Dang. This was probably one of the best meals I’ve had in the DMV. The wagyu might be one of the best things I’ve eaten ever. Buttery, fragrant, so freaking good.Yeah, it’s pricey, but tbh really worth it. You definitely don’t leave hungry. It’s not crowded and pretty quiet. The limited drink menu is more than enough and v delicious. I recommend the nikka coffee highball and the sake yuzu cocktail. Very pleased (: thank you team! Nom nom nom.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Taylor Wood
Blown away! Very intimate setting with amazing food. Both chef and waitress were SO nice. Had the best experience here and will 100% be back! Old Town is lucky to have this
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wee Khim Lee
Nondescript restaurant in old town that serves excellent Japanese food. Small and intimate, the staff were conversational and friendly. I had the prie fixe with sashimi, lamb chop, sea bass and dessert. Price is reasonable for quality of food. Will return if in town.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Richard Hoppe
Fantastic. One of the best kept secrets of Alexandria. Can't wait to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib w Truffle Shoyu
Alex Raymond
First class experience! Came here for my birthday. This is a michelin star place waiting to be found. Unreal value and unbelievable product. Don’t hesitate for a second about your next special meal!! Ps sit at the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zsa
I’ve noticed that every experience (this was my third visit) is unquestionably special, and each ingredient is hand selected for freshness and flavor.I’ve found that each visit is phenomenal within its own right and each time service is outstanding, the selection and pairings are thoughtfully selected for multi layer palate experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib, Soup, Scallops, Green Tea Ice Cream
Lilian Hu Nguyen
I believe the restaurant has 2 seatings a night. We entered all at once as the restaurant emptied out with the diners before us. This was close to a no frills omakase - service was acceptable but not fine dining and the setting itself is also more on the plain side. Again, nothing wrong with it but be prepared to not be dazzled. The first half of the meal came out very slowly and then sped up to a level we weren't quite finished with the larger dishes as the next course was ready. So timing needs work.The food is absolutely delicious. This isn't just straight forward raw fish or basic soup. Each dish is crafted with thought and creativity - very impressive delivery of flavors. The dessert was underwhelming melted ice cream, but everything else was fantastic. We were told the menu changes pretty much daily so we will definitely be back to try more.Parking: Street parking and garages nearby
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib, Soup
Vanessa R.
Best Japanese meal ever. I've been to Japan five times along with the one star Michelin sushi place in dc and by far Nasime is way better and an amazing meal. The chef is very creative and everything you eat is the highest quality. The sashimi is very fresh. Chef will accommodate your allergies, since everything is prepared fresh. Please don't hesitate to make a reservation. You will love it.
Lily H.
I believe the restaurant has 2 seatings a night. We entered all at once as the restaurant emptied out with the diners before us. This was close to a no frills omakase - service was acceptable but not fine dining and the setting itself is also more on the plain side. Again, nothing wrong with it but be prepared to not be dazzled. The first half of the meal came out very slowly and then sped up to a level we weren't quite finished with the larger dishes as the next course was ready. So timing needs work.The food is absolutely delicious. This isn't just straight forward raw fish or basic soup. Each dish is crafted with thought and creativity - very impressive delivery of flavors. The dessert was underwhelming melted ice cream, but everything else was fantastic. We were told the menu changes pretty much daily so we will definitely be back to try more.
Caitlin Hurstik
I love omakase style and this meal did a great job bringing many of the fall flavors of Japan out. It brought my husband and I back to our honeymoon. The food was tasty and the server was friendly. They were able to accommodate my dairy limitations and provided an equally amazing dessert for us. I would absolutely recommend itDietary restrictions: I cannot eat dairy at the moment due to a Cows milk protein allergy with my baby. Nasime was able to accommodate my dairy restrictions, which were provided 24hrs ahead of time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib
Small restaurant with clean aesthetic. Had reservations for dinner. The tasting menu had a variety of seafood and other meat dishes. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. Would definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arianna P.
Another amazing experience. Service and food is always 10/10. We had the opportunity to buy a bottle of their house sake after having it during our sake pairing.
Cora Davis
Nasime is an excellent representation of Japanese cuisine and reminds me of the intimate kaiseki restaurants I enjoyed while living in Japan, but with creative touches that elevate the food beyond traditional presentation. There is a set menu of 7 courses for $95/pp, which I think is an excellent value given the high quality of the food and the opportunity to enjoy Japanese dishes that aren’t usually served in the US. The menu is always changing because of its focus on seasonal ingredients. They serve kettl tea, which is an excellent shop in New York that works directly with small producers in Japan. The restaurant has limited seating so reservations are recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nichakorn C.
