Sensei Asian Bistro

A total fine dining experience! Awesome food, most options are tapa style (small and shareable) so be prepared to order many rounds of apps/ entres/ sushi. Very creative drink options, I HIGHLY recommend the matcha gin cocktail - it’s to die for if you love both of those things! You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, you won’t be disappointed with the quality and taste!

This dining experience was exceptional, deserving a full five stars. My server, Liam, exemplified warmth and professionalism, enhancing the overall atmosphere. The cuisine was not only delectable but also artfully presented, showcasing the kitchen's meticulous attention to detail.

The quality of food here is unreal. You can spend a lot here really easily but dang it is worth it. The service is amazing and will answer and recommend things on what YOU like and not on making more money. My server Mavis was friendly and very knowledgeable on what I was ordering. I myself mainly got sushi the presentation and quality was amazing. Besides sushi they have a wide range of unique dishes. Highly recommend if you're in the area it's right off I75 and easy to get to.

I visited with a party of seven for lunch on Veterans Day and the experience was great! We all ordered off the lunch menu (approx $17 per entree) and the food was extremely fresh and beautifully plated. Everyone liked their meals, my favorite was the chili chicken and the shrimp fried rice. The sushi was just fine, but we ordered the plain salmon and tuna rolls, so I'm not sure if the more elaborate ones are better.

Menu seems to be pan-Asian as opposed to a specific region's cuisine. I've had bad experiences with places like that and generally avoid them, but Sensei does it right. Would return!

The best Asian fusion food I had in Gainesville. Especially recommend miso sea bass, Wagyu and the lobster fried rice.

Fall 2022: My husband and I were shopping and felt a little hungry so we took a chance on Sensei Asian Bistro for late lunch/early dinner around 430-5pm on Friday. Greeted warmly by the staff and the place had lovely modern decor. We decided on the outdoor seating since it was a nice day.
Our waitstaff, Zoe, was excellent. Recommended great drinks (matcha latte and jasmine tea) and was polite, professional, and friendly. 💯% satisfied with her customer service.
Our food arrived quickly and was just what we needed. Mongolian beef was soft, mushrooms and onions were a bit on the sparse side, but overall, a great dish. Entrée was served with a small bowl of rice. The food was perfect to share with my husband since we weren't very hungry. We also ordered 2 tasty desserts since we couldn't decide on only one - Tiramisu and Lady M. Matcha Crepes. Both were quite good and paired well with our cold teas.

The total bill (without tip) for both of us was almost $70. Would recommend this restaurant for a date night and a nice spot for a special occasion✅

Update: 9/30/23 Dinner
We wanted to celebrate my birthday week with date night dinner out, so we decided to stop by Asian Sensei Bistro around 8:30pm. Lucky to find parking a short walk from the entrance. Once again, we were warmly greeted by the hostess, and were able to request outdoor seating without a reservation. We had Zoe as our waitstaff and, again, 11/10 excellent customer service. We ordered the following:
Drinks - 2 iced green tea & Sparkling Sakura.
Main Dishes - Mongolian Beef & Sashimi Moriawase
Dessert - birthday Tiramisu (birthday edition -see the recent photo! https://maps.app.goo.gl/sd6hrBYTkczNH2xC7 ). Total with very generous tip was about $175. Well-worth the $$$ for the top quality service and fresh food.
This is still our #1 Gainesville Japanese fusion restaurant. Excellent for romantic dates.

This place is amazing! If you have never eaten here or a thousand times, they always wow you.

The chef and his team are masters at presentation and taste. They are always pushing the boundaries on taste and always trying new fresh items every few months.

The staff is always so polite and willing to give recommendations on new items or cater to your taste.

This is a place you go to for a dining experience, not to just eat food. I have eaten at Michelin rated restaurants before and I would definitely say this restaurant belongs in the category of some of the best food I have ever had.

Thank you Sensei for always delivering a wonderful dining experience.

Incredible in every way. Amazing looking plates. Brilliant service. We had 4 rounds of appetizers, entrees, dessert. Not only was each dish amazing but they knew to serve us in courses rather than drop all the food at once. Portion sizes are spot on. This chef knows his stuff and the front of house was equally well done. Amazing meal.

