Date night? Nice dinner? Unique dining? This is the place. Attended dinner here as a date night with my wife. We were very impressed with the unique dining and food! Ambiance- Departures gives a futuristic feeling of almost being in a spaceship. Very well laid out and unique! Food- the food was great. We had the steak and tuna entrées. Both were very well cooked and had wonderful flavor. Would recommend. The drinks were great as well! I ended up with their style of an old fashion and would get it again! Service- Service was what you would expect from a higher end restaurant. Server had great suggestions and was very attentive. Price- it's what you would expect from a restaurant from this caliber. Bottom line? Date night or special occasion? Just a nice dinner? Would recommend.
Janelle D.
Drinks was great, food and service was average. Would likely comeback if I return to the city again.
HannahW
Departure is the best date night or any occasion place. The departure experience meal allows you to really experience and enjoy everything you have to offer as well as having a good view
serina hamilton
I loved coming here but now that they have a new chef the food isn’t good. Weird pairings that look good on paper but don’t follow through in actuality.I have an allergy and was told everything would be handled but the second dish to come out had my allergy in every element of the dish. The manager did his best to help me and that was appreciated. However, even the steak dinner they gave me in place was weird. All spice potatoes drenched in olive oil, mint shredded carrots and steak? Individually the items were nice but so weird as a combination.
Devon Raghubir
Went here for wife’s 32nd bday with our 6.5 month old baby. The staff there were amazing. The 3 course menu with drink pairing was wonderful. Jason and Petra made the experience wonderful. When Petra introduced herself to our daughter she was upset that her new friend had to leave and go back to work. Petra was awesome and asked if she was able to give our daughter a dessert treat and our daughter loved the treat.Dietary restrictions: I have to be gluten free and they made sure all my items were gluten free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paul
Food, atmosphere, service, all were 5 stars.Highlights: carrots, wings, Szechuan noodles, matcha tiramisu.Highly recommend checking out departure!
I'll start with Departure's good qualities. I really enjoyed the drink selection and the view of the city from the rooftop bar. Definitely a great spot to take photos and enjoy a beautiful view with a drink in hand. However, I was pretty disappointed with the restaurant. Although the service was quick, the food was less than satisfactory for the price I paid. Most of what you are paying for is definitely the views. The servings are not generous and the vibe of the restaurant is fairly pretentious. There are much better restaurants in town for cheaper.
Emilio L.
Great food and great service. We celebrated a birthday here and the staff definitely helped make it special. Friendly, attentive, and helpful. Food was really good and fresh. Innovative and creative ways of serving scrumptious foods.
VirginiaS
We had a great time at Departure. We celebrated a birthday and it was fun. The energy was high. The service was attentive and enthusiastic. The cocktails were different and delicious. The food was different and delicious.
Mariela Caldera
It was good! I’ve been here a few times. Unfortunately the city view rooftop areas do get closed out for private events so we can’t get our pictures out there. Friendly staff, great food, elegant place.
We went for my birthday, and it was fantastic. The food was amazing, and the cocktails were tasty. Jessica, our server, was wonderful, she did such a great job of taking care of us without being up in our business, she had great suggestions, and was one of the best servers ever. Did I mention the food? The pork belly was sooo good, the fat just melts in your mouth, and the meat was crunchy and tender, an delicious.
Been more than twice, food isn't bad, just over rated. The decor feels like Disney's Space Mountain. Had to remind server to refill water.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Shanti Kiran N.
