Dai Sushi — Restaurant in Town of Mount Pleasant

After being a loyal customer for several years, I'm saddened to report that Dai Sushi has undergone a noticeable decline in quality. What was once my family's go-to destination for Japanese cuisine has unfortunately fallen short of its former excellence.

The Sashimi Deluxe Experience

On my recent visit, I ordered the Sashimi Deluxe, a dish I've enjoyed countless times before. The difference was immediately apparent:

Concerning Freshness The fish, once glistening with freshness, now had a questionable quality. That characteristic ocean-fresh aroma was missing, replaced with a slightly off smell that true sushi enthusiasts would immediately recognize as problematic.

Portion Reduction Perhaps most disappointing was the dramatic reduction in portion size. The sashimi pieces were noticeably thinner—approximately half the thickness of what was previously served. This gives the impression of cost-cutting measures being implemented at the expense of customer satisfaction.

Texture and Flavor Issues The texture of the fish was particularly troubling. Good sashimi should have a certain suppleness and moisture, yet these pieces were surprisingly dry. The tuna lacked its signature buttery texture, while the salmon didn't have that melt-in-your-mouth quality I'd come to expect.

Bland Flavor Profile The flavor profile was remarkably bland. Premium sashimi should have distinctive tastes that showcase each fish's natural flavors, but these pieces tasted flat and uninspired. Even the accompaniments like wasabi and ginger couldn't salvage the experience.

Overall Assessment

Whatever management or kitchen changes have occurred at Dai Sushi have unfortunately resulted in a significant downgrade in quality. For a restaurant specializing in raw fish dishes, freshness and proper preparation are non-negotiable elements, and both were lacking during this visit.

After years of loyal patronage and countless recommendations to friends and colleagues, my family has made the difficult decision not to return. When paying premium prices for sashimi, customers deserve premium quality—something that Dai Sushi no longer seems able to...

My wife and I eat at Dai Sushi on a regular basis, and have, since it opened in June 2015. While we were at our table last Friday, February 12, 2016, the Westchester County food inspector and his assistant arrived for an inspection, apparently brought on by the mean-spirited and ludicrously inaccurate review posted prior to this one. This restaurant is one of the very best in the county and certainly—in our opinion—the finest Japanese restaurant north of Manhattan. The food is fresh and delicious; the sauces are utterly superb; the selection is wide and individually prepared, and the service is top-notch, with three of the most pleasant servers you will ever find, anywhere (including one of the owners). To say otherwise is totally out of reality and quite frankly a bald-faced lie. Plus, the charge of food poisoning “hinted” at is preposterous, especially since food poisoning generally leaves the body after 24-hours and the voiding of the contamination; more likely the irate reviewer had the flu, quite possibly affecting her judgment. And by the way, the restaurant passed its inspection with flying colors: as well it should have; it is a SUPERB restaurant… as other reviews, here and elsewhere have attested. If one is in a rush, however, one should try the local diner instead: Dai Sushi is for people who wish to enjoy a VERY fine meal in a VERY...

One of the WORST restaurant experiences of my life. I went with my family to celebrate my birthday - we had a 7PM reservation on a Thursday night. Half of us arrived at 7 and I politely checked in with the dude at the "host" stand. He ignored me as he fulfilled some to-go orders. He was busy, but not super busy. We were crammed in the entryway and when the rest of our party arrived 10 minutes later, I again tried to politely check in with the "host." He stated, "I do NOT do the seating." His tone of snobbish disdain was eclipsed by a death stare of "how dare you" disgust as if I had just peed on his freshly-spruced shrubs. Thanks for the birthday wishes buddy! I found a waitress who couldn't do much so we waited outside in the cold for 20 minutes and eventually we were seated - 9 of us squeezed into a table for 6. Another table opened up around 8PM and we finally had room. The sad thing is the food is good. But the host or manager or take-out specialist, Brian I think might be his name, should read the book "Setting The Table" by Danny Meyer - it's about hospitality. I've had some bad restaurant experiences, like anyone else, but this was whole new stratosphere of douchebaggery. In hindsight, it was my mistake to make a reservation for 9 people, not realizing how small the place is, but when I made the rez, they said something about the...