Komi

Komi was the most amazing meal of my life. Everything was delicious. I thought that since it was a tasting menu that there would be a few items I wouldn’t care for. Not the case. The wine pairing is a must! Not really sure how you would order your own drinks. It would most certainly ruin the food/​experience. I love trying new places and hate spending that much money on the same experience twice, but Komi is worth it. I will definitely be visiting again soon!

Hands down the best meal I have ever had (in the U.S.)
Impeccable. Flawless. Melt-​in-​your-​mouth goodness. From the attentive staff who almost seemed liked characters from a theatrical performance to the synchronized fashion in which your plates are carried from table to the kitchen, to the flavors (oh the flavors!) of each dish and each bite, it really is a work of art. Unfortunately, there is a «no camera» policy so I wasn’t able to snap any photos to view.
Whether you need to celebrate a promotion, an anniversary or treating yourself after a rough week at work, TREAT YO SELF and go to Komi.
Trust me, you won’t regret it!

I really can’t say enough about Komi. We recently went back a second time. We had feared we were going to ruin the wonderful memories and experience from the first so have been putting it off. What if it wasn’t as good?
It wasn’t as good it was even better. The food is absolutely amazing and perfect. My husband is vegetarian and it is always great to see the variations they offer him. The goat was to die for and the lobster and octopus couldn’t have been better. Also, I highly recommend the wine pairing menu since the sommelier does a wonderful job at picking the perfect wine, cider, sherry, etc. He is extremely knowledgable and pleasant.
What made this visit even more amazing was the service. Believe me the service the first time around was perfect. However, this time around they had the date dish on the menu again. The waitress and sommelier stated we will be quite familiar with the next tasting seeing how we had it before… It made it so personable. Being in IT I can tell you the DB they have of customers, the date attended and menu for that day is killer. It is awesome to know that if we go again I won’t be served the same dishes since they know what I had the last time.
Plus, since we are moving away to Massachusetts the waitress got us recommendations of restaurants from the chefs. She wrote them down for us and explained each to us. They even told us which had more vegetarian options. They all are amazing.
5 stars is not enough for this wonderful restaurant. Also, Johnny’s wife music choices for the background soundtrack is perfect!!!

Basis for my starred ratings (which skews heavily to the food or drink):
1 star: Never again.
2 stars: Poor food, poor experience, extraordinary measures in order for me to come back.
3 stars: Average, nothing really special, nothing particularly bad.
4 stars: Very good, would definitely return.
5 stars: A favorite, one of the best.
Michelin doesn’t come here. Doesn’t have a AAA 5-​Diamond rating. Apart from local accolades had never heard of the place until we made the trip out to DC. This was among the best dinners of my life — from food to service to beverage pairing. As good as many Michelin starred restaurants, better than some I’ve been to. This was an almost perfect meal.
I typically focus on food and don’t really harp on service, but I have to say that the service here was the best and most personable of any fine dining establishment I’ve been to. (Manresa near SF comes close.) Which is why I choose to highlight it here. Super friendly without being over-​bearing, great descriptions, great answers to questions, the most «conversational» experience I’ve had with the server.
As for the food:
Trout roe, shima aji, and salmon
Scallop and octopus
Sweetbreads and foie
Sourdough and dates
Boulettas
Ravioli
Suckling pig
Corn, chamomile, honeycomb, lollies
The food was executed fantastically and not one bite disappointed. I didn’t go in expecting traditional Greek, but most of the dishes captured the essence of Mediterranean cuisine using excellent ingredients.
The beverage pairing was also fantastic. This was my first pairing that had a beer, and that beer was my first sour beer. Amazing. Each pairing went fantastically with the food. Pacing was excellent and we left without feeling overly stuffed or buzzed.
The one, single, misstep. My wife asked for a list of our beverage pairings. Our server gave us his card and asked us to email him and he would send it yo us the next day. We emailed, never got a response. In the grand scheme of the actual meal, not a problem. Just a minor hiccup. Would have been nice to remember that beer.
To end on a positive, we ordered a tea service with our dessert and the tea we got was one of the best we’ve ever tasted. A great finish to an almost flawless meal.

