Norigami

I was coming to Orlando for the day to visit Ômo by Jônt and figured I'd grab a lunch beforehand. This 8 seat sushi counter fit the bill, sitting in the middle of a bustling and exciting food hall. Reviews indicated the fun interactions with the chefs while you dined.

I ordered the $100 omakase. With the fish flown over from Japan - and this price point - I expected a high level of quality, especially as the omakase was 14 pieces of fish and miso soup. Nothing composed in a addition.

The restaurant clearly takes itself seriously - in a good way. They enjoy what they're doing and are very happy you are there. The chef worked the other end of the counter but made sure to give a genuine hello with authentic engagement. He even recommended another place in town that I hadn't heard of (Sorekara) where I promptly made a reservation.

This place is definitely a Bib Gourmand (not quite a 1 star, but more than your average guide-listed restaurant). The bites were uneven, from truly spectacular (the salmon with truffle was incredible) to a bit banal (the eel and hamachi seemed to be inferior product). I think what struck me most was that the pieces were quite small, making $100 for 14 pieces seem overpriced. In NYC, you can find some really generous and standout omakase restaurants for the same price point.

The a la carte sushi my neighbor ordered looked spectacular. And she left quite happy. As did another couple who told me it was their 2nd time here. 

I think Norigami fits the bill for a solid first step into high(er) end sushi. Clear skill behind the counter and some very quality ingredients flown from Japan.

But for this diner who has enjoyed some really quality stuff (particularly in New York), it seemed a bit overpriced and slightly underwhelming.