First, the positives: The sushi is actually very good! Also, if you want to splurge on desert, the ginger ice cream is good, too. I ate here with my family and, as I did, they all enjoyed the food.
Unfortunately, that's all I have for the positives. The food, as good as it is, is overpriced. The atmosphere (which I admittedly can't speak in detail about since we were sitting outside) seemed...I don't know...off. However, by far the worst was the terrible service we received. Maybe he was just having a bad day, but our server really seemed to cop an attitude toward us and took FOREVER tending to our needs. Twice, someone from my party actually had to get up and retrieve him from whatever he was doing so he could actually, you know, do his job. This really should not happen, especially at a place that bills itself as such an upscale, better-than-the-average-restaurant kind of place.
This really soured what should have been a great experience. I may give this place another chance some time. However, it'll be a while before I do. I guess if you really have a hankering for sushi, you could do worse. Just be aware of all the crap that comes with it.
I'm gonna be as simple as possible for the overall review:
It's subpar restaurant at an above average price, unless you're having the dollar sushi. Then it's almost acceptable for the quality of the sushi you get.
Everything else is pretty mediocre, yet they're charging for a higher end restaurant price. You're paying for atmosphere and that's about it.
Yet, this is the best sushi place located in the CU area in terms of quality. So if you're desperate for sushi and have loads of money, give this place a try.
When friends ask me to describe this restaurant, I jokingly say, "It's the kind of place where people eat their sushi with a fork and knife."
To Kofusion's credit, it's the only venue in this rural Midwest town that attempts the urban dance-club sushi experience. Against that backdrop, it really is filling a unique niche. East Coast + West Coast elitist diners will likely be unimpressed (if you're ensnared here for years due to work or school, the nostalgia/desperation for big city experiences might change your mind).
Arguably, if you're eating at an Asian fusion restaurant, you should have no expectations of "authenticity" in regards to the food. The drink selection features fruity cocktails with sexy, "exotic" names and $9+ price tags. Many items on the menu are outright American cuisine lacking even a hint of "fusing" with Asian elements. In that respect, this place is ideal for groups made up of both adventurous diners and those who fear "fish breath."
The biggest draw for Kofusion are the Sunday and Monday $1 sushi specials. Folks with raw food aversions need not worry. All of the $1 sushi options are variations of deep-fried meats, cream cheese filling, and mayonnaise/sugary sauces. There's such a demand on these nights that the preparation definitely cuts corners--but if you're filling up on these bite-sized heart-attacks, you're likely channeling your inner fat kid and won't mind the rushed presentation.
For people who love Japanese cuisine for its delicate, clean flavors, the sushi bar also serves more "traditional" fare, though I've sometimes received pieces of sashimi sliced rather clumsily.
My advice: the $1 price tag for the Sunday/Monday specials requires such little investment that it's worth a shot for new diners. It might even be the best opportunity for initiating people who are normally turned off by the idea of sushi.
Stumbled upon Kofusion by accident last weekend because Destihl waiting time was over an hour...we got seated almost immediately here and I was in awe over the décor and aquarium filling the center of the room.
This review is coming from someone who normally enjoys pizza and fast food, so eating here was like being a king. The food was much more exquisite than what I usually eat.
I consider myself a fairly frugal person, so eating here was difficult because it is a little pricey, but ultimately it's nice to indulge once in awhile. I got the volcano roll, which was quite tasty. My girlfriend and I split some tea, I don't remember which tea we got, but either way it was very good.
Overall I was very satisfied with my trip here. It has opened my taste and dinner choices to something more than just pizza and fast food. My advice to those who avoid places like this because they are more expensive is just to skip going to cheaper places more often and go to places like Kofusion infrequently. It'll basically weigh out financially in the end, and plus you'll be eating much better food.
I wanna try dollar sushi Sundays now!
I went here for the first time and while the food was delicious, their service was horrific. The servers were rude, impatience, not helpful and kept on taking their sweet time - was frustrating.
