Now & Zen

Our recent dining experience at Now & Zen offered a delightful mix of dishes, highlighting their strengths with a few areas for potential enhancement. Here’s a closer look:

The Pokebowl was undoubtedly the star of our meal, featuring impeccably fresh ingredients that blended harmoniously to create a truly enjoyable dish. Each component was well-balanced, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to quality and flavor.

While the California Maki showcased creativity by using avocado instead of mangoes, it provided a creamy twist that, while enjoyable, missed the usual fruity sweetness we expected. It’s a unique take that might appeal to those looking for a different flavor profile.

The Tempura Roll, while not as standout as the Pokebowl, still offered a decent crunch and flavor. It complemented the meal well, though it didn’t leave as strong of an impression as some of the other dishes.

The Beef Gyudon pleasantly surprised us with its flavorful combination of tender beef and well-seasoned rice. It was a comforting and satisfying choice that showcased the kitchen’s skill in preparing traditional Japanese dishes.

The only disappointment was the Spicy Ramen, which lacked the depth and richness we anticipated. It resembled instant ramen more than a gourmet bowl, missing the mark compared to the other offerings.

Overall, Now & Zen excels in delivering delicious dishes like the Pokebowl and Beef Gyudon, highlighting their ability to create satisfying flavors. With some adjustments to dishes like the California Maki and Spicy Ramen, they could elevate their entire menu to consistently impressive levels.

Visited a year ago

So this was my first time dining in. The place was very small. It was packed when I was there. We had to order everything at once. We ordered way too much (1 giant roll, 3 regular rolls, and a bowl of spicy edamame). The sushi was good, but it took a while for us to get it. Portions were big. Plenty of Vegetarian options available on the menu. The giant rolls are HUGE. Overall dine-in experience was okay. Food was pretty good. Price was acceptable.

We’ve ordered to-go sushi from there before and we didn’t like it. They were rude and I’m pretty sure they automatically threw a 20% tip on the bill. I didn’t appreciate that because I like to choose tip based off or performance, value, and kindness.

All in all. It’s good, but you have to be in a good mood and ready for anything to come your way. I would return, especially when I get the sushi itch

Visited a year ago

I got the volcano roll and the Maui roll. My friend got the green giant which is a very good vegetarian roll option. I come here often and it’s the best sushi that I’ve had in Charlottesville. The green giant has a sweet and spicy sauce with cream cheese, sweet potato, cucumber, and avocado. Volcano roll is slightly spicy and comes with a lot of tuna! The Maui roll is really good and it has mango in it which adds a good sweetness to the roll.

Visited a year ago

Nice change of pace for a sushi 🍣 restaurant. Staff knowledgeable about food. Fish very fresh. Gyoza 🥟 had a weird flavor and was not very appetizing. One of our dishes was brought out incorrectly as the waiter did not hear the order correctly - probably a simple miscommunication. The rolls are VERY large so beware. Restaurant was clean. Food came out reasonably quickly but I could see a wait if they were busy. Parking is a definite issue so plan for this. Also, looks to be very busy Friday and Saturday so come earlier. Would definitely recommend one try this for sushi in Charlottesville.

Visited 2 years ago

This place has amazing sushi for such a good price. The service is always great and the wait (which isn’t super long) is worth it. Especially if you’re a vegetarian, there are so many great choices!

Visited 6 months ago

Tucked away just off of the Historic Downton Mall, Now & Zen transcends the ordinary with its exquisite amalgamation of refined Asian delicacies, showcasing an impeccable mastery of sushi and beyond.

Delight and indulge in the mesmerizing selection of sushi rolls, each a testament to the culinary artistry at play. As if to defy expectations, the gastronomic journey reaches new heights with their legendary "Big Rolls," each an awe-inspiring creation that elevates the dining experience to a realm of unparalleled extravagance.

Complementing the expanse of culinary options, Now & Zen boasts a carefully curated selection of premium beers and sake, allowing connoisseurs to indulge in the harmonious marriage of flavors. Among the standout recommendations is the Tentaka Hawk in the Heavens, an ethereal libation that embodies the essence of the restaurant's ethos.

A noteworthy surprise awaits beyond the dining area in the form of distinct restroom experiences, each a carefully crafted avant-garde extension of the restaurant's otherwise traditional design.

Visited 2 years ago

Food is always good so.ill start with that. Staff is immensely rude and I dont think there is any leadership there...a lot of management but definitely no leadership. Owner ( I think she's the owner) is rude. Typically the wait staff is slow and awful, however I did have someone for the first time surprisingly pleasant last week. If you ask what's taking so long it's almost as if they intentionally move slower. Keep an eye on your receipt because sometimes they'll throw in the automatic 20% gratuity without telling you. They demand you leave good tips for their staff, but with the comments and statements they make to about it just shows the owner isn't paying them enough, not that it should be a salaried position. My teenage, 15 yo dauggter went there with her friend, left an 15% tip for horrible service and as they ate walking out the waitress had the nerve to say "is that all you wanted to leave for a tip"?

Visited 6 months ago

Absolutely fantastic restaurant! While the waiting area is a bit cramped on a Friday night, the sushi was HUGE. We got 2 specialty rolls, 2 normal rolls, and gyoza for under $70. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in Charlottesville and I can't wait to go again!

