Stay AWAY from the Negative Reviews! It's not true! I always make my reservations on some of the Thursdays and when I get there, I'm not only seated right away, but also have the option of sitting in 3 different areas! The atmosphere vibe was awesome with upbeat music (my favorite) and the contemporary setting. All of the waiters that I have when me and my friend go there are all super friendly. Even though the sushi is excellent quality, it was the customer service that mattered the most than pricing. Everytime I go there, the general manager knows me and my friend that I always go with. The Huber Sparkling Red Rose wine is one of my favorite drinks. One of my favorite sushi is the Sunny Hill or the Red Dragon sushi! If you are a sushi lover just like me, than you will love this place! Give it a try. Tell the general manager that I've sent ya!
(5)
Zoe Z.
Excellent all the way around! Confident servers with great personalities! I've been a couple of times and absolutely love the vibe. It has a city feel! The food was well presented and delicious. When I was here with my two girlfriends, we had the server just pick her favorite things and just order what she thought we would like. Not one disappointing item was brought to our table. Shakou is a prime example of how positive a dining experience can be when your servers are on point.
(5)
Chai K.
I came here two days in a row for lunch. Once with a co-worker and the next with the Family. I ordered the Nigiri Deluxe Lunch both times. It comes with 5 pieces of Chef's choice nigiri and a spicy tuna roll. The fish was super fresh and melts in your mouth. The spicy tuna has almost a thai flavor with the chili oil and green onions. Delicious! ( for my tastes anyways) The decor is very modern and clubby. They have a private room with two tables and a lounge area in the loft. The overall presentation is impressive.
(4)
J B.
I made reservations for a special date with my wife and couldn't have made a better choice! From the moment we entered to the moment we left we were visually and gastronomically impressed. The service was great, very helpful in selecting our meal and drinks. We chose the sushi boat for two and were amazed when it arrived. The display was spectacular and everything tasted fresh, clean and interesting. I highly recommend Shakou Sushi for a night out with friends, a special date, or even a private dining event with a big party. Great food and wonderful people.
(5)
sushi t.
Never been disappointed. Dined here 5 times. This place can get packed so plan accordingly.
(4)
Lisa H.
I have been to Shakou about 5 different times since September, took the sushi class, and just had my birthday party there. Needless to say, I LOVE going to this place!! The atmosphere and decor is impressive...a perfect place for a date. I keep going back to try the food which is so creatively presented and tastes as good as it looks. Besides the sushi rolls, I really like the Sweet and Chili Chicken Katsu dinner. My favorite appetizer is the Bul Go i Egg roll. There's always something new, and I'm never disappointed. My boyfriend and I rarely order dessert, but the Tempura Ice cream blows our mind! I want to especially thank the great servers and owners who treated us so well and were so accommodating for my party. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
L H.
Pretentious.... Expensive and loud. Food was mediocre at best... Went with a group and tried 6 different hot and cold apps, 4 rolls, sashimi and was VERY surprised that many things are prepared in advance (like Negi beef roll and scallops with bacon-they were not whole scallops but a paste of ground mystery filling)). NO special requests. They don't even have plain iced tea! Server was nice, knowledgable but didn't make up for mediocre food. If you like LOUD overpriced average food and not real Japanese sushi then by all means stop in. Otherwise avoid it. Run... Run fast
(1)
Caitlin C.
My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night with no reservation. We were seated very quickly and the waitress was so sweet. We took a few minutes to decide what to eat, but once we did it wasn't more that 5 minutes before we got our food. Although it's a little on the pricey side, I think what we paid was well worth what we got.
(3)
Juhui S.
I would give five stars for just the decor. It's a really gorgeous place with plenty of room. Modern, chic, and enjoyable--I felt fancy. However, the makis, I noticed, were not as impressive as the interior. They are a little more pricey than say the local Sushi Thai and most of them were cooked. Personally, I would've liked larger selection of makis with raw fish. I went with a couple friends of mine, and they loved everything. Although, I was slightly disappointed with the variety of their makis, I will definitely go back for the great atmosphere. Like I said, the food was good, just less than I expected.
(3)
Frankie B.
#NAME?
(5)
Gianna S.
Not a sushi fan but tried it and it was actually great and tasted fresh! The drinks were delicious and the vibe was great. Loved how it was a city vibe in the burbs. Great music and fun atmosphere. Try the calamari it was to die for! Absolutely loved this place and the best part was the prices were very reasonable for such a great experience!! It's great how you can go just for a drink upstairs in the lounge or go for lunch/dinner. Would Definitely return to this place and recommend it to others!!!
(5)
Dean H.
We first got turned onto this place during the traditional date night that the wife and I have. upon walking in the door you were immediately greeted by a very large gorgeous bar along with a huge staircase leading to the second floor and finally the spectacular looking sushi bar to your left. That cool kid awesome hip music is playing in the background to let you know this isn't some corny cheesy place this is upscale and innovative. Some highlights to the menu are the gentlemen , the black dragon, and you have to splurge once in a while on Toro tuna. Service is nonintrusive and impeccably executed. Drinks are generous. Presentation of the food leaves your jaw on the floor it is so pretty. And of course the taste is fantastic they clearly only use the freshest highest quality seafood they can get their hands on. As a sidenote to the non-sushi loving crowd. There are many alternatives to keep you happy too. One notable is the beef wrapped asparagus, the bulgogi and of course the potstickers. This has sadly or happily become my go to place when hankering for a yummy bite of fish.
(5)
Diana P.
Delicious sushi, fun "Miami Club" decor, friendly staff. We were so excited to try out this new place in the suburbs that everyone refers to as a "city type of place". They have funky music playing, contemporary decor that makes you feel like you're in a Miami nightclub and unique sushi rolls that look and taste great. Pricier than your local sushi joint but worth it for the suburb rolls/fresh fish.
(4)
Carrie S.
Really nice vibe and ambiance, and sat upstairs with co-workers for dinner. It has a club feel, but its still trendy and really well designed. The menu offers a lot of options, although, I have to say I was slightly disappointed in the choices of rolls. Everything had something spicy, or had tempura. They can modify, but some other options would be great. Teriyaki Salmon is a definite recommend, along with the tuna salad.
(4)
Sarah P.
Went out for lunch here for my friends 21st birthday and it was perfect! We ordered mimosas to go along with our two person boat meal and it was great. The fish melted right in our mouths, and the service was unbelievably great! Server even gave us a special ice cream cake for my friends birthday! very nice atmosphere and great food. Definitely recommend this place for any sort of event!
(5)
Virginia M.
Love their food, it's amazing. My only complaint is the noise, if they would just turn down the volume on the music.....
Very fresh and so amazing! The look and feel is new age! Good customer service. The price is high but so very worth it for how fresh and good the sushi is!
(5)
Sherman X.
sushi rolls are delicious and the decoration is very modern and chic. Real surprise in the suburbs. Maybe a little over-priced but the rolls are bigger than usual as well.
(5)
Mani T.
We drive out of our way to come here. The dragon fire sushi was amazing as was the Black widow spider. The bacon wrapped scallops is a great way to start the evening. The atmosphere and decor is unique and energetic.
(5)
Mike M.
We have now been here twice. First time with a large group of 8, upstairs, and the second with just 3 of us, in the bar. AND, we will go a third time. Shakou is one of the best full service, Japanese/Sushi restaurants in the Chicago suburbs. It is flashy, trendy, and well appointed. It is as good as any downtown, full service Sushi places, and sense it is in Libertyville, there is always parking. The food is great, and innovative. Shakou Sushi is a date night out type of place too. For the burbs, it is expensive, for the City, it would be reasonable. You may be able to find better sushi at a small authentic sushi restaurant, run by a Japanese master, but this is a night out kind of place. The service is great and professional, and the owners are accommodating.
(4)
Luke S.
Service is great. The atmosphere and decor is euro and clubby. Food is just O.K. Started with the edamame, then the asparagus and beef rolls, which were good. Then it went downhill. The crab cakes smelled and tasted fishy. The other miss for me is the tuna used in the maki is ground/shredded aka Tuna Scape. Gross.
(3)
Ryan P.
I want to start by saying I'm not a crazy sushi fan. However the few rolls I had here were amazing! Black Widow was pretty freakin good! It definitely has a club style atmosphere and the music and ambiance is very modern. Another plus, (being a single guy) was that at one point I looked around and there were beautiful women at every table. Hahaha! I mentioned it to my guests and they all laughingly agreed!!! This is the spot for late night sushi and cocktails! Our servers name was A.J. I think! Extremely accommodating and gorgeous smile, very friendly. Will for sure be back!
(5)
Michelle Z.
My friend and I went in there for dinner on July 26, 2015. Between the two of us we ordered a few different kinds of roles and a couple appetizers. The problem is with the rolls. Normally when you get Makita sushi place you can identify the individual components that are rolled. The ones here or macerated. It was as though whoever made them put them through the food processor, making them like paste put them in the middle of the rice, and then wrap them. One of the rolls was out right sent back because it wasn't what we ordered. My friend doesn't like sending things back, so she took a doggy bag. My dog wouldn't even eat the more expensive the rolls.
(2)
Alice A.
Love the decor. Very contemporary. Food display is good too. The waiters/waitresses weren't as friendly as you would imagined them to be; esp for a restaurant in downtown libertyville. The waitress we got seems fake. Always have that fake smile and didn't seem as genuine. Do you know your menu? Service was kinda slow.... We started off the night with asparagus beef roll ( okay) and bul go gi egg roll (good) I ordered the crunchy melt (without cream cheese and spicy mayo or mozzarella cheese) not bad~ The Chilean sea bass was fresh and tender. I would save room for their dessert! The exotic bamba is Delish! I love the passion fruit and mango. We also got chicken teriyaki to go... For a restaurant that does great display, having huge chicken chunks looks pretty unappetizing to me... Looks like food court quality. Id stick with the sushi when ordering. After paying... I asked for a to go box... Our waitress never came back nor could be found. Asked someone else for a box but never got one either. They weren't even that busy on an early thursday night... After 20 mins of waiting, we left. Overall, food is good. Service wise? 2 stars. def NOT impressive/ attentive enough like how some of the yelpers mentioned.
(3)
G K.
Love the vibe and ambiance in the middle of North suburbs! Love the potato croquettes too. Faves are Urban Heat and Midori. 2nd floor lounge is fabulous for parties. Kid friendly menu as well.
(4)
Jorrell D.
My amazing experience at Shakou Sushi I have eaten at many sushi restaurants but Shakou is by far my favorite. While in the Navy a year ago I had the chance to travel to Japan and experience fresh authentic sushi. Sadly, when I arrived back in the U.S., it was very difficult to find a restaurant that could measure up to their sushi, until I found Shakou. Located in Libertyville, IL this place is great for dining out closer to home when you don't want to make the drive all the way to chicago. From their food, customer service, to their cleanliness. .they prove to be worth of 5 stars. In the many times I've been to Shakou Sushi, I never left unhappy. From the Oyster, to the Secret Hamachi, to the Toro Nigiri, the food here taste freshly prepared every time. The chef does an excellent job at making sure everything prepared is mouthwatering delicious. Shakou's customer service is also something to rave about. My usual server Danielle, do a great job helping us choose new things to try, and always provides great service with a smile, and other servers working will also stop and introduce themselves and make sure our time there is excellent, which is very welcoming. They also have a great rewards program that for every 250 you spend you receive 20 dollars back in credit. Shakou sushi is great for private parties, business meetings, and when you and a friend just want to experience great sushi for a day. Lastly their sanitation. This beautifully styled Japanese restaurant always looks clean and smell fresh. The restrooms here are spotless and always clean as well which is a big deal for me. I would recommend Shakou Sushi to anyone, and I hope this helped you in choosing a new Sushi Heaven, as my dining experience has shown me.
(5)
Will R.
Went with some friends on a Friday night. Love the atmosphere. A bit loud but that means alot of energy. We are all sushi fans so we stuck with the rolls. First time having black rice. Black Widow one of my new favorites. This place costs twice as much as our local favorite. No exaggeration. Rolls are big though. Must be a north shore hangout because our friends (from Deerfield) saw 3 couples they knew from that area. Libertyville must be the new cool place. Definitely a place to go with friends.
(4)
Bex A.
I was flabbergasted when I walked in and saw how HUGE this place was inside, two levels. From the outside it looks like your typical tiny sushi place, but when you walk in I felt like I went to an LA/NYC type hip trendy night club. I stopped in for lunch and the prices were reasonable, the spicy tuna roll was large and it came with soup, so a very good deal. Definitely go there if you want to fee like you are at a trendy lounge in the city without the drive. Great date place.
(4)
Serena A.
I am never disappointed! The drinks are fabulous, the food is flavorful, and the atmosphere is vibrant. Although their focus is their sushi, they have a vast amount of options other than sushi for those who don't prefer sushi. With that being said, I usually come here for sushi and I'm never disappointed. It always tastes fresh and full of flavor. Whether you're looking for a place to dine or somewhere to grab drinks, this is the spot to go in libertyville!
(5)
Jennifer L.
Color me impressed. I preface this review by stating that I've pretty much written off most of the restaurants within a 10 mile radius from my house. Why? Well, for one, I live in Vernon Hills, which is filled with big box stores and boring chain restaurants. Granted, there are a few local restaurants tucked into the strip malls off Route 60 and Milwaukee Avenue, but they are few and far between. Lo and behold downtown L-Ville. This is one of the closest places you can hit up if you want to shop local. A few independent restaurants have popped up along the downtown strip, Shakou being one of them. Now, I love, love, love sushi. I'd eat it every.single.day if I could. However, I prefer more of a traditional look to the place - one dominated by Japanese chefs, Japanese sushi makers and a predominantly Asian clientele (e.g. Renga-Tei in Lincolnwood). More modern sushi joints freak me out. I've walked (and driven) past Shakou a few times and it scared me with its beautiful decor and loud, upbeat music. I questioned whether such a hip restaurant even belonged in Libertyville where I associate relatively well-to-do families and soccer moms. Then, I questioned whether the food would actually be good or if it was all show and no substance. And boy, oh, boy was I wrong. Shakou - 1. Jen - 0. I finally got over my fear and dined in at 8pm on a Tuesday evening with my parents, my bro, his girl and my fiance. My fiance and I were the first to arrive. The host told us he'd check on our table, and we were told a few times that it was being prepared. No worries, good sirs. I'll just gape at your awesome decor, thank you very much. And, gape, I did. I mean, it just screams modern, chic and sexy. Words can't describe how awesome it looks in there. I saw exposed pipes, which had the speakers installed to the undersides, dark wood tables, comfy looking couches turned into booths, awesome lighting and even a fireplace along the wall by the bar area. Ok, so the decor won me over. On to the food. My fiance and I started with the miso soup ($3) which tasted good and similar to miso we've had at other sushi joints. No complaints there. We sampled the spicy tuna maki ($6), spicy scallop maki ($7) and the crunch ($15), which was filled spicy crab, cucumber and avocado and topped with seared spicy tuna, eel sauce and tempura crunch. If you're a fan of the heat, I recommend the spicy tuna and crunch. They packed a powerful punch that had my mouth on fire (in a good way). The spicy scallop was the least spicy of the trio and tasted great too. The portions were a great size and perfect to share. For dessert, I sampled the pyramid (chocolate mousse with molten caramel center; dusted with cocoa powder) and chocolate truffle (zabalone cream center surrounded by chocolate gelato and caramelized hazelnuts, topped with cocoa powder). They were presented beautifully, tasted sweet and were a nice way to end the meal. Seriously, don't skip out on them. Sushi can't possibly have that many calories anyway so you can spare some on these decadent treats. Service wise, our waitress was wonderful and she was able to handle our large party well. We also hung around to talk after my dad had settled the bill (thanks Pops!), and she checked up on us to make sure we didn't need any water. We joked around with her telling her that she was kicking us out, which she claimed she wasn't. The only downsides were that the white chairs aren't the most comfortable for long periods of sitting. Try to claim a booth if you can! And, the music was a tad too loud for me. I like my eating and my dancing/clubbing separate. But, in reality, those are very minor things compared to everything else. I enjoyed my experience at Shakou very much and definitely will be back when I'd like sushi for dine-in.
(4)
Heather M.
I absolutely loved this place! It's a modern sushi/sashimi resturant. They have great appetizers. I highly recommend the oysters. They are spicy but if you like spicy, get the full dozen. I have tried both sushi and sashimi here and both were great. The octopus sashimi is cut well, with a hint of lime. 5 stars all around. I would come back any day of the week. Make sure you book a reservation a few days in advance. Otherwise all the "good" dinner times will be booked.
(5)
Mad I.
Negative reviews for this place just do not seem valid! Good thing I tried it anyway, phew!!! Maybe they were from when it first opened and not recent? Well, you step inside and this place is as trendy and modern and chic as the pictures show! Soo cool...I mean, they are def pumping house music, but it goes with the decor. You feel like you are down on Rush and Division and I think that is a great addition to the Libery-thrill scene! Ambiance is awesome, service is awesome! Food, amazing! We had: (see my photos of each of these!) Calamari: really good! 2 great sauces, one spicy mayo and one that was reminiscent of the coconut stuff at Red Lobster. Great batter, the actual calamari was a tad chewy but still good for $9. Spicy Tataki: Oh my gosh, yum! Lots of spicy tuna and the soft shell crab was pouring out both ends! They really pack this thing, no skimping at all...although for $18 it is at the top of the sushi price range world... I'd get it again! Dragon: Hello Eel!!! Finally! A roll with decent sized pieces of eel on top! Great tasting! Spicy Tuna: Rolled nori facing out, which isn't my fav, but great amount of tuna for a $6 roll. This is the kind of spicy tuna that is spicy, not sweet like some. Our friends had the egg rolls which they said they really loved, somethin about the beef... I will try them when I return, which I def will!
(5)
Simone G.
Food: Fantastic. Ordered the Shakou salad and some maki-- making one of the best meals I've ever had while out. The food is fresh and filling without being heavy; it is also flavorful and original without being "weird" or unappealingly out there. I recommend ordering any of the sushi to be made with black rice; it has a subtle sweetness and nuttiness that is delicious. Service: Very good. The servers were polite and helpful without being overbearing. The manager even came around to check in with the diners, which I appreciated. Ambiance: The building is very spacious and airy. It was comfortable and cozy without being cramped, and big windows allowed light in (a plus). My only complaint was the music-- I don't think anyone enjoys the same sixteen measures of bass and synth on repeat while eating.
(4)
John S.
This Place amazing! I celebrated my Wife's Birthday here with about 15 people I reserved a private room( which had a zen like feel) They have literally the best sushi in lake county. I would recommend anyone going to try sushi for first time and does not want to make the trip down town stop over at Shakou sushi. The servers are very knowledgable and polite. I am going to give this place 5 stars because there service, ambiance, presentation, and food are what you would expect from a 5 star sushi restaurant downtown without the high prices. Don't get me wrong the pricing is not cheap either. But the well tailored service you get from Shakou Sushi is outstanding. I want to say thank you to our server Aaron who went above and beyond to make our experience at Shakou Sushi awesome! ( try the "black widow")
(5)
Britt J.
There was a lot of build-up prior to our visit here... So maybe that is why I am not reeeally impressed. It was good over-all; service was good, the place was clean, decor was upscale and contemporary, the food was good and rolls were of a good size and reasonably priced. We enjoyed the variety of rolls we ordered but preferred the green dragon and another one with black rice and scallops (I cannot remember the name! Ah!) which was a lot better when warm so eat it first! It was not by any means a negative experience, but there are other sushi places I prefer. Hope this helps!
(4)
Linda C.
Great Food! But music is too loud & bad!! Won't come back lots of good restaurants without head banging music
(2)
Michael M.
