Shiki Sushi & Lounge — Restaurant in Rotterdam

Had high expectations, but it was a totally disappointing experience.

After reading the reviews I had high expectations of this restaurant. The disappointment starts at the entrance which looks like a bicycle storage. Inside the restaurant, the decoration and ambiance is fine with exception to the toilets (outdated and dirty).

It is an all you can eat concept for 37 euro per person. They use a point system which means you can order 4 points per round. Most dishes are 1 point each, but a few dishes are two points each. Meaning you can only order 2 dishes on that round which is pretty stupid. Lambs chops are +2 euro, sashimi are +7 euro. Yes, you are reading it correctly. A sushi restaurant asking +7 euro for each dish of sashimi additionally on top of a starting price of 37 euro p.p.

The quality of the food is rather poor. The nori (seaweed) of all the sushi are soft. The inari nigiri (egg) is turning grey, the maguro truffle nigiri is discolored. The sake mango had a mango so unripe it was like eating a stone.

The pork skewers are dry as hell, the fried chicken wings aren’t crispy at all, the fried rice and noodles are dry and tasteless, the duck breast isn’t rendered properly, the potato cake was more flour than potato, most of the dishes uses the same teriyaki like sauce.

For dessert, you get one scoop of ice cream and one bowl of fruit. If you want to order more ice cream or fruits, you have to – of course - pay additionally.

Service is poor. Most waiters are friendly, but they lack training. They delivered the dishes from the left, from the right, I had no idea where they are coming from. If you move too much, you might bump into them as they give no warning they are coming. One waiter did bump into my shoulder even though I didn’t move. The staff also places the dishes on the outside of the table, not in the center. They even often placed the dishes on top of my napkin.

I give a two star rating, only for the unlimited sushi ginger you can order, and for the ferrero rocher ice cream. Oh, and the oreo ice cream wasn’t available (but it was shown on the online menu).

Please be mindful when you read other reviews about this place. If you have any experience eating sushi, I would recommend you to seek out other sushi restaurants, or else you end up like me totally...

I ordered around dinner time via thuisbezorgd, the delivery was made by themselves there was quite a lot of miscommunication and the receptionist was somewhat rude over the phone even with the stress of a restaurant and this industry one can never let that reach the customers showing lack of training and discipline.

The delivery person claimed they were on location then called and no one was outside, I received the call while outside and no one said anything from the other end, the second call was the one where the staff seemed rude as if it's 'my fault' for not being outside even though I was, I also politely requested that I received a phone call upon arrival on location since it didn't have real time gps tracking which is a fairly common feature nowadays for delivery platforms.

The food is average, didn't taste bad didn't taste good I've had a similar or superior experience with other restaurants in Rotterdam, average doesn't mean bad it means charge fair/less and deliver faster than the competition. The only complaint was the "topping"/sauce on top of the sushi that personally I didn't like and had to remove with a napkin and I would've rather that if someone even likes that then obviously have the option to add separately not be imposed upon the dish itself ruining the experience for someone who just doesn't like it. I was actually more impressed about the coconut ice cream which tasted nice.

3 starts for an average to underwhelming experience and not a lot of value...

Shiki Sushi & Lounge offers a delightful array of food, showcasing a diverse menu filled with delicious options. My visit provided an overall enjoyable dining experience, with highlights being the scrumptious salmon steaks, assorted sushi varieties, flavorful meat dishes, and delightful sweets. The fruit ice creams, in particular, were a standout.

However, while the food largely impressed, some items like the green tea ice didn’t quite match my palate. My main qualm centered around the dining setup, specifically the tables for 1-2 people. As depicted in the images attached, these tables felt cramped and uncomfortable for two individuals. Given the restaurant’s offer of unlimited dining time, this constrained seating made it challenging to relax and enjoy the meal fully.

Despite this, I must acknowledge that my time at Shiki Sushi & Lounge was pleasant, yet the tight seating arrangement was a drawback that impacted the overall experience. With a few improvements in the seating layout, this renowned restaurant in my beloved city of Rotterdam could elevate its dining experience to match its exceptional food quality. Rating it 4 stars reflects my admiration for the cuisine and the hope for enhanced comfort...