QUALITY:
My fiancée and I have been going to Ninja regularly -- around once a week -- since May of this year, and we have always been astounded with the quality of the sushi. We have never ordered anything else, so I can't speak to the broader menu selections, but the sushi... :') We've been to restaurants that have just had "bad days" and served abominable sushi, but Ninja has never disappointed us. The nigiri are beauteously prepared, and the variety of rolls offer opportunities for a diversity of palates: sauces, no sauces, spicy, not spicy, crabstick, Krab meat, fried, and unfried. Their use of sauce, whether it's ponzu, spicy mayo, or sriracha, is very well-apportioned and not overwhelming.
We have spent the last two years ravaging restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat sushi, since the quantity that we put away would cost around $120-150 on the à la carte menu. After we discovered Ninja, we never let go. Every experience is rewarding, and the staff are all incredibly friendly and welcoming.
The caveat to that last sentence, of course, is that you be deserving. Which is true for anything, but a lot of people don't seem to realize it. If you're a rude or self-entitled customer, you're not going to get the same quality of comfort that we do with the staff. This leads us on to the next section...
SERVICE:
Sometimes, when it's busy, the quality of service declines. They sold roughly 1,500 Groupons (and counting), which brought in an impossible amount of people. Ninja was, frankly, unprepared for that kind of demand. With three sushi chefs, one of whom doubles as a teppanyaki maestro, the output is understandably limited when it gets that absurd. But honestly, if you walk in to a restaurant that's filled to the brim and you see sushi orders lined up on the bar, you should not expect instantaneous service. The poor reviews that complain about horrible timing and disinterested staff are inaccurate, because they only portray a single viewpoint: that of a slighted patron who felt entitled to magnificent service on a night that was busier than hell. Yes, I obviously won't deny that the service slows down when it's busy, but when it's not, the service is conversely excellent. Therefore -- like ANY restaurant -- the quality of service is dependent on the level of demand.
The best nights of the week are, predictably, Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday are the most crowded, but it's occasionally hit or miss; we've gone in on Saturdays that were totally empty. There's no telling whether the hoards of dinner-goers will be in the mood for sushi or some other fare at another establishment.
SPECIAL OCCASIONS:
My fiancée and I became engaged when I proposed to her, in Ninja, in October. I talked to the staff, who were enthusiastic about helping me prepare the proper presentation and surprise, and they were wonderful. The engagement ring came out on a sushi boat, and the chef had prepared a special roll - I still don't know what was inside it, but it was fabulous - with each piece in the shape of a little heart. They took a video and pictures for us, with my camera, and are generously hosting my wedding reception there in late December (2012). They've been so accommodating and friendly that we feel warmly welcomed every time we step inside.
CONCLUSION:
Ninja is definitely worth the return trip. If you have expectations of brilliant service, go on a night when those expectations are realistic. read more