Love this place, the staff is extremely nice. We always have great service. Went last night for dinner. We shared 2 sushi rolls which were very good. Everyone ordered the hibachi chicken. Best meal on the menu.. soup, salad, noodles, rice, fresh vegetables and white meat chicken. Brought half of it home for lunch the next day. Always good food.. will be back soon.
(4)
Deena B.
I have been eating here for a couple of years now and again for lunch. I usually get their hibachi lunch and sometimes a sushi roll. Their sushi has never disappointed. My favorite is the Riverside roll and I add avocado. Their hibachi scallop lunch is always delicious. The only complaint I have is that at times they are slow with their service. Today that was not the case. It was fast and tasty. This is better than your average sushi cafe. They also have a nice seating area for outside dining.
(4)
Sam C.
Not a huge fan. The sushi was decent but rolls were small for the price. The service was the most disappointing part, though. Four servers, and they all seemed to lack any sense of urgency in helping their customers.
(2)
Yum E.
It was ok. Nothing to rave about. I ordered a roll with lots of raw fish (can't remember the name), and it was good... smelled ever so slightly fishy, but I didn't get sick or anything afterwards, so I'm sure it was fine. Overall a little over rated, but nice service.
(3)
Mandie M.
Reasonable prices and great service. Sushi Cafe is one of our favorite choices when it comes to Japanese. It is a great option when you don't want to go to one of the local hibachi grills. I do believe it is just a bit cheaper than the likes of Sho Gun or Okinawa too. When we go, we usually sit outside on the patio and enjoy the breeze off the river. Even my nieces enjoy the sushi, soup, and the hibachi.
(4)
LalaManzana R.
Got an order to go. I got four of their rolls; they were made very fast, were inexpensive and delicious
(4)
Khristopher B.
Sushi Cafe is not a destination sushi restaurant. It is the place one goes to quickly grab a sushi lunch and run back to your job and scarf it down at your desk. And perhaps the owners of the cafe know this as well. When you first walk into the restaurant, you'll notice that if you twirl in a circle, you've seen the joint. In other words, my guest bathroom is larger than Sushi Cafe and I live in an apartment complex. The sushi itself, as many other reviewers have noted, is not epic. It's not terrible, but it will not send tears racing down your cheeks. That is to say, on a good day, the sushi chefs at Publix can probably package a comparable roll to Sushi Cafe. The price for Publix sushi (pre-packaged) is about the same price as Sushi Cafe. Perhaps the only reason Sushi Cafe does have an advantage is that the menu is larger at the restaurant. It's easy to see that the wait staff is doing this job until they finish their bachelor's at JU and the chefs are lifeless androids. A serviceable emotionless establishment that gets the job done, do not turn to Sushi Cafe for a wonderful dining experience. It's get in, get out.
(3)
Jennifer H.
I wish I could give 0 stars. It's never been amazing in my opinion, but yesterday it was absolutely awful. I ordered to go, the wait staff and service was fine. But the rolls, no. Something tasted terribly wrong with them, like chemicals or I don't know what. I even had my friends try them and they noticed something disgustingly wrong. Never again. Absolutely awful. I don't want to eat radioactive chemicals and become the Hulk now. I'll pass. If you want to become the Hulk via chemicals, eat here. Otherwise, take your business elsewhere. Sumo Sushi or even Sake House.
(1)
Kat W.
My go to sushi spot. Consistent quality and service. Haven't been since they moved to the other end of the building but looking very forward to staring at shoppers as they come out of Publix :s
(4)
David B.
Great place to meet up then go to Sake House instead.
(1)
Julie A.
This is a cute little eatery. Very popular, especially with the huge parking lot in the back and its being close to other restaurants as well as the Publix. But beware, there is absolutely nowhere to sit if you come here during lunch hour, so grab a bench or grab your food to go if you are hoping to sit during your meal. I ordered Miso Soup static.px.yelp.com/bphot… , Green Tea, Jimmy Smith Sushi Roll static.px.yelp.com/bphot… , and Tempura Fried Green Tea Ice Cream static.px.yelp.com/bphot… . The Miso Soup was somewhat disappointing. Although the ingredients were fresh, there was barely any seaweed and the tofu was teensy weensy. 2 stars. The Green Tea was very good. Warm and had a nice flavor to it. 4 stars. The Jimmy Smith Sushi Roll is crab, salmon, and cream cheese, deep fried with spicy sauce and scallions on top. The ingredients complemented each other nicely. (Check out that lotus made of ginger.) Wonderful explosion on my tastebuds. 5 stars. As for the dessert, I have had fried ice cream many times at various other restaurants but it never ceases to baffle me. How does one take an extremely cold item such as ice cream and fry it and yet it stays cold inside. Still perplexing. Anyway, the flavor was good here. They did not overdo it with the breading. Just the right amount of breading to ice cream ratio. 4 stars. Service was interesting. One guy was hella slow but there was a chick waitress who was really quick and fast with my order. Service gets 3 stars. In summary: 3.6 stars, rounded up. Heads up, they have a coupon you can use if you visit their website. 10% off.
(4)
Jena B.
Food is always delicious and hot food is ALWAYS hot! Everything is always fresh and the service is outstanding! I always have a pleasant experience whether it be with a group of people or dining by myself. When I'm with a group, we always have prompt service and the orders are always correct. The servers are there but not in your personal space; BARBARA is the best!!! She knows how to interact with her customers, giving them a smile on their face every time! The music is peaceful so if you're just going out for a "breather" it's a great place to relax and get a bite to eat. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE!!!
(5)
Katie C.
I'd heard mixed reviews about Sushi Cafe, but I think it can best be described as solid. Nice selection of rolls, from the more ambitious Chef's Specials, to your basic two- or three-ingredient creations that are very reasonably priced. We started with the Edamame and, it might sound weird, but it was the BEST Edamame I've ever had. Maybe it was the salt. Probably it was the salt. But whatever, it was awesome! I ate the whole bowl to myself. Ginger salad was pretty good, and the Clear Soup was tasty. For the sush we did a mix of six or seven rolls and, on the whole, the meal was satisfying. Good neighborhood spot.
(3)
Ryan D.
Place used to have its glory days. Nowadays, it's just another sushi place. Prices are very reasonable here, just like any other sushi restaurants. $3 to $5 range for a roll of sushi. Sushi sizes are average and they are to my likings. I mean it's just typical american style sushi.. Want the real thing? go to Japan! One suggestion though, don't order their fried rice, It's a heart attack waiting to happen! Their fried rice is smothered in grease! Overall ok sushi, not so great service. Service used to be great, now it's lacking attention and always forgetting things.
(3)
Nikki D.
Christmas Turkey Dinner? Pish posh, I'll take my sushi rolls thank you! I mean seriously? I go to Jacksonville to visit family for the holiday weekend and there isn't a single place open in the city...save for this little gem hidden away in Riverside across from the Starbucks, which is like the perfect combination on the chilly afternoon while waiting for the rolls to be made! But onto the far more important information...why this gets my uber high rating. I seriously drove all over looking for this place, mainly because while I grew up in the damn city for 18 years of my life, I still cannot manage to drive and make sense of directions...but it was certainly a 2 hour venture well spent in the end. It was even a better surprise when my excitement for all the rolls I started to order that I ended up with a count of 6 rolls and 2 appetizers...yea it was all for me - don't judge! The edamame was perfectly salted and warm. The tuna tataki was wonderfully fresh simply mouthwatering. And of course I love ordering the unique fusian and signature rolls offered, and all too often the tastes are overpowered by unwanted slathering of some 'special' sauce, but not so at Sushi Cafe! The lobster rolls, volcano rolls, dragon, eel, and a few others that were decided on had the perfect amount of sauce to accompany the flavors and did not make you forget that there was actually fish wrapped within! Seriously each piece was like eating a baby angel...and I've never actually described sushi as 'meaty' per say, but I'll certainly throw it out there for these rolls! Kickers: Fresh Fish, not overpowering sauces, open on freaking Christmas (score!), Thick rolls packed with fish and veggies and tightly rolled so they don't fall apart on the way to the tongue! Fails: A little on the pricier side but overall worth it, hard to find for people that get lost for hours in their own hometown. Diamondism: While I'm not going to say it's the best place in JVille to eat sushi (mainly for the simple fact it's the only true sushi house I've eaten at in the city), it was absolutely phenomenal and certainly a place I'd not only recommend but plan to return to each time I make it back into the city-of-nothing-to-do.
(5)
Hilary L.
My boss loves this place. That is how I was introduced to Sushi Cafe. What can I say? I was a Sake House girl and, as this restaurant is just down the street from Sake House's Riverside location, I hadn't ever ventured inside. Now that I have, I have to say this is a pretty great little sushi place. The inside atmosphere is a little strange, wrapping around the sushi bar in a U-shape and at times feeling a little squished. But they have a huge outdoor patio overlooking Memorial Park and Riverside Ave that is great for people watching! The sushi is tasty, reliable, and always fresh. They have really generous lunch specials, and one in particular where you get a 6-piece Tuna Roll, an 8-piece California Roll, and 5 pieces of sashimi [tuna, salmon, whitefish, crab, and shrimp], along with soup and a salad. It is definitely enough for two [and the only thing my boss and I ever order]. The cost is pretty reasonable, about $13 for all that food. It's a pretty generic sushi place, but very reliable, cute, great great location, and an easy place to grab a roll or two. I definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Mel N.
I am totally picky about Sushi restaurants just because I lived in Japan for almost two years. So when I moved back to the states I had to keep reminding myself not to get my hopes high whenever I tried a sushi place. With that said, someone on Chowhound told us to try out this sushi place which we thought eh what the heck lets do it. I wanna say first off that the fish was surprisingly not bad. It came out fresh and it tasted pretty good. I really doubted this place just because as soon as we walked in, right away we knew these were not Japanese people nor Koreans (I say Korean because most Sushi joints in So Cal are own and run by Koreans). Instead, we got Chinese people preparing and serving us Sushi (who would have thought?) My husband found this funny. I ordered a combo of sushi that came with miso soup and a salad. The soup surprised me as well. It was actually good and prepared the way the Japanese do it in Japan. The salad was a sad little salad, nothing special. My husband ordered pork katsu in which I tasted and described it as a "Pork wearing a chicken costume." It tasted like fried chicken. Now what came with this meal was stir fried veggies (really now?), a small ball of rice, miso soup, and a sad lil salad as well. I pretty much told my husband he should have ordered sushi, but he didn't listen and therefore paid the price. I don't think we will be coming back, just because it took us a long time to drive there and well... it wasn't worth it.
(3)
Brandon B.
I love the sushi here! In saying that I hate the wait staff. I'm not trying to be prejudice or anything but the majority of the wait staff can not speak english to save their life or tips. ;-) All kidding and name calling aside... I do recommend this place their sushi is very good and well made just don't be surprised if you get something wrong with your order.
(4)
R. G.
No, no, no. That's the first thing that comes to mind when I think of my experience here. I've been trying to find reasonably good sushi since moving to Jacksonville and I'm afraid my search must continue. When rating sushi restaurants in Jax, I go back and forth thinking that I should rate them relative to each other versus rating them based on all sushi restaurants I've ever been to across the country and elsewhere. Either way, this one would still only get 1 star. Pros: -it's cheap -food was made quickly Cons: -small selection and not very many raw rolls. Why are most rolls deep fried in this area of the country? I think perhaps it should be called Southern sushi as it is about as healthy as eating a fried chicken dinner. -very bland tasting rolls, particularly the spicy rolls -the seaweed in the miso soup was rather leathery Bottom line: The best thing we ate was the edamame so that should tell you something. Other than the food and prices, all other aspects of this restaurant were average (service, atmosphere). I wouldn't recommend this place to a friend.
(1)
Bill K.
Ate dinner here with my son last night and had an awesome time we had to wait 10-15 minutes for a larger table but that was fine we could have sat immediately at a small table for 2 but as he's 6'5'' and 300 lbs and I'm a lil smaller we decided the larger table was better suited we ordered the Shrimp tempura dinner as an appetizer and split it. It was fantastic, lightest tempura batter I have ever had we ordered the sushi love boat and split that also it was great and the perfect size for 2 hungry guys the only thing we didn't split was the check as usual dad got that (lucky me) only complaint is the parking situation on a Friday night its a lil crowded but as I'm a disabled vet I got a space right up front. Service was real good and friendly, attentive but not constantly in your face. Would highly recommend.
(5)
Michelle G.
Decent sushi at a price you would pretty much pay anywhere else. My biggest gripe would be that the servers can be somewhat inattentive and sometimes you can tell the sushi is a bit old (but if you frequent any sushi place enough you will find them happens everywhere).
(3)
Rose M.
Went during a very busy Friday lunch hour. Staff was courteous and delightfully calm. Sushi was amazing, I would expect no less, but how did they do on the chicken teriyaki lunch special? The vegetables where just right. Hard to get the zucchini and the carrots exactly perfect. Chicken was a bit dry, miso soup was spot on. I take my husbands opinion of the teriyaki to heart as he goes on all of my sushi adventures and he claims this one is passable and acceptable for a lunch hour rush.
(4)
Joseph G.
I have spent three years seeking out the best sushi spot in Jacksonville and I have found it. Sushi cafe stands out above all the other places around the Jacksonville area. The manager Kaz is always very friendly and makes sure every experience is a good one. All of their food seems to have little or no msg in it. The location is great. I usually choose walk off some of my meal at Memorial Park which is right across the street. Now for the sushi. They never skimp out on the choice ingredients and they don't get heavy with the rice. All of the sushi ingredients are always very fresh. The Tokyo Roll (Spicy Tuna, Yellow Tail, Avocado topped with Spicy Scallops and crunchies) and the Wasabi Roll (Yellow Tail, Tuna, Salmon, Avocado topped with Wasabi Tobiko) are two of my all time favorite sushi rolls from the east coast to Hawaii. There's a short list of things I look forward to while in Jacksonville and Sushi Cafe is on it.
(5)
Leah A.
Can't go wrong with Sushi Cafe. Their rolls are consistent and I usually order my food to-go. However, they do have a nice dining area as well as a covered outside seating area to enjoy a nice lunch if you choose to eat-in. They're usually pretty busy with people picking up orders so that's always a good sign. This last visit, I didn't call-in and just ordered a miso soup and a clear broth soup to-go. They threw in some extra little crunchies for free and I was in and out of there pretty quickly. By the way, both soups were absolutely perfect.
(4)
Mel H.
I've always loved sushi, and last month I started a sushi diet. Yeah, I know. Just wanted to eat healthier. I've been coming here for years at least a couple of times a month. Even before they relocated. Now every day. So friendly. And even suggested different selections. Delicious, and I never got bored.
(5)
Jen D.
The best Dynamite sushi in town! together with their best shrimp sauce! I go here everyweek, never failed to make my tummy happy! The staff are friendly, reasonable prices--almost the same as other sushi house. The place is also nice.
(4)
Paige C.
Good sushi, but.... the owner always gets mad at me when I ask for lemons. She hates giving me lemons, so I feel uncomfortable around her.
I've been a faithful patron of Sushi Cafe since I was 15 (so seven years), and I have to say that there is nothing like a Sunday sushi lunch followed by stretching out on a blanket or playing some kickball across the street at Memorial Park. Perfect. I couldn't believe that people have had unsatisfactory experiences while dining here after reading the other reviews, because I've never been disappointed in the quality of the food or the service, whether dining in or getting a to-go order. The sushi is always fresh, salads are never soggy, and the clear soup is always scrumptious and not fishy like you might find at other Jacksonville sushi bars. I like that the selection of rolls isn't a novel but still offers creative options as well as the usual findings. The right level of heat in the spicy tuna or salmon rolls every time. I preferred the decor of the restaurant and the view offered by the outdoor patio area (Memorial Park and the St. John's River) before they moved from where Tijuana Flats is now to their current location at the opposite end of the plaza, but it's still cute. I wish it were closer to me, though :( but it's a good excuse to make a trip to Riverside... as if someone needed an excuse for that ;)
(5)
Allan W.
Excellent quality! Service is a bit lacking, HOWEVER, to be fair....I sat at the bar and was only one person. So, just based on quality, it's a 5. Y'all know how stingy I am with that elusive 5th star! Lol :-)
(4)
Kerry C.
My son treated me to dinner here this evening. Both of us had eaten here when it was located on the other side of the building but had not since it moved. Boy were we wowed when we came in. Yes, the place is a lot smaller but it is very attractive and upscale looking. Definitely an improvement over the old place. I think the food was even better than before. Just the right amount of waiting time between drinks and soup and then soup and rolls, then rolls and dessert. We both had the clear soup (delish) and then split the Jaguar, Monster (off the Chef Special menu), and Rock & Rolls. All were super fresh and scrumptious and we enjoyed every bite. Even the fried cheesecake for dessert was just right. Service was prompt, the waitress was attentive and helpful, but not overbearing. It appeared that the other customers around us were being taken care of promptly by their waitresses as well. The dining area outside looked adorable and I am looking forward to the cooler weather and dining out there. Parking is a pain because that lot is set for many stores, but if you are patient, you will find one. All in all, I am very happy. They may have downsized, but they improved.
(4)
Michael C.
Everything about this place was decent, nothing more, nothing less. I had miso soup, the ginger salad and three rolls. All were tasty but nothing I haven't had before.One of my dining companions ordered the pan fried pork dumpling appetizer and that had the most flavor of all the items I tried. Service was slow but hospitable , pricing average for Riverside, and parking a pain in the ass(which is to be expected).
(3)
Crystal M.
We often take out from here quite often, usually only going with their absolutely amazing Chicken Teriyaki which comes with a side salad, soup (I always pick their fantastic clear soup) and rice. The chicken comes glazed in the best teriyaki sauce I have ever had and it is piled high with zucchini, onions, and mushrooms. Both Lunch and Dinner portions of this are ample. We have tried their sushi before and I was not a fan, we already have our go to sushi place so any other place is usually never makes our list. But the employees are wonderfully pleasant.
(3)
Amanda G.
I enjoy it! its fresh, affordable, casual. I can rely on it to be good every time.
(4)
Hugo G.
Best your gonna get if you decide to stay in riverside.
(3)
Len V.
An ok sushi place if you are in the area and need a quick sushi fix... but I would not go out of the way to go here. Decent value.
(3)
Georgia C.
I promised them that I would bring them more business since my last visit and I have! And they keep getting better! I created my own roll last time. It was AMAZING! I still enjoy them so much! The service is great. The only negative would be that it gets crowded in there pretty quickly. But, I'm pretty sure that's because it's sooooo good and sooooo inexpensive. :D
(5)
Chris H.
I admittedly haven't been here in a while, simply because I've got an absurd number of other sushi choices in the neighborhood, and I prefer Sumo Sushi and Sake House. That being said, the location is great - plenty of outdoor seating, although the new "talking bus" Downtown to Five Points trolley can be pretty annoying when it pulls up. Food is entirely average - nothing that's not offered at every other sushi restaurant in town, and execution is, eh, okay. Nothing to complain about, really, but I can't understand five star reviews for this place...
(2)
Mark C.
I have been going here for several years only for the tofu teriyaki. You are guaranteed a large helping of tofu on the plate with some veggies and rice on the side. Nice outdoor seating in the 5 Points Area.
(4)
Jaime M.
I needed a quick sushi fix and saw it as I was driving by. I found it to be pretty good, not the best I have had for sure. The staff seemed like they didn't know what was going on. Over all I give it a "pretty good"
(3)
Chich S.
good sushi with quaint outdoor patio seating. prices are reasonable for a sushi joint. service was good. all in all, a winner!
(4)
Shana C.
I'm not a fan of sushi but have found other fantastic food items to review on for this particular joint. As far as the sushi goes my husband and friends seem to dig everything they order as their plates are always empty. I found that they are vegetarian friendly and can order many veggie forms of "sushi" and they carry soy papers to wrap them in. DELISH! The outdoor seating so close to the heart of Five Points makes for a great atmosphere and a laid back dining experience. Hubby says the Clair Ahi Tuna Roll off the "specials" menu is a great choice.
(4)
Jay L.
Hmm, as far as sushi places go, I think this place is average for Jax. In any bigger city, it'd be really subpar. I must admit, I'm pretty damn picky when it comes to sushi. After all, it's raw fish (mostly). Not to dis my Chinese brothers, but they don't really know anything about sushi. It's a Japanese art form. I don't know why there're so many Chinese run Japanese "sushi" places here in Jacksonville...possibly because the locals don't know the difference. Anyway, it's rather funny to me. I've been to about 7 or 8 of these places here and have not really been impressed with any of them. I usually get the same things so I can compare restaurants in a more objective manner. It's all my taste though, so it's gonna be subjective in the end...Anyway, I get sake (salmon), saba (mackerel), unagi (eel), tomago (egg), ama-ebi (sweet shrimp) and usually maguro (tuna). I did go once to Sushi Cafe and enjoyed it, but subsequent visits have left me wondering if I was going to be sick later. Fish wasn't fresh and not super flavorful. I pretty much go cuz my friends like it.
(3)
Natalie B.
Another local neighborhood fave. I've been going since the day they opened. I craved their sushi even when I was up in Chicago. They are reasonably priced and have an extensive menu. The service is always great too! They have outdoor seating for when the humidity isn't completely poofing up my hair.
(5)
gregory s.
reasonable price, plenty of available parking, and proximity make it our top choice for last minute sushi takeout.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
a d.
Love this place, the staff is extremely nice. We always have great service. Went last night for dinner. We shared 2 sushi rolls which were very good. Everyone ordered the hibachi chicken. Best meal on the menu.. soup, salad, noodles, rice, fresh vegetables and white meat chicken. Brought half of it home for lunch the next day. Always good food.. will be back soon.
(4)Deena B.
I have been eating here for a couple of years now and again for lunch. I usually get their hibachi lunch and sometimes a sushi roll. Their sushi has never disappointed. My favorite is the Riverside roll and I add avocado. Their hibachi scallop lunch is always delicious. The only complaint I have is that at times they are slow with their service. Today that was not the case. It was fast and tasty. This is better than your average sushi cafe. They also have a nice seating area for outside dining.
(4)Sam C.
Not a huge fan. The sushi was decent but rolls were small for the price. The service was the most disappointing part, though. Four servers, and they all seemed to lack any sense of urgency in helping their customers.
(2)Yum E.
It was ok. Nothing to rave about. I ordered a roll with lots of raw fish (can't remember the name), and it was good... smelled ever so slightly fishy, but I didn't get sick or anything afterwards, so I'm sure it was fine. Overall a little over rated, but nice service.
(3)Mandie M.
Reasonable prices and great service. Sushi Cafe is one of our favorite choices when it comes to Japanese. It is a great option when you don't want to go to one of the local hibachi grills. I do believe it is just a bit cheaper than the likes of Sho Gun or Okinawa too. When we go, we usually sit outside on the patio and enjoy the breeze off the river. Even my nieces enjoy the sushi, soup, and the hibachi.
(4)LalaManzana R.
Got an order to go. I got four of their rolls; they were made very fast, were inexpensive and delicious
(4)Khristopher B.
Sushi Cafe is not a destination sushi restaurant. It is the place one goes to quickly grab a sushi lunch and run back to your job and scarf it down at your desk. And perhaps the owners of the cafe know this as well. When you first walk into the restaurant, you'll notice that if you twirl in a circle, you've seen the joint. In other words, my guest bathroom is larger than Sushi Cafe and I live in an apartment complex. The sushi itself, as many other reviewers have noted, is not epic. It's not terrible, but it will not send tears racing down your cheeks. That is to say, on a good day, the sushi chefs at Publix can probably package a comparable roll to Sushi Cafe. The price for Publix sushi (pre-packaged) is about the same price as Sushi Cafe. Perhaps the only reason Sushi Cafe does have an advantage is that the menu is larger at the restaurant. It's easy to see that the wait staff is doing this job until they finish their bachelor's at JU and the chefs are lifeless androids. A serviceable emotionless establishment that gets the job done, do not turn to Sushi Cafe for a wonderful dining experience. It's get in, get out.
(3)Jennifer H.
I wish I could give 0 stars. It's never been amazing in my opinion, but yesterday it was absolutely awful. I ordered to go, the wait staff and service was fine. But the rolls, no. Something tasted terribly wrong with them, like chemicals or I don't know what. I even had my friends try them and they noticed something disgustingly wrong. Never again. Absolutely awful. I don't want to eat radioactive chemicals and become the Hulk now. I'll pass. If you want to become the Hulk via chemicals, eat here. Otherwise, take your business elsewhere. Sumo Sushi or even Sake House.
(1)Kat W.
My go to sushi spot. Consistent quality and service. Haven't been since they moved to the other end of the building but looking very forward to staring at shoppers as they come out of Publix :s
(4)David B.
Great place to meet up then go to Sake House instead.
(1)Julie A.
This is a cute little eatery. Very popular, especially with the huge parking lot in the back and its being close to other restaurants as well as the Publix. But beware, there is absolutely nowhere to sit if you come here during lunch hour, so grab a bench or grab your food to go if you are hoping to sit during your meal. I ordered Miso Soup static.px.yelp.com/bphot… , Green Tea, Jimmy Smith Sushi Roll static.px.yelp.com/bphot… , and Tempura Fried Green Tea Ice Cream static.px.yelp.com/bphot… . The Miso Soup was somewhat disappointing. Although the ingredients were fresh, there was barely any seaweed and the tofu was teensy weensy. 2 stars. The Green Tea was very good. Warm and had a nice flavor to it. 4 stars. The Jimmy Smith Sushi Roll is crab, salmon, and cream cheese, deep fried with spicy sauce and scallions on top. The ingredients complemented each other nicely. (Check out that lotus made of ginger.) Wonderful explosion on my tastebuds. 5 stars. As for the dessert, I have had fried ice cream many times at various other restaurants but it never ceases to baffle me. How does one take an extremely cold item such as ice cream and fry it and yet it stays cold inside. Still perplexing. Anyway, the flavor was good here. They did not overdo it with the breading. Just the right amount of breading to ice cream ratio. 4 stars. Service was interesting. One guy was hella slow but there was a chick waitress who was really quick and fast with my order. Service gets 3 stars. In summary: 3.6 stars, rounded up. Heads up, they have a coupon you can use if you visit their website. 10% off.
(4)Jena B.
Food is always delicious and hot food is ALWAYS hot! Everything is always fresh and the service is outstanding! I always have a pleasant experience whether it be with a group of people or dining by myself. When I'm with a group, we always have prompt service and the orders are always correct. The servers are there but not in your personal space; BARBARA is the best!!! She knows how to interact with her customers, giving them a smile on their face every time! The music is peaceful so if you're just going out for a "breather" it's a great place to relax and get a bite to eat. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE!!!
(5)Katie C.
I'd heard mixed reviews about Sushi Cafe, but I think it can best be described as solid. Nice selection of rolls, from the more ambitious Chef's Specials, to your basic two- or three-ingredient creations that are very reasonably priced. We started with the Edamame and, it might sound weird, but it was the BEST Edamame I've ever had. Maybe it was the salt. Probably it was the salt. But whatever, it was awesome! I ate the whole bowl to myself. Ginger salad was pretty good, and the Clear Soup was tasty. For the sush we did a mix of six or seven rolls and, on the whole, the meal was satisfying. Good neighborhood spot.
(3)Ryan D.
Place used to have its glory days. Nowadays, it's just another sushi place. Prices are very reasonable here, just like any other sushi restaurants. $3 to $5 range for a roll of sushi. Sushi sizes are average and they are to my likings. I mean it's just typical american style sushi.. Want the real thing? go to Japan! One suggestion though, don't order their fried rice, It's a heart attack waiting to happen! Their fried rice is smothered in grease! Overall ok sushi, not so great service. Service used to be great, now it's lacking attention and always forgetting things.
(3)Nikki D.
Christmas Turkey Dinner? Pish posh, I'll take my sushi rolls thank you! I mean seriously? I go to Jacksonville to visit family for the holiday weekend and there isn't a single place open in the city...save for this little gem hidden away in Riverside across from the Starbucks, which is like the perfect combination on the chilly afternoon while waiting for the rolls to be made! But onto the far more important information...why this gets my uber high rating. I seriously drove all over looking for this place, mainly because while I grew up in the damn city for 18 years of my life, I still cannot manage to drive and make sense of directions...but it was certainly a 2 hour venture well spent in the end. It was even a better surprise when my excitement for all the rolls I started to order that I ended up with a count of 6 rolls and 2 appetizers...yea it was all for me - don't judge! The edamame was perfectly salted and warm. The tuna tataki was wonderfully fresh simply mouthwatering. And of course I love ordering the unique fusian and signature rolls offered, and all too often the tastes are overpowered by unwanted slathering of some 'special' sauce, but not so at Sushi Cafe! The lobster rolls, volcano rolls, dragon, eel, and a few others that were decided on had the perfect amount of sauce to accompany the flavors and did not make you forget that there was actually fish wrapped within! Seriously each piece was like eating a baby angel...and I've never actually described sushi as 'meaty' per say, but I'll certainly throw it out there for these rolls! Kickers: Fresh Fish, not overpowering sauces, open on freaking Christmas (score!), Thick rolls packed with fish and veggies and tightly rolled so they don't fall apart on the way to the tongue! Fails: A little on the pricier side but overall worth it, hard to find for people that get lost for hours in their own hometown. Diamondism: While I'm not going to say it's the best place in JVille to eat sushi (mainly for the simple fact it's the only true sushi house I've eaten at in the city), it was absolutely phenomenal and certainly a place I'd not only recommend but plan to return to each time I make it back into the city-of-nothing-to-do.
(5)Hilary L.
My boss loves this place. That is how I was introduced to Sushi Cafe. What can I say? I was a Sake House girl and, as this restaurant is just down the street from Sake House's Riverside location, I hadn't ever ventured inside. Now that I have, I have to say this is a pretty great little sushi place. The inside atmosphere is a little strange, wrapping around the sushi bar in a U-shape and at times feeling a little squished. But they have a huge outdoor patio overlooking Memorial Park and Riverside Ave that is great for people watching! The sushi is tasty, reliable, and always fresh. They have really generous lunch specials, and one in particular where you get a 6-piece Tuna Roll, an 8-piece California Roll, and 5 pieces of sashimi [tuna, salmon, whitefish, crab, and shrimp], along with soup and a salad. It is definitely enough for two [and the only thing my boss and I ever order]. The cost is pretty reasonable, about $13 for all that food. It's a pretty generic sushi place, but very reliable, cute, great great location, and an easy place to grab a roll or two. I definitely recommend this place!
(4)Mel N.
I am totally picky about Sushi restaurants just because I lived in Japan for almost two years. So when I moved back to the states I had to keep reminding myself not to get my hopes high whenever I tried a sushi place. With that said, someone on Chowhound told us to try out this sushi place which we thought eh what the heck lets do it. I wanna say first off that the fish was surprisingly not bad. It came out fresh and it tasted pretty good. I really doubted this place just because as soon as we walked in, right away we knew these were not Japanese people nor Koreans (I say Korean because most Sushi joints in So Cal are own and run by Koreans). Instead, we got Chinese people preparing and serving us Sushi (who would have thought?) My husband found this funny. I ordered a combo of sushi that came with miso soup and a salad. The soup surprised me as well. It was actually good and prepared the way the Japanese do it in Japan. The salad was a sad little salad, nothing special. My husband ordered pork katsu in which I tasted and described it as a "Pork wearing a chicken costume." It tasted like fried chicken. Now what came with this meal was stir fried veggies (really now?), a small ball of rice, miso soup, and a sad lil salad as well. I pretty much told my husband he should have ordered sushi, but he didn't listen and therefore paid the price. I don't think we will be coming back, just because it took us a long time to drive there and well... it wasn't worth it.
(3)Brandon B.
I love the sushi here! In saying that I hate the wait staff. I'm not trying to be prejudice or anything but the majority of the wait staff can not speak english to save their life or tips. ;-) All kidding and name calling aside... I do recommend this place their sushi is very good and well made just don't be surprised if you get something wrong with your order.
(4)R. G.
No, no, no. That's the first thing that comes to mind when I think of my experience here. I've been trying to find reasonably good sushi since moving to Jacksonville and I'm afraid my search must continue. When rating sushi restaurants in Jax, I go back and forth thinking that I should rate them relative to each other versus rating them based on all sushi restaurants I've ever been to across the country and elsewhere. Either way, this one would still only get 1 star. Pros: -it's cheap -food was made quickly Cons: -small selection and not very many raw rolls. Why are most rolls deep fried in this area of the country? I think perhaps it should be called Southern sushi as it is about as healthy as eating a fried chicken dinner. -very bland tasting rolls, particularly the spicy rolls -the seaweed in the miso soup was rather leathery Bottom line: The best thing we ate was the edamame so that should tell you something. Other than the food and prices, all other aspects of this restaurant were average (service, atmosphere). I wouldn't recommend this place to a friend.
