Juno Sushi Chicago — Restaurant in Lake View Township

This was a saddening experience. When you want sushi, you want one of two things: cheap massive quantities of fish and rice or a culinary explosion of wonders in your mouth that leaves your tongue as satisfied as your stomach. This place, strangely, was neither.

The ambience was loud--despite the barely audible music, sound carried too well, and despite the few diners, it was not the setting I would expect or want for the price or attitude. Otherwise, the interior design was a fresh taste from the red and black color scheme seen at most sushi/Japanese restaurants.

The service was slow. Our waiter walked like a muted robot, and an older Japanese lady (the host? owner/owner's wife?) walked at about half a mile an hour and would hovered near your table before swooping in to take that empty juice glass. I could tell she was zeroing in on our table well before she actually stepped forth into official presence. That bit was odd. But beyond these petty observations, the service was simply slow. We ordered two sakes, which for some reason took 5-10 minutes to arrive, then when we finished those and ordered another two, it took again about 10 minutes for the new glasses to arrive. We ordered appetizers--basic stuff, nothing complicated--and waited 10-20 minutes for the first to arrive. By the time both arrived we ordered the main sushi dinners. Our waiter said the sashimi chef's choice ($42) was enough for two people: my cousin finished it in two minutes, not nearly satisfied. Of course, with 5+ sushi chefs working behind me, each sushi dinner we ordered took between 10 and 20 minutes to reach our table. We ordered a plate of nigiri/sashimi each, then maybe four extra rolls totalling $270, and were never full. Partly, I think, because they decided we needed to wait 20+ minutes between each minuscule course. I considered, upon leaving, finding a cheap sushi place to fill up on. We spent maybe two hours there and were wholly unsatisfied.

The food, at this point an afterthought, was okay. It was not worth the price, but it had highlights. Skip the chef's choice nigir/sashimi dishes ($40, $42 respectively). They were uninteresting and unfulfilling for the price (wasabi seemed a little overbearing in the nigir for a couple of the fish as well). A few Maki rolls were delicious and definitely worth the price, but with the quantity balanced against the massive wait, it wasn't worth it.

If you, like me, miss Katsu's and are looking for a replacement, this isn't it. Though, if their service sped up (like 2-3 times as fast) and the price lowers a couple bucks, it might be...

As we arrived at Juno we were initially impressed by the modern and quiet entrance- but upon closer inspection it lacked attention to detail and seemed unmaintained. For instance the paint had went around the exit sign missing a section of the wall, the matcha whisks (used as an art installation) had just been stuck on the wall with tack so many had fallen off leaving behind sticky white circles. Despite this less than inviting entrance I was excited to begin my dinner with a drink.

While the decor hinted at a focus on matcha, the drink menu lacked any such options. The sake selection, while decent,was pricey, even by the glass, with the cheapest starting at $11/ $12.

The modern theme continued into the main dining area, but unfortunately, the volume was an assault to the senses. The excessive noise level made conversation difficult, even with our attentive waitress. Thankfully, her service was a bright spot. She was helpful,offered insightful suggestions, and ensured we were well taken care of throughout the evening.

The food itself was good, but not exceptional. The salmon nigiri stood out - perfectly warm rice, melt-in-your-mouth salmon, and a delightful touch of garlic. However, the portion size left something to be desired. The recommended “Amish chicken meatballs” felt confusing. Their salty soy sauce glaze clashed with Italian cuisine and Amish roots— this just felt out of place.

The food delivery was also disappointing. My hand roll arrived first, leaving my partner with nothing to eat. By the time his rolls arrived, I had finished mine, resulting in an awkward, staggered dining experience.

Overall, Juno didn't quite live up to the price point. While the service was commendable, the incohesive decor, excessive noise level, and uneven food delivery detracted from the experience. With a few adjustments, Juno has the potential to be a great restaurant, but for now, I'd recommend exploring other options for a more refined and enjoyable...

For the record, the Chefs and cooks are what makes this place remotely worth it. Our waitress was good too.

We went to Juno to celebrate my wife’s Birthday and I must say that it wasn’t the experience I had hoped for.  I did note in the reservation what we were celebrating.

When we arrived we were promptly seated at a section of tables where nobody else was seated and we soon learned why that likely was.  There was about 3 or 4 feet of walking room between the tables and the bar, and this is where all of the employees walked from out of the kitchen.  My wife was almost flicked with the dirty cloths hanging from their waists a few times….on her Birthday. It took more than 15 minutes to be acknowledged, and it ONLY happened because I got up to ask one of the hostesses myself if we could move to one of the tables against the wall as there were two open tables side by side.  I honestly didn’t expect anything special for mentioning that it was my wife’s Birthday, but I didn’t expect to get seated at the reject tables either.

Nonetheless they didn’t acknowledge her Birthday either. Other places usually have written “Happy Bday” on the receipt which we always smile at. We are a younger looking couple, and it definitely made us feel like we didn’t fit their preferred demographic.

The food was absolutely delicious, and amazing. I have never had such fresh and flavorful sashimi and I offer my greatest compliments to the chefs.  The Miso soup was tasty, and smoked himachi was great! I absolutely loved the spicy octopus hand roll too.  The drinks were also just as well prepared and delicious!  The food really carries this place and it’s the only reason it receives 3 stars instead of 1-2 due to...