Suki Café — Restaurant in Helena

I'm hoping to find out that this was a really unlucky off-night. But all I can go on is my experience tonight:

Started with miso soup. I thought the flavor/temp was great except my wife and I each got one piece of seaweed was exactly like that slimy/rotting texture and taste that you get from pieces of lettuce in a box of spring mix that's way past its sell-by (the only way I can think to explain it).

Next we had california rolls. Rice was overly soft/sticky and in a very thick layer compared to the internal components. I love rice as much as the next guy but it was out of balance and the flavor was just disappointing.

Next we ordered a tuna roll and rainbow roll. Tuna roll came unexpectedly as uramaki, with the rice on the outside like a california roll, and with cucumber in it. I would have expected only tuna (and rice of course) and with the nori wrapping the outside but perhaps this is just the style the chef prefers. Rainbow roll had a really 'off' flavor and texture. My wife described it as overly fishy in a bad way, and all we could think was it did not feel fresh. And again the rice was overly soft and a super thick layer.

Neither of us wanted to eat the last two rolls. I think it might have been obvious that we were dissatisfied but I thought it would be easier to just thank our server for the meal and hurry to pay and leave. A man (owner, manager?) came over with the check and said bluntly "Why are you leaving?". I regret not sharing with him our experience, in case it would have been helpful to know that something wasn't right, but at the time I just got a vibe that it wasn't gonna be a 'oh thank you for letting me know about this!' kinda thing, so I just answered 'sorry we have to go'.

Our server was so amazing. The location is so great. The interior decorations were awesome. The exterior seating area looked very nice. I just wish our experience (which again, to reiterate, could have been just a horribly unlucky off-night) would have...

Sadly, after 10+ years, I will not eat at Suki Cafe again after my recent terrible experience. I ordered the all-you-can-eat sushi dinner and placed my first order. But when I went to place my second order, the server told me the sushi bar was closed. The server had not given me any warning or done a "last call" for sushi. When I pointed out that I had ordered "all you can eat," the server told me, in essence, that I was out of luck, they now closed at 8:30, and the staff wanted to be out of there by 9:00. Another server aggressively told my partner and me that "most customers" look to Google for a restaurant's hours and the new 8:30 closing time is posted there (even though the Suki Cafe website itself, which is where I had looked, still says 9:00). They reluctantly agreed to re-open the sushi bar to make me four additional pieces of nigiri, but they made it clear they were doing me a favor (rather than simply doing the right thing). The manager, to her credit, came over and apologized for her employees' horrible customer service. But the entire incident left a bad taste in my mouth. As for our meals, the chicken teriyaki was mediocre and cold. I thought the salmon nigiri and the Dynamite roll were pretty good, and the rest of the sushi was so-so. I was told this evening that the restaurant had recently been purchased by a new owner, but that things would stay the same. In my opinion, however, the attitudes of some of the staff and the way they treat their customers have gone...

The Drunken fried rice or the Japanese fried rice are excellent! Seriously have a hard time choosing between the two almost every time especially with all you can eat sushi on the menu as well. I always tell myself I want to try something different for the dozen times we have gone but when you know something is great it’s hard to stay away from. Only complaint with all you can eat is the time limit of one hour fifteen minutes, give us an extra fifteen minutes, promise we won’t waste any. Prices are fair especially because you don’t leave hungry unlike other places in town. The only downside to dining here for me personally is the lack of sound proofing. To me it feels like others can easily hear my conversation as I can hear theirs. Obviously this isn’t the case when the restaurant is at its peak hours but when the rush has died down and it’s only you and a few other patrons it’s a little awkward for me personally. I like a more intimate atmosphere or semi private setting for myself and who I’m dining with to fully engage with them. But nonetheless the food is great the staff is awesome and welcoming and I recommend this place ten times over. I can eat those rice dishes everyday. Thank you Aaron and team for a regular go to spot that has...