Definitely a must-​try at some point, especially if you’re from the DC area. I took my husband here for his birthday. We decided to do the wine pairings in addition to the tasting menu. The tasting menu was about 12 courses ending with a larger main course for $ 150/​person and the wine pairings was another $ 75/​per person. If you go, I definitely say do the wine pairing. The sommelier was very knowledgeable and gave us the backstory to every wine (including things about the winemaker themselves and the vineyards). It was a lot of fun. Also, the wines actually went PERFECTLY with the food. I’d never experienced such exact pairings.
The food was all very delicious. I was a bit worried all the courses would be as small as the first few that were brought out, but the size increased with each course. By the end, we were worried we wouldn’t be able to have desert.
Service was delightful, but for that price tag, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t. We had different servers bring out our dishes at different points. But all in all, all very courteous, polite and accommodating.
Our favorite dishes were the lobster, octopus, pork ragu homemade pasta. Of course the final larger course, the lamb, was delicious. but it was more of an expected taste… whereas the other flavors were a bit more playful. Since it was my husband’s birthday we got a box of truffles to take home and they were amazing. Best chocolate truffles ever! They had some sort of interesting savory/​sweet filing.
I loved the small, intimate setting of the restaurant. Great for a special occasion. We saw a lot of people on first dates, and others who seemed to be regulars.
We thought at the end of dinner, they would give us a menu of all we had (like we got at Jose Andres’s Mini Bar) however, we didn’t. I totally forgot about it, too. I called two days later, knowing it was a long-​shot since a few days had passed and their menu varies each night, but Megan (who was our server that night as well), said she’d be happy to send it to us by mail. I just received the commemorative, menu, with all of our dishes/​wine pairings listed.
4 stars only because we compared this to mini-​bar and if we had to pick, we preferred that slightly more, only because of the creativity and overall experience. But all in all, great place to try at least once… more, if you can afford it!

I’m writing this review almost 10 years after eating here and it still remains one of my favorite food memories.
My boyfriend and I at the time came on our anniversary, dressed up and ready for some special food. You would think this would be a set up for disappointment — wrong!
The night ended up just being a series of delightful surprises. Somewhere in those 2 or 3 hours of eating, conversing, relaxing, expectation was thrown out in exchange for open-​hearted connection and we were just along for the ride.
When we arrived we actually were greeted with a wait, despite reservations made well in advance. No worries though! The super classy and mysterious sommelier poured us wine while we waited. Once seated, we ordered the tasting menu, and I can honestly say that this is the one meal I remember where every bite was surprising, beautiful, and delicious — and I have had my fair share of fine dining! For dessert, they surprised us by writing ‘Happy Anniversary’ on the plate (in a classy way, not the kitschy way). To go, they gave us house-​made lollipops to suck on our walk out.
Really, it was perfect. Food should at its best, tell a story, and Komi does that. I’m still hoping to go back one day.

1,000 Unilocal reviews — that’s a lot of pizza shops visited over the past nine years (to be fair, I also reviewed a gym or two)! With this giant milestone celebration, I decided I’d class it up a bit with a review at one of DC’s most celebrated restaurants.
Here is what you have to know:
1) This dinner was a special wedding treat courtesy of the boy and I’s generous friend Roland O. The thought of a multi-​course meal and their month-​in-​advance reservation system had intimidated us for years so we finally decided to use our gift certificate to celebrate my birthday 2.5 years later.
2) Even though the boy and I are two rapscallions who are better off splitting the buffet at KFC, our server did not let us think that at all. He had an easy smile, was super casual but at the same time attentive and professional. As soon as we sat down he made sure to address any of the special menu changes he would make for me due to dietary restrictions.
3) It was a long 3.5 hour affair, with wine course after wine course, bite after bite. I needed an extra chair to lean into towards the end of the night.
4) We came in around 8 which meant we came in starving after work. The first few dishes that came out were tiny one biters so the first hour the boy and I started making plans to grab a Proper Burger next door afterwards but we were so wrong since each course gets larger and larger.
5) Favorite dishes included the kelp brioche with fish roe (like poppin’ boba!), grilled octopus (so tender), foie gras, a Greek pasta that resembled gnocci, gyro meatballs, and honestly. I couldn’t keep track but everything was absolutely mind blowing.
6) If I had two complaints it would be this: They accidentally brought out the same dish twice (but it was one of our favorite dishes so it actually worked in our favor) and I wish they had a written menu for each person. It was great that each server who dropped by would verbally explain each dish but sometimes it was hard to hear what they were saying (even though they were very gracious in repeating themselves).
7) Our main coures was the roasted goat which completely changed every notion I ever had about goat (which was it was super gamey and smelly). The sides were super crispy and it came with the most perfect clouds of pita and tzatiki ever. By the time this time we were pretty much tapped out so the staff insisted on boxing up the leftovers for us (with extra pita!). When I came home I threw it in the fridge thinking I would see it in four or five months but I actually remembered to pull it out the next day and made an unbelievable goat, farro, and sweet potato hash for breakfast. Komi is definitely the gift that keeps on giving.
9) Dessert was great and my favorite was the Japanese cheesecake (super light and not too sweet) with fermented honey on top. We were unable to eat the rhubarb lollipops for fear of spontaneous combustion. #fail
10) Since it was my birthday they gave me a little box of chocolate and tropical fruit infused confections that we enjoyed well after the celebration was over.
I can’t believe it took us so long to try this place out but the boy and I are excited to go back again and see what else Chef Johnny has up his sleeve.