Like I said, the food was pretty good and they have a nice variety of options for sushi lovers and non-sushi lovers alike.
Came here on a Saturday night for my first ever non sushi meal here. Service was excellent, atmosphere was excellent, food was excellent. I originally ordered the salmon but they were out so I went with the duck. I'm not a foodie but it was a ten to me. Tender flavorful, not greasy.
If you sit at 6pm on a Saturday night you won't need reservations but by 6:30 you will.
Diners beware!!!  I have never been to a restaurant that so blatantly tried to up-sell everything!  The rolls are really pretty big but the waitress suggested 2 rolls per person,  The menu doesn't give you a clue as to how large the rolls are so it is really easy to fall for the suggestion.  The waitress gave us a bunch of recommendations. Essentially, the waitress told us that  every roll over $17 is "REALLY good".  Some were & some weren't.  Of course, the waitress suggested dessert.  We passed.
The restaurant offers various specials, including an Asian buffet until 1:30 pm on Saturdays. Â I would highly recommend finding out what the specials are and planning your visit based on the specials. Â
The lobster roll WAS really tasty but PASS on the flaming phoenix roll. Â If I go again I will order 1 roll at a time & see how that goes. Â The place is expensive enough without the wait staff trying to upsell at every turn. Â I'm still irritated by the tactics
I really love Ko Fusion, but first let me explain why I have an issue with how people rate this restaurant. Â They are rating it based on Dollar Sushi Night! Â Dollar sushi is a special discount night, and as such will be a different dining experience then typical dining hours. Â Its not an "off" night its just a different dining experience than a Saturday, and yes I'm sure the servers are more frazzled on these busier nights. Â Also, people who rate on just the sushi alone need to realize that this is only a portion of the menu. Â I love the sushi here, but I also love the creations of chef Nigel. Â I have been here dozens of times in my undergrad years and it was always memorable. Â The owner might have high standards in her servers, but that's because she expects high standards in everything in her restaurants. Â The bathrooms are immaculate! Â The food is incredible! Â The drinks are amazing and inventive! Â Really, this place has such a warm spot in my heart. Â For the middle of Illinois, it doesn't get more creative and amazing than this. Â Love Ko Fusion!
Review Source:Tried it out on dollar sushi sunday.
Food (3/5)
Overall the food was meh. Very heavy on sauce and some of the pieces were downright tiny. Granted they were $1 a piece. Pretty bad unagi - which I wouldn't think is that hard to mess up. Some of the rolls were tasty, but I could barely taste anything besides rice and sauce.
Service (-10/5)
Our waiter was easily the worst I've ever had. He was probably hungover - he mumbled the entire time and repeatedly spilled water. The rest of the staff seemed aloof and apathetic as well. Â
Ambiance (2/5)
This is one ugly restaurant. It seemed clean enough, but the tacky fish tanks and lights did not foster any trust that I would be getting quality food.
Overall (2/5)
Maybe they had an off day. Maybe they slack on sundays. $1 sushi is the only redeeming quality.
I've only ever had sushi at Kofusion, so that's what I'll base my review.
As such, I've definitely had better sushi elswhere, but I think this place does have the best sushi in the area. As compared with others, Kofusion has a decent medium-sized selection of rolls. In addition, one dollar sushi definitely is enticing and worth your money. But if you don't go during one dollar sushi hours, it gets a bit pricey, as it should.
I do believe that Kofusion's ambiance is interesting. It's a darker place, with glimmers of neon lights, kind of like a classy club.
The night I went (a Sunday night) was packed with young trendies. Â The food was not bad, especially the Phoenix roll, but don't go there expecting authentic sushi preparation. Â The prices were moderate. The best thing was the beer selection. Â I also had a very pleasant waitress who took the time to explain the food selections. Â Overall, a good place to go.
Review Source:Went for dinner. Paid 60 dollars for some tea and "mains" that left two of us very hungry and considering a run for red lobster.
