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| - When I spotted "all you can eat" and "sushi" glaring at me from the same sign on the exterior of the building, the stage was set.
As a preface, I should note that I have been an avid sushi hound for nearly thirty years. I know good sushi, sashimi and seafood from meh and there's no fooling me.
First Impressions
What I liked - We were immediately greeted upon entering and offered seating. I always prefer to sit at the sushi bar where I can see all the action as well as the food preparation. This was no issue as the sushi bar was deserted. We were promptly handed menus and offered drinks. Very good.
What I didn't like - There was no clearly defined reception area. It was somewhat uncomfortable entering, as if we had walked in on someone's private dinner party. A woman walked in right behind us who had arrived ahead of the rest of her party. There really wasn't any place for her to comfortably sit and wait for them. In addition, there was evidence of a defunct conveyor carousel. A neat idea that obviously didn't fly. Cutting boards had been scotch-taped over portions of the carousel as make-shift service areas. It had a very 'not ready for prime time' feel to it. I'm certain it would raise a health inspector's eyebrow as well.
Offerings
What I liked - Where AYCE is concerned, one expects a stripped down, naked menu. Such is not the case at Akita Sushi. They present an extensive selection broken out into appetizers, wok dishes, teriyaki and tempura, udon/ramen faire, nigiri sushi and sashimi, rolls, house specialties and desserts. If you are looking for more exotic items like uni (sea urchin) or freshwater scallops, you aren't going to find them at an AYCE establishment. So, be reasonable.
What I didn't like - There were no descriptions for many of the dishes. Even simple faire like an udon noodle dish warrants a brief accounting for those who have dietary restrictions or are unfamiliar with Japanese cuisine. For those with severe food allergies, proceed with caution as native English speakers are in short supply and concerns about ingredients may not be fully understood.
Service
What I liked - Service was prompt and very courteous. As soon as one of us lifted a menu, someone popped right over ready to take our order. Soft drinks and water were never empty. Very good. Food never sat in the service area for long before being delivered. Empty dishes were quickly removed as well. The check was presented along with desserts and was taken care of in short order thereafter. Again, very good.
What I didn't like - I asked a server whether the eel was anago or unagi (sea eel or freshwater eel). He didn't know and didn't offer to find out for me despite standing only a few feet from the sushi chefs who most certainly would have known. Not exactly a deal killer, but servers should be able to answer basic questions about the menu and a shoulder shrug is never the right answer. I ordered it anyway and for the record, it was anago and the only dish I had that wasn't particularly fresh. I told you there's no fooling me. The food delivery was, at times, poorly expedited as some dishes we ordered appeared directly while others seemed to catch up to us twenty minutes or so later. This is more a dysfunction of the kitchen than the service staff but reflects poorly of the service in general. Despite there being only two of us, servers didn't know to whom the dishes belonged when they were delivered. This was an annoyance as we had to stop and identify the dish to try to figure out who ordered it. It would be a nightmare for a large party. Lastly, the check had a full accounting of every last thing we ordered reminding me of my penchant for sushi gluttony. A simple 'AYCE sushi $19.99' would have been in better taste.
Food Quality
What I liked - Save for the anago, everything was reasonably fresh, tasted good and was well presented. I had some miso soup and a sampling of a gyoza, then got right down to business with the sashimi and sushi. The trio of sushi chefs seemed a bit overworked but turned out consistent good quality all the same and didn't seem to balk at special requests from other diners. Portions were reasonable and not overly spiced or awash in sauces. Most dishes came out quickly with a few exceptions. Nothing really went over what was reasonable timewise. All very good.
What I didn't like - Sushi rice should be sticky. The rice was a bit flaky and didn't hold together. Nigiri pieces not wrapped in seaweed disintegrated on the plate. Once again, not a deal killer for $20 AYCE, but you wanted a review and I'm giving you one.
Ambience
The dining room was comfortable if arranged a bit cafeteria-like. The sushi bar was more brightly lit than necessary but ok. The interior was decked out in nice upscale finishes belying the $20 AYCE modus operandi.
With the caveat that service is a bit quirky and Akita has the feel of a first-time restaurateur, I would recommend it for good food and value.
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