Sushi Samba Rio

02/29/08

Sushi Mumbo Jumbo

by davis676 at Citysearch

Decent food but EXTREMELY OVER-PRICED. Sushi was disappointing - we had eel/avocado rolls which tasted like an avocado. Server was attentive and nice but I think she was compensating for the restaurant's shortfalls, such as A) AWFUL SEATS, THE ABSOLUTE WORST, with an unaccommodating host who was a greasy looking dude, looked like he would jump into a stall with Swifty from Basketball Diaries, B) OUTDATED WINE/BEER LISTS, as in we ordered a wine, "We don't have it", then I ordered a beer, "We don't have it", C) OVER-COOKED MEAT that was as tasty as the Denny's steak and eggs platter. We are polite people, but please, don't charge like a top-notch place when you so obviously LICK RICE OVALS - $4.00 for Japanese rice as a "side". They must have it cooked by the top chef in Japan then flown to Chicago, otherwise, why would a 30 cent "side" be marked up to $4.00?

01/29/08

Trendy, but bad service

by ucgsb at Citysearch

We had our christmas Party here. We had terrible service where many people left hungry, were yelled at by wait staff, and were not even afforded the decency of dressed tables or even tables that weren't broken. We were ignored by management.

A request for a vegetarian dish was responded to by wait staff telling me to eat the potatos that came under the chicken.

Requests for linens , table replacement, and serving utensils were ignored.

Al in all a good party marred by poor service.

• Pros: Very trendy and upscale.
• Cons: Wait staff and management could not be bothered with us.

09/24/07

Awful service, I feel taken advantage of

by blondandfun at Citysearch

There are two reasons why I feel taken advantage of after eating at this overrated restaurant. One is the service, which was deplorable. The waiter was pushy and spoke very fast. Not only that, but I ordered a main course, which was around $25, and ended up with a soup. I had no idea it was a soup or I would not have ordered it, and he did not mention it. The soup's broth smelled and tasted like seaweed and fish guts. Overall feeling of the soup was I couldn't eat half of it and it was sickening. Considering that most people in Chicago are American, the menu is extremely confusing and having a waiter who explains it SLOWLY would be essential. Overall rating of restaurant would be 2 of 10. The decor was awesome, btw, but apparently the owner belongs to the breed where looks are everything.

After the $25 soup, a $10 tiny serving of uncooked fish, and 2 $10 drinks left me hungry ($50 meal btw) , me and my friends went over to a local sports bar and had better luck with their chicken fingers and onion rings. There our hunger was satisfied and I was finally pleased. Unfortunately, however, my favorite football team lost.

• Pros: Nice ambience
• Cons: Terrible food, service, lack of explanation of menu, over priced

07/10/07

turn on the freaking A/C

by indy1972 at Citysearch

If you are looking for a reprieve from the summer heat in Chicago do not go here. We were out in the 90 degree heat all day and the last thing we wanted was to sit in a hot restaurant all night. You would think they could afford to turn on the A/C given that the sushi nigiri costs $4 to $5 per piece (note, not 2 pieces but per piece). If you are looking for a scene this is your place. If you are looking for good sushi, go elsewhere

• Pros: the scene
• Cons: overpriced sushi/ low quality sushi/ no air conditioning

02/08/07

This place is overrated!!!

by dsaviorx77 at Citysearch

My first impresion of this place was very trendy. it looks inviting but horrible service. The atmosphere feels like everything cost a lot of money but it so disappointing that they have to provide space heater to their customer because maybe they cant turn up the heat. I brought a cake for my bithday friend and when we asked our server if maybe she can provide us silverware but instead she told us that she will but they have to charge us three dollars per person. WOW!!! they have charged us for just bringing the plate to us when we already spent over five hundred dollars. What a disappointment

• Pros: Live music
• Cons: Horrible service and BAD customer relation

12/12/05

Is not what you imagine!

by bebolain10 at Citysearch

The restaurant is beautiful and romantic but, the sushi is the worst that I ever have in the city. When you see the restaurant you think that the sushi manu is good and the sushi will taste better. When you get the sushi is too big and the flavor is not the best.

06/13/05

Poor Service

by itsmemd at Citysearch

Don't you hate it when a new restaurant gets going and it gets a little hype, then it gets a little full of its self and service goes down the drain? Welcome to Sushi Samba. My business associates waited 1.5 hours before we got our food (how embarrassing). They didn't check on us, we had to request to order, get drinks, and get the soup and salad that came with the meals. Unreal!

11/11/04

I won't go back!

by princessducky at Citysearch

7 of us went for a friend's birthday. Ambience is very nice. We had alot of food, but the food was average at best. The only thing I recommend is the scallops....those were good. Everything else was ok. Way overpriced. The mojito was not good. Not recommended!

• Pros: Scallops, Ambience
• Cons: , Food

11/06/03

Skip this place

by loopchigirl at Citysearch

The place is very trendy and busy but the food is terrible. It is definitely not worth the price. There are much better places in Chicago to go eat.

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