(1)Bill K.
Ate dinner here with my son last night and had an awesome time we had to wait 10-15 minutes for a larger table but that was fine we could have sat immediately at a small table for 2 but as he's 6'5'' and 300 lbs and I'm a lil smaller we decided the larger table was better suited we ordered the Shrimp tempura dinner as an appetizer and split it. It was fantastic, lightest tempura batter I have ever had we ordered the sushi love boat and split that also it was great and the perfect size for 2 hungry guys the only thing we didn't split was the check as usual dad got that (lucky me) only complaint is the parking situation on a Friday night its a lil crowded but as I'm a disabled vet I got a space right up front. Service was real good and friendly, attentive but not constantly in your face. Would highly recommend.
(5)Michelle G.
Decent sushi at a price you would pretty much pay anywhere else. My biggest gripe would be that the servers can be somewhat inattentive and sometimes you can tell the sushi is a bit old (but if you frequent any sushi place enough you will find them happens everywhere).
(3)Rose M.
Went during a very busy Friday lunch hour. Staff was courteous and delightfully calm. Sushi was amazing, I would expect no less, but how did they do on the chicken teriyaki lunch special? The vegetables where just right. Hard to get the zucchini and the carrots exactly perfect. Chicken was a bit dry, miso soup was spot on. I take my husbands opinion of the teriyaki to heart as he goes on all of my sushi adventures and he claims this one is passable and acceptable for a lunch hour rush.
(4)Joseph G.
I have spent three years seeking out the best sushi spot in Jacksonville and I have found it. Sushi cafe stands out above all the other places around the Jacksonville area. The manager Kaz is always very friendly and makes sure every experience is a good one. All of their food seems to have little or no msg in it. The location is great. I usually choose walk off some of my meal at Memorial Park which is right across the street. Now for the sushi. They never skimp out on the choice ingredients and they don't get heavy with the rice. All of the sushi ingredients are always very fresh. The Tokyo Roll (Spicy Tuna, Yellow Tail, Avocado topped with Spicy Scallops and crunchies) and the Wasabi Roll (Yellow Tail, Tuna, Salmon, Avocado topped with Wasabi Tobiko) are two of my all time favorite sushi rolls from the east coast to Hawaii. There's a short list of things I look forward to while in Jacksonville and Sushi Cafe is on it.
(5)Leah A.
Can't go wrong with Sushi Cafe. Their rolls are consistent and I usually order my food to-go. However, they do have a nice dining area as well as a covered outside seating area to enjoy a nice lunch if you choose to eat-in. They're usually pretty busy with people picking up orders so that's always a good sign. This last visit, I didn't call-in and just ordered a miso soup and a clear broth soup to-go. They threw in some extra little crunchies for free and I was in and out of there pretty quickly. By the way, both soups were absolutely perfect.
(4)Mel H.
I've always loved sushi, and last month I started a sushi diet. Yeah, I know. Just wanted to eat healthier. I've been coming here for years at least a couple of times a month. Even before they relocated. Now every day. So friendly. And even suggested different selections. Delicious, and I never got bored.
(5)Jen D.
The best Dynamite sushi in town! together with their best shrimp sauce! I go here everyweek, never failed to make my tummy happy! The staff are friendly, reasonable prices--almost the same as other sushi house. The place is also nice.
(4)Paige C.
Good sushi, but.... the owner always gets mad at me when I ask for lemons. She hates giving me lemons, so I feel uncomfortable around her.
(3)Marie F.
Sunday Sushi is fantastic. After a great dance lesson with Dance Salsa Jax, everyone was starving but wanted to grab something close and mildly health. Quickly decided sushi. But there were so many sushi options in the area. It came down to 4 people wanting to go here, 1 wanted Sake House, and 2 people that were completely new to the area. Ordered two rolls and decided on the salad with ginger dressing. This is a staple everywhere but there seems to be something extra fresh about that ginger dressing. Several members of our table where drinking up their bowls. The whole thing became a buffet since everyone just started passing plates around. Riverside Roll (A) Jax Roll (B-) Monster Roll (A+) Dynatmite Roll (A) Krab Rangoons (B) Shrimp tempora (A) Fried Gyoza (A) Tuna Tataki (A+) Some delicious sushi thing with ginger and kiwi - BRUH! (Honor Roll) Décor was cute, plenty of big windows to people watch on this cold night (as the food settled), and lots of outdoor seating for those warmer nights. Great sushi dinner with great company. 5 stars. !
(5)Christine M.
I've been a faithful patron of Sushi Cafe since I was 15 (so seven years), and I have to say that there is nothing like a Sunday sushi lunch followed by stretching out on a blanket or playing some kickball across the street at Memorial Park. Perfect. I couldn't believe that people have had unsatisfactory experiences while dining here after reading the other reviews, because I've never been disappointed in the quality of the food or the service, whether dining in or getting a to-go order. The sushi is always fresh, salads are never soggy, and the clear soup is always scrumptious and not fishy like you might find at other Jacksonville sushi bars. I like that the selection of rolls isn't a novel but still offers creative options as well as the usual findings. The right level of heat in the spicy tuna or salmon rolls every time. I preferred the decor of the restaurant and the view offered by the outdoor patio area (Memorial Park and the St. John's River) before they moved from where Tijuana Flats is now to their current location at the opposite end of the plaza, but it's still cute. I wish it were closer to me, though :( but it's a good excuse to make a trip to Riverside... as if someone needed an excuse for that ;)
(5)Allan W.
