Steve
My benchmark to drop a 2 star review is if you’re at risk for ordering a dud meal. With a menu as thick as a Tolstoy novel, the restaurant struggled with perfecting each dish, especially in a dinner rush situation.
Let’s start with the positives. The sushi side of the kitchen was their best feature. The sushi chef had flair and the rolls came out plated well with excellent presentation. We ordered the dragon flame roll and the volcano roll. The dragon roll was the better choice, with the spicy mayo and jalapeño accents lifting the experience. However, the sushi rice wasn’t seasoned with enough rice vinegar, and that showed in the volcano roll where the flavor of plain rice intersected with the under-seasoned cooked fish. A lot of plain, mushy texture.
The hot items from the kitchen were the bigger problem. They had several Korean items listed, which are some of my favorites. I was expecting the spicy pork entree to deliver that kick of flavor you normally expect, but it was more of a salty/soy experience intermixed with softened stir-fry vegetables. It tasted like a dish you would throw together at home on a weeknight. By far the lowest point of the meal was the chicken ramen. It was so flavorless and unseasoned that you could taste the local tap water in the broth. My wife commented that she would have preferred instant noodles.
The service was very slow. One server doing his best to cover the entire restaurant at dinner rush. We also received an awkward apology from the waiter because he was instructed by his manager to skip our table and take care of a few others who had arrived after us. It initially felt alarming and discriminatory, but it ended up being the least of our issues.
Overall, I think this restaurant’s menu is its own worst enemy. They need to simplify and perfect a smaller number of dishes and get the flavors where they need to be. If you need to dine here, I would recommend sticking with the most popular sushi items. That could end up being a 3 or 4 star experience.
… moreKelly Fuson
Stopped here for an early dinner based on the higher ratings but the place was empty compared to the patios around it. I appreciated the solitude and having attentive service as a result (as did my dog who got her own water bowl). Menu was extensive and the rolls were not bad but also didn’t leave me wanting more. I was mostly disappointed that they seemed to be out of a lot of drinks, including the draft sake, house sake, and I overheard they were out of some beer from another patron. Overall a good experience but not a five star one.
… moreMartha Phelps
We were thrilled to discover that our favorite sushi spot in Ashland is back open (after a building fire a few years ago). It is charming, sparkling and best of all – the food is still absolutely delicious!
We ordered the Rockstar roll and the stunning Poke. Posting a poke photo here (sorry! I’d already taken bites, couldn’t resist) to show how beautiful and fresh it was.
We’re local folk, so already planning our next visit to enjoy this lovely restaurant run (owned and operated by long time Ashlanders).
… moreSarh Max
We visited on the 4th of July and sat outside on the back patio. The food, service, and ambiance were all fantastic. The waiter was very patient and worked with our special needs. Thank you.
Proud prices and no liquor license.
… moreTaylor J
The service was awful, the waitress I had was so rude and on their phone so much. They didn’t even really refill my drinks or check on us much. I brought my daughter here for her birthday. It wouldn’t really have been a big deal otherwise, but the least she could have done was acknowledge my daughter when she complimented how pretty the misses was because the girl had a short brown haircut and there wasn’t even a thank you. Needless to say I wouldn’t recommend taking anyone here if it’s to impress them. The food however was just amazing and I really enjoyed it so take out is the way to go!
… moreNathan Williams
Had a great mother’s day dinner there, I had the Dragon sushi and the egg rolls, both tasted amazing. The Avocado sushi is good but not a huge fan of the cucumber sushi. The staff were also great! Definitely coming back!
… moreTripp Xing
Incredibly friendly staff, amazing food [large portions & the quality is immaculate], and an overall lovely atmosphere. 10/10, good for large groups, small groups, and/or one person dining!
… moreconstance wood
Food was good. Nice to sit outside. Staff started shutting down/cleaning up just after 8 while we were still eating. I ended up leaving my hat and when I returned at 8:40 on a Sunday no one was there. Called, left message twice once on Sunday, once on Thursday. Knowing they are closed on Monday /Tuesday didn’t bother to try. Called Wednesday and could t get thru. No one returned my call. Called at least 7 times and call “failed” unless I put the number each time. Got a message twice to leave a message, but again so far no one has bothered to return my call. This is poor service.
… moreKarina Kisselite
Really good sushi – exceeded the expectations. The avocado bomb was great as well. Nice plum wine. Everything was quite efficient.
… moreKevin Fox
Excellent sushi, prompt and efficient service, and a wide variety of Japanese cuisine along with some original creations. Will definitely return next time I’m in town.
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