Initial wow factor of the entrance stood out and the decor was impressive. My wife and I dined on a Sunday evening around 7pm and were seated immediately in the bar area. Initially she was sad-panda faced because we were not in a booth but after she discovered the Black Widow menu item, she was quickly distracted. We each ordered an appetizer, (her-Calamari...me-Wakami Salad Seaweed, Cucumber and mixed greens). Both were delicious and filling. **our appetizers arrived and within two minutes, our entrees had followed...If I were at Chilis or TGIFridays, I would expect this but not at a place like this. It wouldn't have been that big of an issue had I not ordered a numerous amount of plates so we could sample the menu.....our table was a bit crowded with food** For the entree, she ordered the Black Widow and I went with a combination of appetizers (Lamb, Filet Spring Roll and Secret Garden). We shared a few bites of each and I was disappointed in the Filet Spring Roll but everything else was top notch. Our server was attentive, the bathrooms were clean, the atmosphere was upscale and to top it off, the Bulls came from behind and won on a last second shot against the Orlando Magic. I rated it a 4 but I'd probably give it a 3.8 at first glance. We will try Shakou out again for sure but hopefully next time we can avoid the small hiccup of having only a one course feast.
(4)
Brett B.
I feel like I'm in River North every time I eat here. This place is fun and the food is actually really good. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because it's a little too expensive. Still, if you are willing to spend a little extra it is a fun place to eat.
(4)
Liam M.
Good food. Good service. Great space. Loud Dance Music is annoying and not appropriate for this place. It distracts from everything that is right.
(3)
Caroline D.
If you're looking for good sushi, come here. I've only been here for lunch with a girlfriend but I like their lunch menu. I usually get a combo and their sashimi is very good. Best sushi in the area so far and price is decent. I also like the inside decor.... very modern/contemporary... can come with friends or on a date. I didn't care for their salad dressing but I liked everything else!
(4)
Connor B.
Whats with all the negative reviews of Sahkou Sushi? I must say this is one of the best sushi restaurants I have been to, and I love exploring new sushi restaurants. Please note my review of Shakou Sushi is not based on their night life, but more so their food, ambiance, location, staff, and overall opinion of the place. Location and Ambiance: The location of Shakou is great! Its in the heart of downtown libertyville, and the ambiance is even better! They have a great modern vibe which is unique given sushi places in the area. Sushi/Food: I have gone to Shakou probably half a dozen times now, and I can say I have NEVER had a roll I didn't like. Their food is a little pricy, but definitely hasn't let me down yet. I highly recommend going a little out of your comfort zone and trying some of their unique rolls. Staff: The staff has always been great! The manager has come around a few times while I have been there. Always seems to be happy, and doing well. Overall, I am shocked to see so many negative reviews of Shakou. Its a great place, and I highly recommend it! Thanks, Connor Brady
(4)
Melissa R.
If I could give no stars, I would. The food is over-priced. The waitstaff is slow and servers vanish. (This occurred on multiple occasions including a slow afternoon.) The management argues with the customers. They typically refuse to do separate checks. After a 15 minute argument between the manager/owner and my table, we were told we could have separate bills. I was over charged for my food. It took over two weeks for the management to return my daily phone calls about being over charged. At that point, I had disputed the charges with my credit card. When I spoke with the manager/owner, he was quite rude. He told me that he'd been calling me daily, and I could come look at his phone records for proof. I was informed that I probably got charged for someone else's food in my group, which is why the don't do separate checks. I was also informed since I disputed the claim they were not going to assist me. It took my credit card company over two months to get some sort of information from the restaurant. Shakou sent American Express a receipt I had never seen with three items I never ordered (that are not on their menu). Since the total matched what I was incorrectly charged, I was liable to pay for an extra $26 of food I never received. There are much better sushi places in the Liberyville area. Black rice, 'gourmet' sushi, thumping music, and a bar does not make Shakou a good restaurant. I'd recommend Osaka Sushi in Mundelein. They have fresh fish, a large menu, and good customer service. osakasushimundelein.com
(1)
Notah K.
I like this place because the atmosphere it's super nice inside, it's open late and their sushi is very good.
(5)
Scott S.
I've had a few great experiences, but thought it was a bit overpriced. Then one day I ordered the sushi boat and found a piece of broken dishes in a piece of sushi, luckily before I tried to eat that piece. The manager provided a half-efforted apology and pretended he had no clue how it got there even though the piece was the same color as the plate I was eating from Get it together to earn that premium.
(2)
RoseM. D.
Came here with two of my friends and it's a very nice place. I love the atmosphere and decorations are really pretty. We ordered calamari as an appetizer and it wasn't so good. I've had a lot of calamari and this one was chewy and greasy. My drink was way too strong. I ordered a watermelon cocktail and I had a hard time drinking it. The sushi on the other hand was ok. I thought it was a little pricy for just being "ok" sushi. I've had plenty of sushi and just really picky with seafood. I expect great food for those prices. On the other hand Service was great. Everyone was polite and friendly. Very Clean as well. No complaints there.
(3)
Joseph P.
Awesome sushi and awesome service. Very clean modern environment. The staff is EXTREMELY friendly and knowledgeable. I will be back.
(5)
Magdaline V.
The place is very pretty. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box and the chicken had a strange, gamey taste. I only ate the first piece but since the server never came back to check, I did not tell him until the meal was over. He did not seem to care and just took all the chicken away. I used to like this place but this soured me. Management obviously does not train to offer something else or adjust the bill. Very disappointing.
(2)
Patti S.
Not impressed at all. Very poorly run... From the moment you call for reservation til the moment you walk out! DEFINATELY a "one and done"... I especially don't EVER care for a restaurant owner reprimanding an employ in public and in such a humiliating manner... Too many other sushi restaurant options in the area that do a far better job!
(1)
Andrea F.
The food is great, you feel like you're in a swank nightclub, and the design is like nothing else. We absolutely love this place for entertaining clients and would highly recommend them for anyone looking for a great night out!
(5)
Dan M.
Great sushi, hard to believe you can get something this fresh and expertly prepared in the suburbs. You must try the Seven Spicy Ahi or the Secret Hamachi for starters. If you like your roles spicy I recommend the Dragon Roll. You'll need a reservation on the weekend as the word is out about this place. Request a booth of you have a group of four, super comfy!
(5)
Peter B.
Overall, a very nice Japanese restaurant in the northern 'burbs. Big and flashy place that's more familiar in downtown Chicago than in a quiet suburb like Libertyville. Our dinner was excellent. I had the Golden Lobster roll and my wife the Chirashi....both were great! Presentation and taste were top-notch! I also recommend the bulgogi eggrolls.....very, very good! For dessert, we had the exotic bamba....again, truly excellent! Service was good, too (on a busy, Saturday night). So overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're craving high quality, modern-style Japanese food along with hip, upbeat ambiance. (However, this is not the place if you're looking for a quiet, traditional Japanese dinner). Price is on the expensive side but not unreasonable considering the quality of the food and the ambiance.
(5)
Tiffany L.
I'm going to say it. I'm a snob about sushi places. Annoyingly so. You have been warned. I'm always on the hunt for a good sushi place in the suburbs, so I was hopeful. Upon entering my first impressions were "Wow this space is beautiful, it belongs in the city!" and "These menu prices are ridiculous for Libertyville, are they aware they're not actually IN the city?!" After this impression, I kind of already had a good idea of what to expect in the food, but again, was hopeful. We tried a variety of maki and specialty rolls here, nothing worth mentioning. If you like over-priced and over-worked rolls, then you'll like these (you know the kind of rolls I'm talking about -- the ones drenched in a combination of at least 3 of the following: wasabi mayo, spicy mayo, tempura crunch, unagi sauce, cream cheese). The calamari was chewy like a rubber band. It seemed like they pre-cooked the squid and then battered and fried it. A big no-no. Although the presentation was pretty, the fried spring roll wrapper bowl was clearly fried yesterday. The gyoza and agedashi tofu were both misses. The Chilean Sea Bass was cooked nicely, however my one gripe was that the description on the menu states "sauteed with Chinese broccoli". This is a humongous lie. It is served with regular broccoli. Broccoli does not become Chinese broccoli just because you saute it in soy. (P.S. Chinese broccoli actually IS a real vegetable and is very different from regular broccoli and is very delicious). Their go-to sauce is a Thai sweet chili sauce. Yes, you know the one I'm talking about: bit.ly/185HSYn . It seems to be served on everything. "Specialty maki roll drizzled with sweet chili sauce". "Chicken katsu served with sweet chili sauce". "Green tea ice cream with sweet chili sauce". Just kidding about that last one. The potato croquettes were surprisingly good and authentic like you'd probably get off the streets in Tokyo, but I wish they served it with tonkatsu sauce, instead of no sauce. But I guess I should be happy it wasn't served with sweet chili sauce. The space really is beautiful here. This would be a great place in the area to hang out and grab a drink at night. But food-wise, It's Japanese food for people who don't like Japanese food.
(2)
R L.
Wow - the atmosphere was very impressive and there was a cool vibe. We had a reservation and were greeted and seated promptly. We shared asparagus beef rolls for an appetizer and it was terrific! Had the Maki yellow tail and spicy tuna, and my friend had the crunch melt and raved about it. Food, service, atmosphere were all five star. Will return
(5)
Ashley V.
I was underwhelmed. I had the Cucumberita cocktail, and two rolls (Green Dragon and Tataki (sp?)). The drink was good, but the rolls were both bland. The Tataki had a "spicy" notation next to it on the menu, but I didn't notice any interesting flavors, much less any spice. Service was a bit absentee, especially toward the end of the meal, when our empties sat on the table for 5-10 minutes before being collected. The atmosphere is very up-beat, the decor is sophisticated and modern, but it's so expensive! One cocktail, a plate of edamame, two rolls, an entree and a very small and mediocre dessert came out to $83 before tip. Really?!? My neighborhood sushi joint offers the same amount of better quality food for about half the price, INCLUDING free Miso soup. I most likely will not return to Shakou, unless it's for just drinks with a bunch of friends. The food just isn't worth my while.
(2)
Jan O.
Rude and disrespectful! Husband and I decided on staying local rather than our favorite Tsukasa! Bad mistake!!! Ended up at tsukasa because we were pretty much kicked from our high top table at the bar. Got a drink and saw couple leaving so we grabbed the table. Unfortunately that's not how it works. We were told the table was reserved and that we needed to get up! That would have been fine but the gentleman was so rude about it. We went up to the hostess and she was just as salty!! She was completely RUDE and not one ounce of sorry. She was a complete bitch to my husband. We asked to talk to the manager and he didn't seem to care. Just gave us his business card and said he would take care of us next time!! no thanks!! We left our full drinks that the salty bitch hostess wouldn't even comp us and left. Had a fabulous dinner at tsukasa!
(1)
Katy E.
I have been to Shakou on a few separate occasions. Twice for Lake County Chamber events, for lunch and for dinner. The private events upstairs and in the room downstairs offer really great and modern atmospheres. The food is always amazing and I never pass up an opportunity to try a specialty drink. This is my husband and my favorite place to dine and our 6 year olds love it too! It's so great to have a restaurant with this lounge/city ambiance up here in the northern 'burbs.
(5)
Jori C.
I had dinner there a few weeks ago, great food (but pricey) but slow service. Last night (a Wednesday) we had a half hour to kill, and it was REALLY hard to get someone to wait on us in the bar area. After a while, I asked the hostess for a server. She pulled one out of the restaurant, and he took our order, and brought our drinks. From when we sat down until drinks arrived (1 beer, 1 Sprite, 1 Mai Tai it took nearly 15 minutes). My drink was REALLY strong. I guess if you're looking to get smashed on a Wednesday, this is your place. My husband even tried it and wow, all liquor. I sent it back, and it took forever. We finally told them to bring us the check, forget the Mai Tai and take it off our bill. My husband did not leave a tip. And he always tips.
(1)
Ci R.
The food was just ok. Too much creams and cheese and other ingredients that mask the real taste of the fish. The real bad part was the service. They were all the time like if serving our table was a favor they were doing, but that was nothing compared to asking us to leave, good 20 minutes before the closing hour, when we still had drinks in our table and in a very rude manner (clapping hands and almost yelling "time to wrap up"). We ask to talk to the manager, and he was even worst. Not going never again.
(1)
James M.
Great atmosphere, great food. It is nice to have a city atmosphere in the northern suburbs! I will be back
(5)
Nicholas L.
We have been in few times since they opened and have never had anything but great service and original food. Our last meal seemed to stand out because we branched out and tried a few different items. We were blown away! New manager Kevin also brought service to a whole new level.
(5)
Candace M.
I think the location and atmosphere is the only reason I will give this place 2 stars. I went with some friends and ordered about 8 different rolls. I wasn't impressed in any of them. There was no creativity to them and the taste was nothing special. One of the rolls, the fish was bad. When the waitress asked how our meal was I informed her. I normally would not say anything but I wanted them to know so they wouldn't serve to anyone else. She apologized and asked if we wanted something different. We were pretty much full but the taste of bad fish was imbedded in my mind and I couldn't imagine eating anything else. 20 minutes later she asked if the manager came to talk to us. No. She handed us the bill. The roll was still on it. I don't expect free food but when I ate 2 pieces and what I ate was spoiled I do expect something. There was maybe 5 other tables. The manager could not have been busy to not speak with us. I was disappointed in how it was handled and will not be returning.
(2)
Slava P.
We have visited that place on the Saturday night. Walked in exactly at 7 o'clock and exactly one hour later one of the managers/owners came over to let us know that they are busy and there are other reservations waiting! Really?! Right after you finish you food, be ready to be kicked out! We were told that we occupied the table for 2 hours, which was completely wrong! We didn't come there to drink one cup of coffee for hours, we got full dinner and wanted to have good time! BAD TASTE IN OUR MOUTHS will stay for a long time! And clearly dinning experience was completely ruined!
(1)
Samantha L.
Amazing food, drinks and atmosphere! Love the champinigini, hibiscus flowers and all signature sushi roles! Chicago atmosphere in the suburbs! Great customer service too!
(5)
Anne S.
This place is still new, so they could still be working out some kinks. However this was an expensive place for me, so I expected things to go a little more smoothly. We made a reservation for 6 a week in advance for 7:30pm on Friday. We arrive a few minutes after 7 on Friday and checked in with the host. We were told that our table wasn't ready yet, since we were early, but that it would be ready at 7:30 for our reservation. We were told that we could wait in the bar and they would get us when our table was ready. At 7:50 we went downstairs to check on the progress our table. The new host said that we could be seated whenever our whole party arrived, and we explained that we were all upstairs waiting. This was a minor but annoying bit of miscommunication on the restaurant's part. To get to our table, we walked past an empty table for 6 in the main room that had been empty when we arrived. We were led to a cramped table for 6 in a privatish room that had 2 large parties on either side of us and the bulls game on in the center of the room. We immediately asked for a different table, but were told that none were available. We were having a fancy dinner with friends, I did not expect there to be a tv on with people screaming at it on either side of us. (Also, the room was small, so it was very difficult for anyone to move around. People kept glaring at us when they needed to get up to go to the bathroom.) With all of the noise, it was hard for our server to hear us, but she still tried very hard. Our server was very good. She was very patient, and was trying very hard. (Also, we had several other servers try to help us, but our server had to keep telling them that we were her table. There was a miscommunication among the staff.) I don't like sushi (or other Japanese food), so I had a Chinese chicken salad and a side of vegetables. My food was very good, and probably the best deal on the dinner menu. The salad was $10 and came with a full piece of chicken katsu (breaded, fried chicken breast with sweet chili sauce). The side of mixed vegetables was $3 and was a decent size. My husband order a chicken katsu sandwich that was supposed to be $10 and come with fries. He even pointed to it on the menu since the server could barely hear any of us order. When the food arrived at the table the server tried to give him something else, and he said he ordered the chicken sandwich, so she went back to look for it. Then she came back with the $18 chicken Katsu entree plate with rice and put it down in front of him. He told her again that he ordered a sandwich, and then she said "oh that's a lunch item, we don't serve that at dinner". That was not labeled on the menu, and she didn't mention it when he ordered it, so needless to saw he was surprised. His food was good, but it wasn't what he ordered, what he expected, and was almost twice as much. Two people at our table ordered sushi, and it looked very pretty. But I thought it was weird that they put both orders on the same plate. (They both ordered rolls, and some individual pieces. The rolls were all placed on one plate, and the individual pieces were on a different plate. It did look really pretty to have it served like that, but then they had to coordinate with each other to get their food.) That would be very weird if you were with people who you weren't friends with. Another minor issue was water refills. I drink a lot of water, and really appreciate it when restaurants refill the water quickly. They did not refill the water very frequently, even when I requested more water. For 6 people our total was $170 before tip which included dinner (no appetizers or desserts) and a bottle of sake. (And I had the cheapest option on the menu). I will say that there were no complaints about the food, all of the staff was clearly trying, and the decor is lovely. But for the price, there were just too many issues. I would give this place about 2.5 stars, but I rounded up since the effort was there. The upstairs bar area/lounge was a lovely place to have a drink and chat with friends. I had a dragon signature cocktail, and it was delicious. At $9 I only had one, but if we were only having drinks not dinner I would have been happy to try a different signature drink. I would go back if someone else was paying and they really wanted to eat here.
(3)
Kristine B.
This place could have a lot going for it if the servers and other staff members weren't so rude. The best part about this place is the atmosphere and the live dj. For one reason or another they can't split a tab which is strange for a restaurant. I've tried to like this place but I can't seem to justify paying $6 for a lite beer then being treated with disrespect in the process. I have no problem paying a higher cost but not when it comes with rude service.
(1)
Cait M.
The sushi was good here however the manager was a real jerk. We had a reservation and they tried to seat us right by the door so we asked for a different table. The manager said they couldn't seat us anywhere else when almost every other table was open. They claimed two people can't sit at a "four top." This is commom practice in most restaurants to move someone if the space permits. If the restaurant had been full, i would have totally understood. The manager finally said all the empty tables had reservations starting soon. We said we would leave if we couldn't have a table away from the door and they finally stuck us in a back corner in what looked to be a private party/sake room. After our meal...Turns out the manager lied... none or very feq of those four person tables had reservations. Only maybe two more parties were even seated in that section during our entire meal! This is really too bad as the sushi was fresh and tasted good. Our young server was also really nice and helpful. Unfortunately the way we were treated by this manager outweighed the sushi so we will not be returning for a second try.
(1)
Shay S.
Went on a Monday (night) when most Asian based stores and restaurants are closed. This was a well recommended joint by a handful of Facebook friends when I asked for a high end sushi restaurant for my boyfriends birthday. If you have seen any of my other reviews they are mostly for sushi places... I take my sushi VERY seriously. I wanted to scout out the place before I decided that this would be the location for his birthday dinner. It needed to be somewhere with amazing food, exceptional service, a great ambiance and would have something that would knock or socks off in some way. I went on a nasty, snowy, Monday night with my girlfriend who also enjoys sushi but more on the simpler side. I love all the crazy, special rolls... seeing how creative the chef can get. First off, this this the most beautiful and well decorated restaurant I've been to that I can remember. Every detail is still crystal clear to me. From the curtain ties to the lightning... it was all very breath taking. Very urban feel. Nice way to mentally escape from the suburbs for a bit. Our server, who's name is escaping my mind right now, was very sweet. She wasn't fake and annoying like a lot of the servers are in the suburbs, rather was genuine and helpful. I'm sure she hated being stuck at work, in the snow, with only one table to serve (ours) but she didn't show it. She did her job well. She also didn't seem anxious to get us out since it was clearly a good night to close early. She was very attentive to us without hovering over our meal. Food was great. We were brought out a complimentary creation the chef made for us when he knew that we really liked (and in my case LOVE/NEED) spicy food. Fried Japanese mint, some spicy tuna something, and some fish egg on top. It was beautiful. Very very good. Good selection of maki and special rolls. A lot of the usual, expected stuff but a few special rolls that got my attention. I hope in the future they start to get more unique rolls on their menu. There was nothing poor about my experience here. I would normally comment how empty it was bit we were bold and went out for sushi in a blizzard. I just don't think that this is a 5 star restaurant. People are too generous with stars on yelp. I am not trying to give this place a bad rating by any means, however I do not think it meets criteria of being 5 star price worthy. I can understand that ambiance can often increase prices but it did not justify rolls that were $19. In the end, it is still not enough to get one roll and consider it a meal- just embellished rice and raw fish. When a roll costs that much and fills me up with the same rockin decor of this place... then and only then will it receive the coveted 5th star.
(4)
Sofiya C.
