Sushi Nikko — Restaurant in Carrboro

We visited this evening around 8:00 PM and were the only customers. While the restaurant was clean with pleasant background music, the overall experience was poor, especially given the prices.

The Food We ordered the Shrimp Katsu ($16) with rice and the Beef Teriyaki ($18), since they were out of the Salmon Teriyaki. A major red flag was hearing a series of loud microwave beeps immediately after placing our order. The food came out after 10-15 minutes.

The Positive: Both of our meals came with excellent rice that was fluffy and fragrant, and a small side salad with a standard ginger dressing.

The Disappointment: My Shrimp Katsu was highly disappointing. It tasted nothing like shrimp and resembled processed meat, similar to imitation crab, but shaped like mozzarella sticks drizzled with sweet mayo. The texture and flavor were clearly not fresh shrimp. My wife’s Beef Teriyaki was also underwhelming. The beef was chewy and served over soggy lettuce, with a very basic, overly sweet teriyaki glaze.

The Service The lone waitress was polite but demonstrated poor customer service skills. The most jarring part of the meal was when she began to hover near our table while we were eating, making us feel rushed. At 8:20 PM, she told us they were closing at 8:30 PM, pressuring us to finish quickly. Their Google listing clearly states a 9:00 PM closing time.

As someone who tries to support local Asian cuisine, I was genuinely disappointed by both the low quality of the food and the pushy, rushed service. We will not be returning. Too expensive for low...

Sushi was delicious here. We aren't super big sushi folks-- I'd dabbled here and there, but it wasn't like I walked in with an encyclopedic knowledge of sushi like some reviewers appear to have. Figured that ought to be noted for full disclosure. BUT... All the sushi we've had here has been fantastic. They have an array of options so that even non-sushi-enthusiasts can find something delicious (friends have been wary about going beforehand but are always pleasantly surprised.) The rolls are larger (diameter-wise) compared to others I've had and are nice and dense as well. It's become a staple in our restaurant rotation ever since we discovered it. It seems to be a family operation, and the staff are always very courteous and friendly when we stop in. In addition, despite its location in a lackluster stripmall, the interior atmosphere is very eloquent and peaceful. As I saw someone else put it, you almost forget you're in a strip mall. Lo-fi music plays softly. The white walls are decorated with all manner of peaceful art, props, and sushi related knickknacks. It's always quiet in the restaurant, even with other customers around (never had an obtrusive or loud fellow consumer while I've been there as the ambiance sort of lends itself to quiet conversation and enjoying the music). Like I said, very peaceful. Soothing. It's really a nice little spot. A real hidden gem in Carrboro, it's never packed and there's (in my experience)...

UNBELIEVABLE. I had been scoping this place out for the past few months. Today I decided to treat myself to sushi. I drove to the establishment and looked at the menus posted on the outside. I went in and someone was coming from the back. I picked up a menu and turned to the back to find a description of the rolls. They lady working there had arrived to the front of the restaurant by this time and was standing in front of me. In walks a group of four girls. The lady continues to IGNORE me (and I am hard to be ignored since I am an African American female with long locs and I am almost 6'), grinned enthusiastically at the girls that walked literally just walked in, held up 4 fingers, and asked if they needed seating for four. I left upset and flabbergasted. I was obviously there first, I had a menu in hand, and the lady at the restaurant totally ignored my presence. I WILL NOT spend my hard earned money on an establishment like that. I would give this business no...