Gami Sushi — Restaurant in San Diego

Gami Sushi has been my boyfriend and my favorite go-to for almost a year. We've been here countless times before and the food has always been great. Service's quality has been just okay until our visit today. We arrived at the restaurant just before 9pm and sat at the table right outside the door. Usually we sit inside but we decided to sit outside since it's almost closing time and the inside dining room looks already cleaned up. After we ordered our food, while waiting, I looked down on the ground and saw a big rat next to my feet. The couple who sat opposite from us saw it too and even pointed towards it and told me it was now under my chair. I was freaked out and my boyfriend went to tell the server to pack our food to-go, to which she seemed displeased. At first I didn't want to say anything, but seeing her reaction I told her that there was a rat next to our table. She came out to look for it and it was not there anymore. She told another server to look for it and he searched in the bushes and flowerbeds behind our table and couldn't find it. Then nothing was said from the staff. What rubbed me the wrong way was not the fact that there was a rat at our table, but it was the way that the staff handled the situation. They practically ignored us and my boyfriend even heard one of the staff said that they've never seen a rat before. We didn't receive any acknowledgment of what I saw. I understand that this is not in their control but their lack of response was off-putting and disappointing. We have been loyal customers to Gami for a long time, so today's experience has been incredibly disappointing. We still like their food but it's unlikely that we will...

Food was fine but right after my wife and I sat down at a table for two, an asian woman with shorter hair (who I believe was the owner) escorted us to move to another table for two that had a "cubicle like" barrier wall on the side of the table. It was right next to the bathrooms. (Picture a small table with one side of the table abutting a cubicle barrier.). It made the small table for two even smaller, and was clearly the worst table in the restaurant.

I asked why she wanted us to move (we had just sat down, and were reading the menu, having been seated by a different younger employee) and she muttered something I did not understand. But clearly, she wanted us to move.

I thought maybe they were trying to put tables together for a larger party, but right after we left, two gentlemen sat down at the same table we had been at. They never conversed with anyone around them, so clearly the point was not to put a party together. No tables were ever moved together, and there was never a group that was sat together in the area we had moved from. The woman who moved us seemed to know the gentlemen, so maybe they didn't want the inferior table?

We had just moved to the area, and were trying this restaurant for the first time. What a crummy way to make you feel welcome. I felt like we were second class citizens. Won't go back for...

My friend and I are always in search of new sushi places for us to try. We were in Del Mar last August. I had read about Gami and wanted to try. It did not disappoint in atmosphere, service or food. Because they do not take reservations for just two, we chose to go at 5:00PM. It was perfect, we were greeted and wanting to sit at the sushi bar where there was plenty of room. The restaurant is located in a strip mall, both indoor and patio seating. It is very small, but felt very open with the tall ceilings. The vibe was energetic as it filled up fast, shortly after our arrival. Service was good, all the servers seem to cover for each other when it is busy, so you never felt ignored.

We ordered a bottle of Sake while looking over the menu. We ordered Uni, Smelt Egg, Yellowtail and Salmon Nigiri. We also had a Salmon Skin Hand Roll, an Extra Spicy Fire Roll and Garlic Edamame. All the sushi looked great and tasted fresh and delicious. BTW, the Salmon Skin Hand Roll was excellent, when handed to me, one of the servers came by and told me to eat it first while the skin was still crispy...OMG it was so good. I would definitely go back again when in the San Diego area. Only negative for me is that they don't take reservation.

Atmosphere: small, bright and energetic. Service: very good....