YUM! We came here on Valentines day for dinner and were so pleasantly surprised! The appetizers were amazing - we had the ceviche and the brisket egg rolls - you got a lot for your $. The sushi rolls were 5 stars - we got the black widow and the sunset strip (i think thats what it was called). We also heard from people that the bass was outstanding so we gave that a try and that was a great choice!!! We also got a drink each that were good. This place is very similar to jellyfish thats a popular downtown sushi/asian new age place. The decor is very modern, they play techno music, the wait staff and hostess are all good looking and nice. Very "river north"-ish in our local downtown Libertyville! It is also very well priced for all that it in tails. Our bill was around $100 for everything! Not bad at all! And free parking... who couldn't beat that! We will be back.
(5)
Russell D.
I made a reservation at this restaurant to celebrate my 16 year wedding anniversary with my wife. We were excited to try this place out as it was new to our neighborhood and the place looked like it had an exciting downtown atmosphere filled with energy. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted by a young lady who was quite pleasant. I told her that we had a reservation for two and she told us to wait just a second until the Host/Manager got back. Within a few seconds the Host/Manager arrived and told the young lady to sit us at certain table number. The young lady walked us to a small room, in the back of the restaurant, on the first floor. I think it was a saki tasting room or a room for small parties. The small room had three tables in it. Two elongated tables that ran perpendicular to the room, that were on each side of the room, and that seated 6. In addition, the room also has one 4-top table, which sat parallel to the room and in between the two elongated tables. To get a visual, imagine three tables forming the letter H. The young lady sat us in the middle table (ie the 4-top table). As soon as we sat down, we quickly realized that the other two tables on either side of us knew each other. We browsed the menu and really tried to tune out the people around us. The Host/Manager came into the small room to ask the two tables how things were going and turned on a large TV (that was discreetly hidden in a mirror) for the two table party. A few minutes later, and we realized that we were sitting in between a small party. The guests at the two tables were standing up, walking around, and talking to each other. Within the 5 minutes that we were there, all my wife and I could see and smell was people's butts in our faces. Great anniversary dinner, I know! So my wife and I got up and went back to the Host/Manager to ask if we could be moved. What happened next was absolutely SHOCKING to me and I have NEVER been treated so poorly!!! I explained the situation to the Host/Manager and asked to be moved. The Host/Manager (a shorter gentlemen, with a shaved head and a tanner complexion) sharply and with a snotty attitude as if he was somehow above me (think Ferris Buehler's Day Off) responded that this was the first time that he had heard that the two tables in that small room were related and we were lucky to even have a table. His response was ridiculous. He obviously knew they were related, as he was just in the room checking on the two tables, and that's why he quickly claimed ignorance. Plus how arrogant is it to infer that we were lucky to be in his restaurant? I travel all over the world for business. I'm in NY once a month and I eat at high end places all the time, and I have never heard a host say that. In any case, he then began to stare me down. Yes... Stare me down as if he wanted to pick a fight with me. After about 20 seconds of staring at me, he then in a nasty tone told the young lady to move me to another table. The young lady politely apologized (I think more so for the Host/Manager's behavior than the table situation). My wife and I sat down, and within 60 seconds both us decided that we were not going to give our money to a place like this. As we left the place I told the Host/Manager that his actions were deplorable and that I was never coming back. He responded with "I gave you what you wanted. I sat you at a new table". The guy just didn't get it. You don't act snotty to your guests and you NEVER stare them down. I will never go to this place again. Furthermore I will go out of my way to tell everyone I know, whether they live in Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Lake Forest, Gurnee, or even visiting the town for a local soccer tournament to NEVER go here.
Great food, service and atmosphere! ! Recommend black widow maki roll, cucumber margarita and server Stephan!!
(5)
Richard R.
Finally. A restaurant in Libertyville with impeccable service, great food, and incredible decor. My wife and I are not sushi eaters so I won't speak to that, but my appetizer (some kind of beef in a shell) was to die for. My wife had only one complaint with her meal (chicken). It was superb, and the portion was huge, which meant she HAD to eat it all. My lobster and filet were fresh, the vegetables fresh and spiced properly, the presentation first class. This restaurant is fresh, modern, clean and friendly. The crowd is young, middle aged and older. This place is a hip and innovative idea set among the rusty and ancient concepts that neighbor it on either side. Please go - you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jo N.
I was super excited to try this new sushi place as there isn't many great sushi places in the area. Well the sushi rolls were great. Prob a 4/5, tasted fresh, and i would go back. But the prices are holding me back, oh boy. Wayyyy over priced. The bill for 2 people was 100$ (without tip) and we only had rolls and 2 drinks. This isn't downtown Chicago for the prices to be so high. The decor of the place is very nice as well. Modern and hip. Staff was friendly, but the rolls took a bit long to come out.
(4)
B G.
Absolutely awful service, also found a hair in my sushi.
(1)
Ray F.
Didn't have the chance to try the food. Two seats were open at the sushi bar and my wife and I sat down. As soon as we did an employee told us we could not seat there. Evidently you have to check in with the hostess and they have to seat you. I have eaten at sushi bars across the world and never seen this. Its always first come first served.
(1)
C F.
I like this place and I want to like it more. The decor is chic and modern, the sushi rolls are fresh and interesting, and their cocktails are original. I know Shakou is very popular (hence the Open Table ranking) but there are a few things that they could address: It always takes 5-7 minutes to make a phone reservation, even for a weeknight. The ladies answering the phone always take forever, I'm put on hold several times, and I suspect whoever it is needs more training on the computerized system. There's also a lack of graciousness in the way they answer the phone. They need to make this process more efficient. I'm often tempted to just hang up. Even when you go in, it takes a good while to be seated, which is just ridiculous when you can see open tables and booths. Maybe the check in counter staff is more decorative than efficient. It just sets the wrong tone for a nice dinner which could set you back $150/2 with drinks. The serving size of the chicken teriyaki is just miserly. I prefer sushi but when my non sushi eating companions order the terikayi, a staple in Japanese restaurants, I expect more than a $1 McChicken's worth of chicken and a handful of veggies.
(3)
Boones K.
The first time I came here I was a bit caught off guard. I was not expecting the decor and DJ. Also some pretty good people watching if you get a chance to sit by the window on the lower level. The food was excellent and brought us back in for a second time. Both visits we were not disappointed by the quality of the sushi.
(4)
John D.
Fantastic atmosphere and the food was excellent. This place could easily be downtown Chicago and shine.
Great food, atmosphere, and music. Servers are new but friendly. Will come again. Sea bass and vegetables were PERFECTLY cooked and seasoned.
(5)
mxwp d.
I've been there twice with a party of four and both times were very good. The sashimi was tasty and they marinate it in some type of oil that makes it quite flavorful. Sashimi purists may not like it, but I thought it was delicious. The "black widow" rolls were great and something you cannot get elsewhere. The second time we went we ordered the chef's choice sushi boat which comes with sashimi, nigiri, and rolls. Again, the sashimi was great. Service was good, too. Don't know why it got some bad reviews. I guess this place isn't the best for large parties or splitting bills.
(4)
Charito P.
First time in this place and I was surprised to see how chic the place looked. The food was great and the price was reasonable.
(5)
Randi M.
This place sucks. We have a large group every third person got salad and then 20 mins later the rest if us got salad. At the same time some got dinner. No water and when we asked they were rude. They obviously can't handle a group.
(1)
Zach A.
The food tasted ok but it was more overpriced than I would have thought. I felt like all I was paying for was ambiance. The waitresses were really friendly and nice though. The sake they have is delicious and not as strong as other sake. I tried the chicken teriyaki and it tasted good but the chicken was really dry. Overall the place is alright but I would much rather try a different Japanese restaurant.
(3)
Mundo V.
QUICK RECOMMENDATION: TRY IT With time this place has gotten much better. For the town it's an awesome place. The atmosphere has a good balance between a big city vibrant spirit and a suburban laid back and cozy feel. The menu has a good balance as well: Not for the extremely adventurous, but also not for the easy to please. The service, is also well balanced: While food can take time to come to the table on high demand days, the service feels true and expedite. Also they try to make it up for any problems. You, on the other hand, might not have a good balance.... but on your checking account after paying the check here.
(4)
Aj A.
We had a corporate event here last Friday and had a fantastic experience overall. The manager, Aleks was so nice and accommodating. The ambience is great and the mezzanine lounge upstairs was perfect for our event. The drinks, appetizers and the main lunch (bento boxes) were delicious! Aleks had a wide variety of vegetarian food options for the vegetarians in our group. I highly recommend this place!
(4)
Alen Z.
The appetizer and dinner was excellent. The dessert was to die for. The drinks were amazing and the bartender was friendly and professional. I will def be back!
(5)
Holli C.
Upon arrival my foot was in a cast, (very obvious) I had to go up a long flight of stairs when after limping up saw there was an elevator. The seating upstairs was white wedding fold up wedding chairs, seating downstairs much more comfortable! I asked to move to downstairs looking at 1dozen open booths and was flat out told no. Food was great very fresh and service good. It was the poor attention to detail that was obvious.
(3)
Kim P.
Appetizers were good, but the sushi was not worth the price. You pay for the ambiance & that's pretty much it. Went for valentines day, spent $100+ for 2 apps & 4 rolls (no drinks) and the service was not impressive. They tried getting us in and out as quickly as possible - Taking our plates before we even finished. With all the sushi places in the area, this is not a place I will go to again. Disappointed.
(2)
Alfredo E.
Five friends decided to visit this place to celebrate a birthday among us. We arrived about 30 minutes before closing with the intention of two drinks and a few cheers for the birthday girl and memories of the night. The server approached us and warned "you're my last table". During our drink order, we asked how much well or premium mixers cost. Our server initially replied appropriately, but then added "if you want something cheap go to tommys'". I engaged the server on the topic of cheaper drinks at tommy's and told her that we liked the sofa's, music, and atmosphere that Shakou was providing and that we were there for a night cap. I added that we're on the search for a night cap since one of us was turning 22, and I asked for her understanding on us going out for a 22nd birthday. The server replied by talking about herself and comparing the current birthday experience to the servers own 22nd birthday (oh yeah she did something 'way cool'...) then left. One moment later, two members of our group decided on a cigarette break mid drink, and on standing up, the server brought over our checks, adding "just wanted to catch you before you had that cigarette" then the server left. The other three of us carried on our conversation and one of our group engaged the manager on the attitude we were getting from the server. The manager's attitude matched the servers attitude and he did nothing but shake his head. Another moment later the server came back and asked us to leave on orders of her manager (about 5-7 minutes before lights turned on and music was turned off). Having never experienced such rushing or bad service, we demonstrated our feelings in the gratuity, and prior to leaving, the server claimed we were $1 short and asked us for more money. At this point, I was certain we were the assholes who must have had just a little too much bravado a little to close to closing time at this bar. The earlier response from the manager where we reported this issue assured me that maybe we were being a little too hard. Then we walked out of the restaurant, and the manager chased us from the bar out to outside, and the manager apologized for the servers attitude, and added that issues with her attitude were happening more frequently, and offered us free drinks next time we come to Shaktou. We're never coming back. The manager's offer for free drinks as a result of the servers attitude validated my feelings about the situation, and that validation is why I decided to share this experience on yelp. Thanks for your time reading this.
(1)
Mel M.
my husband and i went on a date night and didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar. The bartender was awesome he helped us with the menu and what drinks paired with the meals we chose. The food was good and the sushi was fresh. We went around 7 so we were done with our meal before the rush crowd.
(5)
George A.
I had such high expectations of this place as the decor and music gave such a great impression once I stepped in. Unfortunately, that's where it ended. I came with the wife and kids on a Sunday around 6pm and while only a few patrons were there, it took way to long to get drinks and our food. Unfortunately, the sushi rolls were nothing spectacular as well. I was more than frustrated to have spent nearly $100 on a mediocre at best night out.
(1)
vicky s.
Great food! Excellent variety of fresh sushi. Wonderful service with pleasant servers. Shakou is a great addition to suburban sushi with a city flare!!
(5)
Natalie B.
This place doesn't deserve the harsh reviews it has received. We wandered in on a Thursday eve and it was packed. We were seated right away and I explained that we only had an hour-we were told no problem. And true to their word, we were in and out in an hour. I found our waitress to be attentive and helpful and the sushi to be prett good. It wasn't excellent and Im not sure id drive 35 minutes for it, but if I was in the area I would definitely return. Decor was modern and had a cool unique vibe, and struck me as family friendly and an awesome place for girls night out.
(4)
Janice M.
Our family of four went to Shakou for Mother's Day. I made an early reservation (5:45pm) and we were seated right away. We had a nice big booth in the dining room section. This section was almost full by the time we arrived. Our server, Hannah, was friendly and attentive. She was honest about the the menu (I asked about a particular sushi and she said that she had not tried it), but suggested a few that were her favorites. A complimentary glass of champagne was offered to mother's for Mother's Day. That was a nice touch. Our cocktails came out a little longer than expected - but not too long that we got antcy. Our boys had iced tea (came out before our drinks, totally fine....) which were refilled in fresh glasses in time for our dinner. My champagne came in a beautiful, chilled flute. My husband's beer also was served in a nicely chilled glass. Great touch - as many places - even high end restaurants - don't make this attention to detail. Black napkins on the table (my husband loves this -- white napkins tend to leave behind white specks on men's trousers) We ordered 4 appetizers - edamame, spicy tuna roll, sea weed salad and a phyllo sushi roll. All were excellent and came out in a timely manner. Our entrees were 3 special sushi rolls (ocean roll and two with tempura shrimp) and one chicken dish. All were fantastic. The sushi was some of the freshest around. My son's chicken was super tasty. Second round of cocktails were served promptly. The specialty drinks look fun and tasty - and $9 seems like a fair price. Can't wait to try one! My only complaint was that the appetizer plates were left on the table longer than they should have. The booths are deep, so I see that it's hard to reach - but there seemed to be some busers milling about and they should see to it that the tables are cleared promptly. We even moved our dishes to the edge of the table -- hint, hint. Music was chill and volume just right. If the service was just a little tighter, I would have given our experience 5 stars. I really don't want to blame our server, because the issues were with the bar and the busboys. In my opinion, this is more of a management issue. Our meal was $135 before tip. Four appetizers Four entrees Two soft drinks Two beers Two champagnes (one complimentary) Shakou is a wonderful addition to downtown Libertyville. We will definitely be back. On a side note - many reviewers found the sushi expensive. At $16-$19 per specialty roll, that may seem on the high side. But these are entree portions. If money is an issue - two rolls could easily feed three people if they had a couple of appetizers beforehand. But for the freshness and portion size, the prices are what I would expect to pay. Comments to management regarding the bar: The wine list could have more variety and should include bottles of wine priced at the $20-$30 range. $46 for a bottle of Kim Crawford? (Mariano's sells for $12.99) That's a little insulting.
(4)
Jessica J.
I left a tip... But our experience deserved much more of an extensive review. I think all local patrons as well as visiting should know exactly the kind of people that operate this establishment. My husband's siblings were all visiting our home in Gurnee for the boys' birthday celebration. I had run across Shakou's information during a web search and I called ahead and spoke with someone about our party. Since a lot of our guests were coming from out of town (Philadelphia, Indiana, Washington D.C., etc.) I gave the initial estimate of 10-20 guests. The person on the phone seemed accommodating and polite. They set us up for the private room. The day before the party we still had some unconfirmed due to travel arrangements so I said 15 was a likely number when they called to confirm. I didn't want to undershoot and cause stress. My first warning SHOULD have been when we showed up with only 10, still waiting on a couple people who had minutes before said they were trying to make their way out. The hostess seemed shocked that all 15 were not there and went to get one of the owners (name not given to us). He came in with a terrible demeanor and said, "There's only 10 of you? You confirmed for 15! Get up so we can move your table." So we gathered all our belongings and drinks while they moved the other table away and caused us to play musical chairs. He had such an attitude and didn't further acknowledge us during this. At that point, we texted our other party members and told them not to bother as they took away our extra seats. Clearly, they wanted to seat right then and there and didn't care about our experience. The ONLY reason this place got a star is because (other than there is no zero star option), our waiter was very nice. He tried to be as accommodating as possible the whole time, laughed with us, and was very attentive. We made sure his tip didn't suffer for the events that took place next. After receiving our $450 bill, we had asked our waiter to split it 5 ways. Initially when we asked at the beginning he informed us Shakou can only split parties 3 ways. This was not going to work for our group. We told him this when we were seated at 7 pm and he said he would talk to the management to see how to split. When he returned with the full bill, he had each party mark their items with a number. This way, he could easily separate the bill. Though, I don't understand this. Modern POS systems very easily allow for multiple tickets and tracking. During this setback, the birthday boys' surprise LIMO was on its way to our house. I told the gentlemen that we HAD to go quickly as this whole process had taken entirely too long. He came back and said he could not split the check after we spent all that time numbering each item. One member of our party went out to demand they take care of this as they had had almost 2 hours to figure it out and it shouldn't be this hard. That's when the owner started YELLING at her. Time was still ticking away, so I went out and simply said, "Whatever you have to do, figure it out fast because we are about to miss our birthday surprise limo because of this issue." The next words were the kicker... "yeah, I'm going to split it three ways and YOU can figure it out. Not my problem. We're too BUSY to deal with you." ... What did you just say? He YELLED this in front of the dining room while making aggressive hand gestures at me, absolutely causing a scene. I went to the hostess stand to ask for the owner's information to which she replied.. You were just talking to them. My brother in law then went out to offer and show him how to split the bill 5 ways as he is familiar with the technology, and again got terrible treatment. My brother then said, "Well, you definitely lost hope of us coming back here ever again after all this"... And the owner said... Wait for it.... WE DON'T CARE - WE DON'T NEED YOU. You've GOT to be joking. The customer is your livelihood! We'll let me tell YOU something - your food was ok - I've paid less money for better maki rolls in my lifetime - so I don't NEED your overpriced menu items. Your decor is a little pretentious for my tastes. It's like you're trying too hard. You were probably one of those kids who got their asses kicked on the playground every weekend who feels like they need to overcompensate now so people think you're something. I don't NEED to drop that kind of money to sit in your sad overcompensation. Your menus were incorrect with beverage pricing - I certainly don't NEED to spend double digits on a so-so beverage. And this area doesn't need YOUR ESTABLISHMENT. Supporting this place is a mistake. Treat yourself to a better option, please . Not worth it. Oh, and the surprise WAS ruined for the limo. Thanks, dick.
(1)
Katrina R.
When I walked in the atmosphere was amazing. It was edge and inviting yet the girl at the front desk was not dress professionally. She also could not say a sentence without saying like, too young for the restaurant. When the sushi came, it looked beautiful and was extremely fresh. The waiter did not seem really inviting though. The portions were small but overall enjoyable.
(4)
Mudie M.
The worst thing I could say about the place is that it is far from me. Even then, its worth the drive. Basics: Great decor, not too loud, quick service, extremely helpful staff. Food: THE BEST SUSHI I HAVE EVER HAD! Basic rolls are very cheap but taste amazing, specialty rolls have specialty pricing but are extremely tasty and also worth it. The regular dinner items are extremely tasty as well. Portions are large and very satisfying. Any kind of eater including picky and big will not be left hanging. This is the first restaurant that I have been to with my group of friends and not one person said "I wish.....was better". There is really no way to go wrong with a trip to Shakou.
(5)
Vlad V.
I have to say that I was very excited as this new place opened up and was quiete anxious to try it. The Interior was super cool looking ! There is a private room that can accommodate a rather large party as well as a lounge area on the second floor that looked very fancy. The sushi on the other hand was subpar and there are better sushi place around in the Vernon Hills Area (Sushi Kushi for example) 48h after i have had my lunch with a coworker, we both got FOOD POISONING ! I'm certain that it happened from Shakou Sushi because we both got the same exact symptoms on the next day. I will strongly advise NOT to go to this place as there several places that use fresher and better sushi that will not make you sick.
(1)
AnneMarie M.
Great sushi and very cool atmosphere!
(5)
David M.
Good food, cool ambiance, degenerate owners. A simple request to split our checks by the couples we were with turned into ridicule. With 15 sushi restaurants within only a few miles of my house, I'll spend my hard earned money anywhere but here, and I suggest you do the same
(1)
K B.
