A Sushi — Restaurant in Carlstadt

I went to eat here with my family Friday. We previously had a good experience, so we decided to go again. While the food was good and came out quickly, I left feeling quite annoyed with the quality of service.

We had ordered from both the kitchen menu and the all you can eat menu. My mom preferred the salmon teriyaki bento box over the all you can eat menu, so I ordered her that. I know it’s common practice in AYCE restaurants to limit the food to just those who are eating AYCE. However, this place is unique in that you can only order from the kitchen menu on your initial round. As such, I did not think that it was an infraction for my mom to eat some edamame (which she loves) I had ordered as an appetizer.

This is where I was wrong and the quality of service dipped. One of the servers came over and rather loudly said that customers who did not order AYCE could not eat AYCE items. I looked at the server rather confused and somewhat annoyed that she had interrupted our meal to say that. I told the server that nobody had eaten what they weren’t supposed to. She then gestured to the edamame, perhaps realizing she was causing a scene. I told her we understood, and she turned away to attend to another diner. However, for the rest of the meal, we noticed her constantly glancing over to our table. The restaurant only had three other tables going at the time, so it was rather obvious that she was looking to see if someone was eating that they weren’t supposed to. This made for an uncomfortable eating experience, and we declined to order another round of food after our initial round.

I understand that restaurants like A Sushi have to protect their profit margins, and they do clearly outline their rules on the table on a little laminated card. However, it was not clear to me that kitchen menu items that are only able to be ordered once also fall under that umbrella. I believed that meant that appetizers and kitchen items weren’t subject to the AYCE rules. That seems like something that should be made clear to the diner. Additionally, we are paying for our meals to eat their food. It’s not like we were stealing off someone else’s plate or eating entire other dishes. If you are going to have specific rules for your dining experience, then those should be made clear to the diner so there is no confusion. Again, we are paying to eat there, so there really isn’t a reason for a waiter to basically be our babysitter while we are eating.

We won’t be returning to this place. It’s a shame, since the food is prepared with care and attention. I understand why the rules are the way they are, but also doesn’t mean that we should have our experience dramatically altered over a gray area in...

You know, people underestimate the role of constraint in producing excellence. And here’s the thing—this sushi restaurant, despite its all-you-can-eat format, doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. They don’t overwhelm you with mountains of sashimi or bottomless piles of nigiri—and at first glance, that might seem like a limitation. But in reality, it’s a conscious decision to focus on what they can do exceptionally well.

And what they do is craft some of the most remarkable sushi rolls I’ve encountered. Every detail—from the precision of the knife work to the plating—is handled with a kind of disciplined care that speaks to a deeper ethic of pride in one’s craft. They’re not just putting food on a plate; they’re manifesting an ideal of culinary order.

Then there’s the blowtorch. Ah, yes. That subtle kiss of flame across the fish—unlocking layers of umami, deepening the flavor in a way that reminds you that transformation, even under pressure, can produce something truly beautiful. The unique combinations—unexpected yet harmonious—demonstrate both creativity and a respect for tradition, and that’s not an easy balance to strike.

So, while you may come in expecting quantity, what you’ll leave with is an appreciation for the careful integration of skill, attention, and vision. And maybe, if you’re paying attention, you’ll realize that sometimes less is not only...

We came here for the first time today. My husband and I had a great experience. We did the all you can eat and each has a soda by the can. It was a great experience. The team takes great care of you from the moment that you walk in. The place is small but the perfect intimate spot. They did have a large group of 6 but I don’t recommend for a group larger than that. It is a family friendly place that welcomes even infants. It was a great little date night experience. The service was unmatched. The wait times to get our food was quick. The team would check on us pretty quickly when they saw empty plates or it looked like we were finishing up to see if we needed anything else. They were really great and I would...