Zen Japanese Grill & Sushi Bistro — Restaurant in Mandeville

I'm so disappointed to have to write this. I've ordered from this place in the past but this is the first time I went to dine in...and it was awful.

The server we had was sweet and tried to be accommodating and hospitable, but also disorganized and seemingly not knowledgeable about the menu at all. She tried to seat us at several tables only to get there and find they hadn't been bussed or cleaned yet. Maybe she was new so I won't hold that against her.

We ordered our food and my daughter's plate came out more than a full 15 minutes than any other dish. By the time ours came, she was nearly finished eating and starting to wiggle in her seat.

The gentlemen at the table ordered poke bowls that looked fantastic, but the seared pepper tuna salad I ordered was awful. It came on a dirty plate and the inside, "rare" part of the tuna was dark brown, not the pink or flesh colour of untreated fresh tuna. It was obviously oxidized and smelled old. I caught the attention of the server and she tried to tell me that it's because the tuna is seared, but I know what seared pepper tuna is supposed to look and smell like. Please look up pictures of oxidized tuna. It's not fresh. I tried to be very polite and not act like a "Karen," but I just couldn't eat it, so I quietly said "thank you" and ate my sushi roll.

The gentlemen I was with said "We'll eat it if you don't want it," so they did, and within 1.5 hours, both got sick.

The restaurant wasn't crowded when we arrived so I don't know why this happened. I tipped well but I...

This review is based off of a few years of eating here and I've wrote, deleted, rewrote, edited, deleted, and finally writing this one over that time.

This was one of my favorite restaurants and this is my first visit in five months because of an incident that put it at the worst restaurant experience I've ever had. Prior to that about a year ago, I actually had been served a bowl of ramen with a scouring pad still in the bowl. So this review is something of a third chance I guess.

I do like the food and the atmosphere but do feel like this is a very ok experience for the cost. The rolls are beautiful depending on what you order but very typical and lighter fare seems like it doesn't have as much attention behind it. And obviously the $18 roll will be fancy, but the spicy tuna rolls which are far simpler seems like they don't care about it and the quality suffers.

If you order Hibachi lunch box, it does come with a substantial amount of food of pretty decent quality. Cheaper rolls are on par with grocery store quality, and the appetizers are good but pricey.

essentially you can have a very good meal here, but you will be shelling out some extra bucks to do so.

I really hate to say this, but I think with the over saturation of Asian cuisine in the area, you can find a dozen better places within a ten...

I will say I do like the subtle tones of the atmosphere. The aqua under lighting was unique. So one could say the zen here was outstanding lol. It did seem quiet, maybe I missed music but some soft music would have been nice.

Staff was all courteous and friendly.

I will say sushi seems to be the primary allure here. As the customers that recommended it to me did speak of it first and that dominates about 1 and a half menu sides.

Regardless besides the mochi green tea mochi I had everything was delicious.

The die for this roll was the highlight. Delicious paring.

The ramen was.... Different the runner bringing it did leave a proclamation it was zens best ramen🍜. (there's only 2) the pork had a unique flavor to it, like a hint of BBQ flavor which made it unusually enjoyable on its on. This was by no means bad. U can generally tell bad ramen by the egg in the soup, if it's not runny in the middle 🚫.

The mochi is different but not my cup of tea. (green tea) the strawberry choice would have probably been better.

Overall excellent experience, glad someome mentioned this place to me as I'd not have known it existed. Glad we have it here on the Northshore.

*probably great date...