishii is an apt moniker for this small and stylish sushi bar at the quieter end of Rose Street. The name translates as ‘delicious‘, a plaudit easily earned by the chef’s excellent hand rolls. The ebi te maki combines crispy tempura prawn, tiny baubles of salty tobiko (flying fish roe) and creamy avocado, all carefully assembled in a cone of rice and seaweed. Smiling chef Katsuo prepares the cold dishes in full view of the assembled crowd, calmly and deftly packing, rolling and slicing. In addition to a dazzling selection of salads, sushi and sashimi, Oishii prepare an array of tasty hot dishes. Sticky gingery char-grilled yakitori skewers are available in chicken, beef, squid or tuna, making an ideal accompaniment to a steaming bowl of fried udon. Oishii has three simple lunchtime set menus priced at £7.50 and a growing following for the inexpensive yet varied takeaway menu. Whilst desserts are hardly the main attraction, the chef makes a mean banana tempura and the green tea ice-cream would make a refreshing finale to any meal.
- High point: Watching chef Katsuo and listening to his entertaining stories
- Low point: Small is beautiful unless you haven’t booked
Reviews of Oishii (176 Rose Street, Edinburgh)
- 2. RegularEdinburghdiner, Edinburgh – 12 January 2012, 1:07pm
OishiiReport -
We visited Oishii in December just before Christmas and while the food was fantastic, we had a very disappointing dining experience.
The restaurant claims it doesn't shut until 10.30pm and we wanted a quick supper after work so turned up just before 9.30pm. We did check with the waitress first if they were still prepared to serve us. She said yes but to be perfectly frank, we would rather have been turned away.
We were the only diners but felt very rushed and it was made quite clear to us that staff just wanted to go home. We were out of the door well before closing time and felt we had forked out £35 to feel uncomfortable and intimidated into leaving as soon as possible.
I contacted the management after our experience and while they were apologetic enough, I wouldn't go again as I don't think the fact that staff were tired and needed to get their buses was a good enough excuse. It still amazes me that so many restaurants in Edinburgh forget that people are paying good money for a meal and, therefore, ought to receive good service in return.
Although we had no intention of returning to Oishii, it would have been good practice to be offered some kind of voucher or money off our next visit by way of apology.
It's a shame as Oishii is the only place in town that services a proper, authentic katsu curry.
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