So I recently went to Daikichi Sushi. I hadn't been there since a few years ago and honestly back then, went there looking for great ramen. I wasn't impressed and didn't return.
So I went back for their sushi as it felt unfair to rate them on ramen when their specialty was sushi. There are very few sushi places actually owned and run by Japanese outside of big cities, people rave about this place, and I'm all for supporting them. I did order the ramen again hoping it changed. It was ok, but I resigned it is not the place for ramen. However, I will say their sushi and other appetizers are great, no lie. But my recent visit left a bad taste despite their great food.
When we arrived, about 6pm, the waitress told me and my teenage daughter, "only the bar was available". There were 2 4-person tables that could be separated for a table for 2. And I noticed 2 couples already there sitting at 4 person tables. So I asked the waitress why are they seated at the tables? She said they arrived earlier and now they need to keep the tables open Ok, I get that, even though they only opened an hour ago. It's Saturday night, so I'll go with that.
Well, shortly after putting in our order at the bar, I see them seat 2 people at one of the 4-person tables. And then shortly after that, they separated the other 4 seater into 2 tables and sat 2 more couples that arrived at each table. Now, I'm raising an eyebrow. I didn't say anything but before I left, I said to the waitress, I couldn't help but notice there were several couples seated at tables after us. She said oh, that couple knows the owner, referring to the first couple seated at a 4 person table (they didn't even separate the table). Ok I figured that when the owner gave a loud and enthusiastic good bye to them and the diner looked Japanese. I replied to the waitress, but then you all seated 2 more couples and pulled the table apart to accommodate them. She replied that the boss ordered them to separate the tables but he rarely does. I replied that we had arrived well before any of those 3 couples and were told we couldn't sit at the table. She just shrugged as if to say she was just following the boss' order.
I left the usual 20% tip because I know the waitress didn't make the decision and she gave great service and the sushi was great. However, that said, the blatant preference of other customers felt insulting and left a super disappointing taste in my mouth. And no, they were not all Japanese. Just that one diner.
The owner clearly picked and chose to not give us a table, for whatever biased reason. I could understand if I were alone or my daughter was 8, but she looks clearly like an adult. It just really sat wrong with me and left me upset enough that I question returning. It's very unfortunate that an otherwise great experience was marred by this blatant refusal to seat my daughter and I at a table, only to have salt rubbed into the wound by seating numerous couples that followed at a table, by separating the tables. They didn't even offer to seat us at the traditional tables, all of which were empty at the time we arrived. To me, the authentic Japanese sushi was not worth the insulting unexplained preference to seat other customers after us at a table.
PS: the only sushi roll I didn't like was the real crab California roll. The real crab was grey and cold and tasted so fishy, I asked to make sure it was cooked real crab and not raw. (They said it was cooked). I guess I was expecting real Alaska crab white crab and it was not this at all. read more