Silhouette

This place is closed. But the profile says they’re open. They are gone. Closed. Kaput.

My prediction has come to pass – sign on the door says CLOSED until further notice. Hopefully something delicious takes their spot!

I like to keep an open mind when in a new city, but I have never paid so much for so little and such bad quality. I ordered a special roll and a hand roll. Total $ 31.80.
The hand roll is the smallest I’ve seen, the special roll was falling apart and also extremely small portioned. The entire thing spelled fishy and fit in less than half of the sushi box.
I didn’t receive any soy sauce, chopsticks, or a receipt. The restaurant refused to help, the delivery service was a bit more understanding. But all in all this sushi is low grade, extremely overpriced (and I live in NYC) and I haven’t been ripped off so badly in a long time. I love quality, customer service, and restaurants that serve something they are proud of. I can’t say that this restaurant displayed any of those traits

Food was good, good lunch specials, but I wasn’t done ordering before the sushi bar closed. My only thing is they should make sure and see if customers want anything else, since it is about to close. Like a last call. Makes sense to me.

We hadn’t been here in at least a year. The place was never stellar but boy has it gone downhill. The happy hour is not so happy anymore. The fish was ok. It didn’t seem as fresh as it used to be. Might have been an off night or it might just be where they are at now. Either way I don’t think we’ll be going back.

It was… ehhh. Nothing is going to blow you away, but nothing is going to make you want your money back either. The atmosphere is cool in a warehouse/​trendy way, but the sushi just seemed banal, bland, and unimaginative. The 2 times I’ve gone, the waitresses seemed a bit on the strange side… one seemed likely insane and chatty; enough to where my group all made multiple comments about her quixotic behavior (and we were there on a business lunch and none of us knew each other very well, so that’s saying something). The other was detached and very forgetful; plus brought us some ‘off the menu’ Malbec that was twice the amount as the one actually on the menu. Our food came late, causing us to speculate the waitress forgot to bring it out when nearby tables were arriving after and getting food earlier… which is tricky if you are on lunch AND have a meeting immediately after
Overall, there are a lot better sushi places… I mean, the food isn’t bad, and the atmosphere is sorta nice, but just overall I felt it lacked something the 2 times I went. If you are downtown, I’d recommend Maiko for Sushi.

Stopped by for a late dinner Tuesday night. The server was quick and friendly. Helped us pick out a great sake, unfiltered and sweet. Very tasty. The gyoza was delicious and the miso soup too. We got a few specialty rolls… my favorite was called was the Happy Day: it was like sushi met jalapeño popper. So yummy.
Save room for dessert too! The tempura banana dessert was the best! With plum wine ice cream… I want to go back now just for that.

Some co-​workers and I went to Silhouette for lunch yesterday. There were 5 of us at the table, and 7 other tables in the restaurant when we were seated. Our waitress came to take our orders after a few minutes (after screaming at us in some weird voice like we were in ‘The Grudge’). After ordering, we waited over 35 minutes before our soup, salad, and one person’s iced tea was even brought out.
We then waited an additional 15 minutes for our entrees (which still hadn’t come out) before asking the manager what was taking so long. She apologized and gave us 4 egg rolls while we continued to wait. During this extended waiting time, numerous tables that were seated after us got their food, and we watched as many other tables’ food was having to be sent back to the sushi chefs because of incorrect or missing items.
When our food finally arrived (about 1 hour 15 minutes into the lunch), it was sub-​par at best. My Lunch Combination A (Cali roll + 7 pieces of Nigiri) REAKED… I mean, it smelled like the fish had been sitting out on the counter for days before it was served to me. I ate 4 of the nigiri and half of my Cali roll before deciding it wasn’t worth the risk of eating tainted sushi.
The owner said that she would give us a BIG discount on the meal, which when she brought us the checks, ended up being 20% off. Thankfully, one of my co-​workers stated that would not be enough for us and that we’d like at least 50% off, which the owner obliged to.
Last night, I woke up 3 times in the middle of the night and had to use the restroom – this morning when I got to work, I spoke to another co-​worker who was there with me and he said a similar thing happened to him. Not saying it was definitively the sushi we ate at Silhouette, but it was more than enough to make me never go back there.
Edit: I have been to Silhouette probably 30 times before this experience without an issue… so I upgraded it from 1 star to 2 stars for past performance.