Very very swanky place! Made a reservation here for an anniversary celebration and we were definitely in awe as we walked in. The restaurant is drop dead gorgeous. Views from there are amazing! Our table was ok - I myself am not a fan of tables right in the middle of everything. I wish I had requested a more intimate booth but not complaining much because we could see the mountains from where we were at. Wish we had a table closer to the view though. It was probably a mistake on my part for not emphasizing a more intimate table since this was for our anniversary. Now for the food. Husband rated his Departure experience a 5/5. Being omni, he had more options to choose from. He had the sashimi which he said melted in the mouth. The octopus was delectable and the trout entree was lovely from what I hear. He absolutely loved his meal and had no complaints. I being vegetarian had fewer options to choose from. I liked that for the appetizer and dim sum, there were at least two but the entree only had the one. I would request the talented folks at Departure to think of a second veggie entree if possible for the experience? The Burmese salad was everything I've ever wanted in a salad and more. It put every single salad I've had so far to shame. I could have eaten a vat of that. For the dim sum, I chose the veggie steam bun. That was a disappointment. The bun was off - the tempeh was not flavored and the pineapple did not go well with it. I wish I had got the carrots instead! Entree was obviously the squash noodles. They were just ok - the flavor was way too overpowering (exact opposite problem from the steam buns). It badly needed more fresh components and was a little too greasy. When I took a bite with the citrus, it tasted better - but this dish needs twenty percent more freshness. I rated my food a 3/5. We got some NA drinks - their mocktail menu definitely needs work! We've been to many other places with a killer NA game -so the menu is a little lacking here. Still grateful that they had some options at least. The service was okay and the timing of the dishes was fast-paced (not necessarily a bad thing). I guess I really did not enjoy having a table in the middle of everything and for that reason, I would rate the vibe 3.5/5. Considering they do ask for occasion in the reservation details, maybe reserve a slightly more intimate table when it's an anniversary/date night celebration? Again perhaps had I provided that feedback, we could have got a nicer table. Would we come here again? Perhaps on occasion. Would definitely not do the experience again since their veg dishes need work. Perhaps the regular menu has better options for vegetarians/vegans.
Debi S.
After a long day driving to the coast this was super convenient to not have to make another stop. Loved my drink and steak entree. I sat at the bar and had great service. It's definitely worth checking out. The design is beautiful and interesting. There's a good variety on the menu. Good city views in the dining area and wasn't too loud on a week night.
JeffC
Another Excellent Meal at Departure. I have been to Departure many times, and my friend and I returned this week. As usual we enjoyed the inventive Asian-inflected food and the excellent service. The space atop the Nines Hotel is beautiful and has a lovely view. The only minor drawbacks are that you are sitting close together and it can get noisy when the restaurant fills up, and the temperature in the men's room is set at meat locker levels. On additional note: My dining companion is vegan. The Departure menu not only has a number of interesting vegan items, they are willing and able to make off-menu vegan versions of several of their meat-centric dishes.
Date night? Nice dinner? Unique dining? This is the place. Attended dinner here as a date night with my wife. We were very impressed with the unique dining and food! Ambiance- Departures gives a futuristic feeling of almost being in a spaceship. Very well laid out and unique! Food- the food was great. We had the steak and tuna entrées. Both were very well cooked and had wonderful flavor. Would recommend. The drinks were great as well! I ended up with their style of an old fashion and would get it again! Service- Service was what you would expect from a higher end restaurant. Server had great suggestions and was very attentive. Price- it's what you would expect from a restaurant from this caliber. Bottom line? Date night or special occasion? Just a nice dinner? Would recommend.
Drinks was great, food and service was average. Would likely comeback if I return to the city again.
Departure is the best date night or any occasion place. The departure experience meal allows you to really experience and enjoy everything you have to offer as well as having a good view
I loved coming here but now that they have a new chef the food isn’t good. Weird pairings that look good on paper but don’t follow through in actuality.I have an allergy and was told everything would be handled but the second dish to come out had my allergy in every element of the dish. The manager did his best to help me and that was appreciated. However, even the steak dinner they gave me in place was weird. All spice potatoes drenched in olive oil, mint shredded carrots and steak? Individually the items were nice but so weird as a combination.
Went here for wife’s 32nd bday with our 6.5 month old baby. The staff there were amazing. The 3 course menu with drink pairing was wonderful. Jason and Petra made the experience wonderful. When Petra introduced herself to our daughter she was upset that her new friend had to leave and go back to work. Petra was awesome and asked if she was able to give our daughter a dessert treat and our daughter loved the treat.Dietary restrictions: I have to be gluten free and they made sure all my items were gluten free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food, atmosphere, service, all were 5 stars.Highlights: carrots, wings, Szechuan noodles, matcha tiramisu.Highly recommend checking out departure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steam Buns, Wings, Noodles, Citrus Kombu Cured Salmon Roll
I'll start with Departure's good qualities. I really enjoyed the drink selection and the view of the city from the rooftop bar. Definitely a great spot to take photos and enjoy a beautiful view with a drink in hand. However, I was pretty disappointed with the restaurant. Although the service was quick, the food was less than satisfactory for the price I paid. Most of what you are paying for is definitely the views. The servings are not generous and the vibe of the restaurant is fairly pretentious. There are much better restaurants in town for cheaper.
