09/15/09

If you cannot handle it, don't go there.

by vbprof

I have been a regular customer of the restaurant for several years. They don't serve American sushi, fusion sushi, Chinese sushi, Korean sushi... The only thing they serve is Japanese sushi. If you pretend to be a sushi eater, that is not a place for you. We don't go there a lot, but we go there for special occasions. We also take our best friends from out of town there to show off LA. I would love to go there everyday, but I don't think I can afford it. Typically, dinner for two people will cost you over $300 without drinks. Well, of course you can say you are "full," but we usually finish the entire round. The fish they serve are absolutely DIFFERENT and delicious! I know some people hate the place because of the rude chef. Let me tell you, he is not rude, just very blunt. He protects his art, which is his sushi. If you respect him, he also shows his respect to you. Come on, if you cannot handle it, nobody has invited you there. Just bring a fat wallet and an OPEN MIND, you will not regret. Don't be an "American" when you go to have sushi. If you cannot help, go to McD. Oh, this place is for enjoying the food (sushi), not a place for romance or nice environment. In this sense, it is not a typical garden variety restaurant. Actually, I like the place that is very selective, as you don't have to wait a long time for a seat (another plus for this restaurant).

• Pros: best sushi in LA, honestly
• Cons: it's not a place you can bring your first date

02/02/09

Way Too Expensive!

by ach

I'm giving this place only a 3 star not because the food wasn't good but because of the overall experience was a 3. I was doing my laundry at a laundromat 2 doors down and simply wanted a beer while waiting for my dry cycle. I walked into this place without knowing what kind of restaurant this was. The hostess warned me that there was no menu and I could not order anything. I thought it was interesting so I sat down and ordered a beer. The chef gave me a piece of sushi and since the posted sign said I should eat my sushi right away, I did. As soon as I ate my sushi, the chef gave me another one, and I felt like I had to eat that one right away. The next thing I knew I've had about 10 pieces of sushi, thinking the most I've spent was around $60. BUT NO!!!!!!! The bill came and my total was $130!!! WTH? right? I mean, I've had really good sushi before but c'mon! $130 for about 10 pieces of sushi? that's just not right.

01/12/09

Avoid this place entirely

by foodie4500

I've never written a food review but must express my opinion about my experience at a heralded "high-end" Culver City sushi bar.

Sushi Zo's assembly line omakase dining experience would make Toyota proud. Rarely looking up other than to yell "Soy sauce" or "No soy sauce" as each dish was pushed before us, the three sushi chefs worked like automatons cutting fish and preparing each plate. I find this atmosphere forced and pressurized: the "eat and get out so the next suckers can eat and get out" style of dining.

Although much of the fish was indeed excellent? it did not make up for the unpleasant environment. About halfway into our meal, when my date was getting full and wanted to slow things down, we simply could not get anyone's attention. Make no mistake, it's not that the place is big and loud; the staff simply ignored us. We tried and failed repeatedly. Sadly, we only managed to get their attention when we were presented with sweet shrimp?after having initially expressed our allergy to that very item. This second request to avoid sweet shrimp caused such turmoil and agitation behind the sushi bar that what followed was perhaps the most unpleasant dining experience of my life.

The chefs' disrespectful attitude, hostility, and talking about us behind the sushi bar almost provoked me to tell them off and leave without paying. We endured this treatment a few more minutes and asked for the check, which was preposterously expensive?perhaps further punishment to discourage us from returning. I paid the bill and graciously thanked each chef, who glanced our way but never acknowledged our comments. We felt like errant elementary school children leaving the principal's office. An awful experience.

Of course I could go on, but I'll conclude by adding that while the sushi was good, I've had better, and you know where. Even the "Sushi N*z*" offers a more genial dining experience. Sushi Zo? He's the Sushi A**h***. My recommendation? Avoid this place entirely.