Akira Aptos — Restaurant in California

Super nice location and outdoor seating, but I wasn't impressed with the food or the service. I called in an order at 6:46 and was told the food would take about 40 minutes. I could hear chatter of other people in the back and have worked in food service before, so I get it -- busy Saturday night. But man. I ordered three sushi rolls, and my boyfriend and I agreed that all we could taste was just the unagi sauce. We couldn't taste any of the other ingredients, and the avocado was browned and soft, like it had been sitting out for more than a day / old. Most places we go to are not as heavy-handed with their sauce / its not overpowering, so we can usually taste the individual ingredients like cucumber or crab. We both agreed that the sauce was way overpowering for the amount of seafood we actually got inside of the rolls. Two rolls had tempura but since we weren't sure of when they finished our order (they never called us to let us know if it was ready, so I was confused at why they would take down our phone number) it was cold and kind of soggy by the time we ate it at our hotel room down the street. Not as oily as another customer mentioned, though, thank goodness.

We could see the servers trying to get to everyone, but I almost felt like a bother waiting for the servers at the takeout area. Overall, I wouldn't come here again and might check out another sushi place in Capitola if my boyfriend and I are ever back vacationing in this area. Kinda disappointing since you would figure that most seafood places by the beach would be able to serve good seafood. We've had wonderful experiences in Monterey and Half Moon, as well as other beach towns in SoCal, so my hopes are that this is just a one-time occurrence...

When the food is delicious but the service is abysmal...

We arrived on a Saturday evening and were completely ignored for about 10 minutes before we got a "hi, how many?" By one of the servers because the first host appeared overwhelmed. When we did get a table, our server was fairly prompt with getting us drinks, but then after delivering them he did not come back to the table. We had to wave him down after waiting over 30 minutes. During our wait we watched him have plenty of opportunity to come over, but he completely avoided eye contact. Finally, when he did come he took our order and we had to wait an additional 40 minutes for our food. He doesn't cook the food, and it was a busy night, but we watched tables who arrived after us get friendly and fairly prompt service from him while the 2 of us got excuses and half hearted apologies in the few times we did interact with him. When he brought the food, it was delicious, but not worth the wait and poor attention. I don't expect perfection but the bare minimum of genuine friendliness and some attention would have made for a way better experience. I want to see my server having fun and goofing around with their coworkers, I just also want to be taken care of in equal measure. Also, better teamwork would really help with the wait times. None of the servers ran anyone elses food, only their own. I've never seen that before and I don't know why they aren't...

Akira in Aptos is a solid choice for sushi lovers, offering a dining experience that's worth a visit. The restaurant's extensive menu is one of its standout features, boasting a rich array of options that cater to various tastes and preferences.

The server we encountered was notably friendly and attentive, enhancing the overall dining experience. Their knowledge of the menu and willingness to offer recommendations was appreciated, especially when navigating the extensive options.

While the food at Akira is generally good, there's room for improvement in terms of taste. Some dishes could benefit from a bit more refinement to truly elevate the flavors.

One aspect that slightly detracts from the experience is the restroom situation. During busy periods, the facilities can become overcrowded, which may cause some inconvenience for diners.

The restaurant offers a pleasant ambiance, suitable for both casual dinners and special occasions. The sushi bar provides an opportunity to watch the chefs at work, adding an element of entertainment to your meal.

In conclusion, Akira in Aptos is a commendable sushi spot with a few areas for improvement. Its strengths lie in its diverse menu, friendly service, and welcoming atmosphere. With some fine-tuning of flavors and attention to facility management during peak hours, Akira has the potential to become a top-tier sushi destination...