Returned for dollar sushi upon all the good yelp reviews but found that it really wasn't worth it either. Lots of filler rice and sauces. Hardly any substance to any of the "rolls" by "rolls" they mean pieces, which really isn't a deal at all. Plus, really poorly done rice at that. Ick.
Very nice service but considering the food, I say go to Sushi Kame down the road instead.
Dollar sushi Sundays are a must. Â Love the Big Roll, Volcano, fried shrimp roll, even the sushi roll with beef!
Not the BEST sushi, probably not even the best sushi in Champaign, but certainly good, and an amazing deal on Dollar Sushi Sundays and Mondays... great chance to sample the different rolls, for $1 per piece of sushi. Â The service has always been okay for us.. very quick.
We try to come here each time we make it back to Champaign!
Ok, there's no denying how much we all love the Big Roll. It's why we all eat here. When I worked at Aroma I would get dollar sushi to go every Sunday. And any aroma employee from 2010-2011 will attest that my order was wrong EVERY time. When I say "every" I sincerely mean every single time. There was once that I had the best service of my life, but that was about 4 years ago. Recently I was home and went on a Sunday afternoon. Our waitress was so bad. After we had been seated for 15 min my buddy asked the host if anyone was going to wait on us. A girl came over and flatly took our drink order. After we bagan eating my same buddy had to flag the girl down every time we needed our drinks refilled. Maybe she was having a really bad day in her personal life....because she was not interested in being a waitress whatsoever. The food was good tho. Lol.
And while we got shitty service it prompted us to all swap horror stories we've heard about the owner. Seems everyone in town knows someone who worked here for like a day...Or was hired at an interview and never contacted again.
And is the owner un aware that the cheap plastic crap in the fish tanks looks like crystal dildos? Everyone I've taken here comments in the penises in the fish tanks.
God damn it.....I'll be back....you'll be back......we just love that Big Roll for $1!!!!!!!!
I've gone on dates where I've spent $80 for two and frequent on sundays where i spend $5 for one. Great vibe, location, decor, experience, etc. The only downfall is the price tag. Of course, Sunday and Mondays provide the $1 sushi deal. The sushi is good, but sometime it has the tendency of being rather small. If it wasn't for the convenient location and decor, Sushi lovers would probably hit up the other spots are the CU that happen to be a little be further from campus.
Overall, cool spot...on Sundays/Mondays.
This place has an interesting atmosphere inside, but we loved eating on the patio.
We had tasty salmon cakes and good mussels as appetizers. The sake sangria was interesting and refreshing (and a generous portion). The volcano rolls were delicious, and the tiramisu was a fantastic end to the meal.
The server was very pleasant too.
I have been here many times for the $1 sushi as well as the lunch buffet.
For the $1 sushi, the Big Roll is a must. It's convenient that if you order and are still hungry, you can order some more- even if it's only a couple pieces. It's a great way to test out some of their menu options without breaking your bank.
The lunch buffet is outstanding- they always offer 3 types of sushi in addition to edamame, spring/egg rolls, rice, and chicken & beef dishes. It's hard to pick what to put on your plate.
The specialty cocktails are pretty good too, if a little pricey.
I've been to Kofusion several times. The interior is very modern and sleek. The entrees are pricey and portions are on the smaller side. The servers are friendly and attentive. The $1 sushi deals on Sundays and Mondays are worth it. My favorite is definitely the big roll; I believe it has egg, crabmeat, avocado and some other stuff, then tempura fried with some sort of sauce on top.
The best deal...and I'm kinda mad that I found out right before I graduated...is the lunch buffet! It's sucha great deal. Only weekdays though. The buffet is only around $10 and includes various entrees, such as curry chicken, fried fish croquettes, kimchi, soup, fried rice, noodles and three different types of sushi. The big roll is usually one of the three. Definitely keeps you full without breaking your wallet. :)
All I can say is, this place much too overpriced for what it's trying to sell. You leave feeling like you were ripped off rather than satisfied.
Sushi was very below average and I found the selection of nigiri sparse.
