Average User Rating:
4.3 out of 5 (from 6 users)
moto-i is in the tradition of the "Izakaya" which is Japanese for a speakeasy or pub serving home brewed sake and small plates of traditional street cuisine; an extensive list of noodles and rice dishes ($5-10). The menu is especially noteable because they cook high-quality food for a low price that is also sustainable and mostly organic.
The interior is a very simple, quaint, and urban, highlighted by a long stainless steel bar and flat-screens set to Japanese news and game shows. Large wooden, yet comfortable booths line the back room, but still give patrons direct bar access, which has several home-brewed sakes; all top quality rice-brewed, and a great tap beer list including mostly local beers (Flat Earth, Lake Superior, Surly, Summit, and some others).
moto-i also has table shuffle board! Come early and grab the table, its free, and we hear the 6 sakes is the perfect amount to get a perfect score.
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This place looked great inside, but it was pretty empty when I went in. It didn't really matter because I ended up watching this amazing show about japanese armadillos. I have to agree with that yello guy about the sake, our server didn't even shake the nigori up.
-- happEroller gave this bar a 3 out of 5 at 11:44 11.25.08
If you've had good sake you'll notice that theirs kind of sucks (kind of like the beer next door), but you have to give them credit for trying. After going there twice the novelty of local brewing wears off and you wish they just put their effort into stocking good imported varieties; especially when there is a place with a really good list around the corner. My server didn't seem to know much about sake, but the inside looks really cool and the Japanese tv shows are super entertaining.
-- yellow1 gave this bar a 3 out of 5 at 20:36 11.24.08
A welcome new take on bar and restaurant experience. The three Sakes are very good, and the bar food compliments it well. Can get loud on the weekend nights but that is part of the experience. Sumo events on TV as well
-- gRide gave this bar a 5 out of 5 at 07:39 11.24.08
Not a big saki fan but it was fun to taste the house-brews. Excellent food, everything we tried was more delicious than the last. Not a cheap-date but the quality and amount of food you get is worth the money. Excellent service, excellent crowd.
-- Local Yokle gave this bar a 5 out of 5 at 07:22 11.17.08
The place to be!
-- NastyBoy gave this bar a 5 out of 5 at 18:46 11.14.08