Visited 2 years ago

Rolls are delicious I like that the rice is room temp and not cold! So squishy and good. Everything is fresh and there are tons of really good vegetarian options!! It’s even better than it was 10 years ago!

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Food is always good so.ill start with that. Staff is immensely rude and I dont think there is any leadership there...a lot of management but definitely no leadership. Owner ( I think she's the owner) is rude. Typically the wait staff is slow and awful, however I did have someone for the first time surprisingly pleasant last week. If you ask what's taking so long it's almost as if they intentionally move slower. Keep an eye on your receipt because sometimes they'll throw in the automatic 20% gratuity without telling you. They demand you leave good tips for their staff, but with the comments and statements they make to about it just shows the owner isn't paying them enough, not that it should be a salaried position. My teenage, 15 yo dauggter went there with her friend, left an 15% tip for horrible service and as they ate walking out the waitress had the nerve to say "is that all you wanted to leave for a tip"?

Visited 6 months ago

This place has amazing sushi for such a good price. The service is always great and the wait (which isn’t super long) is worth it. Especially if you’re a vegetarian, there are so many great choices!

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Favorite sushi in town. Always excellent quality, sweet little spot.

Visited 7 months ago

Incredible vegetarian options!

Visited 7 months ago

I have been here over a dozen times. Their food is very good and the cheapest high quality sushi in Charlottesville! But unfortunately their bad service has gotten out of hand. They like to publicly display their poor wages for their staff and, are not only rude but will straight up be disrespectful if you don't tip 20% or more. I am a firm believer that if you can't afford to tip you shouldn't be eating out. In the spring I left 15% and I was told "that's it?". I'm sorry but I don't belive rude behavior needs more then 15%.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

The avocado and tuna salad was incredible, huge and great value.

Visited 9 months ago

Amazing experience including best sushi, attentive waiter, and intimate atmosphere. Can't wait to return.

Visited 10 months ago

Delicious sushi rolls that were very sizable even for the normal size ones. I couldn't finish three of them. Looking forward to seeing how large the big sushi rolls are advertised on the menu.

Visited 10 months ago

Our recent dining experience at Now & Zen offered a delightful mix of dishes, highlighting their strengths with a few areas for potential enhancement. Here’s a closer look:

The Pokebowl was undoubtedly the star of our meal, featuring impeccably fresh ingredients that blended harmoniously to create a truly enjoyable dish. Each component was well-balanced, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to quality and flavor.

While the California Maki showcased creativity by using avocado instead of mangoes, it provided a creamy twist that, while enjoyable, missed the usual fruity sweetness we expected. It’s a unique take that might appeal to those looking for a different flavor profile.

The Tempura Roll, while not as standout as the Pokebowl, still offered a decent crunch and flavor. It complemented the meal well, though it didn’t leave as strong of an impression as some of the other dishes.

The Beef Gyudon pleasantly surprised us with its flavorful combination of tender beef and well-seasoned rice. It was a comforting and satisfying choice that showcased the kitchen’s skill in preparing traditional Japanese dishes.

The only disappointment was the Spicy Ramen, which lacked the depth and richness we anticipated. It resembled instant ramen more than a gourmet bowl, missing the mark compared to the other offerings.

Overall, Now & Zen excels in delivering delicious dishes like the Pokebowl and Beef Gyudon, highlighting their ability to create satisfying flavors. With some adjustments to dishes like the California Maki and Spicy Ramen, they could elevate their entire menu to consistently impressive levels.

Visited a year ago

Portions are large, but there was a disproportionate amount of rice on the rolls. I also found the food to be rather bland.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

First off, it's very tight getting in. People cannot come in while others are leaving, the tables are very close, so much so it's very easy to hear the other tables conversation and easy to tip their drinks over with your butt when leaving. The restaurant itself was dirty. The windowsill had grime and dirt and I noticed many other spots that were in need of cleaning. They never asked if we wanted to order drinks, they just gave us water. We ordered appetizers before our main entries, and well in advance but some came out first while other's came out after our main dishes.... we ordered 2 types of dumplings and those were the appetizers that came out at different times... why? Many of the sauces were horrible and the yakisoba was the worst I've ever had. Additionally the chicken in the yakisoba was very large and clearly needed to be cut. I'm a huge dumpling and gyoza fan and both were not great either. The harumaki was very large and not constructed well, it seemed sloppy and the taste wasnt very good.... sauce was horrible too. This place is definitely a fusion because it doesn't taste like Japanese. Service wise I had to ask two different people for a fork for my mother in law, and that took a long time to accomplish. Taking a break from my complaints, I will say their Salmon Saviche was very good and the dish was elevated, wanted to at least give that a compliment. On leaving I took several mints and noticed some were in the jar without packaging, yuck! Overall I would encourage people to avoid this place, it's definitely not worth the 4.3 stars it was rated when I looked them up.

Visited a year ago

Best sushi I've ever had.

Visited a year ago

Excellent sushi!

