WeBe Sushi Reviews

Shirley:

Well, it took a while, but tonight we ended up at WeBeSushi. Beretta was not yet open and El Valenciano has changed to a bar/nightclub venue. I've eaten at this WeBe many times and although it may not be the best or most exotic Japanese fare, it would make Ray Crock proud. The food is good, the service efficient and the visual miscellany on the walls amusing and intriguing.

I ordered the "Early Bird Special" for the first time. It includes soup, a choice of spinach or seaweed salad, a bowl of rice and 5 Nigiri of choice. I ordered three different varieties, doubling up on a couple of them. It was all just as I expected, with the exception of the salad. I was served spinach instead of seaweed, but because I knew it would be fine, I did not ask for a correction.

My impressions:
.Miso soup - good with some bokchoy added for the phyto-nutrient fans
.Spinach salad - barely wilted greens with a nicely balanced dressing
.Bowl of rice - superfluous but non-offensive
.California roll - default is real crab, always a plus
.Spicy tuna - makes me happy every time
.Hamachi - buttery and fresh
.Pickled ginger - always good. The stuff can sometimes taste soapy to me, but never at WeBe
.Water - pleasant taste of lemon
.Squid on the wall - a whimsical representation carved into wood

The place is small, or for a more poetic description; intimate. The entire operation is geared toward a good, solid, uncomplicated, uneventful dining experience. I am San-Francisco-Sushi jaded and consider WeBeSushi to be a regular "go to" eatery; convenient, consistent and casual.

On a scale of Bleck-Ick-K-Yum-OMG, I would give it a Yum.

Mary:

WeBe is already our go-to neighborhood sushi restaurant. It is cozy and quaint and the food is good. We by-passed Baretta’s to get here because it was too expensive for our wallets that night and not yet open. We were too hungry to wait. We agreed to shuffle the linear order of the restaurants we visit if dollars or time they open are factors; but we’ll return so we get to all of them. (Not the new ones that open in our wake, though.)

One of the things I’ve always loved about WeBe is the décor. Its very green walls are loaded up with Japanese wood block prints, carved wooden sea creatures and memorabilia, old photographs and printed fabric and lanterns. When the conversation lulls, I find myself scanning the walls and occasionally noting a new addition to the prints. Tonight it is a framed triptych of geishas.

WeBe has a casual neighborhood feeling--wooden tables and chairs seating maybe 25 at most. The diners are dressed as if they were out in the neighborhood and made a stop here during shopping or after errands. They’re playing 60’s music tonight, the Platters. I like that in a sushi joint. The wait staff is generally efficient, although tonight our waitress consistently places the orders in front of the wrong person.

I order a spinach salad for $3.75 and two orders of sashimi: one Maguro for $7 and one Tako for $6. The octopus is new to me. I like the texture, but the taste is a bit bland. The tuna is wonderful, buttery, soft and tasty. The spinach salad doesn’t disappoint. I know this restaurant well enough to make my way around their menu safely and that’s a plus.

I find it a bit difficult to review WeBe. Assessing it takes me out of the casual expected enjoyment of a favorite habitat to somewhere else that distances me a bit from the homey nostalgic ambiance that I enjoy so much here. But WeBe does well in the assessment process. We’ll definitely be back again as we have many times before.

As we walk out the door I notice a the new sign on the window. Gives you a taste of the casual, homeyness of the place. 

                             

     

JESSE:  Tonight we ended up at We Be Sushi. Which is one of my all time favorites on Valencia St.  When they first appeared, I quickly became a fan. Then, they even delivered !

     Tonight we had to skip a few restaurants on our list just because we arrived too early. Most places open at 5:30pm and we arrived at 5pm. Being very hungry we were delighted that We Be Sushi was open.

     We Be Sushi is a tiny, narrow place with maybe 16 tables. In my 25 years of eating here, it's a good idea to get there when they open if you can, because it fills up quickly and there can be a wait. It's a popular place. They don't have really fancy, creative rolls but are more known for their consistently fresh, and inexpensive sushi. A friend of mine described them as excellent working woman's sushi and I agree. 

     They also have  great  decor. I never tire of exploring their walls, which are jam packed with Japanese artwork of many different styles. It creates a rich, vibrant, and very colorful environment. I love it.

     I decided to try something different tonight and ordered the Three's Crowd Roll for $11.50. It includes maguro, hamachi and sake. Translation is tuna, yellowtail and smoked salmon.  Loving all three, I was really looking forward to it. I also ordered a Hamachi Maki for $4.50,  which includes hamachi and green onion. 

     The waitstaff is usually consistently attentive but for some reason tonight they were a bit off. There were a couple of errors in our orders and I had to repeatedly ask for more ginger. Tonight allergies were not an issue. I am fine with raw fish, rice and wasabi. I just stay away from the soy sauce and the delicious miso soup they always serve to begin the meal. 

     I reluctantly have to say that the Three's Crowd Roll was bland. It desperately needed something to give it even a wee bit of punch. It filled you up but left the palate wanting more. The Hamachi Maki on the other hand, was delicious, as always. 

     I love We Be Sushi's bathroom. It's a slight adventure to get to. You go to the rear of the restaurant, through their tiny, fascinating kitchen, down a small step arriving at a toilet with an odd sign above it. We debated whether the sign meant no dribbling on the toilet, no dribbling on the floor or no peeing while standing. 

     Anyway, their bathroom is fine. Clean and with other amusing artwork on the walls.

     Bathroom rating is 3.5 stars out of a possible 5.

     Restaurant rating is also a 3.5 stars.

t-shirt is from the 80s

We Be Sushi

538 Valencia Street
565-0749