Mike L.
Yelp
To be perfectly honest, before my first visit here, Geta had been on my radar for so long that I actually wasn't sure what I was more excited about - finally getting to check out their food for myself or being able to strike them off my list of places to try! After having more than a few friends recommend, and after having seen them pop up in my Yelp feed seemingly every few months, it's almost like having a constant reminder that I needed to check them out. Given that, it's safe to say I was more than a little relieved that they didn't manage to disappoint!
Now, when my friend forewarned me before coming here that getting a table might be tough, I didn't realize it was because of how small this place is! With just a handful of counter seats and even fewer tables, Geta can definitely fill up quickly. Despite their small stature though, the menu is surprisingly large, with a good variety of offerings, ranging from small plates, bento boxes, and udon to an interesting mix of donburis, sushi rolls, and nigiri. More importantly though, not only did everything sound good on the menu, but just about everything looked even better in all of the photos that I was able to scroll through before it came time to order! Some things looked so good, in fact, that I practically made myself come back a second time before writing this!
-- ANKIMO - Monkfish Liver...$14
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/geta-oakland?select=QQOvUCs4-0zMFLFqIzEyMw)
I'm sure the fact I haven't had ankimo in ages had something to do with it, but this was terrific! The portion was generous, the ankimo has luscious, and the dish, as a whole, was just so flavorful. Would absolutely definitely get this again.
-- SALMON BELLY NIGIRI - Fresh Salmon Nigiri...$9
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/geta-oakland?select=bKype6cGWJRr9jAjeK6JVg)
I love salmon, so I'm extremely biased, but this was fantastic! The cuts were both fresh and generous and not overly fatty either. Most importantly, they were just straight up delicious!
-- KATSU CURRY RICE - Fried Pork Cutlet with Curry Rice...$20.50
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/geta-oakland?select=y2EiAJ201BLXgMr8mRY8vw)
More solid than spectacular, but no less satisfying. The katsu was crispy, the pork itself was juicy, and there was a fair amount of veggies. As for the curry, it was good, but I wish it had a bit more punch and a thicker consistency.
-- MISO SOUP...$0 (came with the Katsu Curry Rice)
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/geta-oakland?select=_0A546ry55BOUZJVDhu_WA)
I wouldn't normally detail miso soup, but this one was really, really good! It looks different than your generic miso soup, but in a good way, as it has a nice miso flavor to it and was filled with more than your generic bits of tofu, green onion, and seaweed.
-- NIGIRI SAMPLER - Maguro, Sake, Hamachi, White Tuna, Ebi Tako, Ika, Tsubugai, Tamago, Inari...$34
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/geta-oakland?select=NcgDgjaJ7flqJ29L4peYfQ)
Fairly standard, in both good and bad ways. The assortment of fish is somewhat basic, but the taste and quality is pretty solid. Of the bunch, the hamachi and salmon were my favorites, but I wouldn't say anything fell short. That said, I can't help but wonder if I should've tried the Deluxe Nigiri Sampler instead.
-- KANPACHI NIGIRI - Fresh Amberjack Nigiri...$12
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/geta-oakland?select=cVi9-LtYfNbi6-0FmfmoQQ)
This was a last second add based on the server's recommendation and it wasn't too shabby! I'm not the biggest fan of amberjack, but this was one of the better ones I've had. Still, I think I'd rather save a few bucks and get the sake belly again.
While most of what I've tried here has been good, the best part of my meals at Geta has actually been the service. Across both of my trips here, the staff has been super warm and friendly. They were more than happy to answer questions about the menu and were really helpful with some of their recommendations. If I was out here more often, and if they were possibly just a smidge cheaper for some things, it's more likely than not that Geta would be one of my go-to spots for sushi. However, since they're on this side of the Bay, I guess they'll just have to settle for being my go-to for sushi whenever I'm around Piedmont.