"We chose to sit at the bar, where there were plenty of available seats. I ordered a $5 margarita, which turned out to be incredibly subpar; I wouldn't have even offered 50 cents for it if I had the option. I understand that drinks can be hit or miss at that price point, but I expected at least a hint of alcohol. Instead, all I could taste was the margarita mix. My friend added a shot to hers, but it didn't improve much.
We started with the appetizer sampler and ordered two VIP rolls—one baked and one fried. I chose the baked roll. When it arrived, the flavor was fine, but for some reason, the chef decided to lay my sushi flat on its side and stack it, effectively making it look like a rice burrito. I had trouble distinguishing where one piece ended and the next began. I've never seen sushi served in such a manner before, so I asked the waitress out of curiosity about the presentation. Unfortunately, she seemed to snap. Before I could even mention that the food tasted alright, she became visibly irritated and insisted on having it remade. I politely declined, saying I was already full and wouldn’t be able to eat it anyway, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Keep in mind that we hadn’t received our appetizer yet; the sushi came first. After she walked away, the appetizer finally arrived. The jalapeños were so tiny that we didn't even notice them until we flipped the dish over, only to find they were overcooked and unappealing. We ended up boxing up the appetizer without consuming much of it, as nothing was edible—the potstickers were gummy and just a mess. On top of that, my friend never received the margarita she ordered.
I understand that the cooks are in training, but it seems poor judgment to have two inexperienced chefs working during the dinner rush. I think I’ll take a break from this restaurant and allow them time to improve. I know being a server isn’t easy, and I don’t expect to be treated poorly because someone's having a rough day. I aim to be fair in my reviews, so I won’t be too harsh. However, I will have to drop a star in both the food and service categories until my next visit—assuming they give me a good reason to change my mind.
One final update from May 24, 2024: I ordered lunch (with a black container of food in my lap). For $30, I received 7 pieces of chicken, 6 shrimp, and about 7 pieces of filet mignon, along with double veggies and miso soup. The meal was good and fresh, but honestly quite expensive."