Fantastic, amazing and memorable experience!
We spent 2 ½hours at Komi, had an endless array of wonderful and delicious plates and even though we were full by the end of the night I didn’t want it to stop.
Every dish was delectable, the flavors were perfect and not one item tasted the same.
The staff was also perfect: very organized, extremely friendly and everyone with lovely quirks.
Yes, it is expensive but the experience and the food is worth every penny.
Also, they do cater to allergies and food preferences which adds to this fabulous and very personalized experience.
Absolutely recommended for a special occasion!
Thanks Komi for a wonderful evening!

This place is a culinary experience I want everyone in my family to experience. Chief Johnny takes Greek Mediterranean food to the top. The service is impeccable. The food deserves the level of service given. This restaurant we’ll be a highlight to any event you are entertaining. He customized the menu to meet flavors we like. My wife couldn’t have raw food. He adjusted the menu for her. I didn’t care for lamb and he made me a different item. He is in the kitchen caring for everything that moves out of that small 400 sq.ft. And it’s wonderful to watch.
People complain in posts about the price… To them I say this… His food is worth it, every dollar. Is it expensive us. But still worth it. Every person around us left making comments about great the meal tasted.
One request is… Don’t try to take pictures of the food. It isn’t allowed. Which is fine because it isn’t needed. Go in and trust you will enjoy the meal.
This restaurant makes me question my previous ratings of restaurants because the bar for me is higher now.
One last suggestion, Just be sure to tell them if you don’t like a type of food to be sure you like every dish. Enjoy! Just go, go already… Stop reading and go to Komi.

Phenomenal. Komi has been on my list for quite some time, and I decided to take the girlfriend there for her birthday. We arrived at 900 for a 915, and were sat immediately. The dishes started off very small, about half a bite, and extremely light. We both opted for the wine pairing as well, and the sommelier did an excellent job explaining the wine as well as which dishes they would go with. The octopus and foie dishes were our favorites of the night. I don’t really understand some of the negative comments about people not feeling full… I’m a 215lb guy (and fireman at that), and I like to eat… I left plenty full after the 12 something dishes. Yes, to begin they were very small, but the portion definitely adequate at the end of the meal. All in all, great service and great dishes. I wouldn’t put it at the top of my list, but it’s definitely top 3 – 5 for sure.

I was disappointed and extremely bored. The décor was dim and the piped in music was so inaudible I can’t tell you what type of music it was. Lots of one bite dishes rolled out of the kitchen with too much time in between. Some of them were extraordinary but with only a bites worth, not at all memorable. The chunks of meat at the end were exactly what I wasn’t expecting based on the multi ingredient small bites that lead up to this featureless flat hunk of an entrée. Finally the tiny deserts were actually borderline horrible. Three long unexciting hours which started with extreme anticipation turned into a huge let down of a potential dining experience almost putting us all into a coma. Komi is not worth the time or the money. Trust me. You will have a much better evening almost anywhere else.

Very good meal… but then again, at the price, it kind of needs to do better than that. We all need to overcome the desire not to be overly harsh (or to be self-​consciously worried that I just didn’t «get» it). This place sets itself up (and charges accordingly just in case you had any doubts) as the kind of place that’s going to knock the dopey smile off your face with how bloody serious and interesting it is.
Service was outstanding. Food, presentation, all great. I don’t know… maybe my expectation that I’d really be challenged or intellectually engaged on another level were too high. I don’t know where I am on the «foodie» scale… but in terms of Greek food… I’ll take that little hole in the wall in Naxos any day.