Visited a year ago

We tried to get a reservation but they said they don’t take any. Then, when we got inside, we got our first order to us. About 30 minutes later, we tried to order more food but were told that the table was reserved soon and that we couldn’t order any food and had to leave. Server was nice to us and it definitely wasn’t his fault though. The little food we had was good.

Visited a year ago

Sushi!!!

Visited a year ago

My favorite local restaurant! Aburri Salmon is my all-time most ordered dish. The bonus tonight was my favorite ( the best) waiter. I am regretting having left 20% instead of 25%. Next time, I will pay better attention! Thanks, Now and Zen! Thanks wonderful waiter who I think is named John.

Visited a year ago

Authentic Japanese dish!
Been to Japan for more than 4~5 times and I can tell this is the most authentic place in Charlottesville.😄

Eel was perfectly soft and well-seasoned. Also yellowtail was very tender and I was able to feel the natural taste of the fish. My boyfriend also liked the shrimp tempura rolls very much.

Also, employees and the owner were very nice.

You might need to wait 20-30 mins on Friday.

Highly recommend for Japanese cuisine lovers.

Visited a year ago

I got the volcano roll and the Maui roll. My friend got the green giant which is a very good vegetarian roll option. I come here often and it’s the best sushi that I’ve had in Charlottesville. The green giant has a sweet and spicy sauce with cream cheese, sweet potato, cucumber, and avocado. Volcano roll is slightly spicy and comes with a lot of tuna! The Maui roll is really good and it has mango in it which adds a good sweetness to the roll.

Visited a year ago

Delicious “Big Rolls.” Great cozy atmosphere and service. Very flavorful miso soup. We will be back.

Visited a year ago

Delightful place and great food! Tofu balls were gluten free and the sauce was delicious. *Provided Tamari sauce which is a huge plus as I am extremely wheat intolerant.

Visited a year ago

Ive been here many times and it's my go-to spot in Cville. Good value and excellent food. Everything has been terrific time and time again.
I love the tuna tar tar salad. The dumplings are terrific. And the sushi is always fresh and tasty.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The rolls were a little hard to fit in my mouth.. to big. Tasty but not fantastic

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

So this was my first time dining in. The place was very small. It was packed when I was there. We had to order everything at once. We ordered way too much (1 giant roll, 3 regular rolls, and a bowl of spicy edamame). The sushi was good, but it took a while for us to get it. Portions were big. Plenty of Vegetarian options available on the menu. The giant rolls are HUGE. Overall dine-in experience was okay. Food was pretty good. Price was acceptable.

We’ve ordered to-go sushi from there before and we didn’t like it. They were rude and I’m pretty sure they automatically threw a 20% tip on the bill. I didn’t appreciate that because I like to choose tip based off or performance, value, and kindness.

All in all. It’s good, but you have to be in a good mood and ready for anything to come your way. I would return, especially when I get the sushi itch

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Beautiful presentation and delicious food! As good as the food was, the service was anything but. I’ve lived in Charlottesville nearly my entire life and I can say with absolute certainty that this was the worst service experience I’ve ever had. The staff was rude, argumentative, impatient and unprofessional. Maybe it was a bad night but with places as good as Ten, it’s really no comparison if you are looking for Japanese cuisine.

Visited a year ago

Fabulous sushi joint with a great menu. Sushi portions were very large, though I recommend the Agedashi tofu as well as their ramen which was incredibly flavorful. I would also recommend a reservation, this place is good and can get very busy.

Visited a year ago

One of my favorite restaurants in Charlottesville. The rolls are exceptional, the service is always top notch, and their chocolate crème brûlée is exquisite.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

2021: We are so excited to find a sushi restaurant that was as good as this one!! We will definitely be back!

2022: Still amazing sushi! We've had the same waitress and she's been super nice and helpful.

2024: Still amazing! Largest rolls I've ever seen.

Visited a year ago

Great food in a welcoming space. Suggest reserving a table if you can, but it's well worth the wait.

Visited a year ago

This place had great food and good service

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Jon is our favorite waiter of pretty much any restaurant we have visited. The sushi is great and his recommendations are spot on.

Visited a year ago

Delicious, absolutely delicious.

Visited a year ago

I really don’t understand all the positive reviews for this place.
The food was edible. Sushi is bland, way too much rice, unevenly cut such that the rainbow roll completely fell apart. How are you not gonna cut an $18 roll all the way through.. but I digress.. ordered 4 other rolls, all just as underwhelming as the first. 2.5/5
That’s just the food.
The customer service is another story. Don’t try to call and place an order for pickup. You’ll be told to go place one online. Ok, no problem. Placed the online order at 6:50 pm and it’s gonna be ready at 8:15pm. It’s a Saturday evening, they must be busy, also no problem. I never received a confirmation text or email for this order that’s gonna be ready in an hour and half so I called them to make sure they got my order and if I should just show up at the estimated time or if they will send a text when the order is ready. I’m told I will get a text. Now we wait patiently for some delicious sushi 😂 estimated pick up time comes and goes and not a peep from this place. So I call and I’m told oh! the txt just went out, your order is ready.
I get to the restaurant and check again, no texts or emails from them. I tell the gentlemen at the register ( the same person who answered all my calls) this so they can fix their online ordering process and he says, well your order was ready at the estimated time so I don’t understand what your issue is… I don’t know sir, you tell me. I don’t know why I expected you to be kind and understanding. I should have expected abrupt, rude and unhelpful
So if I average the food and the customer service, 1.5/5.

