Aki Of Japan — Restaurant in Third Lake

We went to Aki of Japan for the first time in our quest to explore sushi places near our new home after moving out from Chicago. We consider ourselves to be true sushi fans and I can say without hesitation, this is the best sushi we've had outside Japan. Better quality fish than anything we've had in Chicago and we've dined EVERYWHERE.

The high grade ingredients were complimented by an artistic presentation and personal attention from the chef and owner to ensure we had the best possible experience. Their Miso comes more strongly flavored than most places, the salad comes with an expected ginger dressing that is balanced slightly more towards the mayo than ginger (the wife's personal preference which she loved).

The rolls were simple yet delicious opting to let the flavor of the ingredients do the heavy lifting rather than smother it in unneeded sauces. The nigiri was beyond delightful, again showcasing the flavors of the fish. I normally don't enjoy fatty tuna as much as the other selections but I found myself savoring the flavor from this presentation in a way that has shattered my previous expectations. I didn't feel the need to reach for the soy sauce or wasabi once during the whole experience.

For dessert, we had the Tartufo (Multi-layered Italian gelato ball coated in chocolate) which the owner proudly informed us was imported from Italy, completely worth the expense. It came dusted in Cacao, drizzled with chocolate sauce and served with a knowing smile.

I never would have expected this caliber of service and culinary delight from a suburb sushi spot on a Tuesday night. This is the first time my wife has actively wanted to take her Japanese parents, who live in Tokyo, to a sushi restaurant in the US. It seems borderline criminal that this place isn't packed every single night with diners out the door waiting for their chance at a table.

Aki of Japan, rest assured, our local sushi search is over. You have earned our business and have instantly become our favorite spot. I look forward to bringing friends and family to dine with you again and again. See you...

I Hate to do this because I am pretty sure the older lady and gentleman own the restaurant but it can't keep operating like this for the safety of the public. This was one of the worst restaurants I have ever been to. I'll start with the positive aspects. The atmosphere is very cozy and the older gentleman cooking is very friendly. And now the bad things: My steak tasted somewhat rancid. The chicken was definitely rancid. It came out of a fridge that most assuredly has mold in it. The place was a ghost town and awkwardly quiet. They charge for fried rice verses steamed rice. The prices of the meals were pretty unreasonable also. The cut of steak was pretty poor. They covered half the plate in sprouts. We didn't eat the chicken at all and just threw it away when we got to the car. The grill itself had black crust caked all around the edges. Even though the feel is comfy, I think the place needs a full remodel because their grills have to be from the 70's. It is very unsafe to serve rancid meat above all of these things. Please close your doors if you are unable to serve your customers fresh products. This is not meant to harm this business but rather let it be an eye opener that you need to improve on...

1st time visiting since it was Yuri. There were 4 people at the table.. and the only customers in the restaurant we placed our orders and soup and salad were brought out. Then we proceeded to sit there for 47 mins until the chef came out to cook our food. We asked what the problem was and our waitress...who informed us she was new and learning...had given the order to the chef and he would be out soon. Whoever was supposed to be training this poor young lady left her hung out to dry. When she went to ask questions for us she wasnt given any guidance. When we all asked for the manager or owner a gentleman came out and acted suprised we would even ask when dinner would be started. Again the answer was 5 mins. 47 mins.. 47 mins it was before food came out to be cooked....we were still the only customers in the place. This was completely ridiculous and the fact that no one cared that we waited forever was all i needed to know that I will NEVER return for another...