I hate to say this, but… this was probably the highest anticipated and biggest let down of all of my dining in DC. I’d heard such good things and we came for a special occasion meal to celebrate my birthday. Unfortunately, it was a very mediocre experience. There was not one dish that stood out in my mind as stellar or memorable. I did have high expectations — which I think are justified to match the high price tag.
My husband and I both had the wine pairings. We love wine pairings and asked a lot of questions of the sommelier, but, were unimpressed by most of the chosen wines. Plus, they kept pouring when my glass was empty (I definitely got my money’s worth in wine) and considering the entire first half of the menu consisted of one-​bite type dishes, I wound up so tipsy halfway through the meal. I wish they’d explained which dishes the wines were expected to go with so I could have paced myself better.
The main entrée — roasted goat shoulder — was very tender but literally served with a side of salt? This dish did not taste balanced or upscale and presentation was also lackluster. Truthfully, I felt the same about the bland interior décor and service. Upon presentation of each dish, the staff try to mysteriously drop them to your table, leaving no information about their preparation and when I inquired, it felt rather uncomfortable, like I was troubling them.
One a side note, I’d previously been to the sister restaurant, Little Serow, and thought it was amazingly creative and very well worth the $ 45 prix fix. I’d go back there in a heartbeat, but, sorry Komi, you can fool me once, but, certainly not twice.

Very sweet staff, attentive service, intimate meal in a small, dimly lit restaurant.
We had dinner reservations for 9:30pm seating (the only opening they had after having to reserve a month in advance), and I think I was too sleepy to fully appreciate the meal.
However, this is what I remember as the highlights. For about $ 150 per person, I really loved the appetizers in the beginning, and almost wished the portions were bigger or offered more because they were that good.
The main dish was the suckling pig. A huge hunk of meat on a large plate to share between two people with small bowls of sauces on the side. I was extremely disappointed with this part of the meal. It was very boring compared to everything else that was offered on the menu. Also, I’ve had similar suckling pig several times in my life at a tenth of the cost of this meal. I was not a fan.
The uni gnocchi was divine. I never thought to melt uni (sea urchin) before another ingredients. It was genius. The trout roe dish and salmon dish was amazing, too bad it was so small, I could have eaten a plate of that.
Overall, good experience, and would recommend for special occasions! Hopefully, the main course will be more interesting or innovative next time.

So worth the hassle of getting reservation. The meal was remarkable in its innovation and tastes…and wine pairing perfect. An anniversary meal and BEST meal I had in 2014 around the world.

Let me just start by saying I think KOMI is really over-​rated. My husband and I dined here for our anniversary. The food was just ok. Nothing memorable.

Came here with SO for our anniversary. The experience of the meal was wonderful. The waiters were extremely attentive and made us feel very special here. The atmosphere was great, albeit slightly loud. The food however was not the best I’ve had (considering the price tag). The first couple courses were just too small and I wish I had more of those while the entrée of lamb was too filling for me. Overall, the experience was worth it but the food was just average.