Was there a few days ago with a larger group for dinner. Service was slow but fine, nothing amazing and yet nothing horrible (small things kept happening, like having to ask for water and then repeatedly having to ask that water to be refilled). Food was decent, but portion sizes and quality did not match up with the higher price tag. Wine was overpriced and lacking in selection (especially compared to other local eateries). Dessert sizes were inconsistent, as one of us was served the smallest dish of sorbet yet the cake dishes the others ordered were massively huge. Our party was approached by one of the owners at one point, where we had an extremely awkward conversation where he kept asking where the male who made the reservation was (we were an all female party, reserved under a female name). Then he basically told us we were seated at the wrong table. As we had been there for over two hours and had been steadily ordering food and drink ... the whole exchange was odd. We felt as if he was asking us to vacate the table (in the middle of our main course ... which should tell you enough about the pace of the service). Obviously, this is never the feeling one wants to get from an owner when dining at their establishment. The best part about the place was the decor, and even that was unimpressive after a while. The chairs we sat on were extremely uncomfortable (especially because it look a very long time to be served our food). The wall-sized fireplace on the bar side kept turning off. It was extremely loud downstairs, so much so that I couldn't hear what the person across the table was saying to me. The upstairs club is strangely designed and cramped by strange walls and table configurations (and was somehow quiet, so they haven't quite figured out how to balance their sound). We went up for one drink, but as there didn't really seem to be anything going on upstairs besides people standing around (including the servers) ... we left. Overall, I'd say this place is pretty blah. Not horrible, but nothing to write home about. Unsure if I can be bothered to go back.
(2)
Holly A.
I don't know what the negative reviews are about but we went with a group of 4 and had a fantastic time as well as great food! We had sashimi, short ribs, chilean sea bass, two other rolls that I can't recall at the moment, and all were delicious. The short ribs were truly fall off the bone. The sea bass was cooked to perfection. We had great cocktails. They make a mean chocolate martini for dessert ;) We had prompt attentive service to boot and the ambiance screams anything BUT suburbia....Love it.
(4)
Mary M.
Great food, especially the spicy tuna rolls. Such a great meal, with well prepared sushi!
(5)
M. W.
We were here last week and wow, the decor is contemporary and very chic for a suburban sushi place. Unfortunately, the service is not as good. It looks like this place needs to train their servers before they put them on the floor. 1. The servers don't know anything about sushi. My friend asked what is the differnce between a sashimi and nigri, and she said that she will ask and be right back. We knew then that we were then in for a challenge. We decided to just eat our regular chicken teriyaki dishes and our familiar maki rolls to be on the safe side. 2. We asked what type of vodka they have on shelf. Again, she had to ask someone because she was not sure. We asked about wine and she could not even recommend one. The food was just ok, but for the price we paid, it was not worth it. Like I said, the decor is great, but they have to match that with the food as well. If you want good sushi combined with a great ambiance, go to Kona Grill in Lincolnshire. The servers know what they are selling. Plus...they have excellent "Happy Hour" menu! This place is still new so I hope they get their act together because the place itslf is very inviting, but the service is lacking!
I have not had a bad meal at Shakou. In fact, most of them have been delicious. I love the comfortable couches. They listen and when I've asked that the music be lowered, they do. Last time I was there it was playing softly -- yay! My only criticism is that they might consider a few more vegetarian items on the menu -- or consider adding a tofu alternative for some of the meat items. For a night out when you want a lovely atmosphere, try Shakou.
(5)
David S.
Not very impressed with the quality of the signature maki rolls our quality of fish, sorta had a bland taste and there wasn't really an abundance of textures involved. The service and atmosphere were amazing. For the price of dinner here for 4 people I would have expected much more. I hope that this dining experience was just a fluke!
(2)
Tara J.
This place is chic and hip, but not in a pretentious way. My family and I felt like we were dining in downtown Chicago thanks to the delicious food and trendy atmosphere. You can find tastier sushi at Sushi Kushi San 3, but Shakou's cool vibe may give it a leg up overall. Service was attentive, but not entirely knowledgable about what they were serving (Our waitress mis-identified tuna as unagi...oops!)
(4)
Tim J.
I've been twice for lunch, getting bento boxes both times and I could not have been happier. If you get a bento, you will have plenty to eat. I have never seen bigger portions for these. This is a great place for a business lunch, as it is quiet while being clean, efficient and fast. The maki and sashimi I have had has been very good. No complaints here. I will be back.
(5)
Angela T.
Shakou has a real city vibe, right in downtown Libertyville. The lighting, the decor, the staff, the energy is pure city - without the minimum 2 hour drive. The food is outstanding. We've been here at least half a dozen times in the past two months and haven't had a bad dish yet. So glad to have such a high class place in town.
(5)
Gini G.
This place has a beautiful decor! We were surprised to find this in downtown Libertyville. We ate here for lunch and we each enjoyed a Bento Box. First of all, the presentation was impressive; it actually came in a tall wood box which they then open for you and pull the top box out so you end up with 2 trays of food in front of you. I had the hot bento box with teriyaki shrimp and my friend had the cold Maki box with the spicy tuna roll. The food was plentiful to say the least (my box came with a salad, pot stickers, tempura veggies, and rice) and VERY tasty. I think they only offer the bento boxes during lunch. I will definitely go back. The only complaint I have is the man that seated us, and later checked on us, kept calling us "you girls".
(5)
Ken I.
I really wanted to find a new sushi place. I am still looking. Nice decor but the music was too annoying. My rice in the chirasi ( their spelling) was cold - refrigerated cold. My hot tea was tepid ( and came with a lemon slice! ) until I complained. I waited a day to review to cool down. I will not return. Too trendy and inauthentic. A Western interpretation of sushi and Japanese cuisine. I am not sure where all of the glowing reviews are coming from but I know they cannot be from any real connoisseurs of Japanese cuisine. The service was nice and apologetic but cannot make up for the lack of basic fundamentals exhibited by their sushi chefs.
(2)
Amy A.
This venue was recommended by several co-workers. They said it was the city gem in Libertyville. Our department was looking for a fabulous party space with delicious foods and clever cocktails. (Asking for this in the suburbs is tough). We worked with the co-owner, Adam, who walked us through the options that would suit us best. I am a crazy dinner party planner and no less crazy when planning a party at an event space. I put Adam through the ringer with the multiple questions and requests. He was as sweet throughout the planning process as day one. Our guests entered through the front door and had the wonderful option of checking their coats at the glitzy front desk. Our party was privately secluded in the lounge area on the upper level. Our guests were delighted to take the glass stair case up to a gorgeously decorated lounge area with full bar, polished black tables and purple velvet couches that were illuminated by chandeliers. My co-workers could not get enough of the snow-cosmo made by, I think, Amanda. She was as skilled as she is sweet. The food was prompt and delicious. Adam had beautiful black draped tables set up prior to show case the multiple sushi roll boats, beef egg rolls, gyoza, calamari and chicken satay. The food was replenished twice for our 50 guests. Many of our guests love Shakou so much that they have planned to come back with their spouses and each other. Adam, Thank you very much for hosting a beautiful party for our hard working team. You made everyone feel special.
(5)
Matt R.
First time there. I was blown away inside. Great venue and inside is perfect. Clubby atmosphere and lots of energy. Very good service. Only complaint is the chairs are very uncomfortable. All the food we ordered as a group was outstanding. Great menu that offers lots of sushi and other entrees. Noise level is high but if you are with a group, it's all good. Highly recommended.
(5)
MK E.
The decor was so nice! I don't eat sushi but my friend said it was great. I had chicken teriyaki, which was delicious and came in a large portion. Our food came out fast and our waitress was friendly. I would return!
(4)
Jane K.
We have been here 2 times and I would call it average. Sushi is pretty good just not the best. We ordered spicy scallop and they served cooked scallop, that is just wrong in my book. The rest of the rolls were fresh but nothing great to rave about. Drinks are good but not consistent. First drink was amazing but second had so much syrup I was forced to sent it back. Probably wont be back
(3)
Ann G.
We just had our company party there for almost 40 people; and it was a wonderful experience because of delightful food and service. We each ordered different entrees and all arrived beautifully presented and delicious. I had sea bass and it was perfectly moist with grilled vegetables that were crisp but tender. Congratulations on bringing city style dining to Libertyville.
(5)
Julie P.
Sushi was okay, my biggest problem was witnessing the way that the management spoke to their employees. They embarrassed us, they embarrassed the employee and they embarrassed themselves. I will not eat there ever again.
(1)
Patti R.
Went for dinner with friends. Definitely a city vibe in the burbs, which I loved. We sat upstairs and had a great view down below of the sushi chefs making rolls. Music, cool. Deco, cool. Service, not bad. Food, ehhh, I've definitely had better. I've been to my share of sushi places - those with great ambience, and holes in the walls. I have to say, some of the best tasting sushi I've had was at the smaller not so swanky places. That said, I had high hopes for this place, given the cool vibe and city feel. We all shared three appetizers - tuna tartar (fair, would've been better with crackers or chips to add texture and complexity), gyoza (ok), and Filo wrapped ahi (tasted fishy and we couldn't finish it). For dinner, my husband and I shared a few rolls - standard spicy tuna, salmon crunch, unagi roll. Overall, the rolls were just ehhh. Not fishy, but just not enough flavor. I was disappointed they didn't have an unagi crunch roll. The regular unagi roll really skimped on the unagi. Our friends had chicken and beef cooked dishes, and they really liked them. Perhaps their cooked dishes are much better than their sushi. In the end, I felt it was overpriced average-at-best food. I would go back just for drinks and the cool loungy vibe. If you don't mind paying more for the cool ambience and city feel, and you aren't picky on your sushi or will go for the cooked dishes, then try it. If you love sushi for a reasonable price, go elsewhere.
(2)
Vishal B.
I give this place 5 stars for the vibe and crowd. Always have a good time here =) drinks are a bit watery and small but whatever. Great place, lots of fun and I always have excellent service.
(5)
Brad S.
Great sushi! You must try the Seven Spicy Ahi for a starter. We also had the Filo Wrapped Ahi which was good. For our entree we ordered 5 rolls which were all delicious. Our favorite roll was by far the Black Widow. Our server was great. She told us they had Gumballhead behind the bar and saved 2 each for my buddy and I to drink. Only complaints are it was quite loud so difficult to have a conversation with others at the table and it's a bit pricey.
(4)
Melissa C.
Went there for lunch. Food was good and decor was pretty nice. Had two different rolls, the pink Cadi was good. Server was really nice, but took a bit to get food despite the fact they were not too busy. Restrooms were really clean, a good sign.
(4)
Joel H.
Had our first visit there last night. First of all, WHAT an amazing interior space this is. You're immediately transferred from Libertyville to Times Square. You truly feel like you're somewhere else. There is no place like it anywhere around here. We came on a Saturday night and had no problem walking right up to the sushi bar, plenty of seats. We were waited on very quickly and steadfastly by a pretty energetic and helpful waiter. We started with sake, and I asked for what the guy would recommend for cold, unfiltered sake. His first recommendation turned out to be filtered sake (Black and Gold) but he gave it to us on the house, no questions asked and it was pretty good anyway! We ended up ordering a bottle of White Snow, which was fantastic. We ordered 2 maki rolls- one specialty roll and one standard roll and both were fantastic, with great presentation. So, I'm shocked at these negative reviews. I'm really happy there's a spot like this in my town, and I feel like these guys are going to raise the bar with this place. Can't wait to visit again.
(4)
Kelly B.
Loved the Volcano Roll & Atmosphere The Service was very slow, and the rolls were way to overpriced. $18 for one roll that was not that great is crazy.
(3)
Marnie R.
A group of us drove from the City to check out this new spot and we were not disappointed. The decor and vibe was awesome and the sushi tasted really fresh. The service was good especially for opening weekend. Libertyville is VERY LUCKY to have a place like this open in their town. I highly recommend.
(3)
B K.
This restaurant has great ambiance and excellent food. There are two bar areas (one upstairs and one on the main level). Both are large enough to hold groups of people and they are separated from the dining area. The minimalist decor mixed with high end finishes makes the place very chic. The food was good with many options available. Service was attentive without being overbearing. I would disregard the prior negative reviews and give this place a try. It was well worth it for us.
(4)
Angela D.
We came here for their 1st year anniversary party and were blown away. Love the Chicago chic decor and the upstairs lounge with sofas and tables. The DJ played great techno, and all the servers were on task and friendly with the huge crowd. Because it was a large free event, the buffet was set up with a variety of maki rolls, tempura vegetables, and dim sum and it was all good. We sat watching the three sushi chefs for over an hour, and they worked with incredible speed and precision. The regular menu looks exciting and affordable, so it really is Chicago-quality at suburban prices. We will definitely be back to try their more adventurous offerings.
(4)
andy w.
Very nice dining experience for lunch. My neighbor liked it and told me to check it out. Unique airy open decor so you don't feel shoe horned in. I was pleasantly surprised by how filling the Bento Box lunch was. The salad and sushi were fresh. Tempura and dumplings were still hot. I also tried a spicy tuna roll which had some kick to it. My server was quick to refill my ice tea several times. I am going back to try more dishes.
(4)
M M.
After "dining" at Libertyville's latest dining scene addition, I am convinced that "Shakou" is Japanese for clueless. (Hint: next time it takes that long to open your restaurant, invest in some server training during the down time - let them know that bol gogi temperature (rare, medium rare etc.) is not a option. That's like asking if you want your fried chicken cooked medium rare.) The evening began with a bang as they seated our party of six 45 minutes past our reservation time. The usual "sorry for the wait" but no manager involvement (manager never came by table to see how things were by the way. Learn this phrase - table touch. It will come in handy if you are still open 6 months from now.) We were then informed that if we order hot entrees they were probably going to be 20 minutes behind any sushi we ordered for entree. Don't you guys know how to manage ticket times? If you know the entrees are running behind, you put the entrees in first, and then the sushi order so all the food comes out to the table at the same time. Turns out we were too clever by half. We ordered the entrees first and figured we would stall on the sushi so they would all arrive together. Nope. Entrees came out 10 minutes before the sushi. Also, note to the kitchen: sushi is a delicate dish. When you top a roll with a slice of raw jalapeno (seeds and all) all you taste is burning heat. Kinda defeats the point. Also, what's with the 80's techno house music thumping through out the cavernous (and we do mean cavernous - it was like eating in a Costco)? What are you guys a club or a restaurant? As for those that believe the decor is some sort of saving grace, please Google "Roger Greenfield". With a few notable exceptions (like Bar Louie) he presided over string of restaurant flops back in the day because he believed in style over substance. You can't eat style. Lastly, please frost the glass bannister in the upper bar area. Nothing kills your appetite like seeing some women who shouldn't be shaking her butt for all to see, shaking her butt for all to see.
(1)
kg a.
Lovely decor, for sure. Music is a bit loud, food tasty, but a bit overpriced. Not the best Japanese in town, but it's nice.
(3)
Jodine T.
Welcome to Libertyville, Shakou! I have been there on a few different occasions and have experienced nothing but the best. The sushi is EXCELLENT and very well priced for the location, atmosphere and quality. I have tried SEVERAL sushi restaurants in Lake County, and this ranks among the best! Service was very good on both occasions as well. I am not sure about the negative reviews and the "food poisoning" as that seems a little far fetched as it would have been a little more publicised for such a new restaurant. In addition, some of the negative reviews just seem completely made up in my opinion, experience, and with talking with other patrons of Shakou. Please disregard the negative reviews, focus on the positive reviews and try Shakou. You will not be disappointed! I will be back soon!
(5)
Nicole G.
OK. So I've been twice. First time was opening night. What an utter disaster. Obviously overstaffed at the host stand. FOUR HOSTS took five minutes trying to figure out where to put two of us. We waited ten minutes until we could sit at a table, which is fine. We sit down and order two pear gimlets. Delicious. Everything is going great. Our server seemed very nervous and was stumbling over his words, but I'm in the industry and I was a server for seven years and remember those first time jitters. Ordered two appetizers, gyoza and the beef and asparagus roll. Both arrived within 15 minutes and were really good. Here are where the problems started. The server was not prepared in the least for this night. He told us he "thought the california roll had chicken in it." My girlfriend wanted a maki roll of avacado and asparagus, because she does not like seafood. I was a sushi chef for 3 years, I know how simple this is to make. Our server "checked with the kitchen" and returned to tell us that they could NOT make ONE roll with BOTH asparagus AND avocado, and that we had to order on asparagus roll and one avacado roll. RIDICULOUS. NEXT. After waiting twenty minutes my food arrived. But where on EARTH was my girlfriends food?!? Our server stops at the table and says the TWO maki rolls should be right out.... ten minutes go by. Our server is tending to his other tables and purposefully avoiding eye contact with us. He returns to inform us that they had "RUN OUT OF RICE." After about a total of 25-30 minutes the two small maki rolls come out to the table, poorly rolled and falling apart. They also gave me ANOTHER entree sushi roll and a free round of drinks. I didn't want ANOTHER sushi roll of the same exact thing I had already ordered, nor did I want more drinks. What I wanted was a manager to come over, maybe apologize for the numerous fuck ups. AND FINALLY: I have a couple of friends that are servers at Shakou. I was told the next day that our server was saying that we "stiffed him." I GENEROUSLY left him 2 dollars LESS than a 20% tip. Being stiffed means you get NOTHING. I left 18%. So i do NOT appreciate this at all. His name was Wilfredo in case you want to ask for a different server. I think this place has potential, once the fix the kinks in the food and fire some of the staff.
(2)
Madolyn C.
handled a large party for my job & did a great job! service, food, management, and atmosphere were all great! the next day at work a lot of people mentioned how they were impressed as well! thanks!!!
(5)
Caroline C.
I've eaten here five times, twice for dinner and three times for lunch. I'm shocked by some of the negative reviews here. The atmosphere is fabulous, like an upscale nightclub yet comfortable and inviting. We've had good service each time. Every type of sushi we've had has been fresh and well prepared. The maki options could be a bit more creative but they do the standards very well. For lunch, I've had the bento box each time and was pleased with the portions and the quality of each item, especially the gyoza. There are many non-sushi items on the menu for those who prefer. We split a tuna tataki salad before dinner. It had a light citrus dressing and lots of fresh, creamy avocado. I've also been pleasantly surprised by the fabulous desserts.
(5)
Cynthia B.
Great food and great service! Prices are too high though, to make it a regular stop.
(4)
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Address :625 N Milwaukee Ave
Libertyville, IL, 60048
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Nicole T.
Stay AWAY from the Negative Reviews! It's not true! I always make my reservations on some of the Thursdays and when I get there, I'm not only seated right away, but also have the option of sitting in 3 different areas! The atmosphere vibe was awesome with upbeat music (my favorite) and the contemporary setting. All of the waiters that I have when me and my friend go there are all super friendly. Even though the sushi is excellent quality, it was the customer service that mattered the most than pricing. Everytime I go there, the general manager knows me and my friend that I always go with. The Huber Sparkling Red Rose wine is one of my favorite drinks. One of my favorite sushi is the Sunny Hill or the Red Dragon sushi! If you are a sushi lover just like me, than you will love this place! Give it a try. Tell the general manager that I've sent ya!
(5)Zoe Z.
Excellent all the way around! Confident servers with great personalities! I've been a couple of times and absolutely love the vibe. It has a city feel! The food was well presented and delicious. When I was here with my two girlfriends, we had the server just pick her favorite things and just order what she thought we would like. Not one disappointing item was brought to our table. Shakou is a prime example of how positive a dining experience can be when your servers are on point.
(5)Chai K.
I came here two days in a row for lunch. Once with a co-worker and the next with the Family. I ordered the Nigiri Deluxe Lunch both times. It comes with 5 pieces of Chef's choice nigiri and a spicy tuna roll. The fish was super fresh and melts in your mouth. The spicy tuna has almost a thai flavor with the chili oil and green onions. Delicious! ( for my tastes anyways) The decor is very modern and clubby. They have a private room with two tables and a lounge area in the loft. The overall presentation is impressive.
(4)J B.