Visited 2 years ago

Tucked away just off of the Historic Downton Mall, Now & Zen transcends the ordinary with its exquisite amalgamation of refined Asian delicacies, showcasing an impeccable mastery of sushi and beyond.

Delight and indulge in the mesmerizing selection of sushi rolls, each a testament to the culinary artistry at play. As if to defy expectations, the gastronomic journey reaches new heights with their legendary "Big Rolls," each an awe-inspiring creation that elevates the dining experience to a realm of unparalleled extravagance.

Complementing the expanse of culinary options, Now & Zen boasts a carefully curated selection of premium beers and sake, allowing connoisseurs to indulge in the harmonious marriage of flavors. Among the standout recommendations is the Tentaka Hawk in the Heavens, an ethereal libation that embodies the essence of the restaurant's ethos.

A noteworthy surprise awaits beyond the dining area in the form of distinct restroom experiences, each a carefully crafted avant-garde extension of the restaurant's otherwise traditional design.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

N&Z is hands down my favorite sushi in Charlottesville!

Visited 2 years ago

I really enjoy N & Z. The food and value are really great. I like the atmosphere, but it is a little small and other patrons are pretty close. The service is thoughtful, helpful, and super nice. They could probably use one more server to make things prompt, but that is a minor issue.

Visited 2 years ago

udon was too salty and bad

Visited 2 years ago

Love love love love.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

After trying many restaurants in Charlottesville this is the one we keep coming back to, the food is always SO good, fresh, creative, quick, good price and always top quality. We’ve had many items on the menu— the dumplings are a must try (all of them!). Definitely a favorite. John is an exceptional waiter and is always quick with some great recommendations.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The "big" sushi rolls are actually "huge" sushi rolls. Enough for four people, unless you are super hungry. That being said, they are well-prepared and delicious!

Visited 2 years ago

Our experience at this restaurant was not close to perfection. The service was very quick and well, but the food was not very fresh (I had to use soy sauce to help with the taste). The seating area isn't very open, so you may feel cramped when sitting right next to others. The sushi rolls were very large, which made it hard to enjoy my food and not feel like I have to stuff my face. I did enjoy the beverage selections with many options that are found in Japan.

Visited 2 years ago

Nice change of pace for a sushi 🍣 restaurant. Staff knowledgeable about food. Fish very fresh. Gyoza 🥟 had a weird flavor and was not very appetizing. One of our dishes was brought out incorrectly as the waiter did not hear the order correctly - probably a simple miscommunication. The rolls are VERY large so beware. Restaurant was clean. Food came out reasonably quickly but I could see a wait if they were busy. Parking is a definite issue so plan for this. Also, looks to be very busy Friday and Saturday so come earlier. Would definitely recommend one try this for sushi in Charlottesville.

Visited 2 years ago

Tasty meal! I normally like meat in my mouth but I was with my Vegan friend, so I had to branch out. The server recommended we try the Green Giant roll, which was so big I could barely fit it in my mouth. It sure had some tasty sauce on it though!
The tofu balls were also fantastic. They were very large and perfect for two people. The sauce was surprisingly sweet and creamy. We shared both the Green Giant and the balls, and were very satisfied with how much we were filled up at the end of the night!

Visited 2 years ago

Updating my review!
Amazing place. Best sushi in town! Food can take longer than usual in their busy days, but it is worth the wait.

Visited 2 years ago

The prices seem high, but the portions are very large and the food is very good... so it is worth it.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The atmosphere and experience here were great! We enjoyed the sake tasting and then ordered a small sake each of our favorites (I loved the yuzu sake and my fiancé got hawks in the heavens).
Miso soup was yummy and the spicy dumplings were a bit one note but still good! We ordered a green goddess big roll and be warned: they mean BIG. We had to eat each piece of sushi in several bites which I wasn’t a fan of. I just wish our server had warned us that big meant oversized as opposed to more sushi.
Overall we had a great time here and would come back!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

I would not waste my time, energy, or tastebuds on this hole in the wall.... Does not keep to posted hours and refused to seat us at 8:12 p.m. on a Thursday night claiming they were slow though photos show a full dining area. When we asked to order to go we were told that "all tables had there food already" and again we were told they were closed. If you are open until 9 p.m. you stay open until the designated time. Claiming to be the 2nd best sushi restaurant in Charlottesville seems a far fetch for a crew that refuses business on account of laziness. If we had come in at 8:45, absolutely turn us away for dining in but atleast take our order to go. A dining room open less than the scheduled shift (of a whopping 4 hours) isnt going to remain a business for long. Mashumen may lack the intimate plyboarded walls of Now and Zen but they atleast have the mind to maintain the hours they've posted to serve the public.

Visited 2 years ago

Love Now & Zen and had the best service when I dined in recently. It’s my go-to sushi spot in town!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

I really enjoy the food, and I’ve always gotten great service. The only downside is that appetizers aren’t really appetizers. They just bring them out as they are ready (even 15-20 minutes after you’re done eating your main meal). I guess they have a limited number of fryers from what I understand? I have enjoyed my appetizers when they come out before the meal, but after I’ve ordered and finished eating, I’m not really expecting the appetizer to be brought out. A quirk to be aware of. Again, I have enjoyed every single item I’ve ordered here and the service has always been great.

