Serika Sushi Restaurant — Restaurant in Orinda

This really should be a TWO star review - I will give the place one more chance because 1st two visit were good. Third visit was another story.

I like that for dinner they give you hot towels prior to eating. Nice. I wish the staff was just as inviting. Their miso soup is excellent. I had amaebi here 3 times. Heads were very good except for last visit - slightly gamy. The tails are both good and forgettable.

I usually order sushi and sashimi. Nothing excellent but good as it is not super fresh. The Ikura is ok but third visit - wilted and slightly gamy - it did not pop in your mouth - you had to chew it. And then third visit I ordered Salmon Turo sashimi (fatty salmon). Wow! The worst sashimi I have ever had. Ever. They served me a grey (seriously no pink or orange color) slimy gamy cuts, marinaded, in I do not know what. And marinaded most likely so they did not have to throw it out. Alarming. I so wish I took a photo.

You know its hard to remember great meals. But bad meals - your brain remembers - part of self the preservation process. And this Toro was alarmingly gross. I just...

When the original owner and his wife, both from Japan, decided to retire this cozy restaurant changed hands a few times. Needless to say everything went downhill until...this current owner took over about a year ago. From Mongolia, with a refined sensibility to service and attention to quality, this Japanese Sushi restaurant checks all the boxes. Appetizers, Noodle ramen dishes, Bento Boxes, Tempura (fantastic), Nigiri and Sashimi (also fantastic) are some of the best you will ever taste in the Bay Area. Priced in a way that the proprietor can pay help, rent and make a decent living, but not as high as so many other restaurants of any genre. You can dine for $30 per person, or $100 per person. You get to choose. Return for all the other offerings on the menu and enjoy Sushi and hot dishes without feeling cheated or deprived. Not all Sushi restaurants give you that kind of ability to manage your sushi budget so that you can splurge on occasion and have a very satisfying meal...

We have tried and liked all the dinner items on the menu. Additionally even though we are not sushi lovers, we like their California roll, and other vegetable rolls. After trying out the restaurant a couple of times, we had a chance to bring our daughter's family to dinner last night. They really liked it, from Agedashi tofu to Chicken Karaage to California roll; Teriyaki Salmon very fresh and tender; Tempura Mix light and crispy.... Together with the tasty miso soup and crispy salad, all was good.

We had a perfectly tasty dinner. I took away one star from service because we felt a little rushed, checking out in under an hour. Took away a star in atmosphere due to live music outside. It just did not go with tranquil Japanese atmosphere I expected. But it was outside the control of...