Silhouette surprised me. It was dead in there — I didn’t even see a person making sushi so I was a little frightened to order any. I’m just such a trailblazer, I did it anyway!
The Futo Maki roll was really good. The Van Gogh was baked in the oven, and it looked really silly in an aluminum foil boat, but it was pretty darn good as well.
I don’t think Silhouette can beat out other sushi options downtown, but here’s the A-​OK if you are in the area. They have a ridiculously appetizing drinks menu, so I would put it more in the bar category with the sushi as a secondary thought. Just depends on what you’re up to, I guess!

This is a fun place to eat. Great place to take a date because it’s dimly lit, has quaint little booths that are fun to sit in, and a nice lounge area. There’s also cool artwork on the walls which I dig. The food is decent, and they even have a nice selection of sake (I like 5 different kinds?) And also a full bar if you wish. The waitresses are always very nice (there never seem to be waiters which is fine with me). The bartender has always been male though. Yes the gender observations after visiting here a dozen times. If you plan to go visit the ArtHouse gallery later in the evening, this is a great place to have dinner before your art opening because it’s just 2 blocks away and easy to walk there after dinner. I’m taking away a star because the downtown parking makes the place hard to access.
Bottom Line:
1. Good food, well priced
2. Romantic atmosphere
3. Full bar and cool lounge with couches
4. Friendly people
5. Downtown parking sucks.

If you’re in the mood for late night sushi and you’re downtown, Silhouette is the place to drop by. It’s definitely Austin eclectic and a bit off the beaten path — killer happy hour and sushi specials come paired with karaōke rooms upstairs. Mix that with a fun and friendly waitstaff and you have an instant weekday party pad.
If you happen upon the place during the day, the lunch specials are a steal and most of them include miso soup or salad.
Quick tips:
1. Ask the waitstaff for recommendations, they’re all into sushi and know what’s fresh for the day.
2. If Trent the bartender is on staff, do yourself a favor and get yourself a mixed drink.
3. Not usual for a sushi joint, but their wine selection is not bad.

As you can see from my previous review, I used to love this restaurant. However, that was a long time ago. This restaurant has gone down the hill in terms of customer service, quality of food, portion size and more! Their menu prices went up but the quality and service does not match up to what you paid for.
I ordered a to-​go-​order of sushi rolls and a salad. When I went back to my office and opened the bag, they gave me a soup instead of a salad. I really wanted a salad but I could’ve settled with the soup ONLY if it looks right. The soup they gave me does not look right!!! I’ve had their miso soup before and I know what it looked and taste like. But this isn’t a miso soup, I wonder what it was??? So without touching the soup I called them over the phone ASAP. I told the lady that I ordered a salad but they gave me a soup. I asked her how did it happened? Did it get mixed up with another order? She said «I don’t know». Duh!!! She is the one who took my order over the phone and she is the one who checked me out and gave me my bag but she has no clue??? (Then I remembered, she’s been checking her cellphone the whole time I was there to pick up my order, so yea she wasn’t doing her job) Then I told her that the soup does not look good at all. She said I need to go back to their restaurant to pick up my salad and I can keep the soup. Who wants to eat that soup??? Definitely not me! I attached a picture of the soup on this review. It does not look like a miso soup; their menu does not have any other soup on the list, so I don’t know what this is!
I was soooo irritated by the fact that I had to walk outside again just to get my salad! She didn’t say any SORRY over the phone and even her tone sounds like it was a mistake on my part. Terrible service!!!
So I sucked it up and walked down there just to pick up my salad. She said sorry when I was about to step out of the door. Well, that was too late because they’ve already lost a regular customer! Very sad!