If it wasn’t labeled as a starter, it would’ve prepared me for that, but it’s just a little awkward, and it’s hard for me to get past that.. 😶

Visited 2 years ago

Absolutely fantastic restaurant! While the waiting area is a bit cramped on a Friday night, the sushi was HUGE. We got 2 specialty rolls, 2 normal rolls, and gyoza for under $70. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in Charlottesville and I can't wait to go again!

Visited 2 years ago

The best salmon-avocado-cream cheese rolls!!

Visited 2 years ago

Delicious spicy sweet potato tempura sushi and nigiri. Everyone was very friendly- looking forward to going again!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Overly robust plates that rely way too heavily on in your face sauces. Yakisoba was pretty bland. There was a piece of chicken in the vegan yakisoba. Would not recommend.

Clearly a place more committed to gargantuan proportions rather than actually quality food.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

I love this place! Always fresh and always delicious… Tonight I got takeout and it was just as wonderful as when I have dined in! The avocado tuna carpaccio salad was my whole meal and very filling.

Visited 2 years ago

Excellent sushi!!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

High quality fish at reasonable prices and always had good service. I like the spicy edamame.

Visited 3 years ago

Good food and even better service.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

I ordered my food for pickup and picked it up as soon as I got their text.

When I picked it up, the food that contained raw fish was placed on top of a hot food. By the time I got back, the raw part of the food was warm and my friend who had the dish is now sick.

Honestly, I think their food taste fairly good and portions are reasonable. This may not have been a problem for a dine-in experience, but since they do carry out as their services, they should take necessary measures for it. Foods that contains raw fish should be separated from hot ones.

I don't think I would order again here and risk getting food poisoning.

Visited 3 years ago

Big portions and a large menu.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

To the person who greeted us this evening, I’m sorry your boss is a complete jerk. I had one of the most horrid experiences witnessing, what I assumed was the owner, screaming at his hostess. I wasn’t even seated at a table yet. I will never support a business that abuses their employees. ESPECIALLY when they are doing their job correctly.

To the owner: you are so disrespectful to your employees. $2.13 and hr is NOT A LIVING WAGE no matter how many tips one gets. Get better.

Visited 3 years ago

The rolls are huge, and reasonably priced. We ordered dinner for 2, plus drinks, and left with extras, all for under $80, including tax and tip. Sushi was tasty and cuts of fish were very generous. This was a fav spot ad a grad student, and 7 years later, still a place I enjoyed.

Visited 3 years ago

The sushi was way too big and I did not love the flavor.

Visited 3 years ago

the food was SO good and our waiter was amazing!! he catered directly to our needs and was a great person overall. if you’re in cville I definitely recommend going here

Visited 3 years ago

Always fresh food artistically and excellently prepared .. abundant rolls for the price and great service.

Visited 3 years ago

Pleasantly surprised by creativity and quality of seafood. The wait staff did a great job of describing unfamiliar dishes. Beautiful presentation and delicious. Good value!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Have been here for few times, love how big the rolls are and how fresh the seafoods are!! Great choice and nice decorations! Always so busy and might need to wait some time, better to have more seats:)

Visited 3 years ago

Favorite Japanese restaurant in town! I order the sashimi sampler every time and it’s always fresh! Katsudon and Katsu Curry are both great and big portion, but Unagi Don is not my type. Japanese style fried chicken is super salty, which I don’t like.

Visited 3 years ago

Didn't hate it but I've had better. Dumplings were amazing. Sushi sucked and was over the top, in a bad way. Pieces were entirely too big and flavor was not complimentary. The Creme Brulee was overtly sweet and paired with a chocolate mouse which again, did not go well together. For over a Benjamin, I expected better. Reduce your roll sizes to bite size and reduce the price.

Visited 3 years ago

No Zen (05/07). Website pleads with you to be patient and that all order times are estimates, which is fine.. Well we call after waiting 20+ min after estimated time with no updates. Told order is ready and that we should've gotten an alert. We go in store to pickup and, instead of apologizing for the system not working according to plan, they become argumentative. Icing on the cake: we get the text alert after returning to our car. Hot dishes are lukewarm.

Visited 3 years ago

Something is a little off about the food here. Fish is cut too thick, the sushi has too much rice and it’s warmer, mushier, and less seasoned for sushi. lots of Americanized things like cream cheese rolls. Doesn’t feel like an authentic Japanese sushiya but the prices do. Nigiri is a bad deal compared to how much fish you get in certain rolls for the same price. It’s good but something isn’t quite right.

Visited 3 years ago

Excellent vegetarian sushi options! Delicious and great service. I highly recommend if you are looking for good veggie rolls.

Visited 3 years ago

The best Japanese food in town

Visited 3 years ago

Best sushi in all of Cville.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Let me set the scene: Tuesday night, pre-ordered four sushi rolls at 6p for a 7:25p pick up, then waited until 7:50p for the order to be ready! Not even an apology for the delay! This is common for us getting take out from Now and Zen, and we won't be coming back. Maybe they should change their name to Later and Zen.