Great food and great service. We celebrated a birthday here and the staff definitely helped make it special. Friendly, attentive, and helpful. Food was really good and fresh. Innovative and creative ways of serving scrumptious foods.
We had a great time at Departure. We celebrated a birthday and it was fun. The energy was high. The service was attentive and enthusiastic. The cocktails were different and delicious. The food was different and delicious.
It was good! I’ve been here a few times. Unfortunately the city view rooftop areas do get closed out for private events so we can’t get our pictures out there. Friendly staff, great food, elegant place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We went for my birthday, and it was fantastic. The food was amazing, and the cocktails were tasty. Jessica, our server, was wonderful, she did such a great job of taking care of us without being up in our business, she had great suggestions, and was one of the best servers ever. Did I mention the food? The pork belly was sooo good, the fat just melts in your mouth, and the meat was crunchy and tender, an delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steam Buns, Kushiyaki Grilled Steak
Been more than twice, food isn't bad, just over rated. The decor feels like Disney's Space Mountain. Had to remind server to refill water.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Very very swanky place! Made a reservation here for an anniversary celebration and we were definitely in awe as we walked in. The restaurant is drop dead gorgeous. Views from there are amazing! Our table was ok - I myself am not a fan of tables right in the middle of everything. I wish I had requested a more intimate booth but not complaining much because we could see the mountains from where we were at. Wish we had a table closer to the view though. It was probably a mistake on my part for not emphasizing a more intimate table since this was for our anniversary. Now for the food. Husband rated his Departure experience a 5/5. Being omni, he had more options to choose from. He had the sashimi which he said melted in the mouth. The octopus was delectable and the trout entree was lovely from what I hear. He absolutely loved his meal and had no complaints. I being vegetarian had fewer options to choose from. I liked that for the appetizer and dim sum, there were at least two but the entree only had the one. I would request the talented folks at Departure to think of a second veggie entree if possible for the experience? The Burmese salad was everything I've ever wanted in a salad and more. It put every single salad I've had so far to shame. I could have eaten a vat of that. For the dim sum, I chose the veggie steam bun. That was a disappointment. The bun was off - the tempeh was not flavored and the pineapple did not go well with it. I wish I had got the carrots instead! Entree was obviously the squash noodles. They were just ok - the flavor was way too overpowering (exact opposite problem from the steam buns). It badly needed more fresh components and was a little too greasy. When I took a bite with the citrus, it tasted better - but this dish needs twenty percent more freshness. I rated my food a 3/5. We got some NA drinks - their mocktail menu definitely needs work! We've been to many other places with a killer NA game -so the menu is a little lacking here. Still grateful that they had some options at least. The service was okay and the timing of the dishes was fast-paced (not necessarily a bad thing). I guess I really did not enjoy having a table in the middle of everything and for that reason, I would rate the vibe 3.5/5. Considering they do ask for occasion in the reservation details, maybe reserve a slightly more intimate table when it's an anniversary/date night celebration? Again perhaps had I provided that feedback, we could have got a nicer table. Would we come here again? Perhaps on occasion. Would definitely not do the experience again since their veg dishes need work. Perhaps the regular menu has better options for vegetarians/vegans.
After a long day driving to the coast this was super convenient to not have to make another stop. Loved my drink and steak entree. I sat at the bar and had great service. It's definitely worth checking out. The design is beautiful and interesting. There's a good variety on the menu. Good city views in the dining area and wasn't too loud on a week night.
Another Excellent Meal at Departure. I have been to Departure many times, and my friend and I returned this week. As usual we enjoyed the inventive Asian-inflected food and the excellent service. The space atop the Nines Hotel is beautiful and has a lovely view. The only minor drawbacks are that you are sitting close together and it can get noisy when the restaurant fills up, and the temperature in the men's room is set at meat locker levels. On additional note: My dining companion is vegan. The Departure menu not only has a number of interesting vegan items, they are willing and able to make off-menu vegan versions of several of their meat-centric dishes.