Sushi Samba Rio

09/21/03

Great Experience

by jwh82 at Citysearch

Had reservations for 10 pm on a Friday night. Werent seated until 10:40. It wasnt the best sushi in Chicago, but it was still above average. Their spicy tuna roll was one of the best Ive had (they use whole tuna pieces with the spicy sauce on top instead of chopped up tuna pieces mixed with the sauce). Had my first caipirinha here, it was very good. I definitely recommend u try it. Their edamames were also to die for. It was sprinkled with sea salt which made it great. For the 2 of us, 2 caipirinhas, 1 samba sushi (sushi combination plate), 1 edamame, 3 normal rolls, and 2 specialty rolls came out to 95 dollars (including tax, but not tip). Definitely not the best value, but this place is worth going to for the experience. Good for groups or parties. Wouldnt make it a regular though.

• Pros: Crowd, Food, Ambience
• Cons: Service, wait time

09/10/03

try elsewhere like bob sans

by dujin at Citysearch

very moderate food combined with high prices. if you want good sushi.. go elsewhere like bob sans, mirai, or sushi wabi.

• Cons: expensive, untasteful

09/06/03

aye carumba!

by blondcomet at Citysearch

Wow, what a cool-looking place with cool-looking food and drinks and cool-looking patrons! If that's what you're looking for, good for you. You've found the right place. If you want to eat, though, I'd recommend going somewhere else. We ate two of the only 7 or 8 entrees offered: the glass noodles and the monteqa something-or-other. They were $20 each and bland with sub-par seafood. What a waste of money. Why is this place supposedly so popular in NYC?

• Pros: Music, Decor, Bathrooms
• Cons: Food , Price, Crowded

09/01/03

what a joke

by egish at Citysearch

This is a true place for people who don't like real sushi. It is overpriced crap. the maki(rolls) are all pre made and sitting behind the sushi bar just waiting to be sliced. What happened to fresh? one would think for $16 a roll it could be fresh. Their individual pieces are average and more expensive than any place in town. You can get the same quality at the grocery store if you understand my point.

• Cons: expensive, overrated

09/01/03

don't fall for the hype

by music77 at Citysearch

If you really love sushi and are a fan of marai, bob san, or sushi wabi then do yourself a favor and stick with those. They, too, have a cool ambience with beautiful people, but their food is even better. Sushi Samba is a huge disappointment. I'm insulted that the chain believed that hip Chicagoans would entertain this place for more than a month. For those that are still hanging out in the crowded bar (duh!?!?! didn't you guys learn from the over crowded bar experience of Hudson Club!?) in November, then I'm afraid you've been drafted into the likes of those who are never on time for the true opening of hot spots. The food is less than acceptable, the ambience is kinda cool (if you like knowing that there is one just like it NYC and Miami), and the crowd is annoyingly trying to hard.

• Pros: some cool seating, service
• Cons: food, chain (NYC. Miami)

08/20/03

Good Experience

by kennise at Citysearch

I did not know what to expect when we arrived. I was afraid that the ultra decor would be the best thing about the place but it was not. I had a very nice server, who was very attentive...I did not have to ask for anything twice. We were happy with everything that we ate. The drinks were good..and strong!! Overall it was a good experience!

08/18/03

Subpar sushi

by kwakey at Citysearch

I can't believe this place can actually ask people to pay the ridiculous prices for sushi! Hello?? We're not in New York- this is Chicago where food is reasonably priced. Our service was decent- but the way they pushed eating every course just so you can rack up a $200 tab....NOT. I am very disappointed in this long awaited opening. I vote for Starfish, Sushi Wabi or Mirai....they are much better than this place.

08/13/03

McSushi, anyone?

by windyskid at Citysearch

Like 90 percent of the countless new sushi spots in the Windy, Sushi Samba offers less-than-fresh fish and terrible, loud music. Apparently, this formula works in New York which is where the CHAIN is headquatered and, with similar, yet superior, restaurants of the same bent (Sushi Wabi, Blue Fin to name two) all over, this place is not the needle, but a blade of hay in the stack. Also, the desserts are tiny and overpriced.

You want good sushi and none of the faux style, try Sushi Kooshi in Lake Forest. You like the so-called ambience, check out Sushi Wabi.

• Pros: none
• Cons: overpriced, poor fish, trendy chain

08/07/03

People are so easily swayed!!

by Jezzie at Citysearch

My new mission in life is to get a PR person to hype me up. Just say someplace is the "new hot spot" or especially tell Chicagoans that it is trendy in NY and they will go for it.

What is good about this place? The decor, that is it.

Food horrible.

Service horrible.

Wait....horrible..

Oh, but it is the place to be!! So sure you should go! Spend $20 for a sushi roll and $30 for a steak! Because the media has told us you need to go there if you are a fashionista!! The NY location was featured on Sex in the City 3 years ago, of course Chicagoans will go!!!

Also much negative comments elsewhere about the former Executive Chef; his dissatisfaction with the staff and his now departure.

Do you blame him? I would jump ship too. This place will either be redone, or shut down.

08/05/03

sushi samba

by anonim at Citysearch

the place itself is rather cute, nothing too exciting and nothing different than the ones in NYC. the crowd was ok, had its hits and misses, but again, the average turned out to be acceptable. one big issue is the service. it was absolutely impossible to get a waitress' attention in the lounge area, wrong order was brought after 40 minutes of waiting (on top of the ordering itself taking 30 minutes); but the climax of the experience came when our group got charged for 4 other tabs. so, go have fun, while this place is still happening (we give it about a month or so), try to catch a waitress and watch out when you settle YOUR bill.