Visited 3 years ago

I had Nabeyaki Udon, noodle was tooo mushy and soggy, very salty too. I also ordered Sashimi special. Piece of Sashimi was too big, can't eat it at once. Cumbersome cut. Will not go there again.

Visited 3 years ago

Good food overall, but they try to trick customers into paying a huge tip by already including 20% gratuity in the bill without even telling you, in hopes that you will miss it and tip them on top of it (the menu says in very small writing that gratuity will be included for parties above 6, but we were below this number anyways and the waitress never mentioned it being included). I almost tipped on top of the 20% that they already included until one of my friends caught it, realizing how ridiculously expensive the dinner was because of this. A forced tip is not a gratuity, call it what it is...joe biden inflation tax. It's super scammy and disingenuous when you slip it in like that unknowingly, because i can only imagine the number of honest customers that give you an additional 20% tip on top of it, when you don't even deserve it....It's pretty sleazy. The service wasn't worth 20% anyways if I'm being honest. I recommend only doing take out from this place if you want the over priced sushi.

Visited 3 years ago

Great sushi!

Visited 3 years ago

What a let down. The service was slow. The sushi was falling apart. My girlfriend got shrimp tempura roll and it was cold. Our dumplings were soggy and legitimately tasted bad. I wouldn't eat here again if it were free.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Woof. Oh, boy. This poor place has gone downhill, possibly since the pandemic. They’re so focused on their carry out that they have horrific table service when you dine in. The last time we came here we waited an hour and fifteen minutes to get food after we were seated. totally starving when it finally came out.

this time, they took 20 minutes longer to prep a table than they said and when we tried to use an online egift card to check out they had no way to submit the number without borrowing my wife’s phone in order to use the internet takeout order system. just wild.

while our phone was in the managers hands she asked us to sit down because our standing there waiting for her to ring up her check was “making her anxious”.

There’s plenty of wonderful places to eat in cville. life’s too short to bother with this one.

Visited 3 years ago

Meh. Portions were nice, but the food didn't taste great.

Visited 3 years ago

Excellent food and service. Best sushi in Charlottesville 💜

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

This is an odd sushi place with great service and very weirdly cut chanclas of fish and rolls made with tons of rice. My sashimi platter ($40) had tons of five types of fish but they were giant chunks and had to be cut (with difficulty because I did not have a decent knife). On top of the fish were a stack of flowers! Apps were also pretty heavy handed on the size and oil. Tempura cauliflower was heavy and doused with a sweet sauce. Crab croquettes were HUGE and had good flavor just should have been bite sized. Not sure what is going on in this venerable place but the owner should stop by....

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Tasty perfection and excellent, friendly staff.

Visited 3 years ago

We had a long wait and didn't know what was going on. Once seated service was good but slow. The sushi was way to over priced for the quality. I might come back one more time to try some other special rolls but I was pretty disappointed after my first visit. Was really disappointed by the eel room in particular.

Visited 3 years ago

WORST COSTUMER SERVICE EVER!!! We gave them yet another chance hoping things might be different- but NO. Kabuto is closed on Sunday's, otherwise I would have never given these people the satisfaction of making a profit. It is beyond anything I have ever experienced. The fact that they are still in business is completely SHOCKING. I have never been spoken to in this way by anyone that depends on customers for their livelyhood. I will NEVER again set foot inside their doors. The rudest most callous staff. Should not be aloud around other humans. Not very Zen. Might be a better name

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

I wish I could give no star at all!.

Visited 3 years ago

This wasn't dining, it was a beautiful experience. I had come here awhile ago, and had a good dinner, their Ramen, and some lackluster sushi, so being vegan now, I wasn't too pressed to come back. It was 9:00pm, there were few places open, and I decided, why not? So we headed over, checking out the menu to find more than a few interesting options for vegans. The waitress was funny and very nice, and started off the experience right, where we then proceeded to debate between what we would get. It was settled, it would be the soba noddle dish, the tofu balls, and the Galápagos roll. The soba noodle dish was immaculate, it was everything your salty cravings could want in a dish without being overbearing. The tofu balls were absolutely strange looking, and with the mango curru turned out to almost be dessertish, a nice contrast to the soba noodles. But the sushi roll. It took my mouth to places previously unexplored. I got Cilantro, I got lime, I got mango and it all coalesced to a dancing of different flavors on my mouth that I think honestly might constitute the best sushi roll I've ever had. With great places to top it off, I can't recomend this place enough, hell, I even went back the next night.

Visited 3 years ago

So delicious!! Vegan and vegetarian options. Sushi was just incredible! Friendly staff.

Visited 3 years ago

Beautiful teeny restaurant. Sushi is a 12/10! Very cramped, but adds to the coziness.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Quite cozy and warm. Can’t say their food is perfect, but creative and comforting.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Worst customer service we placed an order at 5:41 the pick up was suppose to be 6:45 we didn't get our order until 7:30 never again

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

If I could give less stars, I would! The worst customer service I have every experienced in my life! They need to take some training in customer service. Both management and waiter were ridiculously rude to the customer. They purposely made the customer to wait extra time for their food due to the pettiness of their waiter. The worst part is that the restaurant manager completely twisted the story around and made the customer feel guilty to the point that they were verbal abuse! The experience was absolutely horrendous! We demand an apology! We will be filing a complaint to BBB!

