Umi Sushi — Restaurant in Garland

Update - response to owner’s reply to my original review (below). I stand by my review. 1 - The employees did not say there is a new WiFi server, they said the owner is the only person with the password and the owner was not on site when I visited. 2 - A tiny table pushed against the wall is not a pleasant way to dine. 3 - Pricing and layout of their online menu is completely different than the physical menu at the restaurant. I would have discovered that had I been able to use either of their WiFi networks. It’s unfortunate the owner’s response to my review was to say I didn’t read the menu and the lack of relevant info from the staff was no one’s fault. Sometimes it’s best for a business to simply apologize and warmly welcome a local resident back and/or invite the dissatisfied customer to contact the manager directly. As stated in my original review, I will not return. Downgraded from 2 star to 1 star due to “owner’s” reply to my original review.

Left before ordering. Keep reading for details...

Have been looking forward to eating at Umi Sushi for months after reading so many positive reviews. I went there around 5 pm on a weekday afternoon and was seated right away. Dining area is small and somewhat cramped. Not saying that's a bad thing, just saying it's small and somewhat cramped. My companion and I were seated at a small 2 top table that was pushed against the wall. The restaurant was mostly empty at that early dinner hour. Water was brought to the table promptly as were menus.

The roll menu is very extensive so I wanted to check out reviews to see which rolls and other entrees people like. There were 2 wifi networks listed as Umi Sushi. I asked for the password and was told by an employee "I have never used the wifi here so I don't know the password". I asked that employee to maybe ask someone else. Employee returned and said "no one has the password, only the manager and the manager is not here". I did not go to Umi for their wifi, but in July 2022 that response seemed pretty lame. So I logged on the wifi network from the restaurant next door which was open to anyone. I guess that restaurant is happy to help people stay connected.

As I was starting to search for reviews on the rolls, I noticed there were no prices on one entire side of the menu. The side without prices is where the custom rolls are listed - and there are dozens of them. Basic rolls on the other side were priced but the good/custom stuff was not. Not one price. And many (maybe most) of those special rolls were listed as "2 pieces" or something along those lines. I've never seen that in a sushi restaurant other than a very special roll that is subject to market pricing.

At that point I had a tiny table that was shoved against the wall allowing no elbow room, I experienced numerous employees who did not know the password to either of their wifi networks, and I had a menu with no prices (for the items of most interest to my companion and me). So before things got even more weird, I stood up and left our glasses of water on the table. We went to another restaurant in the Firewheel shopping district. That restaurant had a wifi network for customers, smiles on every employee face and prices on every menu item. It's too bad because I really wanted to like Umi Sushi based on the many positive reviews. I will...

We've been looking for a "good" sushi spot since moving from North plano. There are many options around the central DFW area but they all seem to be lacking in some way or form.

This isn't true for Suzushii.

First impression when we walked in was a quaint little restaurant with ample seating and eager young staff. Now, in most regards, youth doesn't mean anything but from experience I have found that having young (sub-40) sushi chefs is definitely detrimental to quality.

Once again, Suzushii shucks that standard.

We were greeted by Derek, he would be serving us for the night. His service and attention was perfect. Not hovering but always available.

We started with our standard for any sushi stop, large house sake, Kirin Light and a lemon water. As stated before, he was fast. The house sake was a bit fragrant but not over painfully so. It would do the trick, and if they offered the happy hour specials that places like Sushi Robota does, the sake would be welcomed without hesitation.

We wanted an appetizer so we requested the gyoza but they were out for the night. Not a problem, we went with the fried calamari instead. Not exactly am expected menu item but this place isn't your standard, traditional sushi place. Either way, we were greatful they were out. This was by far some of the best if not the best fried calamari I've ever had. Immensely fresh and perfectly cooked. So tender and flavorful with flaky batter similar to tempura but a little better.

After that, we decided to get two rolls and a bit of sashimi in the form of their sashimi sampler, sweetheart roll and hot momma roll.

Now, I'm very American and love my Wasabi with a touch of soy. So in preparation of the sushi arrival, I mixed the two. That's the last time they were touched. The sashimi arrived with some of the freshest, richest and perfectly served fish I've had. It just fell apart in my mouth and even a newborn could have gummed it apart.

Then came the sweetheart roll. Now I can honestly say this is more of a desert roll. Best eaten last but it is delicious and decadent without making you feel like a glutton.

And of course, the best came last. The Hot Momma. It has a robust flavor and just enough heat to leave you begging for more. I woke up this morning wanting another roll, or three.

As you can assume, we thoroughly enjoyed our first visit and...

I have always loved this restaurant and always enjoyed the food. However, today after going I will never return due to the level of disrespect from the manager. My family ordered the vegetable egg rolls and they were not fresh at all. They did not taste good and had a very weird after taste. After taking a bite out of one of the four rolls we sent it back. We asked to get the shrimp tempera instead as a replacement. We then ordered two $17 rolls and gyoza. We very much enjoyed the rest of our food and thought all was well. When we got the check we realized we had been charged for the egg rolls. We asked the server to take it off and the sweet server said she would get her manager to take it off since we sent it back and DID NOT eat it. When she returned she explained that her manager would not take it off. My mom then asked to speak to the manager. When the manager came over she explained that the egg rolls were a popular item and were not expired so she will not take it off of the tab. My mother explained to her that we did not eat them because they did not taste good. We told her about how we have come many times and have ordered the egg rolls and always enjoyed them, but they did not taste how they normally do. The manager then told us that she would go to the back to see if they were expired. When she came back she said that they were not expired, but that the reason they taste like that was because they were frozen. She then went on to say there was nothing wrong with them so she refuses to take it off. It is only $6.47 nothing major, but it’s the principal of how the manager acted. My mother, upset by the way the manager was speaking to her, said she would not pay for what we did not eat. The manager upset stormed off and the server apologized, seemed embarrassed by how her manager was acting. Later the manager came back with it taken off of the tab. We made sure the VERY SWEET server got a good tip and left. Overall this place has sweet servers and usually good food, but a...