Well, the long awaited meal at Komi has finally happened. After years of dying to check it out and numerous people doting on how it was the best meal of their lives, my boyfriend ponied up and sweetly surprised me with an early Christmas gift. And guess what? I am not changed. An interesting, classy and unique experience? Absolutely. The best meal of my LIFE?! Hardly.
The reservation system is a strict one. Call when we open. Be prompt. Select your scheduled time a month out. Strap in. We chose a 6:30 ressie time and arrived shortly beforehand. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. We sat for awhile. Eventually, a little guy came out and gave us an affable, but somewhat strained, opening spiel about the way things work. Sarcastic chuckles ensue. I will say the fact that this chef’s tasting is all a surprise and takes all of the brainwork out is somewhat intriguing, if not daunting for a control freak like myself, however I remained open-​minded. The décor reminded me of an unassuming ristorante that you’d find somewhere in Italy or, as it were, Greece. Understated, yet classy and intimate. Super romantic for a date night, if you have the bucks to drop. Clientele on the older side, as expected, and the open kitchen highlighted on display was a perfect touch, as though we were an audience watching a show.
We opted for the additional wine pairing… and off we go! There were approx. 12 courses, the first 8 or so consisting of basically a 1 bite dish. Okay, that’s fine. Everything was a burst of flavor for your mouth (insert inappropriate pun). I don’t mean to trivialize this; the chef really creates 1 bite wonders full of complexity, texture, and flavor. But you’re not coming here to eat. What I mean is, you’re coming here to experience a culinary masterpiece. The tasting then concludes with 1 finale dish, apparently a larger-​portioned meat. That evening the chosen entrée was their infamous roasted goat shoulder, or Katsikaki. Like many, goat would not be my first choice and I will say my bf and I were disappointed that this was our luck that night. However, the meat was falling off the bone and was paired with many accoutrements, like pickled cabbage, eggplant purée, and some spiced salt. But to be honest, it was goat and it was gamey and stringy and not very good. Sorry.
The problem with the entrée, and pretty much all of the courses, is that the wait staff who came to present, would offer little to no information about said dishes. I didn’t even know one of the condiments was a ramiken of SALT and only found out after dousing the goat in it. Why not mention that? And they pretty much proceeded to do that with all the courses. Oh, a bouletta seared in a burrata half-​smoked in a kanpachi sauce?! You don’t say! Why don’t you tell me what this resembles in lamens terms? Why don’t you make this accessible to the public and tell me what exactly all these accoutrements are before I douse my noodles in a cayenne reduction? We found our sommelier to similarly shoot past our heads like this too. «This Meursault was found deep in the hills of the Loire valley along the Rhone…». I don’t care about any of that; talk to me about the complexity, what wine it resembles, what food it pairs well with, and if its light vs. full bodied. Frankly, I felt the waitstaff was oozing with bullshit.
What I’m saying is this: I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here, but for $ 600, we literally left still hungry and ready for a couple more drinks. I think people believe because they are paying a premium at such an exclusive, acclaimed place like Komi, it absolutely MUST be the best meal of their lives! But it’s not that kind of a meal, people. It’s a culinary experience. I write this review very honestly, so as to adjust the expectations of others who may come in with the same preconceived notions. I still think it is worth a visit, if you have the cash and patience, but now that I’ve gotten «the experience» out of my life, I think I’m all set on a chef’s tasting menu for good.

Amazing restaurant. Very friendly service. I love restaurants with a pre-​fixed menu. This takes the hassle out of ordering. If you have dietary restrictions, then they have optional dishes that doesn’t take away from the entire service.
The only downside to Komi is that you need to book reservations a month in advance. It’s kind of sad to see people get turned away at the door because of their reservation policy. However, if you’re persistent on getting a reservation at Komi asap, you can request to be on a waitlist on a specific date. If someone decides to cancel, then you’ve got a good shot at getting a spot.
Please dress responsibly! I was severely underdressed my first time at Komi’s.

This restaurant is awesome. I’ve been here several times and each time, they continue to raise the bar for what fine dining is in Washington, DC.

My SO and I came here to celebrate an anniversary together recently on a Friday evening. We booked the place one month in advance. Prices have recently gone up to $ 150 per person without the wine pairing. Servers were all very kind, laid back, and almost casual — very different than the fine dining that we have experienced in the past. It was a nice atmosphere that made us feel at home.
We did like the fact that they cooked for us and we did not have to decide what to order. We each opted to order a glass of wine instead of the wine pairing, as we felt we would be too full. It was a good choice for us. The small bites were very small and some of them I wish I had more of. Dishes we had included raw scallop, steamed nori brioche with trout roe, mascarpone stuffed dates with sea salt, foie grois, grilled octopus, a seafood pasta, smoked cod, etc. I was not blown away by any of the dishes honestly, which was a disappointment. As the bites got bigger, more and more carbohydrates did appear, which really did fill us up. For example, we had bruschetta, pasta, pita, etc. The best dish I had of the evening was not the entrée, but the bruschetta with a vegetable paste. The main entrée was goat shoulder. Goat was a first for my SO and I and we agreed it was pleasant, but felt the dish itself was not upscale and delicate, especially in the «family style» presentation. In fact, the dish was quite heavy and seemed more «greasy and filling». I also felt that the ingredients throughout the meal were not very exotic or unique for the price we were paying and a bit lacking in innovation. Desserts were delicious; I am a sucker for ice cream. We had sourdough gelato (unique and fun), lemon sorbet, and lollipops that we took home (the lollipops were nothing special).
My high rating comes from the service. We received excellent service throughout our meal — staff took our coats, all wished us a happy anniversary and made us feel special throughout the evening. We were offered complimentary pours of moscato by the sommelier since he heard me mention I enjoyed sweet wines. We were also given a small box of chocolates to take home for our special occasion. I also enjoyed the pace of dinner and felt the ambiance was nice. Overall, to be honest, the food is not the best I have had or anything special (I would rate the place a 3), but I do believe Komi is a pleasant experience and walked out happy because of the attention paid to us.

This was the best meal I’ve ever had, period. The service was mind blowing, and the vivid descriptions of the various courses and wines made you feel like you were in the region/​vineyard being described. Almost everything I was served would not have been my first choice off of a menu, but I’m glad I ate it all. For example, I’m usually not a big fan of dates, but the mascarpone-​stuffed date was unlike any I’ve ever eaten before and was a standout favorite.
Yes it was expensive, but think of it as a trip rather than a meal. It’s definitely worth it.

This was the best meal of my life thus far. My wife and I went here for our one year anniversary. My wife has been in fine dinning for several years, so she is hard to impress. But, I did.
Kyle, welcomed us with open arms even though we were running about 15 minutes late (thanks über driver). We started with champaign to celebrate our anniversary and then the food started.
They cooked for us, we didn’t have to make any decisions about what to eat. We loved it. They did ask if we had any food allergies, or if we would like to stay away from any specific foods.
Every course was as delicious as the next. The meal started slowly with seafood and then built perfectly into our main course of Katsikaki, and ended with a few deserts. The dates, foie gras, and Katsikaki were my favorites, but it was all great.
We opted to add the wine pairing, which was an excellent choice. The sommelier was knowledgeable and very friendly. I learned a lot about wine and didn’t feel like I was being talked down to while learning. This made the meal that much more enjoyable. I felt like the meal was made specifically for us.
It was pricey, but the food, wine, atmosphere, and service were well worth every penny spent.

Is it worth a month long wait for a reservation — YES. Is it worth the money — YES. Is it a once in a while culinary experience — YES.
Go soon, take über/​taxi, add wine pairing to the meal and enjoy a cerebral journey of food.

What can I say… KOMI
Amazing food that takes forever. So be ready to indulge from a bite to a scrumptious dinner in about 2 hours! Well worth it

Excellent fancy meal on my last night in DC!
The standouts for me were the spanish grilled octupus, ravoli, foie gras, mascarpone stuffed dates w/​sea salt, raw scallop, and steamed nori brioche w/​trout roe.
We thought it was a great deal for the amount of food you get along with the quality of course.
Great service and friendly staff.

I had a really pleasant experience at Komi, a place I’d been meaning to try for years but didn’t get to until on the cusp of my departure from the city. Overall, the appetizers were definitely a lot more impressive than the entrée, katsikaki, or roasted goat shoulder. The four bite-​size desserts, one of which was a lollipop, were good but not as amazing as the appetizers either.
The place was a lot more spacious than I’d expected. What I had in mind was this ultra compact and ultra intimate dining room with the chefs working almost in front of you, preparing to deliver possibly the best meal of your life while maintaining a kitchen-​to-​table highly personal experience. In fact, the kitchen is at the end of the restaurant, and it is within sight if you’re seated facing that direction, but otherwise it’s definitely in the background. All the waiters were dressed in suits and ties, which I liked. The waitresses’ attire was more on the casual side. Throughout the dinner multiple servers served us so I don’t think they assign them to any particular tables.
Some of the highlights of the meal included the trout roe on what seemed like tiny avocado pastries with cream fillings, scallops (although they were very thin), octopus, and dates filled with cheese and sprinkled with sea salt. There were so many other delicious things that were way more complicated than what I’m able to remember now or even what I understood when the servers spelt out he ingredients as each dish was presented. I wish they would put all the ingredients on the souvenir menu at the end of dinner, instead of the simplified versions where most dishes are reduced to single word descriptions. It definitely doesn’t do it justice. The fact we’re forbidden from taking photos makes it worse to reminisce about the meal afterwards.
Better than its sister restaurant next door, Little Serow, Komi takes reservations (well, imagine waiting two hours for a table for your anniversary dinner), and it does accommodate most dietary restrictions since it doesn’t have a fixed menu. Although, on that note, I thought each table would have unique dishes on any given night, but it doesn’t seem like the case. A lot of people have gotten the katsikaki as the entrée, and the sorbets and lollipop seem to have always been the desserts of choice, not just on July 21, 2015. All that said, I feel a lot less special when I dine at Komi. There is a somewhat set menu unless you specify dietary restrictions or the items have changed slightly every so often. But it’s not like the chefs of the night think up a unique menu completely tailored to your party.
We did not do wine pairings with our meal, although maybe we should have. I will definitely opt for a pescetarian dinner next time I come, since the seafood dishes seemed to be better and I barely eat meat anyways (broke the diet for the restaurant!).