Visited 3 years ago

Ordered a nice meal from here via DoorDash. Everything was good except for the tiny rock I found in my tempura shrimp roll. Luckily I didn't chip a tooth. I tried calling the restaurant just to let them know what I had found so they could avoid this happening in the future. I was asked if it was okay to be put on hold, I said yes, but then was left on hold for six minutes. I hung to call again but I got their automated voice messaging system, but the system says the voicemail inbox is full. It was full last time I called about a month ago to ask if it was crowded. Good sushi, but I can't seem to get a hold of anyone when I call.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Just the best Japanese food in town. Everytime I go there I'm impressed. After living 6 years in Japan I get overwhelming cravings for Japanese food pretty regularly and there's no where else I'd rather go. The sushi and sashimi are incredible.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Best sushi in Charlottesville. The waiter we had was a very kind man. Best service experience I have had in years.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

The absolute best sushi in Charlottesville. Quaint, charming aesthetic with a stellar menu. Service is quick, precise, and friendly. 10/10.

Visited 4 years ago

I ordered takeout and got an email saying my order would be ready at a certain time, which was about an hour from when I ordered. When I arrived at the designated time I was told it would be another 10-15 minutes. I was told that they're only human and they were busy.
Well humans can also text and let you know your order is not going to be ready on time. Part of the problem is there's no place to park to pick up food you have to park in a driveway and walk in the restaurant, so it would be beneficial if orders were ready when you are told they're going to be ready.
I did find out that if I would have dined in my order would have been ready a lot sooner because somehow they prioritize dine-in customers. Order should be prioritized first in, first out.
I ordered nigiri and sushi rolls and everything was warm (not room temperature)for some reason.
The Nigiri pieces are very large but the rolls have too much rice.
I will not be ordering from them again.

Visited 4 years ago

Warm sushi, very slow to get food out, out of many things on menu, unknowledgeable server, very unimpressed

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Really great place if you like your sushi luke warm

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Great vegan options! The food was amazing!

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

I'm going to say this in the nicest way possible: this place should be out of business. I have no idea how it was so incomprehensibly bad but it is. The sushi is literally just hot. It's hot, not warm, it's hot. Did you really cook the fish before rolling it. How. It's something like 90/10% rice to fish ratio as well. The gyoza was a vinegary mess. I'm actually baffled how this happened.

The website says outright they reserve the right to close if it's not busy and throwing it out there, if you are a sushi restaurant and you aren't busy, it's a you problem.

There are a few semi average sushi places in Charlottesville, but this was worse than gas station sushi. This isn't hyperbole. I don't actually understand why you opened. I'm not terribly picky and typically if I don't enjoy a place I'll just move on with life and not bother reviewing because it's kind of gauche, but I don't actually understand how this was so bad.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

I think the fact that they are the best sushi in town makes them struggle to keep up with demand. I love their food but won't be back because we had a pick up that was fifty minutes later than the time they had told me it would be ready. It was the third time we had run into trouble with a takeout order (previous times they had left items out) and I think this third strike might be the end of Now and Zen being our family's regular source. The food is great but it doesn't make up for the service.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Always the best Sushi!

Visited 4 years ago

Generous,fresh, delicious portions, pleasant and attentive staff, friendly atmosphere. We had the the sashimi dinner. Yum!

Visited 4 years ago

Rather disappointed. I really wanted to like it, but everything seemed under seasoned even by subtle japanese standards.

Visited 4 years ago

It was amazing as usual! It's also so fun to see Nelly and Karine. Love you guys!!

Visited 4 years ago

I wanted to put 0 stars but it seems you have to give something when you critique. I have never in my life been so disrespected by food. The dumplings with bok choy disrespected my whole existence, the cream crab croquet they brought back should have never came back, the gyudon bowl was decent on the first bite but as I kept eating I realized the rice was beyond mushy and I almost chocked on the fat from the beef cause it wasn't cut smaller and the spicy yellowtail sushi appearance was unsightly but I still gave it a chance, never should've done it. I think the avocado was old....it was my first time going and I have experience eating Japanese food, authentically, and this is the furthest from it. Furthest.

Visited 4 years ago

Food was good and service was quick and friendly. Dining area is fairly cramped, but has beautiful windows with great view of the sunset

Visited 4 years ago

9 out of 10 things will be very very good. Very generous for the price point, some dishes are truly well executed (special spring roles for instance). Sashimi quality can very depending on supplier, but was quality last two visits, especially the salmon. Tuna unfortunately has been slightly lacking in flavor. If you're a mackerel lover,, definitely worth a visit.. Also, this will be served not overly chilled to allow for proper flavor profile, so don't be surprised with room temp when served. Eel is served a little over sauced, and masks the eel and smoke flavor. Great alternative to Ten. Much more reasonable price and honestly just as good if you know what you're doing. I hear the Ramen is legit.