My visit to this restaurant was highly anticipated, as many of my friends raved about it and one even dined here every month. However, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. We kicked off the meal with the BLUE CRAB TAMAMUSHI, and to be honest, it wasn't the best I've ever had. Moving on to the Wagyu short ribs, which are usually a favorite of mine, and the Sashimi, I must admit that the Sashimi was exceptionally fresh. However, my Yubu wrapped wahoo was overcooked and dry compared to my friend's, which was much better. The Lamb chop was a standout; I absolutely loved it, especially paired with the foie gras miso sauce. We rounded off the meal with the Nameko udon, but I wasn't a fan. The Yuzu flavor didn't quite complement the Udon to my taste. We finished with HOUSE MADE MISO HAZELNUTS CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM for dessert, which I found to be decent but not exceptional.Overall, I had high expectations due to my friends' recommendations, but this particular course didn't quite hit the mark for me. I've heard that they change their menu regularly, so I might give it another shot if the opportunity arises.
Michelle Alspaugh
I am unsure what the previous reviewer thought was bad about the food. The food was STUNNING. the Wagyu beef was amazing and an out of body experience. It's helpful to brush up a little on Japanese food etiquette so you don't feel out of place or do something totally inappropriate like stick your chopsticks in the food straight up and down, lol. (always place chopsticks back on rester that they give you when you are not using them. bring small bowls to you to eat and don't bend towards the food. Always replace dishes to their original place they were set when you are done as an indicator that they can pick the food up. and good grief don't actually use the soy sauce for the sashimi course because IT DOESN'T NEED IT. Don't stab food with chopsticks. don't rest chopsticks on the bowl) The food was elegantly and perfectly prepared, but this isn't the restaurant for you if you don't care for Japanese style cuisine.I wouldn't sit anywhere except the bar; it's very interesting watching the chef work and when he's not working very hard and concentrating, sometimes he'll make small talk with you. (p.s. always accept food with both hands if he reaches out and hands you things!) There seemed to be a bit larger portions than three years ago when I ate there, so that's my only complaint that the proportions seemed a bit off in terms of what a reasonable person might be expected to finish eating. I suspect this is because people complained about the portions and so they increased that, which is too bad because I think the overall balance and symmetry was a bit heavy towards the end and reflected very western tastes in terms of portions. We honestly tried to finish all the food because it is very rude not to finish one's food in Japanese culture, but the last noodle course was absolutely impossible to finish with the amount of food it had. This is a perfect "date night" spot. Plan on two hours and make sure to locate parking garages that are open late ahead of time! You probably won't find street parking, lol. If you are coming with your date, plan on at least $150 per person with drinks. That being said, I believe it's definitely worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib, Fried, Soup, Scallops, Chestnuts Surinagashi
Dang. This was probably one of the best meals I’ve had in the DMV. The wagyu might be one of the best things I’ve eaten ever. Buttery, fragrant, so freaking good.Yeah, it’s pricey, but tbh really worth it. You definitely don’t leave hungry. It’s not crowded and pretty quiet. The limited drink menu is more than enough and v delicious. I recommend the nikka coffee highball and the sake yuzu cocktail. Very pleased (: thank you team! Nom nom nom.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Blown away! Very intimate setting with amazing food. Both chef and waitress were SO nice. Had the best experience here and will 100% be back! Old Town is lucky to have this
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nondescript restaurant in old town that serves excellent Japanese food. Small and intimate, the staff were conversational and friendly. I had the prie fixe with sashimi, lamb chop, sea bass and dessert. Price is reasonable for quality of food. Will return if in town.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Fantastic. One of the best kept secrets of Alexandria. Can't wait to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib w Truffle Shoyu
First class experience! Came here for my birthday. This is a michelin star place waiting to be found. Unreal value and unbelievable product. Don’t hesitate for a second about your next special meal!! Ps sit at the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ve noticed that every experience (this was my third visit) is unquestionably special, and each ingredient is hand selected for freshness and flavor.I’ve found that each visit is phenomenal within its own right and each time service is outstanding, the selection and pairings are thoughtfully selected for multi layer palate experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib, Soup, Scallops, Green Tea Ice Cream
I believe the restaurant has 2 seatings a night. We entered all at once as the restaurant emptied out with the diners before us. This was close to a no frills omakase - service was acceptable but not fine dining and the setting itself is also more on the plain side. Again, nothing wrong with it but be prepared to not be dazzled. The first half of the meal came out very slowly and then sped up to a level we weren't quite finished with the larger dishes as the next course was ready. So timing needs work.The food is absolutely delicious. This isn't just straight forward raw fish or basic soup. Each dish is crafted with thought and creativity - very impressive delivery of flavors. The dessert was underwhelming melted ice cream, but everything else was fantastic. We were told the menu changes pretty much daily so we will definitely be back to try more.Parking: Street parking and garages nearby
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib, Soup
Best Japanese meal ever. I've been to Japan five times along with the one star Michelin sushi place in dc and by far Nasime is way better and an amazing meal. The chef is very creative and everything you eat is the highest quality. The sashimi is very fresh. Chef will accommodate your allergies, since everything is prepared fresh. Please don't hesitate to make a reservation. You will love it.
