Sumo Restaurant Storo — Restaurant in Oslo

We had a pre-booked private room/table in the middle of the restaurant which was very nice. The room was excellent, and in general the restaurant looks very nice. The service was also excellent. The price, and the food on the other hand does not match the venue or the service unfortunately.

We had both the poke bowls, hotpot, gyoza and the bao. The poke bowls are actually quite nice, and relatively reasonably priced, but way too much salad, and for some reason they add strawberries to it. Don't get me wrong, I like strawberries, but keep it away from the poke bowls. I also noticed they serve sushi with strawberries as well. I know you're trying to do fusion, but it does not work, structure- or tastewise!

The fried Gyoza is a starter that looks better on paper than in execution. When it said “fried” it’s deep fried, and covered with a way too sweet bbq sauce of unknown origin. This leaves the gyoza too soggy, and not crunchy, with an overwhelmingly sweet sauce. It completely lacks the balance a real gyoza would have, both in structure and taste.

The bao was good, but pricey. It has a tendency to be too much sauce, and the use of coleslaw does not not give the bao enough of a balance, both in structure and between the sweetness of the meat (bbq pork) and the crunchiness of the cole slaw. Should probably have used a fresh leaf of salad, and a few slices of pickles of some kind to balance the sweetness.

What I had the biggest problem with though was the Hot pot. First of all, it’s quite pricey (259,- NOK) and it says it’s with beef sirloin and chicken. There were almost no pieces of meat in what I got, and the little meat which was added was basically meat trimmings from other dishes, and it was also a huge amount of canned bamboo shoots, which in small doses is OK, but it was really too much. The uncanned vegetables, like the carrots, were overcooked, which also made the whole experience under par. The soup of the hotpot was probably a cubed stock, because the taste was super generic (but spicey, so that’s something). All in all a disappointment. I would not recommend it at all.

The reason it still receives 2 stars, is the excellent service, and a very nice venue. Most take away restaurants can probably deliver better food than...

During my stay at the Thon Hotel, I had dinner at Sumo, conveniently located just meters from the hotel entrance. Getting seated was quick and efficient. The location and energy of the restaurant were great—lively but not overwhelming for a Saturday night.

The seating was a bit cramped, and the tables are bolted to the floor, which limited flexibility. Guests can order either through a QR code or directly with a server, and I appreciated having both options.

I ordered a California roll and chicken fried rice—both arrived quickly and were fantastic. I also ordered an alcoholic beverage, and liked that still water was available via self-serve.

The only downside was the service. While not unfriendly, it was noticeably hands-off. My drink sat empty for quite a while, and although I made eye contact with the server several times, I wasn’t asked if I’d like another. When it came time to pay, the server handed me the kiosk with minimal explanation—despite (in my opinion) clearly realizing I couldn’t speak or read Norwegian. It felt a bit impersonal. After payment, she had already walked halfway back to her station before either of us had the chance to say “thank you.” Perhaps some of this is cultural, but it stood out as a weak point in an otherwise...

Sumo's attempt at Asian fusion left me with mixed feelings. On the positive side, the staff was undeniably friendly and efficient, and the selection of bottled beers was impressive. However, the truffle and mushroom dumplings was quite disappointing.

The biggest letdown was the temperature and texture of the dumplings. They arrived cold, which significantly impacted their enjoyment. Additionally, the dough was sticky and lacked the delicate chewiness expected from good dumplings.

Unfortunately, the flavor profile of the dumplings also fell short. While truffle and mushroom can be a delicious combination, in this case, it seemed muted and underwhelming. I couldn't discern much truffle aroma or taste, and the mushrooms lacked depth.

While the service and beer selection were commendable, the cold, sticky, and flavorless dumplings were a major drawback. If you're looking for a sure bet on delicious Asian fusion dumplings, Sumo might not be your best choice. However, if you prioritize friendly service and a wide variety of bottled beers, it could still be...