Visited 4 years ago

I believe I was one of the first several customers when now and zen open their doors. I love them so much I brought someone that would in the future become my wife on several dates. That was years ago. On my wife's birthday I decided to drive back to Charlottesville to pick up some sushi from her favorite place now and zen. I was met by the owner who built the place from scratch and I'm sure is successful enough that he does not need to be there on a Thursday night but he greeted me saying it has been a long time. I love this place so much it has truly become a Charlottesville staple in a short period of time. Always feel welcome. One of the original survers also remembered me and was always great. I have came here as a single person, on an intimate date and with my now family. I have always felt super welcomed. So much more than what you can expect from any of the sushi place in Charlottesville

Visited 4 years ago

Tried the chicken karaage (on special menu) and the chirashi. Both were spectacular, but especially the chirashi - apart from fish, it had two small pieces of tamago (Japanese egg dish) that blew my mind.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Love the vegan Vegten Roll from here! Great spot for vegans and vegetarians!!

Visited 4 years ago

Yum, yum so delicious. I like there spicy tuna roll🍣 and hand roll but their other rolls are pretty amazing too. Spider and volcano roll 😊. I like the bigger rolls and the quality of fish too.

Visited 4 years ago

poor quality food, not enjoyable especially since it’s all to go. dumplings are different every time, and not in a good way, sushi rolls are poorly put together and made with so much rice. can’t even pick a piece up with chopsticks and just do not taste good. have given it 3 tries now and have been disappointed each time. I will never be back.

Visited 4 years ago

The best sushi in town! And the best customer service. If you happen to have a long wait, it will be worth it.

Visited 4 years ago

This is a decent place. The rolls are rice heavy and the ramen was ok.

Visited 4 years ago

Food here is great, it tastes generally good and fresh. I’ve ordered from here at least 10 times. At least 5 of those times something was wrong with my order and it’s pretty annoying. I’m kind of over it now, so I don’t think I’ll be returning anymore.
Still, won’t discredit the food, just really annoying to have to search through my food outside in my car every time, especially since the parking is bad and there’s no where to do it inside. They’re generally busy so fixing it also requires a good amount of wait time.

Check your order before ya go! Every time...

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Good sushi. Order early!!

Visited 4 years ago

My dumplings was not cooked, edamame was not cooked and I was just not satisfied by my sushi overall.

Visited 4 years ago

The sushi is great. Good portions, reasonably priced (although expect to spend a bit--it's sushi), the atmosphere in the restaurant is nice too when it's open. Their non-sushi menu is good too, including their ramen. I definitely recommend their maui roll and salmon melt roll if you're looking for something different with a lot of fish!

My only complaint is that they often close early. In fact, every time I've tried to order something after 8pm they state that they are closed, despite their listed hours being until 9pm. It would be nice if they disclose this on their website, or have an option to order pickup for a later time. Being major sushi fan who often doesn't get off work until 8pm or later, this is a bit of a buzzkill for me.

...But it sure as hell won't keep me from the the best sushi in town.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Great sushi and cookie!

Visited 5 years ago

Sushi quality is good, although the rolls are heavy on the rice. The pork katsu was very bad, and was either previously fried or frozen. The katsu breading was gummy and chewy, couldn't stomach more than a couple of bites.

Stick to the sushi, and continue to support them.

4 stars due to continued above average sushi.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Absolutely the best sushi I've ever had. Excellent portions as well. It's busy so the staff is a little rushed but the food is totally worth it.

Visited 5 years ago

Massive rolls that were delicious!! Very excited we found this place

Visited 5 years ago

This is my favorite sushi restaurant. The food is fantastic; I've had many rolls and they have all been great. There are also many great options for vegetarians for those so inclined. The interior of the restaurant is small and cozy - like many restaurants in major cities. Parking is limited; there is no lot but street parking can be found.
Now with covid I have experienced their take out and it's some of the best I've had in Charlottesville. There is virtually no loss in quality and it travels well. They do curbside pick up too!

Visited 5 years ago

My boyfriend and I spend nearly $200 on sushi here, and it was all absolutely bland. The tuna had no flavor, the miso soup was sour— even the dumplings were sub-par. The only roll I finished (out of 6 sampled) was the eel avocado roll, which was covered in sauce. The rice was overcooked, which I didn’t mind so much, but was still not a great touch. They gave us a cookie for the large order, and even that had no flavor. How do you mess up this much? I would take Harris Teeter sushi over this. It was probably the worst I’ve ever had (and I love love love sushi). Very disappointing. :/

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

One of the best sushi places in all of Charlottesville. Great wait staff and quality food.

Visited 5 years ago

The food is good but the service is sloppy. They forgot an item in my take out order which I discovered after I was home. Gave me a refund over the phone but very disappointing service.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Got takeout from here and some of the best sushi I think I have ever had. Can't speak to the quality of the dine-in experience but the quality of food is phenomenal.

Visited 5 years ago

I've never had anything but great food and service at Now & Zen. We have been there many times and this is our first take out. It's great as usual. We are enjoying salmon nigiri, spicy tuna roll, spicy tempura shrimp roll, chicken curry, and Gyudon, all delicious. If you haven't been here, your in for a treat. I want to eat this every day!

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago