08/20/07

Is this a club or a restaurant?

by vegitoboi

Here's a place I heard about from one of those Food Network shows. I had high expectations about this place, especially when they had a sushi bar that "rotates" in a full circle and you pay by the number of plates you take off the rotating conveyor belt (it's something you have to see to believe). I've never seen something like that since my trip to Japan in 05. Anyway, I guess the best way to describe the place is that it's a hodgepodge trying to be 2 things in 1. Keep in mind, I checked out this place on a Sunday (8/19) around 2PM and the place was empty. When getting there, I felt like this was supposed to be a nighclub, hense the canopy entrance and the Eurodance music playing. On the left by the window are plush blue and purple couches with a DJ booth and lights hanging above the place. The far left there is table seating. The center is the rotating sushi bar that had low "almost kiddie seats" chairs. To the right in the next room is an low stocked bar. Although the athmosphere was akward for a Japanese restaurant, the place was spacious enough. The waitress was very polite (and cute), but also lacked the knowledge of the menu and the sake they had to offer. But onto the food. For a sushi place in Lakeview, I was disappointed. the pieces were small and expensive; I can get more for my money at Akai Hana in Wilmette. Although, I was impressed they had White Toro (White Fatty Tuna) and their rolls were one of a kind (i.e. Caviar Roll (which is more like smelt eggs on top of a cucumber roll, not real caviar)). Also, although the waitress was not knowledgeable about sake, the "sake flight" (4 different shots of sake) was an interesting experience ranging from the "cheap" sake to the "top shelf" served hot or cold. So, what's the bottom line? I would probably go at night and see if there is a difference to what I wrote. I'm convinced this place is more of a sushi & danceclub place than a restaurant. Go and give it a try, if you can find parking.

• Pros: Good list of sake, sushi selections you won't find anywhere else (i.e. caviar roll), plating
• Cons: NO PARKING!!!, proportions are small, Club or Restaurant?, staff not very knowledgable, overpriced

11/17/06

Decent prices, decent sushi

by absolutkira

Sushi is moderately priced and I would say, only okay. The fish seemed mostly fresh, but I didn't think that the rolls were outstanding. I liked the conveyor belt idea, but overall, the place seemed too big... when I think sushi I think intimate little places where you can watch the chef put together your meal. Unfortunately, you lose some of that at Hey Sushi. A good place for sushi beginners, friendly helpful staff. But if you know your stuff, you should probably head elsewhere.

• Pros: friendly staff

08/03/06

BEST Sushi in Chicago by far!!!

by happygirl05

I walk by this place all the time. Sometimes its empty and sometimes they have a line out the door. Kinda strange, but I decided to try it anyway with my friends. I love thew clean lines of the interior and the openness of the space. Most sushi places are tiny and feel crampt. We tried their area 51 martinis and some tropical ones as well to start. Great drink menu by the way. Next we tried the nanami maguro appetizer which was a bit spicy but melted in our mouths. They introduced some new rolls lately and a sushi pizza. I hioghly recommend the godzilla and buddha rolls. Overall the service and food were excellent. I definitely recommend trying this place!!!