I’ve lunched here on at least ten occasions, and have found the food and service to be okay. I’ve definitely had better sushi, but at higher prices. The specials are value-​priced and fairly good. I’ve never seen any indication of sanitary issues. The restaurant does have a distinctive odor as others have mentioned, but to me, its not fishy or otherwise offensive. 30 seconds after arrival, I never think of it again.
Tip: Although the posted closing hour for lunch is 2pm, they stop serving right at 1:45. If you arrive at 1:46, you will be unapologetically turned away.

Had their chirashi tonight and it was delicious! For those that don’t know what chirashi is it is an assortment of sashimi on a bed of sushi rice. Google it.
My dish had about 5 different types of fish and they were fresh. It had none of that fishy taste. The fish was cut well and the presentation was beautiful. Definitely much attention was paid to detail.

So, the food is exactly okay. Nothing spectacular and the portions are conservative. My mom and I had lunch here, and I’d also been there before. Her Tai Pei roll was super bland. My chirashi bowl had the smallest portions of fish in the planet. You can’ get a much better deal anywhere else for Chirashi.
Another not-​so-​good point, is that it smells bad in the restaurant. It’s almost like they don’t have good circulation. I don’t think the place is dirty by any means, it just smells bad. That an the menus are old with food/​drink stains all over them. Its just feels gross.
I don’t think I’ll be coming here again with so many other sushi options in Austin.

Everything here was fine and the service was good. We were able to get a table with no wait at dinner time on Friday night. I’m not thrilled with the décor. It’s dark and somewhat gloomy.
The sushi was fine. The edamame was steaming hot and fresh, and the salad was also fresh. I have no complaints about the food. If I worked downtown, I would probably eat here regularly.

One of the only places in Austin I have been to where people come to dance to house music. I have been missing places like this since I moved here from LA three years ago. Cozy atmosphere, good people, lots of fun!
Cash only at the door, credit cards/​cash at the bar.

What IS this place?! I’m almost laughing out loud as I write this because I can still remember how I felt when I slowly went in the door after having to spend a few minutes debating with my date about the status of the jellyfish in the window.
I don’t know what is going on here, it was literally like waking up from The Hangover 2 in the hotel room scene… I kid you not. I kept looking around at the food, the crazy décor, the creepy artwork and the odd tiki hut sushi bar in the way back.
I would never eat here, ever. My water arrived with a NASTY bug in it. I got this little fancy drink, a mule of some sort, and it was — erm — interesting to say the least. My date got the ever original Sapporo.
We started yawning, and looking around, and falling asleep. The only thing keeping me awake was the Sea World Aquarium smell. I kept hoping there would be a fish show at some point during the visit. No such luck.
I will say, our server was very friendly and attentive. Not her fault that our visit was creepy.
Won’t be back, wouldn’t eat the food, not even with a hangover.

Admittedly I’ve never eaten the sushi here — I’ve just experienced the Karaōke upstairs at a private function AND a michael jackson dance party.
Let’s start with the latter. That room is NOT a dance floor — it turns into a dorm party of smelly, terrible proportions. Let’s all agree never to host a party there again. Apparently there’s a really obnoxious minimum bar tab as well so anyone that throws an event there ends up in the poorhouse.
Second, the karaōke rooms. There were literally NO other people there on the rainiest night that summer. It was empty, miserable and a person I know was throwing a kickoff party. We had almost the whole place. But get this — NONE of the mics worked. They were all out of battery. How can you be out of battery for no people? Don’t you guys check these things? Such a disaster. It wasnt until some bossy pain in the ass (me) asked about it that we were able to get it fixed.
In short, if you want to party in a room that reeks of BO, where the karaōke mics dont work and drinks are $ 5, here’s your heaven.

Hello best lunch sushi ever.
I’ve never been here for dinner. I go here strictly for lunch because I work downtown and it’s right smack dab in the middle.
Insiders tip: If you go eat in the restaurant, their lunch special is a roll of sushi (there’s about six different types) and a choice of salad or miso soup… for $ 7. HOLLER.
I really like sushi, and I don’t like spending a lot of $$$ for lunch, so this is right up my alley. The sushi isn’t the BEST I’ve ever had, but it is definitely delicious. The service is good, and the restaurant itself is very pretty and quaint. Silhouette, you are my new lunch bff.