I made reservations for a special date with my wife and couldn't have made a better choice! From the moment we entered to the moment we left we were visually and gastronomically impressed. The service was great, very helpful in selecting our meal and drinks. We chose the sushi boat for two and were amazed when it arrived. The display was spectacular and everything tasted fresh, clean and interesting. I highly recommend Shakou Sushi for a night out with friends, a special date, or even a private dining event with a big party. Great food and wonderful people.
(5)sushi t.
Never been disappointed. Dined here 5 times. This place can get packed so plan accordingly.
(4)Lisa H.
I have been to Shakou about 5 different times since September, took the sushi class, and just had my birthday party there. Needless to say, I LOVE going to this place!! The atmosphere and decor is impressive...a perfect place for a date. I keep going back to try the food which is so creatively presented and tastes as good as it looks. Besides the sushi rolls, I really like the Sweet and Chili Chicken Katsu dinner. My favorite appetizer is the Bul Go i Egg roll. There's always something new, and I'm never disappointed. My boyfriend and I rarely order dessert, but the Tempura Ice cream blows our mind! I want to especially thank the great servers and owners who treated us so well and were so accommodating for my party. I can't wait to go back!
(5)L H.
Pretentious.... Expensive and loud. Food was mediocre at best... Went with a group and tried 6 different hot and cold apps, 4 rolls, sashimi and was VERY surprised that many things are prepared in advance (like Negi beef roll and scallops with bacon-they were not whole scallops but a paste of ground mystery filling)). NO special requests. They don't even have plain iced tea! Server was nice, knowledgable but didn't make up for mediocre food. If you like LOUD overpriced average food and not real Japanese sushi then by all means stop in. Otherwise avoid it. Run... Run fast
(1)Caitlin C.
My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night with no reservation. We were seated very quickly and the waitress was so sweet. We took a few minutes to decide what to eat, but once we did it wasn't more that 5 minutes before we got our food. Although it's a little on the pricey side, I think what we paid was well worth what we got.
(3)Juhui S.
I would give five stars for just the decor. It's a really gorgeous place with plenty of room. Modern, chic, and enjoyable--I felt fancy. However, the makis, I noticed, were not as impressive as the interior. They are a little more pricey than say the local Sushi Thai and most of them were cooked. Personally, I would've liked larger selection of makis with raw fish. I went with a couple friends of mine, and they loved everything. Although, I was slightly disappointed with the variety of their makis, I will definitely go back for the great atmosphere. Like I said, the food was good, just less than I expected.
(3)Frankie B.
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(5)Gianna S.
Not a sushi fan but tried it and it was actually great and tasted fresh! The drinks were delicious and the vibe was great. Loved how it was a city vibe in the burbs. Great music and fun atmosphere. Try the calamari it was to die for! Absolutely loved this place and the best part was the prices were very reasonable for such a great experience!! It's great how you can go just for a drink upstairs in the lounge or go for lunch/dinner. Would Definitely return to this place and recommend it to others!!!
(5)Dean H.
We first got turned onto this place during the traditional date night that the wife and I have. upon walking in the door you were immediately greeted by a very large gorgeous bar along with a huge staircase leading to the second floor and finally the spectacular looking sushi bar to your left. That cool kid awesome hip music is playing in the background to let you know this isn't some corny cheesy place this is upscale and innovative. Some highlights to the menu are the gentlemen , the black dragon, and you have to splurge once in a while on Toro tuna. Service is nonintrusive and impeccably executed. Drinks are generous. Presentation of the food leaves your jaw on the floor it is so pretty. And of course the taste is fantastic they clearly only use the freshest highest quality seafood they can get their hands on. As a sidenote to the non-sushi loving crowd. There are many alternatives to keep you happy too. One notable is the beef wrapped asparagus, the bulgogi and of course the potstickers. This has sadly or happily become my go to place when hankering for a yummy bite of fish.
(5)Diana P.
Delicious sushi, fun "Miami Club" decor, friendly staff. We were so excited to try out this new place in the suburbs that everyone refers to as a "city type of place". They have funky music playing, contemporary decor that makes you feel like you're in a Miami nightclub and unique sushi rolls that look and taste great. Pricier than your local sushi joint but worth it for the suburb rolls/fresh fish.
(4)Carrie S.
Really nice vibe and ambiance, and sat upstairs with co-workers for dinner. It has a club feel, but its still trendy and really well designed. The menu offers a lot of options, although, I have to say I was slightly disappointed in the choices of rolls. Everything had something spicy, or had tempura. They can modify, but some other options would be great. Teriyaki Salmon is a definite recommend, along with the tuna salad.
(4)Sarah P.
Went out for lunch here for my friends 21st birthday and it was perfect! We ordered mimosas to go along with our two person boat meal and it was great. The fish melted right in our mouths, and the service was unbelievably great! Server even gave us a special ice cream cake for my friends birthday! very nice atmosphere and great food. Definitely recommend this place for any sort of event!
(5)Virginia M.
Love their food, it's amazing. My only complaint is the noise, if they would just turn down the volume on the music.....
(4)Stephen M.
Urban heat--5 stars!--Spicy tuna, jalapeño, spicy mayo, avocado and tempura crunch wrapped in soy bean paper, topped with unagi sauce. I ordered this and two pieces of tuna. Everything was fresh and the heat of the roll was spiced to get attention, not spiced to call the ER. Braised short rib--5 stars!--Sweet ginger soy braised short rib with sautéed vegetables with rice. The taste I had was very tender and succulent. A perfect marinade and presentation. Some issues: Techno dance music: We came on a Sunday evening. The music was muted, but no thanks. I get the atmosphere--I'd choose some avant-jazz. I really would avoid (others may seek) if the volume got cranked up which I suspect it does at other times. Seating: the booths are terribly uncomfortable. They're not made for sitting, maybe for lounging on a bench-like banquette, but I'm not into working out the logistics of how to sit at a table. Being sat: there is one booth that looks into the kitchen and is along a pathway for all tables. That was the first location that we requested moving away from. The hostess was accommodating.
(4)Jessie K.
Very fresh and so amazing! The look and feel is new age! Good customer service. The price is high but so very worth it for how fresh and good the sushi is!
(5)Sherman X.
sushi rolls are delicious and the decoration is very modern and chic. Real surprise in the suburbs. Maybe a little over-priced but the rolls are bigger than usual as well.
(5)Mani T.
We drive out of our way to come here. The dragon fire sushi was amazing as was the Black widow spider. The bacon wrapped scallops is a great way to start the evening. The atmosphere and decor is unique and energetic.
(5)Mike M.
We have now been here twice. First time with a large group of 8, upstairs, and the second with just 3 of us, in the bar. AND, we will go a third time. Shakou is one of the best full service, Japanese/Sushi restaurants in the Chicago suburbs. It is flashy, trendy, and well appointed. It is as good as any downtown, full service Sushi places, and sense it is in Libertyville, there is always parking. The food is great, and innovative. Shakou Sushi is a date night out type of place too. For the burbs, it is expensive, for the City, it would be reasonable. You may be able to find better sushi at a small authentic sushi restaurant, run by a Japanese master, but this is a night out kind of place. The service is great and professional, and the owners are accommodating.
(4)Luke S.
Service is great. The atmosphere and decor is euro and clubby. Food is just O.K. Started with the edamame, then the asparagus and beef rolls, which were good. Then it went downhill. The crab cakes smelled and tasted fishy. The other miss for me is the tuna used in the maki is ground/shredded aka Tuna Scape. Gross.
(3)Ryan P.
I want to start by saying I'm not a crazy sushi fan. However the few rolls I had here were amazing! Black Widow was pretty freakin good! It definitely has a club style atmosphere and the music and ambiance is very modern. Another plus, (being a single guy) was that at one point I looked around and there were beautiful women at every table. Hahaha! I mentioned it to my guests and they all laughingly agreed!!! This is the spot for late night sushi and cocktails! Our servers name was A.J. I think! Extremely accommodating and gorgeous smile, very friendly. Will for sure be back!
(5)Michelle Z.
My friend and I went in there for dinner on July 26, 2015. Between the two of us we ordered a few different kinds of roles and a couple appetizers. The problem is with the rolls. Normally when you get Makita sushi place you can identify the individual components that are rolled. The ones here or macerated. It was as though whoever made them put them through the food processor, making them like paste put them in the middle of the rice, and then wrap them. One of the rolls was out right sent back because it wasn't what we ordered. My friend doesn't like sending things back, so she took a doggy bag. My dog wouldn't even eat the more expensive the rolls.
(2)Alice A.
Love the decor. Very contemporary. Food display is good too. The waiters/waitresses weren't as friendly as you would imagined them to be; esp for a restaurant in downtown libertyville. The waitress we got seems fake. Always have that fake smile and didn't seem as genuine. Do you know your menu? Service was kinda slow.... We started off the night with asparagus beef roll ( okay) and bul go gi egg roll (good) I ordered the crunchy melt (without cream cheese and spicy mayo or mozzarella cheese) not bad~ The Chilean sea bass was fresh and tender. I would save room for their dessert! The exotic bamba is Delish! I love the passion fruit and mango. We also got chicken teriyaki to go... For a restaurant that does great display, having huge chicken chunks looks pretty unappetizing to me... Looks like food court quality. Id stick with the sushi when ordering. After paying... I asked for a to go box... Our waitress never came back nor could be found. Asked someone else for a box but never got one either. They weren't even that busy on an early thursday night... After 20 mins of waiting, we left. Overall, food is good. Service wise? 2 stars. def NOT impressive/ attentive enough like how some of the yelpers mentioned.
(3)G K.
Love the vibe and ambiance in the middle of North suburbs! Love the potato croquettes too. Faves are Urban Heat and Midori. 2nd floor lounge is fabulous for parties. Kid friendly menu as well.
(4)Jorrell D.
My amazing experience at Shakou Sushi I have eaten at many sushi restaurants but Shakou is by far my favorite. While in the Navy a year ago I had the chance to travel to Japan and experience fresh authentic sushi. Sadly, when I arrived back in the U.S., it was very difficult to find a restaurant that could measure up to their sushi, until I found Shakou. Located in Libertyville, IL this place is great for dining out closer to home when you don't want to make the drive all the way to chicago. From their food, customer service, to their cleanliness. .they prove to be worth of 5 stars. In the many times I've been to Shakou Sushi, I never left unhappy. From the Oyster, to the Secret Hamachi, to the Toro Nigiri, the food here taste freshly prepared every time. The chef does an excellent job at making sure everything prepared is mouthwatering delicious. Shakou's customer service is also something to rave about. My usual server Danielle, do a great job helping us choose new things to try, and always provides great service with a smile, and other servers working will also stop and introduce themselves and make sure our time there is excellent, which is very welcoming. They also have a great rewards program that for every 250 you spend you receive 20 dollars back in credit. Shakou sushi is great for private parties, business meetings, and when you and a friend just want to experience great sushi for a day. Lastly their sanitation. This beautifully styled Japanese restaurant always looks clean and smell fresh. The restrooms here are spotless and always clean as well which is a big deal for me. I would recommend Shakou Sushi to anyone, and I hope this helped you in choosing a new Sushi Heaven, as my dining experience has shown me.
(5)Will R.
Went with some friends on a Friday night. Love the atmosphere. A bit loud but that means alot of energy. We are all sushi fans so we stuck with the rolls. First time having black rice. Black Widow one of my new favorites. This place costs twice as much as our local favorite. No exaggeration. Rolls are big though. Must be a north shore hangout because our friends (from Deerfield) saw 3 couples they knew from that area. Libertyville must be the new cool place. Definitely a place to go with friends.
(4)Bex A.
I was flabbergasted when I walked in and saw how HUGE this place was inside, two levels. From the outside it looks like your typical tiny sushi place, but when you walk in I felt like I went to an LA/NYC type hip trendy night club. I stopped in for lunch and the prices were reasonable, the spicy tuna roll was large and it came with soup, so a very good deal. Definitely go there if you want to fee like you are at a trendy lounge in the city without the drive. Great date place.
(4)Serena A.
I am never disappointed! The drinks are fabulous, the food is flavorful, and the atmosphere is vibrant. Although their focus is their sushi, they have a vast amount of options other than sushi for those who don't prefer sushi. With that being said, I usually come here for sushi and I'm never disappointed. It always tastes fresh and full of flavor. Whether you're looking for a place to dine or somewhere to grab drinks, this is the spot to go in libertyville!
(5)Jennifer L.
Color me impressed. I preface this review by stating that I've pretty much written off most of the restaurants within a 10 mile radius from my house. Why? Well, for one, I live in Vernon Hills, which is filled with big box stores and boring chain restaurants. Granted, there are a few local restaurants tucked into the strip malls off Route 60 and Milwaukee Avenue, but they are few and far between. Lo and behold downtown L-Ville. This is one of the closest places you can hit up if you want to shop local. A few independent restaurants have popped up along the downtown strip, Shakou being one of them. Now, I love, love, love sushi. I'd eat it every.single.day if I could. However, I prefer more of a traditional look to the place - one dominated by Japanese chefs, Japanese sushi makers and a predominantly Asian clientele (e.g. Renga-Tei in Lincolnwood). More modern sushi joints freak me out. I've walked (and driven) past Shakou a few times and it scared me with its beautiful decor and loud, upbeat music. I questioned whether such a hip restaurant even belonged in Libertyville where I associate relatively well-to-do families and soccer moms. Then, I questioned whether the food would actually be good or if it was all show and no substance. And boy, oh, boy was I wrong. Shakou - 1. Jen - 0. I finally got over my fear and dined in at 8pm on a Tuesday evening with my parents, my bro, his girl and my fiance. My fiance and I were the first to arrive. The host told us he'd check on our table, and we were told a few times that it was being prepared. No worries, good sirs. I'll just gape at your awesome decor, thank you very much. And, gape, I did. I mean, it just screams modern, chic and sexy. Words can't describe how awesome it looks in there. I saw exposed pipes, which had the speakers installed to the undersides, dark wood tables, comfy looking couches turned into booths, awesome lighting and even a fireplace along the wall by the bar area. Ok, so the decor won me over. On to the food. My fiance and I started with the miso soup ($3) which tasted good and similar to miso we've had at other sushi joints. No complaints there. We sampled the spicy tuna maki ($6), spicy scallop maki ($7) and the crunch ($15), which was filled spicy crab, cucumber and avocado and topped with seared spicy tuna, eel sauce and tempura crunch. If you're a fan of the heat, I recommend the spicy tuna and crunch. They packed a powerful punch that had my mouth on fire (in a good way). The spicy scallop was the least spicy of the trio and tasted great too. The portions were a great size and perfect to share. For dessert, I sampled the pyramid (chocolate mousse with molten caramel center; dusted with cocoa powder) and chocolate truffle (zabalone cream center surrounded by chocolate gelato and caramelized hazelnuts, topped with cocoa powder). They were presented beautifully, tasted sweet and were a nice way to end the meal. Seriously, don't skip out on them. Sushi can't possibly have that many calories anyway so you can spare some on these decadent treats. Service wise, our waitress was wonderful and she was able to handle our large party well. We also hung around to talk after my dad had settled the bill (thanks Pops!), and she checked up on us to make sure we didn't need any water. We joked around with her telling her that she was kicking us out, which she claimed she wasn't. The only downsides were that the white chairs aren't the most comfortable for long periods of sitting. Try to claim a booth if you can! And, the music was a tad too loud for me. I like my eating and my dancing/clubbing separate. But, in reality, those are very minor things compared to everything else. I enjoyed my experience at Shakou very much and definitely will be back when I'd like sushi for dine-in.
(4)Heather M.
I absolutely loved this place! It's a modern sushi/sashimi resturant. They have great appetizers. I highly recommend the oysters. They are spicy but if you like spicy, get the full dozen. I have tried both sushi and sashimi here and both were great. The octopus sashimi is cut well, with a hint of lime. 5 stars all around. I would come back any day of the week. Make sure you book a reservation a few days in advance. Otherwise all the "good" dinner times will be booked.
(5)Mad I.
Negative reviews for this place just do not seem valid! Good thing I tried it anyway, phew!!! Maybe they were from when it first opened and not recent? Well, you step inside and this place is as trendy and modern and chic as the pictures show! Soo cool...I mean, they are def pumping house music, but it goes with the decor. You feel like you are down on Rush and Division and I think that is a great addition to the Libery-thrill scene! Ambiance is awesome, service is awesome! Food, amazing! We had: (see my photos of each of these!) Calamari: really good! 2 great sauces, one spicy mayo and one that was reminiscent of the coconut stuff at Red Lobster. Great batter, the actual calamari was a tad chewy but still good for $9. Spicy Tataki: Oh my gosh, yum! Lots of spicy tuna and the soft shell crab was pouring out both ends! They really pack this thing, no skimping at all...although for $18 it is at the top of the sushi price range world... I'd get it again! Dragon: Hello Eel!!! Finally! A roll with decent sized pieces of eel on top! Great tasting! Spicy Tuna: Rolled nori facing out, which isn't my fav, but great amount of tuna for a $6 roll. This is the kind of spicy tuna that is spicy, not sweet like some. Our friends had the egg rolls which they said they really loved, somethin about the beef... I will try them when I return, which I def will!
(5)Simone G.
Food: Fantastic. Ordered the Shakou salad and some maki-- making one of the best meals I've ever had while out. The food is fresh and filling without being heavy; it is also flavorful and original without being "weird" or unappealingly out there. I recommend ordering any of the sushi to be made with black rice; it has a subtle sweetness and nuttiness that is delicious. Service: Very good. The servers were polite and helpful without being overbearing. The manager even came around to check in with the diners, which I appreciated. Ambiance: The building is very spacious and airy. It was comfortable and cozy without being cramped, and big windows allowed light in (a plus). My only complaint was the music-- I don't think anyone enjoys the same sixteen measures of bass and synth on repeat while eating.
(4)John S.
This Place amazing! I celebrated my Wife's Birthday here with about 15 people I reserved a private room( which had a zen like feel) They have literally the best sushi in lake county. I would recommend anyone going to try sushi for first time and does not want to make the trip down town stop over at Shakou sushi. The servers are very knowledgable and polite. I am going to give this place 5 stars because there service, ambiance, presentation, and food are what you would expect from a 5 star sushi restaurant downtown without the high prices. Don't get me wrong the pricing is not cheap either. But the well tailored service you get from Shakou Sushi is outstanding. I want to say thank you to our server Aaron who went above and beyond to make our experience at Shakou Sushi awesome! ( try the "black widow")
(5)Britt J.
There was a lot of build-up prior to our visit here... So maybe that is why I am not reeeally impressed. It was good over-all; service was good, the place was clean, decor was upscale and contemporary, the food was good and rolls were of a good size and reasonably priced. We enjoyed the variety of rolls we ordered but preferred the green dragon and another one with black rice and scallops (I cannot remember the name! Ah!) which was a lot better when warm so eat it first! It was not by any means a negative experience, but there are other sushi places I prefer. Hope this helps!
(4)Linda C.
Great Food! But music is too loud & bad!! Won't come back lots of good restaurants without head banging music
(2)Michael M.
Initial wow factor of the entrance stood out and the decor was impressive. My wife and I dined on a Sunday evening around 7pm and were seated immediately in the bar area. Initially she was sad-panda faced because we were not in a booth but after she discovered the Black Widow menu item, she was quickly distracted. We each ordered an appetizer, (her-Calamari...me-Wakami Salad Seaweed, Cucumber and mixed greens). Both were delicious and filling. **our appetizers arrived and within two minutes, our entrees had followed...If I were at Chilis or TGIFridays, I would expect this but not at a place like this. It wouldn't have been that big of an issue had I not ordered a numerous amount of plates so we could sample the menu.....our table was a bit crowded with food** For the entree, she ordered the Black Widow and I went with a combination of appetizers (Lamb, Filet Spring Roll and Secret Garden). We shared a few bites of each and I was disappointed in the Filet Spring Roll but everything else was top notch. Our server was attentive, the bathrooms were clean, the atmosphere was upscale and to top it off, the Bulls came from behind and won on a last second shot against the Orlando Magic. I rated it a 4 but I'd probably give it a 3.8 at first glance. We will try Shakou out again for sure but hopefully next time we can avoid the small hiccup of having only a one course feast.
(4)Brett B.