I don't think it would have been as upsetting if it wasn't so expensive, but even if were priced less, I still cannot say that it was delicious.
My bf and I had one drink, one $15-16 maki roll (only five pieces on the plate though), nigiri (2 pieces at 2 bucks a piece), and sushi plate B (which had very few actual sushi for the price) and it was around $70 something. I could not believe it because that was my grocery bill for the whole week and I got a measly meal. We both left still feeling empty in the stomach.
I'm not a super chef, but I know how to cook and even to make sushi myself.
The rice used was not right. Sushi rice is not the rice you just scoop out of your pot or rice cooker rolled into shapes. There is a preparation process for the rice which adds rice wine vinegar, sweetness, and brings out a slight chewiness that complements the raw fishes and whatnots. KoFusion didn't even do this.
The fish was not very flavorful either. The amount of rice used for the nigiri was about 2/3 the proper amount. Rolls were shot with a shrink ray. Everything was just off.
The decor was really, I dunno ... just very odd. It's the like uncool kid trying to be really cool. There was neon, walls with bubbles, odd colors, tiles, weird blue lighting, odd shapes. I dunno, maybe this is what is "trendy" back then or something but it looks really odd to me.
The waiters were fine. i was surprised to hear that our waiter has worked there for over two years. She knew what she was doing.
I'm not looking for heaping portions, exquisite tastes at dirt cheap prices. I just want a good portioned meal, tastes good to the average person, and at a reasonable price. KoFusion missed the mark on all of them.
Maybe it was just that night or because of new management. I remember KoFusion actually used to be good several years ago. Â I was shocked to see how different the quality of food that is being served now.
Small portion, wallet shrinking, bland and poorly made sushi. Oh and odd decor.
I went to Kofusion on Monday, April 23rd, just before 6 and met my friend and her two sons for dollar sushi night.
If my friend and her boys weren't already there, I would have turned around and left. I got a really bad first impression. It was busy (but nobody else was at the hostess station) and the hostess asked me if she could help me. I said that I was looking for my friend and her two young sons. She got really snotty, rolled her eyes and said, "Well, you're just going to have to look for them yourself." Maybe she was just having a bad day. Who knows. I walked around and still didn't see them when another hostess came up and asked if SHE could help me. I told her who I was looking for and she goes, "Oh! I know right where they are, come with me." She was cheerful and really helpful. It made up for the other super, rude hostess.
We had the best waiter I have ever had in this town. No kidding. I saved my receipt so I could remember his name. It was Luke H. He was super attentive, extremely polite, friendly, and really sweet to my friend's kids. Our drinks never went empty and he checked in on us plenty without being annoying or hovering.
Being dollar sushi night, I expected a longer wait for our food but our rolls were out quickly. They were all really good, too. The edamame and dumplings were great, also.
Super big thanks to Luke H. and the NICE hostess. Hope the other one's attitude improves.
My friend and I came to Kofusion on a Tuesday, so it was not nearly as crowded as on dollar sushi nights (Sundays AND Mondays).  The first thing you notice is the décor:  indoor seating is cozy, with an outdoor patio section, ambient lighting and nice candles on the tables (a small detail, but something I love :)   My friend had sushi rolls while I had select pieces of nigiri (salmon, smoked salmon, tuna, shrimp, and tuna caviar).  Now this review may be biased due to the weeks of sushi-deprivation I had experienced prior to coming in...but the food was delicious!  The pieces were well-cut, artfully arranged, and you could tell the fish was good quality.  The best part of the night (aside from the great company) was the service.  The waiter was very friendly, entertaining, and came by many times to checkup on us.  The service really took the whole dining experience up a notch.  Â
P.S. Â The mojitos were great too! Â Will definitely be coming back for more sushi and drinks nights.
Duck was excellent! Â
Update: we returned more recently and tried the sushi, which was terrible -- it tasted like it had been frozen. Â The menu is also completely random -- the restaurant doesn't seem to know what it wants to be: Korean, Japanese, American. Â The food isn't *fusion*, its just three different types of cuisine on the same menu -- no one dish is a fusion of anything.
