Akino — Restaurant in New York

Akino was good. I had been there for numerous time in the past. I don't normally post review. But I think it is time to address. This place was decent for the price and for the food quality comparing to other AYCE. Later as we know the price inflated during covid. I gave some chance here and there before. Now the price been inflated so much and continue to go up after covid which isn't even worth it anymore. The food quality goes down and price goes up and up 🤔 which is my breaking point of why I stop going because doesn't make sense! If you raise the price so much and kept going up especially dinner at least maintain the food quality! Lunch increase maybe 6-8$ from (17.99 to now

We visited Akino a couple of times before the pandemic and dealt with hour long waits for a table and full reservations etc but each time we were very happy with the food and service. But this visit was different almost everything was not the same except for our helpful and down to earth host who was also the manager - the went well above anyone else working there. So onto the differences or our present experience - we walked in and noticed the restaurant was a bit warm but luckily barely waited 15minutes for a table in the back a table before the turn to the restrooms. As we were taken to our table we immediately felt the temperature rise and once seated we also started to smell the odor or either the restroom or more likely the floors from possibly grease or an old musty mop they used? Our host was very nice and we placed our order with her. After sitting a few more minutes we could no longer bear the lack of cold aircond and the warm temps we asked the manager why the restaurant’s aircond was not blowing cold air. She mentioned it’s been like that all summer and the owner can’t find the issue. So we asked if we could change our table to the outdoor seating area with standup fans. It was a 90 degree day and humid but better outside than inside! Then appetizers and food came - most were served on the plastic tops of take out containers or small paper plates! This was not the case the last couple of times we visited and a bit of a let down in presentation/ambiance in all honesty. The sushi and sashimi at least was served on large plates or a serving tray as normal. The food and sushi was still good as we remembered but a big catch - most was getting warm before it was presented to us at our table. Understandably so because the restaurant’s aircond and temp was not cool either. Service was mediocre by half the staff and the other half was ok only exception was the manager. Considering all these items that need attention and compared to our previous visited preCovid experience as well as being one of the higher priced AYCE Sushi spots that I know of in the boros - I would say we aren’t eager to try Akino again...

If you don't care about prices, then this review isn't for you. I have ate at akino multiple times now for lunch, but lately I can tell that the food quality has gone down and the service really needs to step it up.

Note: I have only came here for lunch and the prices have gone up.

Price: Weekday: $22.99 Weekend: $23.99 5% off if paid by cash

I went for weekend lunch, my total for 2 is $52.24 after tax (tip not included)

Food: 3/5 Sushi and rolls were satisfactory The single piece sushi, rice to fish rato is so off. There is way too much rice for the amount of fish placed on top. The goyza quality has lowered, back when I use to be able to taste the separate filling ingrients, now it just taste all grounded up. Fried chicken, just tasted like dry greesy chicken. The chicken also had a sour aftertaste as well the premade, purchased frozen food fried items (scallops, shu mai) still tastes the same.

Service: 2/5 although servers are nice, they are extremely unorganized. I'd suggest that the waiters can at least verify that the order is ours before placing it down and walking away.

Service: 2/5 Servers are attentive, refilling drinks and cleaning up plates, just that my service was not great.

My experience today: Sat down for lunch and waited for over 30min for the food to arrive. They ended up giving the order to the wrong table which was next to us, so we had to wait longer. It was extremely upsetting especially when we overheard the table say that they didn't order the food and before I could ask them they just emediatly started eating it. In the end they didn't even finish the food but wasn't charged for it since "they didn't order it". Having to wait and then get up to complain about my order really killed the mood and experience.

Summarize: I use to love this place, but with the rise in prices, the drop in food quality, the fish to rice ratio and the hit or miss service, I don't see myself coming back...