Wow this little place! I am not going to give this place a five stars because there are sooo many little things (besides the food) that are so wrong. That being said, yelp is primarily about food reviews, so here we go... Today is a Thursday before Memorial weekend so it's an odd day. I read an article on ArlingtonNow about this place and checked the few yelp reviews, they were all so positive, so of course I had to give it a go. I stopped in around 6pm and there was close to 10 customers already waiting and a steady flow coming in and out. I ordered two California rolls, a salmon cucumber roll, a yellowtail roll, and a specialty roll with lobster (this was all for two very hungry people btw). I waited close to 20+ min before my food was ready.... If I had to go to work tomorrow I would have been freaking out about how long it took (because it is a 2-go place), but I am off, so today is my easy "Friday" evening! Anyway, they had one super over worked sushi chef and a cute super duper nice and relatable lady at the register who periodically backs up the sushi chef.... I know, I know, I am ranting... Sorry! Now to the food: I got home and dove right in! Everything was absolutely delicious!!! It's not the greatest but it is by far no where near any of the worst I've had. It's great solid everyday sushi!!! Plus it's relatively inexpensive. Everything that I ordered came to $26 even!!! That is ridiculous!!! BTW, my fav place in the area is Endo Sushi (that place is da bomb, but pricy and a tiny hike from Ballston!).... This is walking distance and a close second to Endo!
My suggestions to the owner: 1) Paint that place white and put brighter lights up so everyone can see it from the street. Or remove the window tint. You must be visible and look clean!!! 2) rearrange your space. Push the sushi bar back and use more of back area space and put some tables in. Remove all the drink cases and oddly placed display tables. They are not necessary at all. 3) get at least one more sushi chef so you have two at all times. The lady at the register is way too precious and should stay at the register and talk to customers. She shouldn't have to run back-and-forth and keep prepping food. Cooks/chefs do that! She really made the experience worthwhile 4) get better soy sauce and be more heavy handed with the wasabi. I barely got anything. And the packet soy sauce you have was not pleasant. Thank goodness I had some kikoman at home.
I will definitely go back to this place a whole lot and hope everyone shows this place some love! I want this place to succeed! Ballston needs some good sushi and this place has all the potential! read more