Aroma Thyme Bistro
165 Canal St, Ellenville, NY, 12428
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Address :
165 Canal St
Ellenville, NY, 12428 - Phone (845) 647-3000
- Website https://www.aromathymebistro.com
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Roxanne G.
Very pleasantly surprised, especially since Ithaca so far hasn't offered as many good East Asian restaurants as I would have thought. Great taste, lovely presentation of the food, and wonderful atmosphere. (Bonus: A/C! Thank goodness. What a rarity.) I ordered a vegetable tempura dish and my companions ordered udon. We all loved our food! Topped with plum wine. They don't tell you this on the menu, but their green tea is actually genmai--extra delightful! Before coming, I read that a few people thought the service was bad here, however my experience has been the opposite; Our waitress was very patient in helping us.
(5)Diogo T.
It's fun to go there, but service needs improvement. I asked like 3 times for chopsticks and an extra cup for sake. I liked the complimentary sake jet (1 or 2 ounces) for the hibachi, but food had too much salt for a Japanese food. Price was not great either. $24 for a filet mignon hibachi. Hmmm pricey.
(2)Guava A.
If Sumo was located anywhere else, it wouldn't be a 5 star restaurant. But it is hands down the best sushi in Ithaca. The fish was fresh and the rolls were tight. The ambiance is perfect for a date or dinner with friends. The hibachi is also great as well, and the tables are big so they are great for a party! They also give both noodles and rice with hibachi and I'm all about the double carbs situation so that is a definite plus. This past time at Sumo, my boyfriend at I split the sushi for 2 and some shrimp shumai. Both were delicious and fresh and I would go back there in a second! If you have a sushi craving in Ithaca, look no further than Sumo.
(5)Andy G.
I don't know anything about the hibachi "experience" which seems appropriate for party groups and tourists, but we have visited Sumo several times and gotten regular table service. The pluses: The sushi is usually good, at least to my palette, and the other dishes are of average-to-good taste and quality--if you happen to visit on an "on-day". The decor is very nice and the front-end staff (except for the servers, see below) are ready with a friendly greeting. The negatives: Sumo seems to have "off-days" and the quality of food is inconsistent. You never know if it's going to be good or below average. Additionally, the servers are very stoic and nonchalant, and do not answer questions readily or ask you for clarification if they don't understand something. At least twice they've gotten my order wrong, probably because they didn't clearly understand what I said and didn't ask me to be sure.
(3)Sarah W.
This is my favorite place for Japanese food at Ithaca, and I miss it even after I move to Boston where there are more choices. I love Tuna Tartar which I can not find an alternative now at Boston. The American Dream roll and Chicken Katsu Don are awesome, and all the teriyaki entrees are good.
(5)Michael M.
WAY TO GO SUMO! Good sushi at a great lunch time price. 3 rolls, miso soup, and side salad for like $11. My girlfriend and I have shared an order before and been satiated. (I think there is a 2 roll as well if your appetite is a bit smaller.)
(4)Karena P.
love Love LOVE Sumo It's a regular lunch spot for me (great prices/food and fast service) and convenient location/ plenty of parking For dinner this restaurant is a winner too I usually opt for sashimi but if you are with others that shy away from raw fish the hibachi is fab too Especially fun at dinner for large groups and they have a private room available for parties Highly recommend!!!
(5)Brian B.
Our staff loves their lunch special. We all get sushi, soup and tea. The food and prices are great. Service is always friendly and helpful. The building is very clean and well decorated. My children love the fish tank.
(5)Tsz K. L.
Definitely opened by a Chinese owner. The worse part about this place is the service. I asked the poker face waiter what types of fish are included in the chirashi and what are the differences between the sashimi regular and deluxe. He said they have different fish. And the deluxe chirashi is decided by the chef, I asked if he could ask the chef what they are, he replied: the chef will decide, and he stood right there looking at me like I am an idiot to ask that. I have visited many real Japanese sushi bars and the chefs always told the waiter/waitress what they are! At the end we ordered spider roll, fantasy roll and rainbow row. In California, two rolls usually feed us both, here the price is the same, but the portion is half, so we had to ordered 3 rolls and still hungry when we left. We left because the fantasy roll is not tasty at all. The spider roll was ok, and rainbow roll is below average, the fantasy roll tastes like junk. We felt like they put a lot of sauce around each piece to cover the non freshness of the sashimi. Nice part: nice interior decoration, must have invested a lot of $$, the restroom is not clean enough. For instance, tissue paper here and there on the floor, water drops everywhere. If you wanna try to be high class restaurant, you not only need to have nice decoration. Please improve your service and clean the restroom more often and throughout.
(2)Mike And Nita B.
Really enjoyed it. Nice service and food. I am very picky about my Sushi and I enjoyed my sushi here. Fresh, cool and tasty. Nice ambiance, music and decor.
(4)Jian W.
I just tried the Chinese food in this restaurant. There is a TV showing world final. Great. The Chinese food is nice. The servers are very friendly. The environment is very comfortable. I strongly recommend trying this restaurant.
(5)Amanda M.
I used to like this place when they kept it clean. Last Saturday (5/16/15) I was eating dinner with a group of friends in the hibachi area. The floor was literally like there was a layer of grease on it. I went up to go to the bathroom and fell really hard. Not one person working at the restaurant asked me if I was okay! Now with bruised legs a week later I don't believe I will come back here and I certainly won't recommend it.
(2)Eric B.
While the food is fairly tasty, the service is atrocious. Our waiter first brought my girlfriend the wrong wine (although in all fairness he did tell her that she could drink it on the house), and then made three trips to our table to tell us he'd be right back before finally taking our orders. My entree came out of the kitchen a full 10 minutes before my girlfriend 's. Although the room is fairly nicely decorated, it is as noisy as a high school cafeteria....I cannot recommend this place...
(2)Julian D.
Quick service, delicious food, and beautiful ambiance! I always come here on special occasions.
(5)Josh B.
Sumo is an over-priced, underwhelming option for Asian cuisine. Set in a long, cavernous space in the Cayuga Mall strip mall, with an interior design blending modern and traditional Asian themes with earthy, elemental tones, Sumo cleverly implements a variety of sections and levels to help make more intimate an otherwise impersonal dining space. The hibachi hall is set apart from the rest of the restaurant in a long, dimly-lit echo chamber. If you happen to go on the same night as a sorority or fraternity event, you might bring some ear plugs or choose to skip the show and have the hibachi served to your table on the other side of the restaurant. Apparently no thought whatsoever was given to the acoustics of this space. Sumo's birthday drum, while festive, only makes matters worse. If you were hoping to have a nice quiet conversation over dinner, Sumo may not be your best choice. Based on the generic menu faire and uninventive sushi options, you are unlikely to discover some unique dish that will keep you coming back for more. The green tea, while enjoyably potent, was served to my party of two in cups that were both chipped, and the ginger dressing on the salad was unpleasantly creamy. On the positive side, the filet mignon was very tender, and the vegetables, while lacking in flavor, were al dente and tasted very crisp and fresh. The serving size of the hibachi meal seemed unnecessarily large and the inclusion of both rice and noodles redundant. Sumo might be better off reducing their serving size, replacing the noodles with beansprouts, or removing the additional side altogether, and reducing their prices to attract a broader base of customers. Further, while the manager was very friendly, our server and the overall service was nothing to boast about. Overall, the value for your dollar at Sumo just isn't there. The cavernous space, volume, higher prices, and only mediocre cuisine leave you better off dining at some of the outstanding options for Asian cuisine on Dryden Road or Eddy Street. Sumo is not a restaurant to which I feel compelled to return.
(2)Will S.
I've only been there for their Hibachi. The chefs are always entertaining and the food always turns out great. They have a lunch hibachi special for only $9.99 and you get a ton of food. I would wish that the servers were more attentive. You have to really flag them down to get a refill or even your check. Clearly understaffed.
(4)Rin W.
Probably the best place in Ithaca for sushi. I've been trying in vain to find a restaurant that serves good sushi and Sumo is finally it! Woohoo! Delicious, delicious sushi, fresh and beautiful presentation. I also LOVE the decor! will be coming back soon!
(5)Stacie S.
What a great find Sumo is! I initially didn't want to try because in a strip mall but friends told us it was best sushi/hibachi & they were right. We love Sumo! Fresh & good quality ingredients with awesome service.
(5)Marcia M.
Hibachi... Just fine but the sushi is great, especially when they have specials... Try the Panda roll if it's available. The space is large but well divided with lots of different Rooms and alcoves. It can get noisy especially when there are big parties at the hibachi tables. Service is usually excellent. In general one of our favorite spots for a casual dinner.
(4)Lesley G.
The food and service is very good. The menu doesn't include vegetarian noodle dishes, but they can be ordered and are delicious. Great sushi and specially rolls, and fun atmosphere. I would recommend this restaurant.
(4)Denise A.
I decided to give this place a try, as a few colleagues described it as the best sushi in town. After reading a few yelp reviews, I was convinced... I ordered miso soup, edamame, spicy tuna rolls, spicy scallop rolls, eel and fluke sushi. I was expecting to have the miso soup and edamame as appetizers; however, my miso soup arrived last, and I had to remind the server about it. To top it off, the server ALSO forgot my drink, which I ALSO had to remind him about. There is nothing special about the sushi here. Personally, I couldn't taste the difference between the spicy tuna and spicy scallop rolls. On the other hand, the fluke tasted fresh and melted in my mouth. As for the eel, you can't go wrong with unagi sauce, so it was pretty tasty. With tip, my tab was $30, which is not too bad in my opinion. The outside is deceiving. At first glance, you would expect a hole in the wall, but when you enter, you realize it is not. The restaurant is massive. They have booths, as well as hibachi tables. They also have a large private room for parties. This place is good for all sorts of occasions (dates, celebrations, or girls/boys night out). Since I thought the sushi was only average, I will probably try other restaurants, and if I can't find anything better, I will return to Sumo.
(3)Anthony N.
The brunette hostess forgot about us until we stared at her our two person table. She laughed at it and said it was because of all the birthday parties. Instead of apologizing, she just made an excuse. She should not be the first person that guest see. Our sushi took around 35 minutes, which is too long for a not that busy sushi bar when we came in.
(3)Jianchen S.
I lived around here and often come here for the lunch special. Sumo has the most largest bento box I've ever had, a small figure like me will starved for only ordering one lunch bento box.
(5)Mandy S.
Disgusting hibachi. Real Japanese food does not use flashy techniques on a steel griddle. Regardless, their cheap tactics make the food seem even crappier than it already is. Don't go. If you have any self-respect, don't abuse your stomach by putting this stuff in your mouth.
(1)Allen C.
Of all the sushi places I tried in Ithaca, this was probably the best tasting. I thought the setting was pretty nice. Sushi is pretty expensive for my standards but it's basically the same price as everything else in Ithaca. Service is pretty good here too. They gave us hot towels right after we ordered our food and they gave us a takeout menu and encouraged us to call in with an order next time so that we could save some time.
(4)Justin V.
I was hesitant at first because usually places like this can be very pricey but it was actually decent for what it was. We were greeted and seated very promptly by very nice servers. Our drink order was taken and they brought us hot towels for our hands which was crazy awesome. Naturally we started our dinner with sushi which was actually pretty decently priced. My wife got California rolls and I got a spider maki roll (softshell crab, fried). both were really good and decently sized too. The miso soup was quite good as well. For entree's we ordered the Chicken Tempura and Chicken Yaki Udon to share with each other and both were amazing. The Japanese really nailed it with tempura batter, it really is the only good way to fry things. The udon was amazing as well, great flavors! The servers were very nice and very attentive. They were too attentive at times though stopping at our table every 5 minutes it seemed but really I can't complain as it was better than if they weren't attentive at all. The atmosphere here is amazing, one of the best I have ever seen. Overall I am definitely coming back here, the pricing, the flavor and the service were all top notch! Next time I am totally doing hibachi though.
(5)Peter L.
2 less stars bc their food is not the best, mediocre sushi and hibachi. I've tried everything from salmon sushi to spicy tuna to yellow sashimi. 1 less star bc their hibachi chef barely speaks any english so its not as vibrant as some other places i've been to in ny. Their wait staff is understaffed and overworked so they can be slow at bringing you food when its primetime. Otherwise, overall decent place to have a sit down. Price is competitive with other sushi places in town. They will celebrate birthdays by singing and giving u very little sake and very small piece of cake.
(2)Carolyn G.
Dear Sumo, Last night everyone in the hibachi area ate with their coats on (I dont just mean my family, I mean everyone). Ithaca is cold right now but you MUST turn on the heat. 50 degrees is not OK.
