We might have visited Sushi Raku on an off night but this was my third time giving this restaurant a chance and I'm not sure I'll be coming back.

Service was slow, and while it was evident a new server was being trained, and the host was doing her best to assist, it took nearly 15 minutes to be acknowledged at our table while two other people who were seated after us (and we had a reservation) had their orders taken. Mistakes happen but this set the tone for the rest of our experience.

A sushi restaurant running out of rice during a supper service is also concerning. The food was served nicely but lacked flavour. The miso soup was from a packet and had been prepared with chicken stock making it thin, hiding the miso flavor, and decidedly not vegetarian, which was off putting.

The space is far too open with tables all bordering one shared area. The restaurant has a layout very similar to the (now gone) Otowa on 2nd Ave and might want to invest in enclosed booths or something like that one did to divide diners as it is a loud restaurant and not ideal for an intimate meal.

Overall, there are much better Japanese restaurants in Saskatoon with tastier food, nicer decor, and better experiences to be had than here. I wish Sushi Raku luck but I feel changes should be made to elevate this restaurant.