An ominous empty setting isn't enough to deter the BauerTrain from dropping a surprisingly impressive 2.5 stars upon the Hotel Kabuki's O Izakaya Lounge: "An empty restaurant is generally not the best environment in which to assess the food, especially when the plates are designed to be shared, surrounded by happy drinkers. There's something about small plates that elicits an almost Pavlovian reaction, requiring crowded rooms and animated conversation. But once I started eating, I no longer missed the party vibe ... O Izakaya, with its fun atmosphere, good prices and excellent food, is a restaurant that deserves to be full. Let's celebrate." [Chron]
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