(2)Molbert M.
Nothing wrong, nothing spectacular. Our food was fine, but nothing to write home about. We got the vegetable sushi dinner and the teryiaki tofu. No fancy Hibachi nonsense. Slightly pricier than you'd pay elsewhere. This place seems very popular with the (female) college crowd. I have no idea why.
(3)Adam E.
I got the Hibachi Chicken & Steak to go. Food was great. Wasn't much to the salad, but everything else was great. Very friendly service and English wasn't too bad. She even gave me a glass of water while I waited for my food. It tasted like pool water but it was a nice gesture.
(5)Micah S.
Their tempura Udon soup was pretty good. Some people also got hibachi and they were more pricey but good too.
(3)Erin J.
Well, it's passable, I suppose. When something states that it's "spicy" on the menu, I expect spice, not a slight tingle on my tongue, so the spicy tuna rolls have been a disappointment. The only positive about the spicy tuna is that they are a hair's width spicier than the ones at Mitsuba, and that's not saying a lot. The other sushi is fairly standard, but...I've really had a lot, lot better, and it wasn't from here.
(3)Amy C.
A great Japanese restaurant! Their food all looks very ordinary from the menu, BUT just these ordinary Japanese dishes, they simply just taste much better from this restaurant. The Udon or miso soup or other dishes is never too salty. Sushi tastes really fresh. Tempura shrimp, tempura chicken and vegetable are all at the exactly right, amazing crunchy level. The service was very good and the atmosphere was nice and quiet the first time we went. But it got a lot slower at the second time for it was a Friday night and they really got a lot of costumers. We had to wait for half and hour on the second time as well.
(4)Michelle B.
My review is based on the bento box lunch special. I get the salmon one for under $10 and it's truly an exceptional deal. The ambiance is great, and the service is pretty reliable. For Ithaca, I can't imagine a better Japanese restaurant for me. I'd say definitely check it out.
(5)Xi L.
Sushi is one of the best in ithaca, price-wise will be on par with everything else that is of quality. Hibachi is probably the best in ithaca. They also have private rooms for parties, Overall very good, A+ for ambiance and fanciness.
(4)Laura P.
Disclaimer: I'm only giving 4 out of 5 because in all fairness, I did not have a full meal. I will update once that happens. First things first. Lovely, lovely atmosphere. The entire place is decked out classy and modern. Honestly I expected the same tacky decor you see in every other asian restaurant, so it was a welcome surprise to walk in to the warm ambience of this place and be greeted like they were genuinely happy to see me. Loved the lighting. The bar and hibachi grill were expansive and shiny. My server was very nice and attentive. She started me off with a hot towel to cleanse my hands. Love this. I ordered the Miso soup and a 7 piece Sashimi appetizer which is Chef's Choice. The Miso was mild and delicious made with fresh, bright greens. My sashimi was a variety of shrimp, scallop, tuna, salmon and an unidentifiable whitefish which is fine, it was still damned good even though I don't know what the hell it was. Since I was there early it was very quiet and the perfect place to sit at a private table without a lot of noise going on. I can imagine that the place gets amped up later on in the evening. I plan on returning very soon to order a full meal, and maybe try out the Hibachi. I did however, read in another review that should I do that there is a distinct possibility of someone squirting sake in my mouth. Um. No way man. No one squirts anything in my mouth, at least not in a public venue.
(4)Sarah B.
Tonight was our first time at Sumo, the food was great! The atmosphere was nice, beautiful to look at. We ate in the dining room rather than the hibachi. Our server was friendly and informative. My husband and I got the love boat for two and it was more than enough! The only reason I am rating it 4 stars and not 5 is there was a piece of a lobster tail shell in one of the rolls and my husband discovered it while eating the roll.
(4)Cheryl F.
Have been eating here for over a year now and just had to say for us the experience always goes beyond our expectations. We love the atmosphere and service. Food is always great.
(5)Bryan W.
Went here last night with my friend and the sushi was pretty darn good. I only eat veggie sushi, so I had avocado, cucumber and a really good shiitake mushroom roll. My friend convinced me to try the smoked salmon and I really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend their sushi and the atmosphere inside is very cool and modern. Would love to come back here soon for hibachi.
