Ajisai — Restaurant in Raleigh

I have traveled all over the world and by far Ajisai Japanese Fusion is the best sushi I have had to date. I had the Tuna lover, Chef special platter, and spicy miso. Now, the soup was warm temperature wise but I believe this was done so due to the spice temperature of the soup. The flavor of the soup in its presentation wonderfully executed. The tuna lover is exactly what it sounds like. You need to love your tuna. The fish was cold but flavorful, the presentation was done in a wonderful ceramic bowl with ice, and other wonderful decorations that were also able to be eaten. The pickled ginger was the real deal and was very light and cleansed the mouth after each bite. The chefs platter was just as wonderfully executed as the first. Fish was and I cant stress this enough "fresh, fresh, and fresh." Oh did I mention the fish was fresh?! Over all I ordered a lot of food and I am extremely happy with what I ordered, the staff is here, attentive; however, aren't hovering over you asking how everything is after you put food in your mouth. The over all environment was welcoming and enjoyable. However, the music was more of a focus rather than having it as on lightly in the background. The overall decorations, bar offerings are done well. I am not a drinker but I am sure looking at their bar they are able to get you whatever you wish. The only thing I would say negative about this place is the music at the volume it was at when I visited would limit conversation with others in my party if I hadn't been alone. If you are looking for friendly staff, and great food you wont go wrong picking Ajisai. The food is spectacular in...

• updated review * I went back this weekend with my boyfriend, and I am so glad I did. This time I had absolutely no issues whatsoever the food was wonderful the sushi was wonderful and the wonderfully stupid little light in the volcano roll was just wonderful. This time I got the general tso's and the volcano roll, and my boyfriend, who is somewhat of a sushi snob got the three roll special. The food quality was excellent in the portion sizes were large enough that both of us had plenty to take home.

Previous review I'm leaving a four-star review with some regret that I couldn't make it a five. The ambiance was great when I walked in, I was promptly seated. My server came out and took my order, and left me with a carafe of water on the table. I ordered the chicken teriyaki lunch, and a volcano roll. The salad that comes with your lunch came out promptly it was tasty, not long after that the teriyaki came out. I cannot tell you exactly how good this teriyaki was, because it was phenomenal. Hower, I never got my volcano roll, and at the end of the meal when I got my check I was charged for the teriyaki dinner. I will be coming back at some point to try this again. I would definitely recommend trying it for anyone looking for good moderately priced Japanese food. However this time around service left something to be desired. My waiter was perfectly friendly, and nothing took forever. But it just seems like he wasn't listening when I ordered. I do give him props for boxing up my leftovers very well though I'm excited to...

We enjoyed our food. Would maybe order it to go another time. Our experience wasn’t as good. We were told there was a 20/30 minute wait, that we could start outside near the heaters and when a table became available inside, we could move inside. We were brought menus and water outside and then no one ever came back outside. I had to go inside and ask if someone was coming to take our order, when I noticed an empty table inside. I asked if we could sit there. They told us we could and they’d pull another table up so we had space. That never happened. 3 of us at a two person table. Finally got food and drinks ordered, and when the food came, our server noticed a bigger table open and told us to move there. Once there, it was forever until any one came back around. Everyone else had pitchers of water at their table for them to refill themselves. We did not. We didn’t have silverware when our food came. I tried to flag another waiter down just to bring us forks, he looked at me and turned and walked the other way and answered the phone at the host stand instead. Our server was good, he was just really busy. We appreciated him. This just wasn’t a good experience for us. We enjoyed the food. But the service just wasn’t there for us. And to make it worse, other people got greeted very cheerfully and welcomed, and we just felt like we were not really welcome there and just forgotten about. It was my husbands birthday and a Sunday, so we didn’t want to start over with a wait another place...