Sadly, I discovered Kofusion only a couple months before I graduated but once I discovered the place, I quickly became a regular!
Firstly, people should recognize the restaurant for what it is: Korean fushion food. Thus, there's a wide variety of sushi, my personal favorite: hwe dup bap (like sashimi salad) and a smaller selection of hot (but still great--scallops anyone?) entrees that I usually have no interest in because I love sushi that much.
If you need a quick sushi fix, dollar sushi Sundays (1 roll = $1) will definitely satisfy your cravings. There are 10 rolls that are offered at that price and they are definitely more of an American style sushi roll (read: little to no raw fish). At first I was really disappointed by this, but I honestly felt like the other rolls were good enough (Big Roll! Coconut Roll!) that I didn't mind at all and eat about $15-$20 worth of sushi anyway. Yes, I am a sushi whore.
If you really want good sushi (with more raw fish or more interesting combinations), Kofusion is still the place to go. Their sushi menu is surprisingly extensive with your typical simple salmon rolls to rainbow-type rolls and more. It's about $1-$2 dollars more expensive than the other places in town but I've never felt like my rolls weren't worth the cost.
Finally, Kristina is my favorite waitress. Maybe she remembered me for my order (hwe dup bap--seriously, try it if you love raw fish, it is divine) or maybe because I loved her so much I tipped well, but after just a few weeks of going weekly, a lot of the waiters remembered me and greeted me warmly. As a sushi lover, it doesn't really get any better than this.
I'm not going to lie, Kofusion hits your wallet pretty hard but in the world of sushi, I don't find them especially more expensive than other sushi places that offer the same variety and quality of rolls. One recommendation I have is to try and get a roll (i.e. Big Roll--that's the one I had) wrapped in soy/rice paper. For those that don't like sushi because of the seaweed, this is a great alternative. For those that still love sushi, try it anyway--it's a great substitution that's worth it to get on its own once in awhile.
I will forever miss Kofusion now that I'm not in the area so please, go get the hwe dup bap, Big Roll, Coconut Roll, or even the thai curry for me please!
I often get dragged here every few weeks with coworkers since it is close to my work. Â I have not been impressed one time. Â
I got to admit the inside is uniquely decorated, but I dislike almost everything else about this restaurant. Â To start, the waiters are really rude and arrogant. Â They all seem to have this pompous flair to them and I don't know why. Â It most certainly does not make a good server. Â They seem to act disgusted almost every time you ask them for something, and are neglectful of your table way more often that not. Â It's not surprising for them to forget your table completely... The owner is also very arrogant, and acts sickeningly (and fake-ly) nice as she wanders aimlessly around the restaurant. Â
The food is alright, but most is very underwhelming to me. Â The food is not very authentic, (aside from the sushi) and is more of an Americanized Asian restaurant (much like P.F. Changs), and I tend to hate those types of restaurants. Â When I want Asian food, I want REAL Asian food. Â Not crappy American creations labeled as Chinese food. Â
It's pretty expensive too. Â Way overpriced in my opinion. Â There is a $10 lunch buffet, but there are often only 4 entrees to choose from, and not much else in the ways of other food. Â Fried and white rice? Â Usually two plates of generic (and really cheap) sushi? Â Totally not worth $10 at all. Â Order from the menu for lunch and you are looking at paying over $10. Â
Dinner is even worse. Â While I only went once for dinner, and usually end up here for the lunch buffet, the time I did go for dinner was terrible. Â The menu is almost set up like a gourmet restaurant, as there's not a big selection at all, and most meals cost around $20. Â O_O Â The worst part is, the entrees come out on huge plates with the tiniest bit of food in the middle. Â They call it New Age Dining but I call it "I just got seriously ripped off"
I ordered the salmon dish. Â It was $21 I think. Â Ridiculous, I know. Â Well, it came out raw in the middle. Â I sent it back, 10 minutes later it comes back, and still raw. Â I had to send it back twice and even after the third time it came back it did not taste right to me. Â And like I said, it was the tiniest portion ever. Â It was maybe a 6oz salmon filet on a plate garnished with sauce next to like a 1/4 cup of rice.... it really is pitiful. Â My friend's entrees were similarly scarce looking. Â
I really don't know how this place gets so packed when it is so expensive and the food is not that good. Â It's touted as a huge date spot as well, but I'm surprised most stomach up the huge entry cost. Â I hear the sushi is great but I never had anything other than the stuff they put out on the lunch buffet and it was terrible. Â It seems expensive too like everything else. Â Some praise the $1 sushi night, but that's per piece and personally to me that seems like a high price as well.... Â
I would stay away if I were you, I often even find myself backing out of lunch with my coworkers simply because I can not stand this restaurant any more.