I believe the restaurant has 2 seatings a night. We entered all at once as the restaurant emptied out with the diners before us. This was close to a no frills omakase - service was acceptable but not fine dining and the setting itself is also more on the plain side. Again, nothing wrong with it but be prepared to not be dazzled. The first half of the meal came out very slowly and then sped up to a level we weren't quite finished with the larger dishes as the next course was ready. So timing needs work.The food is absolutely delicious. This isn't just straight forward raw fish or basic soup. Each dish is crafted with thought and creativity - very impressive delivery of flavors. The dessert was underwhelming melted ice cream, but everything else was fantastic. We were told the menu changes pretty much daily so we will definitely be back to try more.
I love omakase style and this meal did a great job bringing many of the fall flavors of Japan out. It brought my husband and I back to our honeymoon. The food was tasty and the server was friendly. They were able to accommodate my dairy limitations and provided an equally amazing dessert for us. I would absolutely recommend itDietary restrictions: I cannot eat dairy at the moment due to a Cows milk protein allergy with my baby. Nasime was able to accommodate my dairy restrictions, which were provided 24hrs ahead of time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib
Restaurantji Recommends
Small restaurant with clean aesthetic. Had reservations for dinner. The tasting menu had a variety of seafood and other meat dishes. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. Would definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Another amazing experience. Service and food is always 10/10. We had the opportunity to buy a bottle of their house sake after having it during our sake pairing.
Nasime is an excellent representation of Japanese cuisine and reminds me of the intimate kaiseki restaurants I enjoyed while living in Japan, but with creative touches that elevate the food beyond traditional presentation. There is a set menu of 7 courses for $95/pp, which I think is an excellent value given the high quality of the food and the opportunity to enjoy Japanese dishes that aren’t usually served in the US. The menu is always changing because of its focus on seasonal ingredients. They serve kettl tea, which is an excellent shop in New York that works directly with small producers in Japan. The restaurant has limited seating so reservations are recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My visit to this restaurant was highly anticipated, as many of my friends raved about it and one even dined here every month. However, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. We kicked off the meal with the BLUE CRAB TAMAMUSHI, and to be honest, it wasn't the best I've ever had. Moving on to the Wagyu short ribs, which are usually a favorite of mine, and the Sashimi, I must admit that the Sashimi was exceptionally fresh. However, my Yubu wrapped wahoo was overcooked and dry compared to my friend's, which was much better. The Lamb chop was a standout; I absolutely loved it, especially paired with the foie gras miso sauce. We rounded off the meal with the Nameko udon, but I wasn't a fan. The Yuzu flavor didn't quite complement the Udon to my taste. We finished with HOUSE MADE MISO HAZELNUTS CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM for dessert, which I found to be decent but not exceptional.Overall, I had high expectations due to my friends' recommendations, but this particular course didn't quite hit the mark for me. I've heard that they change their menu regularly, so I might give it another shot if the opportunity arises.
I am unsure what the previous reviewer thought was bad about the food. The food was STUNNING. the Wagyu beef was amazing and an out of body experience. It's helpful to brush up a little on Japanese food etiquette so you don't feel out of place or do something totally inappropriate like stick your chopsticks in the food straight up and down, lol. (always place chopsticks back on rester that they give you when you are not using them. bring small bowls to you to eat and don't bend towards the food. Always replace dishes to their original place they were set when you are done as an indicator that they can pick the food up. and good grief don't actually use the soy sauce for the sashimi course because IT DOESN'T NEED IT. Don't stab food with chopsticks. don't rest chopsticks on the bowl) The food was elegantly and perfectly prepared, but this isn't the restaurant for you if you don't care for Japanese style cuisine.I wouldn't sit anywhere except the bar; it's very interesting watching the chef work and when he's not working very hard and concentrating, sometimes he'll make small talk with you. (p.s. always accept food with both hands if he reaches out and hands you things!) There seemed to be a bit larger portions than three years ago when I ate there, so that's my only complaint that the proportions seemed a bit off in terms of what a reasonable person might be expected to finish eating. I suspect this is because people complained about the portions and so they increased that, which is too bad because I think the overall balance and symmetry was a bit heavy towards the end and reflected very western tastes in terms of portions. We honestly tried to finish all the food because it is very rude not to finish one's food in Japanese culture, but the last noodle course was absolutely impossible to finish with the amount of food it had. This is a perfect "date night" spot. Plan on two hours and make sure to locate parking garages that are open late ahead of time! You probably won't find street parking, lol. If you are coming with your date, plan on at least $150 per person with drinks. That being said, I believe it's definitely worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Seared Japanese Wagyu Short Rib, Fried, Soup, Scallops, Chestnuts Surinagashi