Rayza's Restaurant — Restaurant in Daphne

We have been wanting to try this restaurant for weeks, but never got around to it till tonight. I have been hearing and seeing great reviews online and was really excited. Unfortunately, I may be the only one who missed the hype. I really wanted to love this place!

Food/Drinks: We ordered 6 different rolls (Rayza, Rainbow, Spicy Shrimp, Creamy Crunchy Shrimp, TNT, and Philly), an appetizer (Jubilee Crispy Shrimp), miso soup, and dessert (Bread Pudding). Prices varied, ranging from $12-$25. The Rayza, I feel is overrated and priced at $25. I’m not sure how many actual pieces where in this roll because it was completely covered with “Baked Seafood Toppings” which appeared to be only really shredded imitation crab. The Rainbow roll did taste nice and fresh and presented well, but lacked in the interior of the roll. My son enjoyed the Spicy Shrimp roll, but it truly wasn’t anything special. What I mean by that is, was it bad? No. Would we eat it again? Sure. Would we return just to get that roll? No. The Creamy Shrimp Roll was probably our least favorite of it all. It had very little shrimp and tasted more like a green onion roll. The TNT and Philly were the best out of the rolls ordered. My husband and son enjoyed the TNT and the Philly was exactly what I would expect from a traditional Philadelphia Roll. They did charge $1.00 for Spicy Mayo that tasted like the Tabasco Mayo you buy in the store. The appetizer Jubilee Shrimp, priced at $16, had a decent flavor, but the portion was small and had I not known it was shrimp, it would have been hard to tell. My son who eats Miso Soup all the time, completely didn’t care for it (It was taken off our check, which we appreciated, but didn’t ask for). Our Dessert was very good. The Bread pudding had the right about of crunch, mixed with the warm moist center. We did order 2 old fashions that were meh… I think their recipe could be revisited.

Atmosphere/Service: The restaurant isn’t very large and when filled, is hard to maneuver through. However, the restaurant appeared/smelled clean, they did have upbeat music playing, staff appeared to be happy and engaged. Our waitress was very friendly, overall attentive, offered suggestions on food choices and was knowledgeable about them menu.

I will say, I was a little taken aback, being a new restaurant, that their Cocktail Menu was photocopied onto card stock and didn’t even bother to make a straight copy. (See picture attached)

Even though we will more than likely not be returning, we do wish...

4 people with a reservation, sat at the front at a table, and then waited for a few minutes for water and about 15 minutes for our cocktails. This is not a large place, so to wait so long for anything is kind of crazy. But it is understandable when your waitress is more interested in the bartender than her tables. Ordered our food, and we were mostly done with our cocktails as food came out. Food was good until one of my guests pulled a hair out of his mouth. Yeah, sushi had hair in it. Where was our waitress? I have no idea. Guy comes up we show him, and his response is that it shouldn't be there. Do you want another sushi roll. I saw very little embarrassment on his face or the way he handled it. So they ask if he wants another. He said yes as he wasn't quite halfway done with his dinner. So they bring out another roll. I a to-go bag, in a plastic covered dish. Mind you, we are not halfway done with our food. So I guess they wanted us to leave? We ordered dessert, and it was very good. We ordered coffee (3), and well 2 came out, and when brought to their attention, again, they are not very concerned. "It will be about 5 minutes" for coffee? I can make a pot in 3 minutes. And it's better coffee than what I just had. I asked for the bill, and that was the only thing that came out promptly. I looked at the bill, and the sushi that had a hair in it was on the bill. What? Then I kept looking, and my wife didn't want the spicy sauce on her sushi she wanted it on the side, so I paid $1.00 for them to put it on the side. I know it's not anything except it now becomes everything. Bill was $253.00. I have no problem with paying the bill, but when I brought it up to the waitress, she said, "Well, they made him another roll." Sure, they did because the first one had an 8-inch hair in it. Most of the food was good. The atmosphere was fine, and the service was poor. I had heard good things about the place, I have helped the owner with cooling issues for the place, which, by the way it was very comfortable and cool in there. However, if I'm taking people out again, I'll take them elsewhere. It was not as enjoyable as I...

I have to be honest, I was not blown away. I really, really wanted to love this place, but it left a bit to be desired. Giving 4 stars because it wasn't horrible, just not the hype I've heard from so many.

For starters, it is tiny. They'd have been better off to negotiate the space next to it as well and have one decent space rather than pack folks in such a tiny unit. We had a party of 5 and it was uncomfortable. There was nowhere else to move us to better accommodate because they do not have the space. So, parties of 4 or smaller are fine, or one large party of 6-7 they can accommodate at the very front.

Second, they use WAY too much green onion. It's in almost EVERYTHING. Most folks like green onion okay, but that should not be the primary flavor you taste throughout your entire meal. I tried picking out some of it from my sushi rolls, but it was so finely chopped that I couldn't get much out without messing up the roll. The miso soup had a ton too, but the soup tasted...off to me. I couldn't pinpoint what it was, and the server asked if it was too salty, but that wasn't the off-putting flavor. They may have used a bit too much miso? Not sure. The Brussels sprouts were pretty good; the okra was okay, the shrimp was okay; and, the Rainbow roll was good for appetizers.

Last, the "teres major" for the bulgogi steak bowl was disappointing. Teres major means the lean cut from chuck, and the steak we had was may have been a cheap quality of this cut. Not great. Considering the proportions of the bowl for $25, they'd have been better off to use skirt steak or something similar-- and more of it. It was a little disappointing to all 3 at the table who ordered it.

I want to come back to give them another shot, but I'll come back with a smaller party and request modifications with the green onion since they're heavy handed with it. Trying several things already lets me know what I don't like, but I'm really hoping the next...