Arrogant, unnattentive waiters, poor service, unfortunately the best sushi in town.
Over the past month I've eaten $40+ meal THREE separate times during dollar sushi and received poor/horrible service. Each time, the waiter either forgot about us or didn't realize we were there, OR forgot to give us basic things like chopsticks, ginger, etc, and we waited another 5-10 minutes before my fiance went to the front to ask for some.
After the third afternoon this happened, I brought it to the attention of a waiter who discussed it was dollar sushi so i can expect bad service.
I then brought it up to the hostess when paying for my meal, telling him we come during the lunch hour to avoid poor service like what we experienced. He stated that I shouldn't come on dollar sushi night if I expect good service. Why would I come on another night to take a chance on poor service and PAY MORE?!?!
Well crap, I might be about to earn a bitch-badge. Â The interior decor to me is not hip, trendy, or modern. Â Unless you think that one friend with his blacklight room, lava lamps and Spencers Gifts-like light gadgets is awesome. Â In which case, carry on my friend. Â To each his own and all.
Got take-out. Â Called ahead for lunch sushi sampler and tempura. Â Perhaps the first indication should've been my order takers complete stupification upon hearing they offered a sushi sampler. Â They told me food would be ready in 20 min.
Which was almost exactly how long I waited after arriving 20 min later. Â Not cool on the service tip, Ko. Â Sushi was fairly good, no complaint there. Â The "tempura"? Â So not. Â Not tempura at all. Â More like the deep fried veggies sold at a county fair.
No win for you, Ko, and no second visit. Â Ever.
Well, where to start?
The owner of this place is rude to guests and employees. She wanders around forever, blankly looking at the ceiling (or so it seems). I hate to be so harsh, but I applied for a job there. The woman asked me 2-4 questions and decided to hire me. Then, the owner came in the next morning and decided it wasn't going to work out. They wasted four hours of my time and showed me how not local and not fresh the food is. Really, they aren't unlike many other restaurants now a days. With so many people to feed and pressure to make money, there isn't much choice.
I was excited to go to a "hip" place and work with sushi, something I'd never done before. But the other employees were hipster-ish and snobby.
I go back there because the sushi is enjoyable and my boyfriend likes it. Last time we went (6-6-10) it took us almost 30 minutes just to get our check, because the owner didn't schedule enough people. I'm a waitress; I understand this issue. Naturally, we still tipped our waitress. However, when people come into town, there are many many restaurants I would recommend before KoFusion.
It sort of pains me to not give Kofusion a higher rating because their sushi is really, really good. It's probably some of the best in town, though some of their true standouts also happen to be the most expensive. If I were grading it on it's sushi only I would give it four stars easily. The place has a nice atmosphere and is certainly more thought out than your typical CU restaurant. Is it trying too hard? Maybe, but let's be honest any attempt at trying could be perceived as "trying to hard" here because most places don't make any effort at all.
So... shame about the food. I've only tried to eat from their non-sushi menu twice and have been disappointed each time. They're main dishes are over-priced and lack flavor. I will say their seafood had a nice, fresh taste but they don't really do anything with it. I'd recommend getting some friends, ordering a couple baskets of edamame, some drinks and many different kinds of sushi. My favorite is definitely the Lava Roll.
