Sake Mian 麺 — Restaurant in Lower Merion Township

Approaching Sake Mian, one is immediately struck by the parking—or rather, the lack thereof. This initial hurdle is a prelude to an experience that oscillates between commendable attempts at culinary finesse and the pitfalls of overambition. Sake Mian, while a bastion of friendly service and boasting an space conducive to group gatherings, navigates the choppy waters of a vast menu with mixed success.

The restaurant's decor, a tableau of eras gone by, suggests a reluctance to fully embrace the contemporary demands of aesthetic and culinary trends. While this nostalgic ambiance has its charms, it also anchors the establishment firmly in the past, possibly at the expense of a more dynamic dining experience.

The menu's ambition is as vast as the Pacific, yet it demonstrates the classic conundrum: breadth over depth. The Sushi Pizza, for example, sinks under the weight of its own concept, its greasy execution far removed from the promised fusion innovation. It is an underwhelming start to the culinary voyage.

Conversely, the Dancing Eel Roll and the assortments of sashimi stand out as beacons of quality, showcasing what Sake Mian is capable of when the focus is narrowed. The Dancing Eel Roll, in particular, is a masterful display of flavors and textures, balancing the delicate dance of tempura softshell crab with the rich umami of eel.

Yet, one cannot help but feel that the expansive menu dilutes the potential for truly exceptional culinary achievements. Each dish, from the Pink Lady Roll to the Ardmore Roll, though competent, struggles to break free from the shadow of mediocrity, suggesting a kitchen stretched too thin by its own aspirations.

Overall, Sake Mian offers a dichotomy of experiences—a restaurant teetering on the edge of culinary relevance, held back by an overextended menu and an ambiance crying out for rejuvenation. For those willing to navigate the parking dilemma shared by other businesses, there are moments of delight to be found amidst the culinary misses. One hopes for a future where Sake Mian might refine its offerings, focusing on quality over quantity, and truly allow its culinary...

Horrible experience and the most disagreeable hostess I’ve met! 0 star if I could give.

The menu price is differed from the priced they charge. They charge a higher price without letting us know they have increased the price beforehand. If they just apologize with a good attitude, I probably wouldn’t even write this review, but the restaurant operator has a very arrogant attitude towards the customer and make horrible excuses.

The restaurant operator said ‘ we raised the price because the market price has raised. You can’t not buy anything with the original price”. But that has nothing to do with the customer. As a customer, we look at the menu price and agree to pay that price, then we order the food. The market is none of our business, it’s the restaurant’ homework.

The restaurant operator remarked “ most of our customers are our loyal customers and they are nice, they never minded this.” What does statement imply? I am not nice because I pointed out their price has not been transparent? Or she wants to set a moral standard for me to obey by citing other customers? This is the classical example of “making people moral hostages”. And who knows if “most of the customers” don’t mind. After all, it was just her self crafted statement.

At last, she said “oh, it’s only 2 dollars difference!” So what? This is not about 2 dollars, it’s about her awful attitude! She probably wanted to say that I was “cheap” as not wanting to grant her the chance to rob 2 extra dollars off me. But was this my mistake?!! Totally ridiculous! In the same way, I can also say “oh it’s only 2 dollars, then why don’t you admit your own mistakes and take care of that 2 dollars”. By the way, it’s actually not just 2 dollars since every dish has increased the price.

In short, this woman( the restaurant operated) has unworthy character and her business dishonest! The food is very average. Their tempura sampler is the worst I...

We had a VERY UNPLEASANT meal here! Almost every roll has avocado, and the avocados are all brownish (see the pictures). When I pointed it out, the owner made her statement that all avocados are like this, it’s absolutely normal. I told her that I buy avocados every week, and I know how a normal avocado looks like. If I had avocados like this I would throw them away. Then she started to say the price of avocado is high. I mean I don’t think that’s a proper reason to provide your clients with low-quality foods. Plus this is not a cheap restaurant, it’s like $60 per person, I do think I deserve some better foods. Also I had concerns about the cleanness, see picture of the fancy boat dish that they put sushi on, and I had diarrhea after the meal.

Regarding the response, unfortunately, I would never come back again. The owner had clearly and repeatedly showed her attitude on that day. Whatever you are saying here, to me, is just trying not to lose your potential customers. I’ve told people around me to never choose your restaurant and I would suggest everyone to avoid this restaurant. There are plenty of other great sushi...