I have already written a glowing review on Yelp, and through my many visits here, I am more than happy to write another review through Google! I was introduced to this restaurant by a close friend who's a regular, and he told me about how Sensei is his favorite restaurant here in Gainesville -- I knew I had to try it!

First impressions: the staff is amazing. Every visit I had here I was greeted warmly and with a smile! It is always nice to be somewhere that I can feel welcome. We were always seated right away, and I am in love with the ambiance and interior of the restaurant.

The food can speak for itself. Every dish I've tried (every time I come, I have to try something new!) has been amazing and deliciously juicy. I cannot choose a favorite, so I'll upload photos of my past dishes I've had! I just know that all of them were tender and melted in my mouth.

Overall, this restaurant will definitely be put on my list of favorites. Every visit is a delight!

This is a little gem of Asian Fusion. While their prices are a little higher, you're paying for an experience. We enjoyed the wagyu appetizer, and the drink special and an espresso martini which were exceptionally hand crafted. The staff was very friendly and we will definitely be returning for a full meal in the future.

Loved the experience and our server. The atmosphere here is very intimate, open, and unique. Every dish has amazing flavor and variety. You can tell the time that went into creating this menu. Can't wait to go back.

Unassuming from the outside, but the inside is very zen, and the food is INCREDIBLE. The service is impeccable - everyone was extremely friendly and wanted to make sure every patron was happy. The sushi was perfect, the sea bass was divine, and the steak was delicious! There are also several vegan options on the menu! The drinks were also inventive and tasty - the ghost pepper sangria is a must try! This is a surprising find and one I can't wait to go back to.

We were a bit skeptical about this place but the reviews were great so we said why not. The menu can be a bit limiting but, my goodness, it was amazing! The reviews were not wrong! The ambience was very nice, our server was able to answer all of our questions and our food came out piping hot and was absolutely delicious. I did not expect the quality, freshness and atmosphere to be what it was and we are so happy we ended up dining here. If we are ever in the neighborhood again, we will be sure to return. What a great experience.

Luxurious and cozy space. The best place to go on a date with family or fiends on the weekend. Enthusiastic and very friendly staff. ☺

Absolutely loved our dinner here tonight. I had the Sea Bass and my husband had the special for the night Ossobucco pork; both options were recommended by our Server for the night Kiki! The food was DELICIOUS!! And Kiki was VERY pleasant and welcoming. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Great presentation, tasty food and really good service.

I asked the hostess to let the chef know that I’d like my dish fiery hot. The chef not only made it spicy but also lit a bowl of cooking wine on fire to add that effect. Totally enjoyed that experience.

I think Sensei bistro is a great choice if you are looking for a good dining experience.

Tonight I came to Sensei Bistro with my friends for dinner. The restaurant was bright and clean, and the staff were very friendly. The only regret was that I forgot to take photos of other dishes except tofu and vegetable curry. Every dishes were delicious and beautifully decorated. Lobster wonton is highly recommended! It is very delicious and deserves to be one of the signature dishes of this restaurant. By the way, I also took out a chicken katsu. Great restaurant!

I had an amazing experience! The food was delicious not to mention beautiful and the menu had a wide variety to pick from. A little pricey but definitely worth every cent. So happy to finaly find a wonderful date spot in gainesville. The staff was amazing and the restaurant was beautiful. It honestly reminded me of restaurants in city's that cater to foodies. Definitely recommend trying at least once if you're visiting and especially if you love Asian food!

Love Sensei! Everything is fresh and always delicious. The menu does change, which makes it fun to see what’s new each time we go. Also, everyone is very friendly and provides exemplary service. Great place for date night, professionals, and lovers of high-end Asian cuisine.

Had dinner for our wedding anniversary and this was one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in Gainesville. The food was incredible, the drinks were refreshing and the overall ambiance was perfect for a special dinner celebration. The staff made us feel so special and everything prepared exceeded our expectations. The service was top notch as well. We shared some appetizers and I ordered the Sakura Kalbi for my meal. My husband ordered the sea bass and the wagyu fried rice. All of the food was delicious and the presentation was beautiful. We will definitely be coming here again. This is a hidden gem in the Celebration Pointe area.