Aki Sushi Tapas Boba — Restaurant in Freeport

Aki Sushi Tapas Boba in Freeport, Maine, offers a mixed dining experience that left us wanting more in terms of value. Upon arrival, we were asked if we had a reservation, with staff implying the restaurant was full. However, after being seated, we noticed it was only half-occupied. The staff warned us of short-staffing, which meant a delay in taking our order. Once ordered, they noted the kitchen food would arrive quickly, but the sushi bar was backed up.

True to their word, the kitchen dishes came out fast. The chicken wings were decent with a generous portion, and the gyoza was typical but satisfactory. However, the sushi took a while to arrive. The sashimi dinner, priced at $34 for 15 pieces, was disappointing—paper-thin, small slices that felt skimpy for the cost (see my photos). The Snow White specialty roll was also on the smaller side, though the rolls were generally okay. The fish was fresh and tasty, but the portions didn’t justify the price.

Service was a highlight, with attentive staff and the owner checking in multiple times. When I mentioned the sashimi’s poor value, she asked if I was from out of state, which felt irrelevant. She promised to “look into it” but offered no compensation. While the restaurant’s ambiance is lovely and the service excellent, Aki needs to improve portion sizes and value to truly shine. Overall, a nice spot, but the value falls short.

We left feeling still hungry. Unfortunately

Adding to my review, the owner’s response to my feedback about the sashimi dinner’s small portion was particularly off-putting. When I raised the concern, her immediate question was, “Are you from out of state?” This felt like a dismissive jab, implying I was just a tourist who didn’t know better and was prone to complaining. It was insulting and irrelevant—my sushi experience spans many places from Tokyo to Bangkok to New York city and Boston. Her question suggested they might treat tourists poorly, assuming they’re just one-time customers who don’t matter. This attitude undermines the otherwise pleasant service and further sours the...

Came here for a little afternoon date with my sister and was excited to finally try it. The space looks very similar to how it did when it was the Mediterranean Grill, but with subtle Asian influences. Everyone we interacted with was super friendly and welcoming and did a great job making sure waters were full and that plates were cleared. Both of the boba drinks we got were excellent and I think the price for the portion was spot on. They were very accommodating for my request to have my sushi wrapped in soy paper rather than seaweed, so I truly appreciate that. It did come out wrong the first time, but the waitress took care of it right away. The only negatives I can think of are that our waitress put down a soy sauce bowl but never brought over soy sauce so we had to ask for that and then the trim on the outside of the sliding doors was looking really dirty and peeling which is shocking since it was just opened. Overall a great new addition to Freeport and I hope they have...

I ordered the pork belly buns. They tasted off and the porkbellies weren’t crispy. They didn’t melt in my mouth. They were chewy and just unpleasant. Unfortunately, my scorpion roll didn’t arrive at the table until well after everybody else had gotten their meals. So my first experience wasn’t great. Everybody was really friendly. The place was clean. They did a great job with the space. I really like what they have going on. It wasn’t busy so that’s not why my food was subpar. If this is the same people that had the restaurant in Brunswick, I don’t know what the difference is. Aki in Brunswick was great. Finally, I would like to add, I frequently update my reviews, and this place has just opened. Normally, I wouldn’t give a bad review on a first visit. I’m a little worried I might become ill, yes the pork belly buns were that off, but I ate them anyway cause I was hungry and I needed to eat. I also didn’t want to complain putting a bad vibe at a...