Azuma Sushi Bistro — Restaurant in Town of Malta

I usually don't review a restaurant that has been open less than three months, but I was in the area for a weekend lunch, and the other reviews seemed generous. Entering the ground floor of a small office building, I was escorted to the six-seat sushi bar, with paper napkins and waribashi (photo). I was pleasantly greeted by the three sushi chefs, but was handed a menu filled with photos of other people's sushi, and a very limited selection of nigiri.

I ordered a couple of maki and a bunch of nigiri, which I've found to be a quick way to assess the capabilities of the chef. While I was waiting, I glanced around at the space, a strange mix of styles for a brand new restaurant - you, too, can appreciate the Batman stickers next to giant hand-painted mural. At least the three televisions featuring country music performances were all on mute.

The polite and efficient server brought out an average soup and forgettable salad, with tea-bag tea. I watched as the chef had some difficulty selecting an appropriate plate for my main - but at least he didn't use choose of the decorative plates, with little trees built in, that were stacked all along the wall. I don't think they can really be cleaned well enough.

The rice itself was very mildly seasoned, less than I normally prefer. The eel cucumber maki presentation could have been better (photo), and the spicy crunchy salmon maki was not spicy, and not very crunchy - mostly just bland paste. For the nigiri, none of the sushi had wasabi added under the fish, but that is very common in the area. One of the unagi fillets unfortunately had broken in half, but was added to my plate anyway. And the tamago had a very high, very sweet water content, much more than expected from eggs rolled today.

I think the servers may have known this, as they must have asked me 10 times about my meal. "It's OK." But not really. I'll come back, but not too soon. I think they really need more time to find their footing.

2019...

My coworkers recommended this place to me as a potential thumbs up take out spot, and while I agree the meal was good the price was not nice to frequent on a regular basis. Likely a better experience for dine-in as well, but hey, I'm a take out guy.

Went with an order of the Scallop Hibachi Dinner and an appetizer order of Crab Rangoon. Ae expected the Crab Rangoon was so yummy, I'm a sucker for fried foods but Crab Rangoon hold a special place in my tummy. Lots of crab stuffing, nicely fried, and the sweet chili dip was a lot more mild than I was anticipating. The main course was almost perfect, but the Scallops were a little on the sandy side and had an unpleasant crunch. But the shrimp, the noodles, the rice, and the veggies were filling and tasty. And dipping the veggies in the, I believe the term they used was "Yum Yum Sauce", was quite an experience.

I was worried because some of my larger mammal friends said the proportion sizes were a bit on the small side, which I agree with the Crab Rangoon, but not for the Hibachi Dinner box. So much food, I was stuffed and couldn't even finish the rice or noodles. So maybe go for a Dinner box if you are sharing.

That said the total price was $40 before tipping, so that'd not a nice time on the old wallet. Which is another reason I'd recommend eating in, as getting take out for $40 is quite the plunge to take. The meal was good, but it wasn't what I'd say is $40 good.

One downside is that they do not include chopsticks, only a fork and spoon, and I find eating dishes like this far easier with a pair of chopsticks.

Overall a good time, good food sans the sandy scallops, but that price tag... Yeah, probably not a...

Tall bald man with glasses at the front booth made sure that after years of being regulars we won’t be coming back and none of the people we know will be either. We have been coming here since the grand opening and could not even get basic human decency because we didn’t have a reservation. On a MONDAY NIGHT. We have come here for my partners birthday every year and he had the condescending audacity to tell us “well we are busy this time of year” as if my partners birthday changes.

At first he was super rude and condescending and confusing and we didn’t say anything, but then when I went back inside to ask for clarity he continued to treat me like I wasn’t even supposed to be there. I was tearing up while he talked to me like I was a child and I told him flat out “I’m sorry, I don’t know if you’re having a bad day but this is extremely uncomfortable the way you’re treating us right now when we’ve been regulars for years.” We couldn’t be sat at the empty hibachi table while waiting, we were “aloud to go stand by the aquarium” if we wanted but were not aloud to sit inside until “BOTH” our entire party was there and it was almost 40 minutes later.

I’ve never been treated so horribly by a restaurant and my partners birthday was ruined.

Mr. Fuji is making it right for us only 13 minutes away. Go there to be treated well and better food! I’m sure with all Azumas business they won’t worry about losing a person or two but after seeing my partners birthday night ruined I intend to make sure it’s more than 1 or 2 people who know how horrendous...