For years, I had come to Friendship Plaza, though I never took the chance to the go to Nagoya. I…read moregot the chance and I will say that the food perfectly represents the concept of friendship.
Brand: 5/5
Nagoya is a Japanese restaurant located in Friendship Plaza in Howell Township. I do like the brush stroke of the logo, which shows well on the entrance sign and the leather-bound menu.
Website: 3/5
I do like the first impressions that Nagoya's website gives you, with an image of the sushi and an option to select "Pick Up and Delivery," which leads you to their usage of the app MenuSifu. The gallery of images of the food do provide a glimpse into the establishment's cuisine. While a couple of the menu items had images, most of them did not. It should be noted that Nagoya has unusual time lapses in terms of when they are open or closed, which the Yelp description provides a better format for explaining it than the website does.
Wait Time: 5/5
I experienced no delays or disruptions during the wait time.
Ambiance: 5/5
This Japanese restaurant has the unique ambiance of having multicolored lights shown upon the glass walls, while the dimmed lights gave the interior a cool vibe. This includes the dark color of the tables and the seats, all of which felt comfortable. I can clearly see how this establishment would be used for celebrations. The well-spaced tables percolated throughout the large space. The music showcased Japanese Christmas songs throughout the establishment.
Food: 4/5
I ordered the Alaskan Roll, which consists of salmon, cucumber, and avocado. The vegetables gave the special roll its sharp, distinct taste. Clearly, I can see how Alaska would have a major theme in the roll with the presence of salmon. The rice and the nori sheet did not stay, and the sushi rolls did fall apart, though I did think that the rice and the other ingredients had good texture.
Service: 5/5
The staff managed to provide my order without any issues.
Worth The Money?: 5/5
The Alaskan Roll perfectly represents the brand of Nagoya, as among its selection of unique sushi rolls. I personally suggest creating a more unique rolls, for I would be curious as to what they would taste like. Indeed, the website provides you with many other selections of Japanese cuisine. You can also expect to find your sushi roll well-tended despite the nori sheet and the wait time it took to make them. Throughout my meal, the ambiance greatly matched the experience. The service matched the food well, since the meal had the sushi roll, the wasabi, and the yellowtail available.
Concerning the first impressions of Nagoya, I definitely did not expect the establishment to have the more upbeat ambiance compared to other Japanese restaurants I went to. I will say that it did give me a new experience, despite the website's presentation. As such, the ambiance never once tried my patience while awaiting my order. I can see how the staff managed to keep the establishment cared for.
I will say that the Alaskan Roll and the experience overall managed to match the price and make it worth it.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
With an establishment like Nagoya, I see plenty of hope for improvement and it will continue to represent Friendship Plaza pleasantly. I would definitely consider Nagoya my second choice when searching for Japanese restaurants in the Howell Township area.
Recommend To...
Anyone wandering around the large Friendship Plaza if they go to the Shoprite there if they are looking to try Japanese cuisine.