I feel like I'm in River North every time I eat here. This place is fun and the food is actually really good. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because it's a little too expensive. Still, if you are willing to spend a little extra it is a fun place to eat.
(4)Liam M.
Good food. Good service. Great space. Loud Dance Music is annoying and not appropriate for this place. It distracts from everything that is right.
(3)Caroline D.
If you're looking for good sushi, come here. I've only been here for lunch with a girlfriend but I like their lunch menu. I usually get a combo and their sashimi is very good. Best sushi in the area so far and price is decent. I also like the inside decor.... very modern/contemporary... can come with friends or on a date. I didn't care for their salad dressing but I liked everything else!
(4)Connor B.
Whats with all the negative reviews of Sahkou Sushi? I must say this is one of the best sushi restaurants I have been to, and I love exploring new sushi restaurants. Please note my review of Shakou Sushi is not based on their night life, but more so their food, ambiance, location, staff, and overall opinion of the place. Location and Ambiance: The location of Shakou is great! Its in the heart of downtown libertyville, and the ambiance is even better! They have a great modern vibe which is unique given sushi places in the area. Sushi/Food: I have gone to Shakou probably half a dozen times now, and I can say I have NEVER had a roll I didn't like. Their food is a little pricy, but definitely hasn't let me down yet. I highly recommend going a little out of your comfort zone and trying some of their unique rolls. Staff: The staff has always been great! The manager has come around a few times while I have been there. Always seems to be happy, and doing well. Overall, I am shocked to see so many negative reviews of Shakou. Its a great place, and I highly recommend it! Thanks, Connor Brady
(4)Melissa R.
If I could give no stars, I would. The food is over-priced. The waitstaff is slow and servers vanish. (This occurred on multiple occasions including a slow afternoon.) The management argues with the customers. They typically refuse to do separate checks. After a 15 minute argument between the manager/owner and my table, we were told we could have separate bills. I was over charged for my food. It took over two weeks for the management to return my daily phone calls about being over charged. At that point, I had disputed the charges with my credit card. When I spoke with the manager/owner, he was quite rude. He told me that he'd been calling me daily, and I could come look at his phone records for proof. I was informed that I probably got charged for someone else's food in my group, which is why the don't do separate checks. I was also informed since I disputed the claim they were not going to assist me. It took my credit card company over two months to get some sort of information from the restaurant. Shakou sent American Express a receipt I had never seen with three items I never ordered (that are not on their menu). Since the total matched what I was incorrectly charged, I was liable to pay for an extra $26 of food I never received. There are much better sushi places in the Liberyville area. Black rice, 'gourmet' sushi, thumping music, and a bar does not make Shakou a good restaurant. I'd recommend Osaka Sushi in Mundelein. They have fresh fish, a large menu, and good customer service. osakasushimundelein.com
(1)Notah K.
I like this place because the atmosphere it's super nice inside, it's open late and their sushi is very good.
(5)Scott S.
I've had a few great experiences, but thought it was a bit overpriced. Then one day I ordered the sushi boat and found a piece of broken dishes in a piece of sushi, luckily before I tried to eat that piece. The manager provided a half-efforted apology and pretended he had no clue how it got there even though the piece was the same color as the plate I was eating from Get it together to earn that premium.
(2)RoseM. D.
Came here with two of my friends and it's a very nice place. I love the atmosphere and decorations are really pretty. We ordered calamari as an appetizer and it wasn't so good. I've had a lot of calamari and this one was chewy and greasy. My drink was way too strong. I ordered a watermelon cocktail and I had a hard time drinking it. The sushi on the other hand was ok. I thought it was a little pricy for just being "ok" sushi. I've had plenty of sushi and just really picky with seafood. I expect great food for those prices. On the other hand Service was great. Everyone was polite and friendly. Very Clean as well. No complaints there.
(3)Joseph P.
Awesome sushi and awesome service. Very clean modern environment. The staff is EXTREMELY friendly and knowledgeable. I will be back.
(5)Magdaline V.
The place is very pretty. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box and the chicken had a strange, gamey taste. I only ate the first piece but since the server never came back to check, I did not tell him until the meal was over. He did not seem to care and just took all the chicken away. I used to like this place but this soured me. Management obviously does not train to offer something else or adjust the bill. Very disappointing.
(2)Patti S.
Not impressed at all. Very poorly run... From the moment you call for reservation til the moment you walk out! DEFINATELY a "one and done"... I especially don't EVER care for a restaurant owner reprimanding an employ in public and in such a humiliating manner... Too many other sushi restaurant options in the area that do a far better job!
(1)Andrea F.
The food is great, you feel like you're in a swank nightclub, and the design is like nothing else. We absolutely love this place for entertaining clients and would highly recommend them for anyone looking for a great night out!
(5)Dan M.
Great sushi, hard to believe you can get something this fresh and expertly prepared in the suburbs. You must try the Seven Spicy Ahi or the Secret Hamachi for starters. If you like your roles spicy I recommend the Dragon Roll. You'll need a reservation on the weekend as the word is out about this place. Request a booth of you have a group of four, super comfy!
(5)Peter B.
Overall, a very nice Japanese restaurant in the northern 'burbs. Big and flashy place that's more familiar in downtown Chicago than in a quiet suburb like Libertyville. Our dinner was excellent. I had the Golden Lobster roll and my wife the Chirashi....both were great! Presentation and taste were top-notch! I also recommend the bulgogi eggrolls.....very, very good! For dessert, we had the exotic bamba....again, truly excellent! Service was good, too (on a busy, Saturday night). So overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're craving high quality, modern-style Japanese food along with hip, upbeat ambiance. (However, this is not the place if you're looking for a quiet, traditional Japanese dinner). Price is on the expensive side but not unreasonable considering the quality of the food and the ambiance.
(5)Tiffany L.
I'm going to say it. I'm a snob about sushi places. Annoyingly so. You have been warned. I'm always on the hunt for a good sushi place in the suburbs, so I was hopeful. Upon entering my first impressions were "Wow this space is beautiful, it belongs in the city!" and "These menu prices are ridiculous for Libertyville, are they aware they're not actually IN the city?!" After this impression, I kind of already had a good idea of what to expect in the food, but again, was hopeful. We tried a variety of maki and specialty rolls here, nothing worth mentioning. If you like over-priced and over-worked rolls, then you'll like these (you know the kind of rolls I'm talking about -- the ones drenched in a combination of at least 3 of the following: wasabi mayo, spicy mayo, tempura crunch, unagi sauce, cream cheese). The calamari was chewy like a rubber band. It seemed like they pre-cooked the squid and then battered and fried it. A big no-no. Although the presentation was pretty, the fried spring roll wrapper bowl was clearly fried yesterday. The gyoza and agedashi tofu were both misses. The Chilean Sea Bass was cooked nicely, however my one gripe was that the description on the menu states "sauteed with Chinese broccoli". This is a humongous lie. It is served with regular broccoli. Broccoli does not become Chinese broccoli just because you saute it in soy. (P.S. Chinese broccoli actually IS a real vegetable and is very different from regular broccoli and is very delicious). Their go-to sauce is a Thai sweet chili sauce. Yes, you know the one I'm talking about: bit.ly/185HSYn . It seems to be served on everything. "Specialty maki roll drizzled with sweet chili sauce". "Chicken katsu served with sweet chili sauce". "Green tea ice cream with sweet chili sauce". Just kidding about that last one. The potato croquettes were surprisingly good and authentic like you'd probably get off the streets in Tokyo, but I wish they served it with tonkatsu sauce, instead of no sauce. But I guess I should be happy it wasn't served with sweet chili sauce. The space really is beautiful here. This would be a great place in the area to hang out and grab a drink at night. But food-wise, It's Japanese food for people who don't like Japanese food.
(2)R L.
Wow - the atmosphere was very impressive and there was a cool vibe. We had a reservation and were greeted and seated promptly. We shared asparagus beef rolls for an appetizer and it was terrific! Had the Maki yellow tail and spicy tuna, and my friend had the crunch melt and raved about it. Food, service, atmosphere were all five star. Will return
(5)Ashley V.
I was underwhelmed. I had the Cucumberita cocktail, and two rolls (Green Dragon and Tataki (sp?)). The drink was good, but the rolls were both bland. The Tataki had a "spicy" notation next to it on the menu, but I didn't notice any interesting flavors, much less any spice. Service was a bit absentee, especially toward the end of the meal, when our empties sat on the table for 5-10 minutes before being collected. The atmosphere is very up-beat, the decor is sophisticated and modern, but it's so expensive! One cocktail, a plate of edamame, two rolls, an entree and a very small and mediocre dessert came out to $83 before tip. Really?!? My neighborhood sushi joint offers the same amount of better quality food for about half the price, INCLUDING free Miso soup. I most likely will not return to Shakou, unless it's for just drinks with a bunch of friends. The food just isn't worth my while.
(2)Jan O.
Rude and disrespectful! Husband and I decided on staying local rather than our favorite Tsukasa! Bad mistake!!! Ended up at tsukasa because we were pretty much kicked from our high top table at the bar. Got a drink and saw couple leaving so we grabbed the table. Unfortunately that's not how it works. We were told the table was reserved and that we needed to get up! That would have been fine but the gentleman was so rude about it. We went up to the hostess and she was just as salty!! She was completely RUDE and not one ounce of sorry. She was a complete bitch to my husband. We asked to talk to the manager and he didn't seem to care. Just gave us his business card and said he would take care of us next time!! no thanks!! We left our full drinks that the salty bitch hostess wouldn't even comp us and left. Had a fabulous dinner at tsukasa!
(1)Katy E.
I have been to Shakou on a few separate occasions. Twice for Lake County Chamber events, for lunch and for dinner. The private events upstairs and in the room downstairs offer really great and modern atmospheres. The food is always amazing and I never pass up an opportunity to try a specialty drink. This is my husband and my favorite place to dine and our 6 year olds love it too! It's so great to have a restaurant with this lounge/city ambiance up here in the northern 'burbs.
(5)Jori C.
I had dinner there a few weeks ago, great food (but pricey) but slow service. Last night (a Wednesday) we had a half hour to kill, and it was REALLY hard to get someone to wait on us in the bar area. After a while, I asked the hostess for a server. She pulled one out of the restaurant, and he took our order, and brought our drinks. From when we sat down until drinks arrived (1 beer, 1 Sprite, 1 Mai Tai it took nearly 15 minutes). My drink was REALLY strong. I guess if you're looking to get smashed on a Wednesday, this is your place. My husband even tried it and wow, all liquor. I sent it back, and it took forever. We finally told them to bring us the check, forget the Mai Tai and take it off our bill. My husband did not leave a tip. And he always tips.
(1)Ci R.
The food was just ok. Too much creams and cheese and other ingredients that mask the real taste of the fish. The real bad part was the service. They were all the time like if serving our table was a favor they were doing, but that was nothing compared to asking us to leave, good 20 minutes before the closing hour, when we still had drinks in our table and in a very rude manner (clapping hands and almost yelling "time to wrap up"). We ask to talk to the manager, and he was even worst. Not going never again.
(1)James M.
Great atmosphere, great food. It is nice to have a city atmosphere in the northern suburbs! I will be back
(5)Nicholas L.
We have been in few times since they opened and have never had anything but great service and original food. Our last meal seemed to stand out because we branched out and tried a few different items. We were blown away! New manager Kevin also brought service to a whole new level.
(5)Candace M.
I think the location and atmosphere is the only reason I will give this place 2 stars. I went with some friends and ordered about 8 different rolls. I wasn't impressed in any of them. There was no creativity to them and the taste was nothing special. One of the rolls, the fish was bad. When the waitress asked how our meal was I informed her. I normally would not say anything but I wanted them to know so they wouldn't serve to anyone else. She apologized and asked if we wanted something different. We were pretty much full but the taste of bad fish was imbedded in my mind and I couldn't imagine eating anything else. 20 minutes later she asked if the manager came to talk to us. No. She handed us the bill. The roll was still on it. I don't expect free food but when I ate 2 pieces and what I ate was spoiled I do expect something. There was maybe 5 other tables. The manager could not have been busy to not speak with us. I was disappointed in how it was handled and will not be returning.
(2)Slava P.
We have visited that place on the Saturday night. Walked in exactly at 7 o'clock and exactly one hour later one of the managers/owners came over to let us know that they are busy and there are other reservations waiting! Really?! Right after you finish you food, be ready to be kicked out! We were told that we occupied the table for 2 hours, which was completely wrong! We didn't come there to drink one cup of coffee for hours, we got full dinner and wanted to have good time! BAD TASTE IN OUR MOUTHS will stay for a long time! And clearly dinning experience was completely ruined!
(1)Samantha L.
Amazing food, drinks and atmosphere! Love the champinigini, hibiscus flowers and all signature sushi roles! Chicago atmosphere in the suburbs! Great customer service too!
(5)Anne S.
This place is still new, so they could still be working out some kinks. However this was an expensive place for me, so I expected things to go a little more smoothly. We made a reservation for 6 a week in advance for 7:30pm on Friday. We arrive a few minutes after 7 on Friday and checked in with the host. We were told that our table wasn't ready yet, since we were early, but that it would be ready at 7:30 for our reservation. We were told that we could wait in the bar and they would get us when our table was ready. At 7:50 we went downstairs to check on the progress our table. The new host said that we could be seated whenever our whole party arrived, and we explained that we were all upstairs waiting. This was a minor but annoying bit of miscommunication on the restaurant's part. To get to our table, we walked past an empty table for 6 in the main room that had been empty when we arrived. We were led to a cramped table for 6 in a privatish room that had 2 large parties on either side of us and the bulls game on in the center of the room. We immediately asked for a different table, but were told that none were available. We were having a fancy dinner with friends, I did not expect there to be a tv on with people screaming at it on either side of us. (Also, the room was small, so it was very difficult for anyone to move around. People kept glaring at us when they needed to get up to go to the bathroom.) With all of the noise, it was hard for our server to hear us, but she still tried very hard. Our server was very good. She was very patient, and was trying very hard. (Also, we had several other servers try to help us, but our server had to keep telling them that we were her table. There was a miscommunication among the staff.) I don't like sushi (or other Japanese food), so I had a Chinese chicken salad and a side of vegetables. My food was very good, and probably the best deal on the dinner menu. The salad was $10 and came with a full piece of chicken katsu (breaded, fried chicken breast with sweet chili sauce). The side of mixed vegetables was $3 and was a decent size. My husband order a chicken katsu sandwich that was supposed to be $10 and come with fries. He even pointed to it on the menu since the server could barely hear any of us order. When the food arrived at the table the server tried to give him something else, and he said he ordered the chicken sandwich, so she went back to look for it. Then she came back with the $18 chicken Katsu entree plate with rice and put it down in front of him. He told her again that he ordered a sandwich, and then she said "oh that's a lunch item, we don't serve that at dinner". That was not labeled on the menu, and she didn't mention it when he ordered it, so needless to saw he was surprised. His food was good, but it wasn't what he ordered, what he expected, and was almost twice as much. Two people at our table ordered sushi, and it looked very pretty. But I thought it was weird that they put both orders on the same plate. (They both ordered rolls, and some individual pieces. The rolls were all placed on one plate, and the individual pieces were on a different plate. It did look really pretty to have it served like that, but then they had to coordinate with each other to get their food.) That would be very weird if you were with people who you weren't friends with. Another minor issue was water refills. I drink a lot of water, and really appreciate it when restaurants refill the water quickly. They did not refill the water very frequently, even when I requested more water. For 6 people our total was $170 before tip which included dinner (no appetizers or desserts) and a bottle of sake. (And I had the cheapest option on the menu). I will say that there were no complaints about the food, all of the staff was clearly trying, and the decor is lovely. But for the price, there were just too many issues. I would give this place about 2.5 stars, but I rounded up since the effort was there. The upstairs bar area/lounge was a lovely place to have a drink and chat with friends. I had a dragon signature cocktail, and it was delicious. At $9 I only had one, but if we were only having drinks not dinner I would have been happy to try a different signature drink. I would go back if someone else was paying and they really wanted to eat here.
(3)Kristine B.
This place could have a lot going for it if the servers and other staff members weren't so rude. The best part about this place is the atmosphere and the live dj. For one reason or another they can't split a tab which is strange for a restaurant. I've tried to like this place but I can't seem to justify paying $6 for a lite beer then being treated with disrespect in the process. I have no problem paying a higher cost but not when it comes with rude service.
(1)Cait M.
The sushi was good here however the manager was a real jerk. We had a reservation and they tried to seat us right by the door so we asked for a different table. The manager said they couldn't seat us anywhere else when almost every other table was open. They claimed two people can't sit at a "four top." This is commom practice in most restaurants to move someone if the space permits. If the restaurant had been full, i would have totally understood. The manager finally said all the empty tables had reservations starting soon. We said we would leave if we couldn't have a table away from the door and they finally stuck us in a back corner in what looked to be a private party/sake room. After our meal...Turns out the manager lied... none or very feq of those four person tables had reservations. Only maybe two more parties were even seated in that section during our entire meal! This is really too bad as the sushi was fresh and tasted good. Our young server was also really nice and helpful. Unfortunately the way we were treated by this manager outweighed the sushi so we will not be returning for a second try.
(1)Shay S.
Went on a Monday (night) when most Asian based stores and restaurants are closed. This was a well recommended joint by a handful of Facebook friends when I asked for a high end sushi restaurant for my boyfriends birthday. If you have seen any of my other reviews they are mostly for sushi places... I take my sushi VERY seriously. I wanted to scout out the place before I decided that this would be the location for his birthday dinner. It needed to be somewhere with amazing food, exceptional service, a great ambiance and would have something that would knock or socks off in some way. I went on a nasty, snowy, Monday night with my girlfriend who also enjoys sushi but more on the simpler side. I love all the crazy, special rolls... seeing how creative the chef can get. First off, this this the most beautiful and well decorated restaurant I've been to that I can remember. Every detail is still crystal clear to me. From the curtain ties to the lightning... it was all very breath taking. Very urban feel. Nice way to mentally escape from the suburbs for a bit. Our server, who's name is escaping my mind right now, was very sweet. She wasn't fake and annoying like a lot of the servers are in the suburbs, rather was genuine and helpful. I'm sure she hated being stuck at work, in the snow, with only one table to serve (ours) but she didn't show it. She did her job well. She also didn't seem anxious to get us out since it was clearly a good night to close early. She was very attentive to us without hovering over our meal. Food was great. We were brought out a complimentary creation the chef made for us when he knew that we really liked (and in my case LOVE/NEED) spicy food. Fried Japanese mint, some spicy tuna something, and some fish egg on top. It was beautiful. Very very good. Good selection of maki and special rolls. A lot of the usual, expected stuff but a few special rolls that got my attention. I hope in the future they start to get more unique rolls on their menu. There was nothing poor about my experience here. I would normally comment how empty it was bit we were bold and went out for sushi in a blizzard. I just don't think that this is a 5 star restaurant. People are too generous with stars on yelp. I am not trying to give this place a bad rating by any means, however I do not think it meets criteria of being 5 star price worthy. I can understand that ambiance can often increase prices but it did not justify rolls that were $19. In the end, it is still not enough to get one roll and consider it a meal- just embellished rice and raw fish. When a roll costs that much and fills me up with the same rockin decor of this place... then and only then will it receive the coveted 5th star.
(4)Sofiya C.
YUM! We came here on Valentines day for dinner and were so pleasantly surprised! The appetizers were amazing - we had the ceviche and the brisket egg rolls - you got a lot for your $. The sushi rolls were 5 stars - we got the black widow and the sunset strip (i think thats what it was called). We also heard from people that the bass was outstanding so we gave that a try and that was a great choice!!! We also got a drink each that were good. This place is very similar to jellyfish thats a popular downtown sushi/asian new age place. The decor is very modern, they play techno music, the wait staff and hostess are all good looking and nice. Very "river north"-ish in our local downtown Libertyville! It is also very well priced for all that it in tails. Our bill was around $100 for everything! Not bad at all! And free parking... who couldn't beat that! We will be back.
(5)Russell D.