We enjoyed a lovely, indulgent evening at Komi to celebrate our anniversary. It was a memorable dining experience with very attentive service. The intimate candle lit dining room is understated and refined.
She Said: I loved everything I had — each small bite was intensely flavorful and I loved the anticipation of waiting for each new dish. The vegetarian tasting menu was every bit as creative and delicious as the regular tasting menu, which I appreciate. I was also surprised how warm and personalized the service was. We didn’t get the wine pairing but the sommelier picked several rounds of wine for us and each one complemented the dishes wonderfully.
He Said: You’re buying the experience as much as the food. There is amazing creativity in each plate. Everything is good, but since you’re not choosing off a menu you might not be able to find that revelatory dish. All that said, the personal attention was remarkable and we were not underfed.
Food: 4, Service: 5, Ambiance: 4

Best meal and best service of my life and it isn’t even close.
Also spotted ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser dining at the same time. The staff was just as attentive to us as they were to him. Very cool.

Komi was one of the most amazing dining experiences of my life for sure. It’s a perfect meal to share with the special person in your life. We had fun trying to remember what each plate we were eating was despite the fact that each were described to us 15 seconds prior. Service was superb. Wine pairings were perfection. Each and every one. I stress the importance of doing the wine pairing. I’d regretted it at minibar because I got too full but in Komi’s case, I think it’s a must.
I deduct a star because the main show stopper dish, the goat shoulder, was oversalted. I could really see the potential in it though. I would recommend maybe asking for the lamb as a special request, as they are totally open to it or any substitutions you would want (i.e., vegetarian, pescetarian, etc.) and from what I’ve heard the lamb is stellar.

Went for my new decade birthday meal and wow, it was definitely a special meal.
If you enjoy the beauty of a well curated meal with ingredients sometimes exotic, and can allow the almost muted environment to allow your meal to transform the palate of the experience; do it.
In short the people who complain about how overpriced it is, I cannot agree with this as the meal encapsulates the knowledge and movement of the staff, non-​distracting/​clear décor that allows for the very intimate shared moment with your dining partner (s), and the delicious morsel of each course.
I would not recommend this to anyone– if you’re trying to impress someone on a first date, this is not the place. This is a place you want to celebrate something special.
The food? (I’ll try to remember this to the best of my ability…)
Steamed brioche with troat roe
shima aji with indian curry and spices
scallops two ways
cuttlefish with pickled veggies
foie gras mousse with truffled honey and cream fraiche
duck rillette with sourdough toast
mascarpone stuffed date, served warm with sprinkle of sea salt
spaghetti (i honestly cannot remember what was in it because it was so delicious but i remember it was a red based sauce)
macaronia with a light cream sauce and asparagus
meyer lemon dessert
fennel pollen ice cream
TOO DELICIOUS. If you have a very special occasion, go here.

