Maru Sushi & Grill — Restaurant in Kalamazoo

Maru is overpriced, their selection is mediocre at best, and the service is poor. I don't mind paying Chicago prices for sushi -- provided it's top-notch fare. But this is not. Nearly all the "specialty" rolls are made with cooked shrimp and / or cream cheese and standard items like caterpillar rolls and rainbow rolls are not options here. Honestly, you're better off with the selection at the Hibachi Sushi Buffet on Westnedge. The sushi there is nothing special, but a) no one is expecting great sushi off a buffet and b) at least there's (usually) plenty of it.

On the plus side, the atmosphere is very nice and the music was kept at a conversational level, unlike Hop Cat next door, where the music is generally set somewhere between "eardrum-shattering" and "liquefy." And the fact that Maru does offer a brown rice option for their sushi was a welcome touch.

Maru also has a "service charge" policy, which is basically an automatic 10% tip that's shared between the servers and the staff. While this is in itself not a bad idea -- the whole idea of tipping having a rather 19th Century, racist origin -- it's a bit confusing to have part of the customary 18-25% added to the bill. Either pay servers a living wage and establish a "no tipping" policy, or leave it to the table to decide. The fact that no fewer than three people felt the need to explain the policy should tell the management that this isn't working.

Servers are criminally underpaid in most restaurants, it's true. And in general, my companion and I try to leave a healthy tip for even sub-par service. However, I don't like it when a server tries to grift me. I've seen this tried a couple of times at various places, but it always involves times when my party has tried to pay the bill with a combination of cash and card. Typically, this is not a problem, but occasionally, one will find a server who thinks he or she can pull a fast one and take off only part of the cash (or none of it) from the bill, hoping the guest won't notice. It's a relatively safe con: the server, if caught, can simply apologize and feign ignorance; if the guest doesn't notice, they pocket the extra.

Well, I noticed. And I know it wasn't a mistake because I handed the server two fanned ten dollar bills and instructed her to take the cash out of the check first and put the rest on the card. She returned with the card receipt to sign, but only one ten had been taken off. Had she thought I'd handed her only one ten, she might have argued when I pointed this out. But she didn't. Caught with her hand in the cookie jar, she said at once, "Oh, that's right," turning bright red.

It's bad enough that the restaurant is a bit of a rip-off where quality and portions are concerned. But when the wait staff try to literally rip you off, well, there are plenty of other options in Kalamazoo for great food. Maybe not so many for sushi since the old Sushia closed up, but we'll take our chances at the buffets before we ever...

Great sushi...absolutely horrible kitchen. I ordered take out on Valentines day, which I new would be busy so I called well in advance (turned out be well over an hour), I order two identical sushi rolls and Firecracker shrimp and was told when my order would be ready, which was 40 minutes after I placed my order by phone, which is fine, I appreciate the information. I got there at the latest time I was told and had to wait an additional 25 minutes on top of the 45 I was told on the phone. What gets me is, when I arrived, expecting standing room only, there were several open tables and spots at the bar. So, I had to wonder what is happening.

Fast forward to today, knowing they don't open until 4 (they're open for lunch on weekends but not the workweek, huh?) So, I placed my order online (again, two identical rolls that are on special on Tuesdays) at 3:57 with a pickup time of 4:30, still half an hour for sushi that is again, on special. One would think, they might sell a few of those so, prep heavy on them. I got there a few minutes early hoping for the best but, alas, no sushi yet. I was told "they're working on it". 10 minutes later, "they're rolling it, won't be long, thank you for your patience". While I'm waiting I notice patrons getting their food when I walked in. If I placed ny order at 3:57 and these people walked in the door at 4:00, why are they already eating while I waited another 25 minutes? Patience at this point was wearing thin. 15 minutes later, I finally had my food after 45 minutes. I have rolled sushi before myself and made Tempira Shrimp, not a restaurant designed for food prep but, at my home and it didn't take an hour to do. There were two tables with two people at each and my take out order. So, I guess Maru doesn't really care about take out orders although my order is prepaid with tip and my money is the same color as the in person diners. If you don't care for it want to have take out, don't offer it.

I love their food but, not sure I have enough time in my life to wait the ridiculous time they require to prepare. So if you order take out, please plan accordingly, you may need to bring a snack...

I'm only writing this hoping someone Maru will take a look at it. While the place pretty to look at, it just fails given the pricing and the food. I enjoy dining, I will pay whatever it costs for good food and I've worked in the restaurant industry for years (including a sushi place), but in short, this place is just SIGNIFICANTLY overpriced for what you get. The long of it:

(1) The sushi, while decently tasty (due to all the mayo/sauces), is WAY overpriced and it's 'Fake Sushi' - These are Chicago prices and, with the exclusion of two rolls that have albacore, every "signature" roll is either chopped up fish mixed with mayo (aka not a good cut), fried shrimp or imitation crab. Where is the actual fish?? (2) The sashimi is WAY overpriced - $15 for Maguro?? The Nigiri is $7 for two pieces, why would the sashimi be double+? Also that Maguro was equivalent in taste to what I get a Whole Foods. (3) The cocktail menu is non-descript and uninspired - e.g. a drink says "japanese whiskey" then fails to elaborate on the type. If you're charging big city prices, at least tell me what I'm getting. (4) Their Saki selection is WAY overpriced - $42 for a bottle of Sayuri Nigori?? Why are you charging nearly triple for Saki that cost $16 for 720ml? Since that's at list, $23-$25 would be reasonable, but not $42. (5) Poor flair - Ok this is super nitpicky but a pet peeve... why is there a spearmint leaf sticking out of the vanilla blueberry cheescake?? There's no mint in the dish! It just makes no sense! Put a sliced vanilla bean on it or a homemade vanilla wafer or something if you really need to.

Two positive things (1) they give you a LOT of pieces in your rolls (but lets be honest, that's just a lot of rice and sauces), and (2) the place, ambiance and furniture is very comfortable.

If this place was significantly cheaper and focused on putting fish in the maki, it could turn itself around pretty quickly. I'd recommend having one of your people drive down to the moderately priced but incredible Yuzu Sushi in Chicago, and attempt to...