I made a reservation at this restaurant to celebrate my 16 year wedding anniversary with my wife. We were excited to try this place out as it was new to our neighborhood and the place looked like it had an exciting downtown atmosphere filled with energy. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted by a young lady who was quite pleasant. I told her that we had a reservation for two and she told us to wait just a second until the Host/Manager got back. Within a few seconds the Host/Manager arrived and told the young lady to sit us at certain table number. The young lady walked us to a small room, in the back of the restaurant, on the first floor. I think it was a saki tasting room or a room for small parties. The small room had three tables in it. Two elongated tables that ran perpendicular to the room, that were on each side of the room, and that seated 6. In addition, the room also has one 4-top table, which sat parallel to the room and in between the two elongated tables. To get a visual, imagine three tables forming the letter H. The young lady sat us in the middle table (ie the 4-top table). As soon as we sat down, we quickly realized that the other two tables on either side of us knew each other. We browsed the menu and really tried to tune out the people around us. The Host/Manager came into the small room to ask the two tables how things were going and turned on a large TV (that was discreetly hidden in a mirror) for the two table party. A few minutes later, and we realized that we were sitting in between a small party. The guests at the two tables were standing up, walking around, and talking to each other. Within the 5 minutes that we were there, all my wife and I could see and smell was people's butts in our faces. Great anniversary dinner, I know! So my wife and I got up and went back to the Host/Manager to ask if we could be moved. What happened next was absolutely SHOCKING to me and I have NEVER been treated so poorly!!! I explained the situation to the Host/Manager and asked to be moved. The Host/Manager (a shorter gentlemen, with a shaved head and a tanner complexion) sharply and with a snotty attitude as if he was somehow above me (think Ferris Buehler's Day Off) responded that this was the first time that he had heard that the two tables in that small room were related and we were lucky to even have a table. His response was ridiculous. He obviously knew they were related, as he was just in the room checking on the two tables, and that's why he quickly claimed ignorance. Plus how arrogant is it to infer that we were lucky to be in his restaurant? I travel all over the world for business. I'm in NY once a month and I eat at high end places all the time, and I have never heard a host say that. In any case, he then began to stare me down. Yes... Stare me down as if he wanted to pick a fight with me. After about 20 seconds of staring at me, he then in a nasty tone told the young lady to move me to another table. The young lady politely apologized (I think more so for the Host/Manager's behavior than the table situation). My wife and I sat down, and within 60 seconds both us decided that we were not going to give our money to a place like this. As we left the place I told the Host/Manager that his actions were deplorable and that I was never coming back. He responded with "I gave you what you wanted. I sat you at a new table". The guy just didn't get it. You don't act snotty to your guests and you NEVER stare them down. I will never go to this place again. Furthermore I will go out of my way to tell everyone I know, whether they live in Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Lake Forest, Gurnee, or even visiting the town for a local soccer tournament to NEVER go here.
(1)Meghan H.
Great atmosphere - so mod and trendy. Very personable staff. I got the bacon wrapped scallops (very yummy and flavorful - BUT small portions for it to be considered an entrée (which is why it's listed as an appetizer...though I got it as an entrée....) The side of asparagus that I ordered was super small (only 5 tiny spears), but flavor-wise it was a-ok ; NOT laden in butter/oil. Side of edamame = VERY decent size. For it being a sushi place they offered a good mix of other menu items like soups, salads, lamb, duck, crab, calamari, chicken teriyaki, pork chops, steak, short ribs, fish (as in cooked fish...), plus some noodle entrees. So if you're like me and aren't feeling the sushi, you have plenty of other options to choose from. Overall, Shakou's a decent, new place to dine.
(3)J P.
Great food, service and atmosphere! ! Recommend black widow maki roll, cucumber margarita and server Stephan!!
(5)Richard R.
Finally. A restaurant in Libertyville with impeccable service, great food, and incredible decor. My wife and I are not sushi eaters so I won't speak to that, but my appetizer (some kind of beef in a shell) was to die for. My wife had only one complaint with her meal (chicken). It was superb, and the portion was huge, which meant she HAD to eat it all. My lobster and filet were fresh, the vegetables fresh and spiced properly, the presentation first class. This restaurant is fresh, modern, clean and friendly. The crowd is young, middle aged and older. This place is a hip and innovative idea set among the rusty and ancient concepts that neighbor it on either side. Please go - you won't be disappointed.
(5)Jo N.
I was super excited to try this new sushi place as there isn't many great sushi places in the area. Well the sushi rolls were great. Prob a 4/5, tasted fresh, and i would go back. But the prices are holding me back, oh boy. Wayyyy over priced. The bill for 2 people was 100$ (without tip) and we only had rolls and 2 drinks. This isn't downtown Chicago for the prices to be so high. The decor of the place is very nice as well. Modern and hip. Staff was friendly, but the rolls took a bit long to come out.
(4)B G.
Absolutely awful service, also found a hair in my sushi.
(1)Ray F.
Didn't have the chance to try the food. Two seats were open at the sushi bar and my wife and I sat down. As soon as we did an employee told us we could not seat there. Evidently you have to check in with the hostess and they have to seat you. I have eaten at sushi bars across the world and never seen this. Its always first come first served.
(1)C F.
I like this place and I want to like it more. The decor is chic and modern, the sushi rolls are fresh and interesting, and their cocktails are original. I know Shakou is very popular (hence the Open Table ranking) but there are a few things that they could address: It always takes 5-7 minutes to make a phone reservation, even for a weeknight. The ladies answering the phone always take forever, I'm put on hold several times, and I suspect whoever it is needs more training on the computerized system. There's also a lack of graciousness in the way they answer the phone. They need to make this process more efficient. I'm often tempted to just hang up. Even when you go in, it takes a good while to be seated, which is just ridiculous when you can see open tables and booths. Maybe the check in counter staff is more decorative than efficient. It just sets the wrong tone for a nice dinner which could set you back $150/2 with drinks. The serving size of the chicken teriyaki is just miserly. I prefer sushi but when my non sushi eating companions order the terikayi, a staple in Japanese restaurants, I expect more than a $1 McChicken's worth of chicken and a handful of veggies.
(3)Boones K.
The first time I came here I was a bit caught off guard. I was not expecting the decor and DJ. Also some pretty good people watching if you get a chance to sit by the window on the lower level. The food was excellent and brought us back in for a second time. Both visits we were not disappointed by the quality of the sushi.
(4)John D.
Fantastic atmosphere and the food was excellent. This place could easily be downtown Chicago and shine.
(5)Leah S.
I chose Shakou for my rehearsal dinner because I was impressed by the menu and ambiance. It is a beautiful restaurant! But after a great initial meeting with Adam, our emails about what menu items we wanted went unanswered. My fiancé called and the GM told us Adam was out of the country. Ok fine but instead of the GM taking care of things then and there, we were told that another employee Kevin would call us Wednesday to finalize things. He never did. Nor did he call on Thursday. On Friday, we tried calling Kevin but the host told us he was unavailable. We were in the area so I asked if we could just stop by the restaurant to pay our deposit but the host, in an extremely condescending tone, told us no, Kevin has to take care of it and he is too busy due to the "weekend rush" and he will have to call us back Monday. What the hell?! He was already supposed to have called us two days prior. And are you so busy that even on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon you can't take 5 minutes to write down which menu items I want served and run my credit card for the deposit? As you probably guessed, Kevin didn't call us back on Monday... or Tuesday... or Wednesday. Adam got back to us eventually but by then we were fed up and had decided to go with another restaurant. Lucky for us, we benefited from Kevin's and Shakou's own incompetence; since we hadn't yet been charged for a deposit, we were able to switch venues penalty free. While I have no regrets about our last minute decision to switch our rehearsal dinner location, I can say Adam was very competent, courteous, and professional.
(1)Greg J.
Great food, atmosphere, and music. Servers are new but friendly. Will come again. Sea bass and vegetables were PERFECTLY cooked and seasoned.
(5)mxwp d.
I've been there twice with a party of four and both times were very good. The sashimi was tasty and they marinate it in some type of oil that makes it quite flavorful. Sashimi purists may not like it, but I thought it was delicious. The "black widow" rolls were great and something you cannot get elsewhere. The second time we went we ordered the chef's choice sushi boat which comes with sashimi, nigiri, and rolls. Again, the sashimi was great. Service was good, too. Don't know why it got some bad reviews. I guess this place isn't the best for large parties or splitting bills.
(4)Charito P.
First time in this place and I was surprised to see how chic the place looked. The food was great and the price was reasonable.
(5)Randi M.
This place sucks. We have a large group every third person got salad and then 20 mins later the rest if us got salad. At the same time some got dinner. No water and when we asked they were rude. They obviously can't handle a group.
(1)Zach A.
The food tasted ok but it was more overpriced than I would have thought. I felt like all I was paying for was ambiance. The waitresses were really friendly and nice though. The sake they have is delicious and not as strong as other sake. I tried the chicken teriyaki and it tasted good but the chicken was really dry. Overall the place is alright but I would much rather try a different Japanese restaurant.
(3)Mundo V.
QUICK RECOMMENDATION: TRY IT With time this place has gotten much better. For the town it's an awesome place. The atmosphere has a good balance between a big city vibrant spirit and a suburban laid back and cozy feel. The menu has a good balance as well: Not for the extremely adventurous, but also not for the easy to please. The service, is also well balanced: While food can take time to come to the table on high demand days, the service feels true and expedite. Also they try to make it up for any problems. You, on the other hand, might not have a good balance.... but on your checking account after paying the check here.
(4)Aj A.
We had a corporate event here last Friday and had a fantastic experience overall. The manager, Aleks was so nice and accommodating. The ambience is great and the mezzanine lounge upstairs was perfect for our event. The drinks, appetizers and the main lunch (bento boxes) were delicious! Aleks had a wide variety of vegetarian food options for the vegetarians in our group. I highly recommend this place!
(4)Alen Z.
The appetizer and dinner was excellent. The dessert was to die for. The drinks were amazing and the bartender was friendly and professional. I will def be back!
(5)Holli C.
Upon arrival my foot was in a cast, (very obvious) I had to go up a long flight of stairs when after limping up saw there was an elevator. The seating upstairs was white wedding fold up wedding chairs, seating downstairs much more comfortable! I asked to move to downstairs looking at 1dozen open booths and was flat out told no. Food was great very fresh and service good. It was the poor attention to detail that was obvious.
(3)Kim P.
Appetizers were good, but the sushi was not worth the price. You pay for the ambiance & that's pretty much it. Went for valentines day, spent $100+ for 2 apps & 4 rolls (no drinks) and the service was not impressive. They tried getting us in and out as quickly as possible - Taking our plates before we even finished. With all the sushi places in the area, this is not a place I will go to again. Disappointed.
(2)Alfredo E.
Five friends decided to visit this place to celebrate a birthday among us. We arrived about 30 minutes before closing with the intention of two drinks and a few cheers for the birthday girl and memories of the night. The server approached us and warned "you're my last table". During our drink order, we asked how much well or premium mixers cost. Our server initially replied appropriately, but then added "if you want something cheap go to tommys'". I engaged the server on the topic of cheaper drinks at tommy's and told her that we liked the sofa's, music, and atmosphere that Shakou was providing and that we were there for a night cap. I added that we're on the search for a night cap since one of us was turning 22, and I asked for her understanding on us going out for a 22nd birthday. The server replied by talking about herself and comparing the current birthday experience to the servers own 22nd birthday (oh yeah she did something 'way cool'...) then left. One moment later, two members of our group decided on a cigarette break mid drink, and on standing up, the server brought over our checks, adding "just wanted to catch you before you had that cigarette" then the server left. The other three of us carried on our conversation and one of our group engaged the manager on the attitude we were getting from the server. The manager's attitude matched the servers attitude and he did nothing but shake his head. Another moment later the server came back and asked us to leave on orders of her manager (about 5-7 minutes before lights turned on and music was turned off). Having never experienced such rushing or bad service, we demonstrated our feelings in the gratuity, and prior to leaving, the server claimed we were $1 short and asked us for more money. At this point, I was certain we were the assholes who must have had just a little too much bravado a little to close to closing time at this bar. The earlier response from the manager where we reported this issue assured me that maybe we were being a little too hard. Then we walked out of the restaurant, and the manager chased us from the bar out to outside, and the manager apologized for the servers attitude, and added that issues with her attitude were happening more frequently, and offered us free drinks next time we come to Shaktou. We're never coming back. The manager's offer for free drinks as a result of the servers attitude validated my feelings about the situation, and that validation is why I decided to share this experience on yelp. Thanks for your time reading this.
(1)Mel M.
my husband and i went on a date night and didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar. The bartender was awesome he helped us with the menu and what drinks paired with the meals we chose. The food was good and the sushi was fresh. We went around 7 so we were done with our meal before the rush crowd.
(5)George A.
I had such high expectations of this place as the decor and music gave such a great impression once I stepped in. Unfortunately, that's where it ended. I came with the wife and kids on a Sunday around 6pm and while only a few patrons were there, it took way to long to get drinks and our food. Unfortunately, the sushi rolls were nothing spectacular as well. I was more than frustrated to have spent nearly $100 on a mediocre at best night out.
(1)vicky s.
Great food! Excellent variety of fresh sushi. Wonderful service with pleasant servers. Shakou is a great addition to suburban sushi with a city flare!!
(5)Natalie B.
This place doesn't deserve the harsh reviews it has received. We wandered in on a Thursday eve and it was packed. We were seated right away and I explained that we only had an hour-we were told no problem. And true to their word, we were in and out in an hour. I found our waitress to be attentive and helpful and the sushi to be prett good. It wasn't excellent and Im not sure id drive 35 minutes for it, but if I was in the area I would definitely return. Decor was modern and had a cool unique vibe, and struck me as family friendly and an awesome place for girls night out.
(4)Janice M.
Our family of four went to Shakou for Mother's Day. I made an early reservation (5:45pm) and we were seated right away. We had a nice big booth in the dining room section. This section was almost full by the time we arrived. Our server, Hannah, was friendly and attentive. She was honest about the the menu (I asked about a particular sushi and she said that she had not tried it), but suggested a few that were her favorites. A complimentary glass of champagne was offered to mother's for Mother's Day. That was a nice touch. Our cocktails came out a little longer than expected - but not too long that we got antcy. Our boys had iced tea (came out before our drinks, totally fine....) which were refilled in fresh glasses in time for our dinner. My champagne came in a beautiful, chilled flute. My husband's beer also was served in a nicely chilled glass. Great touch - as many places - even high end restaurants - don't make this attention to detail. Black napkins on the table (my husband loves this -- white napkins tend to leave behind white specks on men's trousers) We ordered 4 appetizers - edamame, spicy tuna roll, sea weed salad and a phyllo sushi roll. All were excellent and came out in a timely manner. Our entrees were 3 special sushi rolls (ocean roll and two with tempura shrimp) and one chicken dish. All were fantastic. The sushi was some of the freshest around. My son's chicken was super tasty. Second round of cocktails were served promptly. The specialty drinks look fun and tasty - and $9 seems like a fair price. Can't wait to try one! My only complaint was that the appetizer plates were left on the table longer than they should have. The booths are deep, so I see that it's hard to reach - but there seemed to be some busers milling about and they should see to it that the tables are cleared promptly. We even moved our dishes to the edge of the table -- hint, hint. Music was chill and volume just right. If the service was just a little tighter, I would have given our experience 5 stars. I really don't want to blame our server, because the issues were with the bar and the busboys. In my opinion, this is more of a management issue. Our meal was $135 before tip. Four appetizers Four entrees Two soft drinks Two beers Two champagnes (one complimentary) Shakou is a wonderful addition to downtown Libertyville. We will definitely be back. On a side note - many reviewers found the sushi expensive. At $16-$19 per specialty roll, that may seem on the high side. But these are entree portions. If money is an issue - two rolls could easily feed three people if they had a couple of appetizers beforehand. But for the freshness and portion size, the prices are what I would expect to pay. Comments to management regarding the bar: The wine list could have more variety and should include bottles of wine priced at the $20-$30 range. $46 for a bottle of Kim Crawford? (Mariano's sells for $12.99) That's a little insulting.
(4)Jessica J.
I left a tip... But our experience deserved much more of an extensive review. I think all local patrons as well as visiting should know exactly the kind of people that operate this establishment. My husband's siblings were all visiting our home in Gurnee for the boys' birthday celebration. I had run across Shakou's information during a web search and I called ahead and spoke with someone about our party. Since a lot of our guests were coming from out of town (Philadelphia, Indiana, Washington D.C., etc.) I gave the initial estimate of 10-20 guests. The person on the phone seemed accommodating and polite. They set us up for the private room. The day before the party we still had some unconfirmed due to travel arrangements so I said 15 was a likely number when they called to confirm. I didn't want to undershoot and cause stress. My first warning SHOULD have been when we showed up with only 10, still waiting on a couple people who had minutes before said they were trying to make their way out. The hostess seemed shocked that all 15 were not there and went to get one of the owners (name not given to us). He came in with a terrible demeanor and said, "There's only 10 of you? You confirmed for 15! Get up so we can move your table." So we gathered all our belongings and drinks while they moved the other table away and caused us to play musical chairs. He had such an attitude and didn't further acknowledge us during this. At that point, we texted our other party members and told them not to bother as they took away our extra seats. Clearly, they wanted to seat right then and there and didn't care about our experience. The ONLY reason this place got a star is because (other than there is no zero star option), our waiter was very nice. He tried to be as accommodating as possible the whole time, laughed with us, and was very attentive. We made sure his tip didn't suffer for the events that took place next. After receiving our $450 bill, we had asked our waiter to split it 5 ways. Initially when we asked at the beginning he informed us Shakou can only split parties 3 ways. This was not going to work for our group. We told him this when we were seated at 7 pm and he said he would talk to the management to see how to split. When he returned with the full bill, he had each party mark their items with a number. This way, he could easily separate the bill. Though, I don't understand this. Modern POS systems very easily allow for multiple tickets and tracking. During this setback, the birthday boys' surprise LIMO was on its way to our house. I told the gentlemen that we HAD to go quickly as this whole process had taken entirely too long. He came back and said he could not split the check after we spent all that time numbering each item. One member of our party went out to demand they take care of this as they had had almost 2 hours to figure it out and it shouldn't be this hard. That's when the owner started YELLING at her. Time was still ticking away, so I went out and simply said, "Whatever you have to do, figure it out fast because we are about to miss our birthday surprise limo because of this issue." The next words were the kicker... "yeah, I'm going to split it three ways and YOU can figure it out. Not my problem. We're too BUSY to deal with you." ... What did you just say? He YELLED this in front of the dining room while making aggressive hand gestures at me, absolutely causing a scene. I went to the hostess stand to ask for the owner's information to which she replied.. You were just talking to them. My brother in law then went out to offer and show him how to split the bill 5 ways as he is familiar with the technology, and again got terrible treatment. My brother then said, "Well, you definitely lost hope of us coming back here ever again after all this"... And the owner said... Wait for it.... WE DON'T CARE - WE DON'T NEED YOU. You've GOT to be joking. The customer is your livelihood! We'll let me tell YOU something - your food was ok - I've paid less money for better maki rolls in my lifetime - so I don't NEED your overpriced menu items. Your decor is a little pretentious for my tastes. It's like you're trying too hard. You were probably one of those kids who got their asses kicked on the playground every weekend who feels like they need to overcompensate now so people think you're something. I don't NEED to drop that kind of money to sit in your sad overcompensation. Your menus were incorrect with beverage pricing - I certainly don't NEED to spend double digits on a so-so beverage. And this area doesn't need YOUR ESTABLISHMENT. Supporting this place is a mistake. Treat yourself to a better option, please . Not worth it. Oh, and the surprise WAS ruined for the limo. Thanks, dick.
(1)Katrina R.
When I walked in the atmosphere was amazing. It was edge and inviting yet the girl at the front desk was not dress professionally. She also could not say a sentence without saying like, too young for the restaurant. When the sushi came, it looked beautiful and was extremely fresh. The waiter did not seem really inviting though. The portions were small but overall enjoyable.
(4)Mudie M.
