Shogun Japanese Steak House — Restaurant in Albany

I don't know about you, but I'm a sushi lover! Ever since i was in middle school I've been hooked on the stuff. And one thing I say to those unfamiliar with sushi is Don't Knock It Until You've Tried it.

Living in Albany, GA has its challenges. finding decent Japanese food and sushi is one of them. Though I while back a friend strongly suggested that I go try out Shogun Japanese Hibachi and Sushi Bar. I've seen the place in passing, but never went there for a meal. Though I did so today along with my mother.

My first impression was that I really liked the look and decor of the restaurant. It certainly had the Japanese Steakhouse feel, but minus the dog-n-pony show. However things began to roll down hill as it took several minutes for our party to be seated. In retrospect we should have gone strait to the sushi bar. However as we waited more people were coming in behind us. That's when a server decided to seat us. She was not well mannered and virtually thrusted the menus into our hands and bluntly asked for our drinks. We felt rushed actually even though business was slow at that particular moment. We then expressed politely that it was our first time... and she repeated herself in the same tone, demand what our drink choice was before we could even open the menus to see what they were! I asked what the choices were, as I wan't able to find them in the menu right away and her response was simply "Coke Products". not really the answer one would want. So we just ordered a pair of Cokes and took several minutes to bring us our drinks. When she did she just placed them on the table and literally tossed the straws onto the table and said nothing.

Approximately 15 minutes later she came to ask what we wished to order and we were still looking over the menu. We asked for a few more minutes and she just walked off without a word. At this point I was about ready to just pay for the drinks and leave. I've worked as a server before and this kind of service is flat out unacceptable. After we had a rough idea of what we wanted we waited for our waitress to return... she didn't. When we tried to flag her down she passed us by! As though we were being totally ignored! At that point I was ready to walk out entirely and not pay for anything. I'm not one to do such a thing, so if I get to that point it's pretty bad... However, another server from a different section came over and became our waitress. And honestly, she was the one who turned the whole thing around.

Her name was Emma and she was an absolute darling! Kind, polite, and well spoken. And I could tell she was busting her rear to pick up the slack from the other waitress. She brought us a Sushi ordering menu so we could finally look at the pricing, and it wasn't bad. We ordered a total of five rolls. A Philly, Rainbow, Spicy Tuna, and a specialty roll called the Baked Salmon. We also had a side of seaweed salad.

We've eaten at the Tokyo Steakhouse, which was mediocre. I can get better sushi from Publix compared to there's. But Shogun's was spot on made with fresh ingredients and I could taste it! Everything was excellent, our waitress followed up on us to make sure we were well taken care of. The meal was excellent and we only had the sushi. Their baked salmon roll was phenomenal~!! One order of that roll is plenty for one person and it was immaculately crafted.

What was becoming a runaway train of an experience was quickly turned around by our wonderful waitress. Again her name is Emma. Despite having an excessively rocky start it turned out to be a pretty decent experience. I actually look forward to going back and trying something different on their menu. So I do strongly recommend you pay a visit yourselves and try to ask for Emma if she's there. She won't treat you wrong,...

Awful experience! Went in with high expectations due to previous reviews, but they did not deliver. We ordered our drinks (Waikiki Woo Woo) and water. The waitress came out with the drinks, but neglected to bring the water. At that time we ordered our first sushi roll (Baked Salmon). The waitress was confused about the fact we order sushi rolls one at a time--like you would at any normal sushi restaurant--and it took six times explaining, detailing and instructing before she understood. The drinks did not leave any lasting impressions. They were just under "okay," for neither of us could tell what flavor they were trying to bring to the palate.

So we finished our first drinks and still no sushi roll. I was relegated to flagging down a different waitress--our's did not make her-self available--and query about our sushi roll. At the same time we ordered two more drinks and, if they were going to take this long, our second roll. Then we waited... and waited. Now I'm growing impatient since it was closing-in on an hour since we made our first order.

FINALLY!!! The second waitress brought our first roll and said it took so long because there were so many customers and they had to bake the salmon. I took umbrage to those weak excuses, because 1) at least 3/4 of the other customers already had their food, 2) the customer to chefs ratio did not rationalize the wait, and 3) salmon should not take that long to bake, unless one wants it overcooked and dried-out, which it was.

Overall, we were not impressed with the drinks, food or service. The restaurant is trying to bring unique sushi rolls (e.g., Tomato Pesto Roll) to the area for which I commend them; however, almost all of them had fried or baked ingredients. There should be more fresh/raw options.

새옹지마...

"Taking a Foodie Lyfe Tour was just what my taste buds ordered! Here at Foodie Lyfe Tour, we've partnered with our local culinary scene to highlight all the good things about the Good Life City of Albany, GA, and Shogun Japanese Steak House is a must-try! This is one of our absolute favorite sushi spots. The California Roll and Volcano Roll are always my go-to choices, but their menu is full of delicious options.

On this visit, I branched out and tried a new roll (pictured in the video). It was a feast for the senses! Topped with what looked like imitation crab, a creamy, savory sauce, and a sprinkle of green onions, every bite was a burst of flavor. The rice was cooked to perfection, and the ingredients inside the roll were fresh and delicious. Before the sushi arrived, we enjoyed a comforting bowl of soup (also shown in the video) and the classic ginger salad – always a refreshing palate cleanser.

Beyond the fantastic food, the customer service at Shogun is consistently top-notch. The staff is friendly, attentive, and always makes us feel welcome. From the moment we walked in until we left, the entire dining experience was amazing. The restaurant itself has a warm and inviting atmosphere. As you can see from the video, it's a popular spot, and rightfully so! If you're looking for delicious sushi and excellent customer service in Albany, look no further than Shogun Japanese Steak House. You won't be...