Nickel City Sushi Restaurant & Sport Bar — Restaurant in Florida

We went back because we had a yummy meal with decent service a few days prior. The restaurant wasn’t even half full. I ordered the same thing that I had been craving. The flavor was far from wonderful, and my husband’s meal arrived with the burger half dressed (according to what the menu said it would come with.) Our server, a young girl dressed in a sweatsuit, was (I have to say it…) lazy. It took a long time to get food initially, and once food was delivered, she was nowhere to be found for quite some time. I actually had to go find our server so she could correct my husband’s order. (Sushi chef was pretty slow as well. I wonder what happens when the restaurant is actually packed.)

This is what makes the difference between a successful restaurant and a total dive… Servers need to greet you with a smile. Your order needs to be taken promptly. (I watched the couple across the aisle wait even longer than we did.) Each table needs to be checked on periodically (but not to the point of being intrusive,) and especially-a few minutes after the meal is delivered. Ask, “How is everything tasting? Did it come out as you expected? Can I get you anything else?” And fill drinks frequently. Don’t make people wonder where you are when they need something. Be visible. Make eye contact. Be available.

When you work in a restaurant, you should always be busy. There is always something to do. Check on guests, clean tables, check the bathrooms and refresh them, fold napkins and flatware, wipe down menus, check floors for garbage, refill condiments, etc. And a smile goes a very long way. You are the face of that restaurant. Dress professionally, find purpose, and smile. Treat every client like they are special, and let them know you appreciate their business.

As for the restaurant itself. Get RID of the hokey, dust collecting fake flowers by the sushi bar. It looks like they are leftover from a funeral! Every fake flower/plant in there is filthy. Replace them with real, culturally appropriate, bamboo plants, and other live leafy indoor plants instead. They improve air quality and look much better.

We might give this place another try at some point down the road but for now, it doesn’t deserve our...

An Unexpected Gem – A Feast Worth Every Bite!

What a pleasant and completely unexpected surprise! We stumbled into this spot on a quiet Sunday afternoon and, I’ll admit, we were a little nervous when we saw the empty dining room. But let me tell you—this place is seriously underrated.

The menu? Massive. Vietnamese, Thai, and American options, which can sometimes be a red flag, but we were feeling adventurous. Having lived in Asia, my husband and I knew we had to do a full-scale taste test—aka, order way too much food.

The Feast Begins: Appetizers: The gyoza didn’t wow me, but the crab Rangoons? Chef’s kiss. Crispy, creamy, and packed with flavor.

Sushi: We tried the yellowtail sashimi and a roll—both were fresh and delicious. Major points for the roll size! I hate when sushi rolls are so massive you have to unhinge your jaw like a snake just to take a bite. These? Perfectly portioned.

Pho Challenge: My husband, in a moment of pure confidence (or foolishness), bet our server Huy that he could handle the large pho. This bowl was comically huge. I regret not taking a photo with his head next to it for scale—it was that big. (That’s what she said.)

Red Curry: My personal go-to at any Thai restaurant, and wow. One bite transported me straight back to my favorite Thai spot in Okinawa, run by the sweetest Thai couple. Rich, fragrant, and packed with authentic flavor.

Pad Thai (To Go, Because YOLO): Since we don’t live super close, we figured, why not bring some home? No regrets.

Was this an obscene amount of food for two people?

Abso-frickin-lutely. But here’s the thing—we’ve been searching high and low across Tampa for solid Asian cuisine, and this place delivered. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and honestly, exactly what we’ve been craving.

The service was fantastic, the staff was incredibly friendly, and the best part? Our bill—with all that food plus four Sapporos—came in under $100 (before tip). And speaking of tips—please tip your servers well!

We’re already planning our next visit. If you haven’t checked this place out yet, do yourself a favor and go. You won’t be...

I must admit that I was quite hesitant to go to a Sushi/Wings./Vietnamese Restaurant. I sat outside in my car thinking, "Am I really going to do this? How bad can it be?" I entered and was pleasantly greeted by Phong. I told him that it was my first time here, and that I was a little apprehensive. He explained that everything is made fresh and told me some other things about how the restaurant came to be. (I was familiar with Nickel City.) I ordered the spring rolls (filled with vermicelli, pork, shrimp, and mixed vegetables. 2 for $3.50) It still humors me to see onion rings, fried pickles, crab rangoon, and edamame on the same appetizer list. But, you will also find burgers, beef on a weck, and banh mi on the same sandwich list. Next up was the rice vermicelli - bun. Topped with eggroll and grilled pork. The eggrolls had a great flavor that was unlike anything I have had before. Quite tasty pork too. Phong said that the burgers are made fresh to order and never frozen. I am actually very excited about this place now. My husband will go, and we can sit at the bar or sit in the restaurant. You can order bar drinks in the restaurant as well as all of the food at the bar. In addition, every day there is a different drink special as well as happy hour. I look forward to returning here with my husband. There really is something on the menu for most everyone... Thai noodles, Thai curries, Vietnamese, sushi, wings, burgers, bar food, and even a kid's menu. (offering boneless wings, burger, grilled cheese or...