Started with the tea crusted tuna tataki which was great. Then on to the hot stone Kobe. Outstanding! Also had the Japanese risotto which was also a fun table side experience. Overall, excellent! Ask for Kennedy. Very knowledgeable.

Choice of indoor or dining on the terrace watching the valet parking boys driving cars of their dreams. Attentive service. Great selection of dishes and not just the dreaded wobbly raw stuff that can be ordered in a Japanese restaurant. Interesting wine list. $70 a head for two courses and a bottle of wine so not snack prices but then this shopping mall is no WalMart

In the Bal Harbour mall. A nice spot with very attentive service.
The rolls were very good and fresh. Parking is a bit pricy but it is good for a dinner or a break from shoping.

We had a great waitress. We told her we were first time (and possibly only time) visitors customers and she proceeded to tell us each thing on the menu that was special to Makoto that we wouldn't find anywhere else, and we took her advice.

Tuna air bread
Kobe beef carpaccio
Makoto Ramen (my teenager's choice).
Baby beet robata
Asparagus with sesame and soy
Whole roasted branzino----perhaps the best fish i have ever had any time any place!
Kobe beef grilled tableside
Wagyu bone in ribeye

Nigiri sushi

And for dessert...drumroll....
fruit toban yaki - seasonal fruit, passionfruit sauce, mango sorbet, homemade marshmallows. Again, simply amazing. An unusual, original combination...and I'm not even a fan of marshmallows.

They use a charcoal grill, so the flavors of the meat/fish/vegetables are exceptional. I urge you to ask for and follow your server's advice. The best item of the night was the branzino and the dessert. I doubt I will find myself in Bal Harbour FL again, but if I do, even though Miami is full of fine restaurants I would definitely make time to go here again.