Zento Restaurant - Japanese Kitchen & Sushi Bar

Another OOOOHHH yes, we were invited by our son, and Zento is one of his favorite restaurants in town. We had a delicious mixed sushi platter for four people. Since my son's girlfriend is gluten intolerant, she was given a separate platter. The various waiters were very attentive and asked questions frequently. A glimpse into the kitchen promised cleanliness.

I was so excited to eat here because as someone with celiac disease I appreciate the menu with the great allergen info, especially for a Japanese restaurant. Happily made a reservation, arrived and unfortunately had to leave before even ordering. This space is so incredibly crammed, tight and loud that it was simply unbearable. The tables are insanely close together and unfortunately we were placed at a middle table, completely sandwiched between the people next to us and behind me. Every other minute someone bumped into my chair (including the waiter) or I had to move the chair to make way for someone. This is completely unacceptable for a restaurant of this price category. If you charge like a fine dining restaurant, I‘d expect the atmosphere to match, not a panic attack inside a sardine tin. This was such a huge letdown :(