(4)Katelin E.
Decided to try this place over the weekend. We were a little skeptical about the strip mall location, but we were pleasantly surprised. The place has a great modern vibe that is stylish and comfortable. The food was amazing. We ordered the edamame along with a few different sushi rolls. Everything was great. The edamame was warm and perfectly salted and the rolls were just as the menu described. Not only was the food great, but the service was spectacular as well. Very attentive and polite staff. Overall, we had a great experience here. Perfect place for a date night or dinner out with some friends!
(4)Tracey D.
Food was excellent but service not so much. Told 30 min wait, waited 60. Drunk and rowdy crowd was loud. Waitress took forever and never checked on us. Manager gave us a bowl of melted ice cream for three of us to appease us, yeah, not so much.
(3)Marya A.
I've been here twice. From the outside it looks like crap (and the location isn't great), but when you go inside it is BEAUTIFUL! The hibachi is delicious and the chefs are hilarious! The sushi is really lovely and the ambience in that area is great for dates. HIGHLY recommended! Also, amazing service!
(4)Bella L.
I am giving SUMO a 3.5 star rating. You can always count on having a pleasant meal here. The staff always greets you with their smiles, and offer you your preferred seating. I have tried the sushi, hibachi, and noodles here. My favorites are the sushi and noodels. The sushi is always fresh and delicious, while the noodles are flavorful. I didn't really like the hibachi, but it is fun being in the hibachi room and being entertained by the chefs. Overall, it is a nice place to dine in Ithaca.
(3)Harun O.
I had a deluxe sashimi plate which was ok in terms of size. However the service was horrible although it was not that crowded inside. We also ordered couple of rolls. The fish wasn't cut properly- had hard time chewing it. Avocado used in the sushi was old too.
(2)Sandy r.
Our family has eaten at Sumo probably once a week for the last year, and it is our favorite restaurant in town. The sushi is fresh, delicious and beautifully prepared and presented, and we have also enjoyed the teriyaki and tempura dishes. The owners are some of the nicest people you could meet, extremely hospitable, and always offer you a friendly welcome when you arrive, and thanks when you leave. Pleasant decor, and always clean and neat. For a special occasion, choose the hibachi rooms, which are a lot of fun. Guests with birthdays get special attention! Lunch specials run until 3pm. Very reasonably priced, and a great all around dining experience that I highly recommend.
(5)Dan S.
I came for dinner on a Thursday night and It was all great until they messed up my order. However, they made up for it afterwards. First, as an appetizer I got the Ika Fried, which was basically a fried calamari. The presentation was nice and it came with a spicy/tangy orange sauce that I really enjoyed. For the price, it was a bit expensive but not as expensive as the beef tataki that my friend got (it was a dollar per piece the size of a quarter). Then, I had ordered a Shrimp Tempura and Fantastic Roll. Our waitress (I went with a group of friends) came and handed me what were supposedly my rolls. I looked at them and the Fantastic Roll didn't look quite like I had imagined, but being my first time at the restaurant I just assumed that it was the Fantastic Roll. Then, after 15 mins, which was the amount of time it took for my other friends to get their rolls, our waitress came and told me that I had eaten what was supposed to be my friends roll. What I didn't understand was that he had not ordered the shrimp tempura roll, but they had come on a plate together. So it was a mistake on the parts of both the plater and the waitress. I was having a really great time until this occurred. I ended up finishing the roll I was given and the Fantastic Roll was given to the friend whose roll i ate. I was fuming at this point, because the Fantastic Roll looked so much better the roll that I had eaten. I was visibly fuming at this point and was about to give it a flopping one star, but then our waitress came over and gave us SIX free desserts: 3 orders of fried bananas and 3 orders of fried ice cream. I am easily pleased, and was thus thoroughly pleased at the fact that she not only provided dessert for me, but for my whole party. The food and atmosphere is great. I'll give it one more shot, but for now because of the mess up I can only give them 3 stars. I plan on coming again for lunch some time next week to try the Hibachi. Maybe by then I'll be able to give it a higher rating.
(3)Margot C.
Decor is great--refreshing change for Ithaca. Sushi is fresh, we had California roll and ikura for the kids, lemon roll, spicy scallop and fried oyster roll. Chicken and steak hibachi was pretty good, though not as good as Kyushu. Hot mustard sauce tasted more like sushi spicy sauce, and the ginger salad dressing was cloyingly sweet. I'd got back for the sushi, especially the oyster roll.
