Sushiya — Restaurant in Fruit Cove

If there was a 2.5 star option, I would be tempted to go with that. I feel 3 is too generous and 2 is too harsh....so I'm stuck. *But after too many Health Department issues, 1 star works I hadn't been here since 2006, maybe 2007(?), but a friend loves their sushi and a night after dance and it being too late to drive to Bento, my daughter and I came here. This visit has solidified my loyalty to Bento for sushi, and Asian House for asian food restaurant in Fleming Island, and my belief that there is no good hibachi place on Fleming Island....or really anywhere in Jacksonville. Not anymore anyway! Phillip's Sushi was always a favorite for hibachi but lately they've been more of the miss factor than the hit factor. (insert long exasperated sigh) My daughter and I ordered 3 sushi rolls; Spicy Tuna, Godzilla, and Tataki. We also each got a Hibachi Dinner Plate with fried rice. (gluttonous, I know) The sushi was room temperature and that always makes me nervous for some type of food borne illness...room temp raw fish...but we didn't get sick. So that's a positive! The Godzilla was my daughter's favorite; the Shrimp Tempura in it had almost a sweet taste. My daughter and I did enjoy the sushi but we both agreed Bento is the best! Salad: Ginger dressing, but very orange in color and it had a distinct orange (like the citrus fruit) flavor to it. Soup: Okay, but lukewarm and the bowl was maybe half-full. Or half-empty depending on how you want to look at it! The fried rice didn't appear fried at all. And like my fried rice with a bit of veggies (e.g. peas, carrots, and chopped onion) in it. This had none of that but did have a little fried egg. And based on the white spots throughout, they must have squirted some soy sauce on white rice before sending it out and proclaiming it as "fried". Blah. The steak was of poor quality - I realized later she never asked how we wanted it cooked. Fairly certain it came out well done. But the flavor was akin to hamburger meat and it tasted the lowest grade of sirloin possible...if it was sirloin, I've no idea. And the shrimp tasted like it came from a BBQ restaurant (!?). Odd, I know....but it did. And it was absolutely frozen not fresh. The vegetables were the best part of the meal; the ones that were seasoned anyway. Their Shrimp Sauce looked like run of the mill Shrimp sauce, the right color and consistency, but had minimal flavor.

IF we go back, we'll probably stick to sushi as their hot entrees were nothing to excite my palate...but we WON'T go back based on the Health Inspection reports! Look those up...

Ate... or tried to eat lunch today. 2 o clock, we both ordered the lunch special which comes with 2 rolls, a salad and soup. The service we received was lackluster, and no communication whatsoever from our very bored looking server. Soup and salad came out.... boring and bland was the salad and the soup was stale tasting and had the consistency of hot cereal. Salad wasn't cold, soup wasn't hot. We ate neither. Sushi comes out and the smell of fish hit me immediately. And not in a good way. The rolls we ordered were made from what looked like minced fish, really smooshy and were not prepared with care at all. Fell apart and they all tasted AWFUL, I mean BAD!!! We both only had a few pieces before deciding we'd rather not have that much food to throw back up so we asked for a check. Waitress asked if we wanted a box, we said no. Never checked on us, never came to refill a coke or beer, and didn't clear the table of our uneaten items. Sushi and sashimi are supposed to be cold, while our rolls were barely room temp, shoulda known better right then. Wasted 45 dollars on sub par food for a rare lunch date, and now I'm home with stomach cramps,and can't get the taste of that minced mush they called tuna out of my mouth. NEVER NEVER NEVER GOING BACK. BUT AT LEAST THE 1 BEER I HAD WAS COLD. The absolute worst service and food I have ever...

Please, for the sake of your body read this review before any other.

I got sick immediately after eating here. I have an iron stomach and almost never get sick but this restaurant was the winning ticket.

65$ for what was supposed to be a cute lunch for two ended up me being sick in bed for a couple hours trying to sleep the urge of what was destined to happen. DOUBLE DRAGON… and I mean fire from both ends. So bad in fact after throwing up my eyes have popped blood vessels all over. So yea coming from a dude who’s had a few rough nights from drinking id rather have all those nights combined than what I just experienced.

Now that your appetite is equally ruined I’ll get started with the actual review.

Sushi was mid/below average. Over priced for quality. And honestly questionable.

Server was nice so that was a pro

But the status and cleanliness of where we sat and watching the food prepped should have been the red flag to kick rocks instantly. Sushi bar is very cross contaminated, and questionable crumbs where lurking in spots by the bar.

So please. Please take this comment seriously even tho i tried to make it fun to read. Cause if not you too may meet the devastating fate of flushing a fun date day down the toilet (no like for real, bubble guts and raw...