KoFusion is easily the best sushi in Champaign-Urbana. Â They have a wide selection of Japanese food. Â Also, on Sunday and Monday, they offer 10 different rolls for $1 each. Â It's absolutely glorious.
The atmosphere is also one of the best in Champaign-Urbana. Â With sushi this good, I would be satisfied with a hole-in-the-wall location. Â However, KoFusion is classy! Â There are tanks of fish, complicated ambient lighting, waterfalls, and many other clever design elements.
HIGHLY recommend.
Kofusion tries a bit too hard to be hip and edgy. Â As I am from Los Angeles, where pretentious restaurants are about as ubiquitous as corn is here, it takes more than mood lighting, pseudo-orientalist hipness, and cheap sushi specials to impress.
That said, Kofusion's not *that* bad. Â It's decent, for what you get. Â The sushi is adequate, the drinks are on point, and the servers are friendly. Â Not a bad way to spend a Friday night with friends. Â Just don't think you're a) being "authentic" or (b) truly hip and classy.
Just enjoy for what it is, a decent midrange sushi place in the midst of Chambana.
Monday rolls around
I down two rounds of round rolls
Drop twenty and leave
(I have ONLY been here for one dolla' sushi night on Mondays. Â For under $20, you can have a VERY filling sushi meal at Kofusion. Â This isn't the best place in town for 'authentic' sushi, but they certainly do have some fun creations. Â If you've never been here, Monday is an excellent time to try the place out without breaking the bank. Â Just consider getting threre early... it tends to get busy as the night goes on! Â It's a fun place with an interesting atmosphere and cheap sushi. Â You can't go wrong. Recommended.)
Kofusion is definitely a good spot for a "nicer" dinner in Champaign. I'd been here a long time ago (like a year and a half ago) right after the place opened, and it was kind of dead and empty. But I went again a couple of nights ago, and the place was fairly crowded and happening. I was by myself so I sat at the bar, where the bartender took very good care of me.
First a few words about the place: it's fairly large, with two different seating areas separated by the bar area, and they obviously spent the bucks on the decor. It's fairly modern, with a black and dark blue color scheme, a (fairly) beautiful bar, etc... You somehow can't help thinking that maybe they tried a little too hard to look sophisticated, but nonetheless it makes for a fairly good ambiance.
The food is a mix of Asian (mostly Japanese) and new American. I'm usually weary of fusion... but it wasn't bad at all. The first time I was here, I ordered the chirashi, which wasn't the best I've had in my life but was surprisingly decent considering the location (as far from any ocean as you can be in the country...). This time, I started with a seaweed salad (tasty), followed by the whole trout, which came with sauteed mushrooms and spinach... The trout was pretty good, and the veggies delicious. I finished with the black sesame ice-cream: for $4, I expected a tiny little scoop, but I was served a heaping bowl of ice-cream with a strawberry and a wafer... just great.
Not to forget their drinks: they have a pretty large selection of wine and sake, as well as a full bar. I had one of their specialty cocktails (the ko-tini: sake, absolut, and peach schnapps in a martini glass... pretty good), and another mixed drink. I was especially shocked to see how inexpensive they were, being used to NY prices.
Based on the food only, I would have given this place 3-1/2 to 4 stars, but the service was top notch. The bartender was extremely friendly and efficient, and treated me very well... I'll probably be back.
It's hip and chic decor (so it gets one star) is not enough to make for their HORRIBLE FOOD. Â I can't even believe it's a sushi place... somebody that really likes raw fish would never eat here. Â Their sushi has almost no fish. Â
Their $1 sushi Mondays suck because it's $1 per piece.. and the sushi doesn't taste good. Â I have gone three times.. and I will never return. Â I'd rather drive forty minutes to eat in Bloomington, IL. Â There are better sushi restaurants there.
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