(3)Teddy E.
The lunch hibachi/maki specials are pretty good. Sushi quality is mediocre but not terrible i.e. acceptable for Ithaca. The hibachi special comes with vegetables and rice and if you're sitting at a hibachi table they'll make it in front of you along with a bit of a show. Dinner prices are pretty high but it would be fun to go as a larger group.
(3)Ryan B.
Totally did not expect just how beautiful this restaurant is. Absolutely wonderful! Very fast, friendly service. The staff is so kind and helpful. The food is just perfection. I will definitely be recommending this place to friends and will definitely be coming back!
(5)Kevin L.
A pretty decent Hibachi place, although I would not go very often since it is out of my budget (costs over $20). Non-Hibachi dishes were pretty good as well.
(4)R E.
We were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves having a top-notch experience in what we thought would be just another Asian strip-mall place. But the owners are making a real effort: really gorgeous decor (if a bit formal), attentive service, and a vast and enticing menu. Everything was delicious, from the miso soup, to the tempura appetizer, to my vegetarian sushi. I was expecting some carrot and cucumber rolls; what I got was a beautifully presented collection of fresh, delicious vegetables. Kids liked their teriyaki dishes, beef and chicken -- very generous portions but teen sons ate it all. Since it's a nicer, more formal and more expensive place than I usually go to, I plan to return on special occasions or with out-of-town guests I want to persuade to move to Ithaca!
(5)Kyle K.
First off, I'm taking Japanese at Cornell and kept thanking the servers with an ã‚ã‚ŠãŒã¨ã†ã”ã–ã„ã¾ã™, to a very strange eye raise and was summarily ignored. That's largely irrelevant though, because we're talking about the food, and it was terrific. I had the steak hibachi, and beyond the level of pure fun involved (I thought I'd be hit in the eye by a piece of flying meat and it never came) the food was delicious. Would absolutely recommend again, especially for special events. Thanks Sumo!
(5)Lan P.
This review is just about Hibachi. They got good atmosphere but a bit too dark on the Hibachi section food was just alright. Portion was not much compare to the price they are charging. People seemed to enjoying the hibachi show... To me that's not that practical and if the food is not exceptional, wouldn't pay for extra for it.
(3)Heather L.
We love Sumo, they are the best sushi place we've been to in Ithaca when you take into consideration food, service, and atmosphere. They have a good mix of hibachi, party rooms, and quieter sushi bar and regular bar (with TV) seating. Great staff and excellent food.
(5)T L.
We stopped here when passing through on our way to a graduation, and I'm really glad we did. The place looks very nice, and seemed to be much bigger than the Sumo in Utica. They have a huge room for hibachi, a sushi bar, and regular tables...and I believe there are separate rooms for private parties. When we were there it was before the dinner rush, but as we were leaving it was starting to get busy. As far as the food...we opted for sushi this time, and we weren't disappointed. My favorite was the green river roll, which wasn't something that I would normally order but we went with the suggestion. The prices seem pretty reasonable, and are a little bit cheaper than sushi places in CT. Also - the service was excellent...everyone was very friendly and attentive. Not sure when I'll get a chance to go back, but I would definitely recommend checking it out.
(5)Pascal C.
Staffs were poor, our waiter forgot to put in an order and we have to wait for half an hour because of that. He also messed up the order and put the sushi with the sashimi that someone else ordered. The food itself was okay, the eel and avocado were not very fresh but its serviceable.
(2)Kayla N.
This place has amazing service. The staff is super attentive. This place probably has the best sashimi in Ithaca, much fresher than the other places. The hibachi grill is too oily and salty for my taste but it's really fun to bring kids there because they'll love the tricks the chefs do. My boyfriend and I always get the sashimi boat which is definitely worth the price.
(5)Maggie W.
I've been here several times and the experience is usually positive. It's very noisy because the hibachi chefs are always shouting some song when they spray the sake in your mouth. I got really sick one time and I think it was because of the Sake. Our waiter was very inattentive. It was hard to communicate with her, she had a very thick accent. Despite this, the food has always been good, and the chefs enthusiastically always put on a good show.