Excellent quality! Service is a bit lacking, HOWEVER, to be fair....I sat at the bar and was only one person. So, just based on quality, it's a 5. Y'all know how stingy I am with that elusive 5th star! Lol :-)
(4)Kerry C.
My son treated me to dinner here this evening. Both of us had eaten here when it was located on the other side of the building but had not since it moved. Boy were we wowed when we came in. Yes, the place is a lot smaller but it is very attractive and upscale looking. Definitely an improvement over the old place. I think the food was even better than before. Just the right amount of waiting time between drinks and soup and then soup and rolls, then rolls and dessert. We both had the clear soup (delish) and then split the Jaguar, Monster (off the Chef Special menu), and Rock & Rolls. All were super fresh and scrumptious and we enjoyed every bite. Even the fried cheesecake for dessert was just right. Service was prompt, the waitress was attentive and helpful, but not overbearing. It appeared that the other customers around us were being taken care of promptly by their waitresses as well. The dining area outside looked adorable and I am looking forward to the cooler weather and dining out there. Parking is a pain because that lot is set for many stores, but if you are patient, you will find one. All in all, I am very happy. They may have downsized, but they improved.
(4)Michael C.
Everything about this place was decent, nothing more, nothing less. I had miso soup, the ginger salad and three rolls. All were tasty but nothing I haven't had before.One of my dining companions ordered the pan fried pork dumpling appetizer and that had the most flavor of all the items I tried. Service was slow but hospitable , pricing average for Riverside, and parking a pain in the ass(which is to be expected).
(3)Crystal M.
We often take out from here quite often, usually only going with their absolutely amazing Chicken Teriyaki which comes with a side salad, soup (I always pick their fantastic clear soup) and rice. The chicken comes glazed in the best teriyaki sauce I have ever had and it is piled high with zucchini, onions, and mushrooms. Both Lunch and Dinner portions of this are ample. We have tried their sushi before and I was not a fan, we already have our go to sushi place so any other place is usually never makes our list. But the employees are wonderfully pleasant.
(3)Amanda G.
I enjoy it! its fresh, affordable, casual. I can rely on it to be good every time.
(4)Hugo G.
Best your gonna get if you decide to stay in riverside.
(3)Len V.
An ok sushi place if you are in the area and need a quick sushi fix... but I would not go out of the way to go here. Decent value.
(3)Georgia C.
I promised them that I would bring them more business since my last visit and I have! And they keep getting better! I created my own roll last time. It was AMAZING! I still enjoy them so much! The service is great. The only negative would be that it gets crowded in there pretty quickly. But, I'm pretty sure that's because it's sooooo good and sooooo inexpensive. :D
(5)Chris H.
I admittedly haven't been here in a while, simply because I've got an absurd number of other sushi choices in the neighborhood, and I prefer Sumo Sushi and Sake House. That being said, the location is great - plenty of outdoor seating, although the new "talking bus" Downtown to Five Points trolley can be pretty annoying when it pulls up. Food is entirely average - nothing that's not offered at every other sushi restaurant in town, and execution is, eh, okay. Nothing to complain about, really, but I can't understand five star reviews for this place...
(2)Mark C.
I have been going here for several years only for the tofu teriyaki. You are guaranteed a large helping of tofu on the plate with some veggies and rice on the side. Nice outdoor seating in the 5 Points Area.
(4)Jaime M.
I needed a quick sushi fix and saw it as I was driving by. I found it to be pretty good, not the best I have had for sure. The staff seemed like they didn't know what was going on. Over all I give it a "pretty good"
(3)Chich S.
good sushi with quaint outdoor patio seating. prices are reasonable for a sushi joint. service was good. all in all, a winner!
(4)Shana C.
I'm not a fan of sushi but have found other fantastic food items to review on for this particular joint. As far as the sushi goes my husband and friends seem to dig everything they order as their plates are always empty. I found that they are vegetarian friendly and can order many veggie forms of "sushi" and they carry soy papers to wrap them in. DELISH! The outdoor seating so close to the heart of Five Points makes for a great atmosphere and a laid back dining experience. Hubby says the Clair Ahi Tuna Roll off the "specials" menu is a great choice.
(4)Jay L.
Hmm, as far as sushi places go, I think this place is average for Jax. In any bigger city, it'd be really subpar. I must admit, I'm pretty damn picky when it comes to sushi. After all, it's raw fish (mostly). Not to dis my Chinese brothers, but they don't really know anything about sushi. It's a Japanese art form. I don't know why there're so many Chinese run Japanese "sushi" places here in Jacksonville...possibly because the locals don't know the difference. Anyway, it's rather funny to me. I've been to about 7 or 8 of these places here and have not really been impressed with any of them. I usually get the same things so I can compare restaurants in a more objective manner. It's all my taste though, so it's gonna be subjective in the end...Anyway, I get sake (salmon), saba (mackerel), unagi (eel), tomago (egg), ama-ebi (sweet shrimp) and usually maguro (tuna). I did go once to Sushi Cafe and enjoyed it, but subsequent visits have left me wondering if I was going to be sick later. Fish wasn't fresh and not super flavorful. I pretty much go cuz my friends like it.
(3)Natalie B.
Another local neighborhood fave. I've been going since the day they opened. I craved their sushi even when I was up in Chicago. They are reasonably priced and have an extensive menu. The service is always great too! They have outdoor seating for when the humidity isn't completely poofing up my hair.
(5)gregory s.
reasonable price, plenty of available parking, and proximity make it our top choice for last minute sushi takeout.
(4)