Saisaki — Restaurant in Fort Wayne

WOW! To be brief, just go and treat yourself to this fabulous restaurant. We were visiting Fort Wayne, and our dinner here was the highlight of being in the downtown district.

Atmosphere: A+. The restaurant is located on Main Street directly across from a lovely park. The casual atmosphere inside is very soothing from the moment you walk in. The music in the background is soft, so that one is able to hold a conversation with a companion across the table in a normal voice.

Staff: A+. We were warmly greeted and led to a table immediately. Our waiter was outstanding! He was young and just a couple of weeks into the job, but he knew and could explain everything on the menu. Our drinks and courses were delivered promptly, and our waiter clearly kept an eye on us from a discreet distance to keep the meal progressing at our pace. This is a restaurant that invests in staff training the old-fashioned way, and this was a young man who cared about his job. Finally, we were pleasantly surprised when the talented owner/chef came to our table to chat about the food and our experience in his restaurant.

Food: A++++! The owner/chef prepares all the dishes, and he is an absolute artist in presentation. Just look at the online photos people have posted of his beautifully arranged plates, which showcase edible flowers and the freshest sashimi you'll ever taste in the USA, plus delicate sauces that enhance but don't overwhelm. What's more, the amount of food on the plate is bountiful. I was full after eating half the food on my plate of salmon teriyaki served over a heaping mound of fresh vegetables cooked just right, and took home the rest for two of us to enjoy for lunch the next day.

One doesn't expect to find this level of fine dining in a mid-size Midwestern city, but that is exactly what we discovered at Saisaki. Get off the highway and go out of your way to have...

Saisaki is 5 stars all day long. When you enter the place you can’t help but be impressed with the beauty all around you. The tables are spacious and well dressed, the lighting is ample and sparkling like diamonds, and the decor is thrilling and authentic. Next you will be happy to experience kind and knowledgeable service from the front desk to the bar and to your table. If you are uncertain about anything the server will guide you through the process-even to the point of advising you of portion size so you don’t order too much-you can always order more if you need!

Drink service is accurate and quick. They have several appetizers, but we are there for the sushi so we limit ourselves to the Edamame. The curry dishes are palate pleasers-not the fiery hot stuff that probably has put you off on curry in the past. The soup was served family style and we even took some home. The flavor profile ranges from the sweet coconut milk to the tender chicken (also offer tofu and shrimp) to a melange of aromatic and delicious seasonings. The main reason we came is for sushi and sashimi, and it was spectacular. The fish was so fresh and presented beautifully and a wooden boat sat in the center of the table so everyone could share. My favorite, Ikura (Salmon roe), isn’t always available-but when it is it is spectacular! The size of the portion is quite generous and tastes amazing. Their offerings of sushi rolls is extensive and you can find something for everyone. We really enjoy the Moon Fire roll which is heated over open flame at the table.

There is free parking inside of the garage and the elevator delivers you within steps of the restaurant. It is a very special place and I would suggest that you...

Sushi is my gig… and this place is a no for me.

I’ve literally been to around 100 sushi places across the country, and I’ve determined there are 3 types of sushi places: 1) traditional Japanese style that focuses on the fish and not sauces 2) Americanized sushi that focuses on sauces and how the rolls look and lastly… 3) cheap grocery store sushi that has a ton of soy sauce built in and minced meat where you can’t tell what you’re eating.

After multiple meals from Saisaki, I’ve determined Saisaki is an unfortunate mix of number 2 and 3. As you may have noticed, my preference is traditional Japanese. Type 1 and 2 can both be good to me… I just prefer type 1.

The food is BEAUTIFUL here. Lots of colors.

However, the taste wasn’t planned out very well. The specialty maki are ok but expensive for what you are getting. I’ve only had one of those. The one I had was very saucy which I immediately tend to wonder if they are hiding poor sushi.

The regular maki are cheap grocery store sushi that are way too salty and the fish just doesn’t taste fresh at all. Just don’t unless you like that kind of maki.

The soup that I have received was more like soy broth instead of miso soup. It puzzles me how miso soup can be messed up. I’ve had weak miso and I’ve had strong miso but this just straight up wasn’t miso.

I really wanted to like this place given how many people seem to like it, but I just can’t after 3 meals. It’s not for me.

You can’t win them all… and unfortunately their food...