The worst thing I could say about the place is that it is far from me. Even then, its worth the drive. Basics: Great decor, not too loud, quick service, extremely helpful staff. Food: THE BEST SUSHI I HAVE EVER HAD! Basic rolls are very cheap but taste amazing, specialty rolls have specialty pricing but are extremely tasty and also worth it. The regular dinner items are extremely tasty as well. Portions are large and very satisfying. Any kind of eater including picky and big will not be left hanging. This is the first restaurant that I have been to with my group of friends and not one person said "I wish.....was better". There is really no way to go wrong with a trip to Shakou.
(5)Vlad V.
I have to say that I was very excited as this new place opened up and was quiete anxious to try it. The Interior was super cool looking ! There is a private room that can accommodate a rather large party as well as a lounge area on the second floor that looked very fancy. The sushi on the other hand was subpar and there are better sushi place around in the Vernon Hills Area (Sushi Kushi for example) 48h after i have had my lunch with a coworker, we both got FOOD POISONING ! I'm certain that it happened from Shakou Sushi because we both got the same exact symptoms on the next day. I will strongly advise NOT to go to this place as there several places that use fresher and better sushi that will not make you sick.
(1)AnneMarie M.
Great sushi and very cool atmosphere!
(5)David M.
Good food, cool ambiance, degenerate owners. A simple request to split our checks by the couples we were with turned into ridicule. With 15 sushi restaurants within only a few miles of my house, I'll spend my hard earned money anywhere but here, and I suggest you do the same
(1)K B.
Was there a few days ago with a larger group for dinner. Service was slow but fine, nothing amazing and yet nothing horrible (small things kept happening, like having to ask for water and then repeatedly having to ask that water to be refilled). Food was decent, but portion sizes and quality did not match up with the higher price tag. Wine was overpriced and lacking in selection (especially compared to other local eateries). Dessert sizes were inconsistent, as one of us was served the smallest dish of sorbet yet the cake dishes the others ordered were massively huge. Our party was approached by one of the owners at one point, where we had an extremely awkward conversation where he kept asking where the male who made the reservation was (we were an all female party, reserved under a female name). Then he basically told us we were seated at the wrong table. As we had been there for over two hours and had been steadily ordering food and drink ... the whole exchange was odd. We felt as if he was asking us to vacate the table (in the middle of our main course ... which should tell you enough about the pace of the service). Obviously, this is never the feeling one wants to get from an owner when dining at their establishment. The best part about the place was the decor, and even that was unimpressive after a while. The chairs we sat on were extremely uncomfortable (especially because it look a very long time to be served our food). The wall-sized fireplace on the bar side kept turning off. It was extremely loud downstairs, so much so that I couldn't hear what the person across the table was saying to me. The upstairs club is strangely designed and cramped by strange walls and table configurations (and was somehow quiet, so they haven't quite figured out how to balance their sound). We went up for one drink, but as there didn't really seem to be anything going on upstairs besides people standing around (including the servers) ... we left. Overall, I'd say this place is pretty blah. Not horrible, but nothing to write home about. Unsure if I can be bothered to go back.
(2)Holly A.
I don't know what the negative reviews are about but we went with a group of 4 and had a fantastic time as well as great food! We had sashimi, short ribs, chilean sea bass, two other rolls that I can't recall at the moment, and all were delicious. The short ribs were truly fall off the bone. The sea bass was cooked to perfection. We had great cocktails. They make a mean chocolate martini for dessert ;) We had prompt attentive service to boot and the ambiance screams anything BUT suburbia....Love it.
(4)Mary M.
Great food, especially the spicy tuna rolls. Such a great meal, with well prepared sushi!
(5)M. W.
We were here last week and wow, the decor is contemporary and very chic for a suburban sushi place. Unfortunately, the service is not as good. It looks like this place needs to train their servers before they put them on the floor. 1. The servers don't know anything about sushi. My friend asked what is the differnce between a sashimi and nigri, and she said that she will ask and be right back. We knew then that we were then in for a challenge. We decided to just eat our regular chicken teriyaki dishes and our familiar maki rolls to be on the safe side. 2. We asked what type of vodka they have on shelf. Again, she had to ask someone because she was not sure. We asked about wine and she could not even recommend one. The food was just ok, but for the price we paid, it was not worth it. Like I said, the decor is great, but they have to match that with the food as well. If you want good sushi combined with a great ambiance, go to Kona Grill in Lincolnshire. The servers know what they are selling. Plus...they have excellent "Happy Hour" menu! This place is still new so I hope they get their act together because the place itslf is very inviting, but the service is lacking!
(2)Todd G.
Ok, I am big sushi fan and consider myself a purist so there has been a void since the closing of Chifumi. Shankou follows the local trend of try to be hip and chic in the burbs. Overall it was a better than ok experience, the place is a little loud and the décor is a little over the top but the food is very good once you are past the sticker shock. The staff was helpful but not extremely knowledgeable, honestly it was mostly kids, for something with this price tier I would expect a more experienced staff. The portions are very generous and if not for that I would have been a little upset with the $100 + tip bill for two people and sake.. I don't see myself as a regular but may drop in once in a while during the off peak hours.
(3)Pamela O.
I have not had a bad meal at Shakou. In fact, most of them have been delicious. I love the comfortable couches. They listen and when I've asked that the music be lowered, they do. Last time I was there it was playing softly -- yay! My only criticism is that they might consider a few more vegetarian items on the menu -- or consider adding a tofu alternative for some of the meat items. For a night out when you want a lovely atmosphere, try Shakou.
(5)David S.
Not very impressed with the quality of the signature maki rolls our quality of fish, sorta had a bland taste and there wasn't really an abundance of textures involved. The service and atmosphere were amazing. For the price of dinner here for 4 people I would have expected much more. I hope that this dining experience was just a fluke!
(2)Tara J.
This place is chic and hip, but not in a pretentious way. My family and I felt like we were dining in downtown Chicago thanks to the delicious food and trendy atmosphere. You can find tastier sushi at Sushi Kushi San 3, but Shakou's cool vibe may give it a leg up overall. Service was attentive, but not entirely knowledgable about what they were serving (Our waitress mis-identified tuna as unagi...oops!)
(4)Tim J.
I've been twice for lunch, getting bento boxes both times and I could not have been happier. If you get a bento, you will have plenty to eat. I have never seen bigger portions for these. This is a great place for a business lunch, as it is quiet while being clean, efficient and fast. The maki and sashimi I have had has been very good. No complaints here. I will be back.
(5)Angela T.
Shakou has a real city vibe, right in downtown Libertyville. The lighting, the decor, the staff, the energy is pure city - without the minimum 2 hour drive. The food is outstanding. We've been here at least half a dozen times in the past two months and haven't had a bad dish yet. So glad to have such a high class place in town.
(5)Gini G.
This place has a beautiful decor! We were surprised to find this in downtown Libertyville. We ate here for lunch and we each enjoyed a Bento Box. First of all, the presentation was impressive; it actually came in a tall wood box which they then open for you and pull the top box out so you end up with 2 trays of food in front of you. I had the hot bento box with teriyaki shrimp and my friend had the cold Maki box with the spicy tuna roll. The food was plentiful to say the least (my box came with a salad, pot stickers, tempura veggies, and rice) and VERY tasty. I think they only offer the bento boxes during lunch. I will definitely go back. The only complaint I have is the man that seated us, and later checked on us, kept calling us "you girls".
(5)Ken I.
I really wanted to find a new sushi place. I am still looking. Nice decor but the music was too annoying. My rice in the chirasi ( their spelling) was cold - refrigerated cold. My hot tea was tepid ( and came with a lemon slice! ) until I complained. I waited a day to review to cool down. I will not return. Too trendy and inauthentic. A Western interpretation of sushi and Japanese cuisine. I am not sure where all of the glowing reviews are coming from but I know they cannot be from any real connoisseurs of Japanese cuisine. The service was nice and apologetic but cannot make up for the lack of basic fundamentals exhibited by their sushi chefs.
(2)Amy A.
This venue was recommended by several co-workers. They said it was the city gem in Libertyville. Our department was looking for a fabulous party space with delicious foods and clever cocktails. (Asking for this in the suburbs is tough). We worked with the co-owner, Adam, who walked us through the options that would suit us best. I am a crazy dinner party planner and no less crazy when planning a party at an event space. I put Adam through the ringer with the multiple questions and requests. He was as sweet throughout the planning process as day one. Our guests entered through the front door and had the wonderful option of checking their coats at the glitzy front desk. Our party was privately secluded in the lounge area on the upper level. Our guests were delighted to take the glass stair case up to a gorgeously decorated lounge area with full bar, polished black tables and purple velvet couches that were illuminated by chandeliers. My co-workers could not get enough of the snow-cosmo made by, I think, Amanda. She was as skilled as she is sweet. The food was prompt and delicious. Adam had beautiful black draped tables set up prior to show case the multiple sushi roll boats, beef egg rolls, gyoza, calamari and chicken satay. The food was replenished twice for our 50 guests. Many of our guests love Shakou so much that they have planned to come back with their spouses and each other. Adam, Thank you very much for hosting a beautiful party for our hard working team. You made everyone feel special.
(5)Matt R.
First time there. I was blown away inside. Great venue and inside is perfect. Clubby atmosphere and lots of energy. Very good service. Only complaint is the chairs are very uncomfortable. All the food we ordered as a group was outstanding. Great menu that offers lots of sushi and other entrees. Noise level is high but if you are with a group, it's all good. Highly recommended.
(5)MK E.
The decor was so nice! I don't eat sushi but my friend said it was great. I had chicken teriyaki, which was delicious and came in a large portion. Our food came out fast and our waitress was friendly. I would return!
(4)Jane K.
We have been here 2 times and I would call it average. Sushi is pretty good just not the best. We ordered spicy scallop and they served cooked scallop, that is just wrong in my book. The rest of the rolls were fresh but nothing great to rave about. Drinks are good but not consistent. First drink was amazing but second had so much syrup I was forced to sent it back. Probably wont be back
(3)Ann G.
We just had our company party there for almost 40 people; and it was a wonderful experience because of delightful food and service. We each ordered different entrees and all arrived beautifully presented and delicious. I had sea bass and it was perfectly moist with grilled vegetables that were crisp but tender. Congratulations on bringing city style dining to Libertyville.
(5)Julie P.
Sushi was okay, my biggest problem was witnessing the way that the management spoke to their employees. They embarrassed us, they embarrassed the employee and they embarrassed themselves. I will not eat there ever again.
(1)Patti R.
Went for dinner with friends. Definitely a city vibe in the burbs, which I loved. We sat upstairs and had a great view down below of the sushi chefs making rolls. Music, cool. Deco, cool. Service, not bad. Food, ehhh, I've definitely had better. I've been to my share of sushi places - those with great ambience, and holes in the walls. I have to say, some of the best tasting sushi I've had was at the smaller not so swanky places. That said, I had high hopes for this place, given the cool vibe and city feel. We all shared three appetizers - tuna tartar (fair, would've been better with crackers or chips to add texture and complexity), gyoza (ok), and Filo wrapped ahi (tasted fishy and we couldn't finish it). For dinner, my husband and I shared a few rolls - standard spicy tuna, salmon crunch, unagi roll. Overall, the rolls were just ehhh. Not fishy, but just not enough flavor. I was disappointed they didn't have an unagi crunch roll. The regular unagi roll really skimped on the unagi. Our friends had chicken and beef cooked dishes, and they really liked them. Perhaps their cooked dishes are much better than their sushi. In the end, I felt it was overpriced average-at-best food. I would go back just for drinks and the cool loungy vibe. If you don't mind paying more for the cool ambience and city feel, and you aren't picky on your sushi or will go for the cooked dishes, then try it. If you love sushi for a reasonable price, go elsewhere.
(2)Vishal B.
I give this place 5 stars for the vibe and crowd. Always have a good time here =) drinks are a bit watery and small but whatever. Great place, lots of fun and I always have excellent service.
(5)Brad S.
Great sushi! You must try the Seven Spicy Ahi for a starter. We also had the Filo Wrapped Ahi which was good. For our entree we ordered 5 rolls which were all delicious. Our favorite roll was by far the Black Widow. Our server was great. She told us they had Gumballhead behind the bar and saved 2 each for my buddy and I to drink. Only complaints are it was quite loud so difficult to have a conversation with others at the table and it's a bit pricey.
(4)Melissa C.
Went there for lunch. Food was good and decor was pretty nice. Had two different rolls, the pink Cadi was good. Server was really nice, but took a bit to get food despite the fact they were not too busy. Restrooms were really clean, a good sign.
(4)Joel H.
Had our first visit there last night. First of all, WHAT an amazing interior space this is. You're immediately transferred from Libertyville to Times Square. You truly feel like you're somewhere else. There is no place like it anywhere around here. We came on a Saturday night and had no problem walking right up to the sushi bar, plenty of seats. We were waited on very quickly and steadfastly by a pretty energetic and helpful waiter. We started with sake, and I asked for what the guy would recommend for cold, unfiltered sake. His first recommendation turned out to be filtered sake (Black and Gold) but he gave it to us on the house, no questions asked and it was pretty good anyway! We ended up ordering a bottle of White Snow, which was fantastic. We ordered 2 maki rolls- one specialty roll and one standard roll and both were fantastic, with great presentation. So, I'm shocked at these negative reviews. I'm really happy there's a spot like this in my town, and I feel like these guys are going to raise the bar with this place. Can't wait to visit again.
(4)Kelly B.
Loved the Volcano Roll & Atmosphere The Service was very slow, and the rolls were way to overpriced. $18 for one roll that was not that great is crazy.
(3)Marnie R.
A group of us drove from the City to check out this new spot and we were not disappointed. The decor and vibe was awesome and the sushi tasted really fresh. The service was good especially for opening weekend. Libertyville is VERY LUCKY to have a place like this open in their town. I highly recommend.
(3)B K.
This restaurant has great ambiance and excellent food. There are two bar areas (one upstairs and one on the main level). Both are large enough to hold groups of people and they are separated from the dining area. The minimalist decor mixed with high end finishes makes the place very chic. The food was good with many options available. Service was attentive without being overbearing. I would disregard the prior negative reviews and give this place a try. It was well worth it for us.
(4)Angela D.
We came here for their 1st year anniversary party and were blown away. Love the Chicago chic decor and the upstairs lounge with sofas and tables. The DJ played great techno, and all the servers were on task and friendly with the huge crowd. Because it was a large free event, the buffet was set up with a variety of maki rolls, tempura vegetables, and dim sum and it was all good. We sat watching the three sushi chefs for over an hour, and they worked with incredible speed and precision. The regular menu looks exciting and affordable, so it really is Chicago-quality at suburban prices. We will definitely be back to try their more adventurous offerings.
(4)andy w.
Very nice dining experience for lunch. My neighbor liked it and told me to check it out. Unique airy open decor so you don't feel shoe horned in. I was pleasantly surprised by how filling the Bento Box lunch was. The salad and sushi were fresh. Tempura and dumplings were still hot. I also tried a spicy tuna roll which had some kick to it. My server was quick to refill my ice tea several times. I am going back to try more dishes.
(4)M M.
After "dining" at Libertyville's latest dining scene addition, I am convinced that "Shakou" is Japanese for clueless. (Hint: next time it takes that long to open your restaurant, invest in some server training during the down time - let them know that bol gogi temperature (rare, medium rare etc.) is not a option. That's like asking if you want your fried chicken cooked medium rare.) The evening began with a bang as they seated our party of six 45 minutes past our reservation time. The usual "sorry for the wait" but no manager involvement (manager never came by table to see how things were by the way. Learn this phrase - table touch. It will come in handy if you are still open 6 months from now.) We were then informed that if we order hot entrees they were probably going to be 20 minutes behind any sushi we ordered for entree. Don't you guys know how to manage ticket times? If you know the entrees are running behind, you put the entrees in first, and then the sushi order so all the food comes out to the table at the same time. Turns out we were too clever by half. We ordered the entrees first and figured we would stall on the sushi so they would all arrive together. Nope. Entrees came out 10 minutes before the sushi. Also, note to the kitchen: sushi is a delicate dish. When you top a roll with a slice of raw jalapeno (seeds and all) all you taste is burning heat. Kinda defeats the point. Also, what's with the 80's techno house music thumping through out the cavernous (and we do mean cavernous - it was like eating in a Costco)? What are you guys a club or a restaurant? As for those that believe the decor is some sort of saving grace, please Google "Roger Greenfield". With a few notable exceptions (like Bar Louie) he presided over string of restaurant flops back in the day because he believed in style over substance. You can't eat style. Lastly, please frost the glass bannister in the upper bar area. Nothing kills your appetite like seeing some women who shouldn't be shaking her butt for all to see, shaking her butt for all to see.
(1)kg a.
Lovely decor, for sure. Music is a bit loud, food tasty, but a bit overpriced. Not the best Japanese in town, but it's nice.
(3)Jodine T.
Welcome to Libertyville, Shakou! I have been there on a few different occasions and have experienced nothing but the best. The sushi is EXCELLENT and very well priced for the location, atmosphere and quality. I have tried SEVERAL sushi restaurants in Lake County, and this ranks among the best! Service was very good on both occasions as well. I am not sure about the negative reviews and the "food poisoning" as that seems a little far fetched as it would have been a little more publicised for such a new restaurant. In addition, some of the negative reviews just seem completely made up in my opinion, experience, and with talking with other patrons of Shakou. Please disregard the negative reviews, focus on the positive reviews and try Shakou. You will not be disappointed! I will be back soon!
(5)Nicole G.
OK. So I've been twice. First time was opening night. What an utter disaster. Obviously overstaffed at the host stand. FOUR HOSTS took five minutes trying to figure out where to put two of us. We waited ten minutes until we could sit at a table, which is fine. We sit down and order two pear gimlets. Delicious. Everything is going great. Our server seemed very nervous and was stumbling over his words, but I'm in the industry and I was a server for seven years and remember those first time jitters. Ordered two appetizers, gyoza and the beef and asparagus roll. Both arrived within 15 minutes and were really good. Here are where the problems started. The server was not prepared in the least for this night. He told us he "thought the california roll had chicken in it." My girlfriend wanted a maki roll of avacado and asparagus, because she does not like seafood. I was a sushi chef for 3 years, I know how simple this is to make. Our server "checked with the kitchen" and returned to tell us that they could NOT make ONE roll with BOTH asparagus AND avocado, and that we had to order on asparagus roll and one avacado roll. RIDICULOUS. NEXT. After waiting twenty minutes my food arrived. But where on EARTH was my girlfriends food?!? Our server stops at the table and says the TWO maki rolls should be right out.... ten minutes go by. Our server is tending to his other tables and purposefully avoiding eye contact with us. He returns to inform us that they had "RUN OUT OF RICE." After about a total of 25-30 minutes the two small maki rolls come out to the table, poorly rolled and falling apart. They also gave me ANOTHER entree sushi roll and a free round of drinks. I didn't want ANOTHER sushi roll of the same exact thing I had already ordered, nor did I want more drinks. What I wanted was a manager to come over, maybe apologize for the numerous fuck ups. AND FINALLY: I have a couple of friends that are servers at Shakou. I was told the next day that our server was saying that we "stiffed him." I GENEROUSLY left him 2 dollars LESS than a 20% tip. Being stiffed means you get NOTHING. I left 18%. So i do NOT appreciate this at all. His name was Wilfredo in case you want to ask for a different server. I think this place has potential, once the fix the kinks in the food and fire some of the staff.
(2)Madolyn C.
handled a large party for my job & did a great job! service, food, management, and atmosphere were all great! the next day at work a lot of people mentioned how they were impressed as well! thanks!!!
(5)Caroline C.
I've eaten here five times, twice for dinner and three times for lunch. I'm shocked by some of the negative reviews here. The atmosphere is fabulous, like an upscale nightclub yet comfortable and inviting. We've had good service each time. Every type of sushi we've had has been fresh and well prepared. The maki options could be a bit more creative but they do the standards very well. For lunch, I've had the bento box each time and was pleased with the portions and the quality of each item, especially the gyoza. There are many non-sushi items on the menu for those who prefer. We split a tuna tataki salad before dinner. It had a light citrus dressing and lots of fresh, creamy avocado. I've also been pleasantly surprised by the fabulous desserts.
(5)Cynthia B.
Great food and great service! Prices are too high though, to make it a regular stop.
(4)