4.5 stars overall.
What is one of the most talked about restaurants in the city is for the most part well deserved. There are though a few areas to smooth out, probably starting with a reservation system that is more trouble than it’s worth (you can’t book anything more than a month in advance).
With that being said much of what Komi provides shines. Warm inviting room, extremely attentive service if slightly overbearing, wonderful recommendations and menu. The vast majority of courses though are excellent. Chances are you will start off with seafood bites which are wonderfully presented and delicately balanced in flavors. Some are simply enjoyable, others presented with beautiful floral touches, while the diver scallops with pistachio and oils is truly divine. A simple crostini has some pickled ramps, which hit with a good creamed like garlic but slightly over acidic punch, but the bread it sits on is the magic. It crackles, perfect texture, and so fluffy. Turns out, they have their own in house created yeast. The foie gras is of course decadent as can be.
Other items work well, while only a small handful don’t. First spaghetti pasta course was borderline over-​salted, and also extremely difficult to eat even with it’s nice bits of Maryland crab. My partners though was fine, but I felt there were a couple of odd salt pockets that really stuck out. Also they should have provided a spoon with your fork to eat it, it is far too awkward. Luckily the next pasta macaroni dish with pureed fava screams rich excellence and a bright hued sea color green, and delicate flavorful mushrooms.
The main course was lamb neck, 3 condiments. Personally wished there was a spoon for each one, and they’ll give you as much as you need including the real fluffy perfectly cooked nan to go with it. However, it makes a mess as your spoon goes to each one (stick with the Ethiopian spiced honey for the win, while the tzatziki has nice cuts of actual cucumber in it). The lamb though is tender, rich, and the crackling skin and seasoning might just ironically have been the saving grace. Even the desserts here are also wonderfully presented, bitter chocolate accents a perfect meyer lemon sorbet, and microgreens give a crusted cashew dessert some real elegance along side the crunch.
All in all though very solid, with a few rough bumps to smooth out. Some devil in the details would really make this shine. Very satisfied overall, but not crazy about the place, but it’s a nice one worth checking out at least once for something special.

Review is LONG overdue, but I feel the need to post it to prove my Elite-​ism … I’ve been to Komi! I got a reservation here! Sure, I paid an arm and a leg for it, but I LIKED (loved) IT!
Anyways…
This was the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. My boyfriend and I were holding hands under the table, close to tears with every bite we took. People must have thought we were having a really tender moment, when really we were finding it hard to express our emotions for the food, not each other.
Everyone knows the food at Komi is outstanding. The plates get larger and more complex with every course. So what I will remark on instead, in an effort to paint a clear picture for those of you considering if it’s really worth spending $ 400+ on a meal (hint: YES), is the incredible quality of the service.
Every plate was brought out as if it were on a schedule, giving us just enough time to slowly enjoy the one prior, discuss how amazing it was, and brainstorm what could possibly be coming out next. The server — a tall, slender, blonde who had to be in his 20s — was supremely knowledgeable about the menu, and could describe every component and every flavor, without saying too much or sounding pretentious. He was accompanied by a sommelier who could have been in the documentary «Som» — sharp, smart, professional, but eager to answer all of our questions. They were a great team, and made the dining experience go from a 5 to a 5+++.
I have done a few beer and wine tastings/​pairings in my short time here on Earth, but opting for the wine pairing at Komi made me really understand what the game is all about. From what I recall — we had a few different wines throughout the meal, paired with each course. I distinctly remember having a beer pairing with one of the courses, which made me gain a deeper appreciation for a nice beverage and understand how it can really compliment/​amplify a flavor.
If you are looking to make an evening very special, Komi should be at the top of your list for where to do it. The staff give you space as you dine, but treat you like royalty (address you by name, can work with you to deliver a special message around dessert, etc.). I hope I have the fortune (both figuratively and literally) to return here one day soon.

The wife and celebrated our wedding anniversary at Komi. I called a month to the day in advance to reserve a table. Unfortunately, Komi isn’t open on Sundays (which was the day our anniversary fell), but fortunately for us they had an opening on Saturday, the night before. Perfect! We arrived a few minutes early for our reservation, but we were seated immediately. From that point one, we experienced on of the best dining experiences I’ve had in recent memory.
There’s not much I can add to the over 500 other reviews that will likely tip a fencesitter one way or the other. For us, service was on point throughout our meal. We were greeted warmly and attended to by the service team with unerring precision. Not to be outdone, the food was equally precise in execution and presentation. While Komi’s food primarily reflects Greek and Mediterranean influences, a couple of courses seemed to venture into Asian flavors. Regardless, it all worked with the highlight our meal being the family-​style main course, a roasted goat with a delicious crispy skin and tender meat that was fall off the bone moist and juicy.
The wife and I enjoy wine with our food. Since Komi only offers a tasting menu, we opted for the wine pairings to accompany our meal vice a bottle of wine. If I’m having a wine pairing, I think it’s essential that the sommelier talk about the wine he/​she has selected. It’s part of show and is also important for learning about new wines and pairing it with certain foods. Once again, Komi’s staff was on top of its game as the sommelier, Bill, selected some interesting wines and even a beer to be paired with our food. He introduced each selection, providing a brief description of it with informative tasting notes.
Komi provided a wonderful fine dining experience that was perfect for our special occasion. I had high expectations and Komi surpassed them by a wide margin.