Nomu Izakaya Lounge

We worked at loving Nomu Lounge, it’s the kind of love where you get kicked around a great deal and keep coming back for more. At some point, something has to give! We loved, loved, loved Karaōke Nights on Thursdays, we went almost every week. Sometimes our group was 10 people, sometimes 25. I would call each week and make sure we had a reservation. One too many times the restaurant would cancel Karaōke, as well as our reservation, but not advise us. As a group planner, this is a no go!
The service in Nomu Lounge is best described as worse than terrible, I’m certain I have never seen anything like it. Even when our group was expected, they Lounge was never staffed up to help us. Sometimes guests would sit for over an hour without being served. One night, as an experiment, I waited for someone to help me and even though I was there for several hours taking up space, I didn’t have any food or drink, the servers never bothered to ask.
I had correspondence with the owner in the past about the horrendous experience. He always promised to make it better, but it never happened. Finally we started going elsewhere and they canceled Karaōke Thursdays for lack of interest. Sometimes we drop in, but I always warn people that we must have a backup plan since the Lounge may be closed or we may never get service. It is really unfortunate since they have Happy Hour ALL NIGHT on Thursdays and you can order food from Boom Noodle or Blue C Sushi. This really is one of the best deals in town. You can read my reviews for these restaurants if you want my opinion on the food.

When it comes to places that call themselves a «Lounge», I can’t say I’m a frequent visitor.
But I have to say, this ‘place’ is pretty cool.
It’s not really an establishment on its own, but is actually the upper bar-​area for both Blue-​C sushi and Boom noodle in Bellevue.
Both, because it is connected to both places. You can walk into either restaurant and at either place’s lobby, walk up a flight of stairs into the lounge.
So that’s interesting.
Obviously then, when in the lounge you can order any menu item from either restaurant. (Boom or Blue) WAY cool, since both places excel at certain dishes that the other doesn’t do quite as well with. (Boom’s Gyoza dipping sauce kicks Blue’s butt, while blue’s sesame noodles beat Boom’s).
The best part though, is when Nomu opens, it’s HAPPY HOUR! So specials about from both places! :-D
By choosing the lounge, you do lose the hip Blue-​C conveyor ambiance, and Boom’s … um… whatever style Bellevue Boom is going for.
Service was acceptable since we sat at the bar.
But it was kinda uncool that they opened at 6pm and when we walked in at 6:02 with NO ONE around (Boom’s hostess had to come up and let us know that the bartender wasn’t there just yet, but should be up in a few minutes).
Add to that the fact that the bar was still sticky, kinda hurt the first impression.
First off, they should have been there at least five minutes prior to official opening time to take care of all their prep work, which includes wiping everything down to avoid that «sticky situation» (pardon the pun).
They really should have named the place «B&B Lounge» though. It would be a friendlier name. Easier for everyone to say, and not as intimidating, as well as making more sense since it’s a lounge connected to Boom & Blue.
Or «Bloom Lounge», with a lotus flower theme…
That would have been better too since «Bloom» could be seen as a portmanteau of Blue and Boom, and both places are Asian fare so the Lotus would be appropriate and stylish.
Overall, acceptable (A-​OK) I guess.
But for a Bellevue lounge in that area, it’s pretty sub-​par.
Even Blue & Boom’s individual dedicated bars would be more fun to visit instead. :-/

Slow, unbelievably slow, glacial, coma-​inducing (although the karaōke will wake the dead) if they were busy it would make sense, but the staff just seem to spend all their time standing around rearranging stuff on the bar when they should be making my drink.

Nomu has become fairly popular, especially on theme nights like karaōke and trivia. That’s the main reason I’d recommend going to nomu.
The drinks are okay, the food is okay, but the happy hour deals are great. Unfortunately the service gets worse every time I go.