(4)Daniel E.
Designed to be high end restaurant, very pricey - very attentive staff, the sushi is good and the chef menu actually has interesting sushi creations - nothing wrong with the food, but overall not worth the price, I did not check the hibachi.
(3)Crystal C.
not authentic Japanese food the food is too salty and I found hair in my rice never going back again
(1)Anton N.
We have eaten here three times and have never experienced any of the mishaps described in other reviews. All our food has been fresh, and served quickly by the pleasant staff. My spouse is an 'expert ' in decent sushi, having lived & worked in NYC for many years, where the Japanese restaurants are as good as anywhere. She rates SUMO as one of the best in this area.
(4)Cici W.
I have been to this restaurant for five times and recommended it to my friends, who love it too. I have not tried Hibachi here but the appetizers, beef dishes and sushi rolls taste great!
(4)S. L.
The location is really terrible -- it's in the Cayuga Mall to begin with and at the farthest end from the entrance at that --, and we almost turned back and went somewhere else, thinking we got the address wrong. But we were glad we didn't. Once inside, you can see how big, contemporary, well-decorated, and "grand" the place is (it would really be a perfect place to take your parents when they're visiting or to go on a date). We were very pleasantly surprised. The service was excellent, and the food was unexpectedly fresh (says my friend who lives by the ocean and is used to extremely fresh and high quality, 5 star restaurant sea food/sushi), good, and large in portion. We left telling each other that we'd tell our friends about this place and hoping that the word spreads!
(5)Kelly L.
I was pleasantly Surprised how nice this place was! The interior is beautifully decorated with a new bar. The habbachi portion was very large, included noodles rice vegetables soup and salad. The sushi tasted fresh and delicious. I suggest making a reservation, because it was very busy in there! I will definitely be back!
(5)Kathleen B.
Habachi was phenomenal and the ambiance was a pleasant surprise . The portions were plentiful. The waitstaff was friendly and helpful. It's a hidden gem in Ithaca.
(4)S T.
Went there Friday after Valentines Day. Had a reservation for 7pm, we waited 20 mins to be seated--some sort of communication problem. We had edamame and shrimp and vegetable tempura for appetizers, crazy tuna roll, vegetable roll, and a special duck roll for our main entrees. We had mochi green tea ice cream for dessert. Part of our main entrees came out before the appetizers. We had to keep informing different servers what we had ordered to get our full order right. The special duck roll (cooked duck, was served warm) was interesting and tasty, would have it again but it's not on their daily menu. The crazy tuna roll was screwed up-they must have brought us a normal tuna roll--it was bland and flavorless, mushy texture, and lacked "crunch" as described in the roll description. The vegetable roll was ok. I prefer them to be heavier on the asparagus than avocado to provide a nice texture difference with real sushi rolls--this was heavy on the avocado and had little to no crunch. The presentation was nothing special. No cut carrots or zucchini into blossoms or orchid flowers, just the rolls on the plates with some drizzled sauce. Their photos on their website do not resemble the plate you'll get. The interior decor is ok but needs some help, I would all it Japanese contemporary (dark wood long horizontal panels) with a dash of asian kitsch--I wouldn't get super dressed up for it. The ceilings are high and the decor does nothing to address the acoustics because of the high ceiling, so it sounds like a cafeteria. They need to add things--drapes?--to absorb some of the sounds and need slightly darker and warmer lights (they're quite white, not romantic--they help to reinforce the cafeteria atmosphere) to create a more cozy and intimate atmosphere. They also have a heating problem--acknowledged by one of our servers. Their air vents suck out not only the heat from the kitchen and the hibachi area, but also from the regular seating area too. Both my fiance and were freezing, and he's never cold! They need to install some fans to bring the warm air down from their too high ceilings. One saving grace, they do have a full liquor license which is fantastic. Drinks were ok.
(2)Kel N.
Sumo is the best quality sushi around, and the price reflects that. Huge hibachi room**, however, the chefs are hit-or-miss: some are entertainers, some are clearly just going through the motions. The staff is generally friendly though not overly helpful. No chopsticks unless you ask; which I think is odd. But, the food is delicious, and the portions are large. **Because of the size & shape of the room, it can get really crowded and LOUD. If you have sensitive children, you might do better sitting in the dining room.
(4)