Nice location but the sushi is not the best. I found it to not have much flavor and the little that it did have was so similar to the other 5 rolls of sushi I ordered. Nothing really stood out. I also found it quite pricey as I did not see the sushi as that good of quality. There is another place (Sakamoto in Oswego) 20 minutes away that overtops this place not only in taste but also price wise.
(3)
Jessica B.
Great food and great service. Fun sushi choices that prove their cost is worth it. Loved the atmosphere - perfect spacing, different levels to their dining area, and the lighting sets a fun yet relaxed feeling. The bar is fully stocked and has yummy and sophisticated martinis! I'd recommend it to any one! Especially on Mondays - sushi is half priced. If we lived closer, I'd make it a regular spot!
(5)
Kata T.
Still haven't found a place in the suburbs that can come close to what I've had in the city. Came here recently for the first time in a few years, and was reminded why I hadn't been back (only came to meet up with friends - their choice). I should first mention that I'm vegetarian, so I am only judging the veggie rolls, which were very limited. I found them to be a bit bland and the "speciality" veggie roll was definitely way too small and way overpriced for what I got. The drinks also seemed overpriced for what you get. I won't be coming back. Good service and nice interior/atmosphere, though.
(2)
Krista B.
My FAVORITE restaurant. I'm there for every special occasion. Black Widow Roll is the besg
(5)
Suze B.
This place was delicious! We went on a Tuesday night to celebrate a friend's raise. Half price appetizers and sushi from 3-6! I got the steak hibachi with fried rice. GET THE FRIED RICE! You will not regret it. A little on the pricier side but it's worth every penny. Plus it's a funny little show. Be prepared to sit with strangers if you go with a smaller group.
(5)
Lucy C.
You know how you thought TGIFridays was super cool when you were 14? Shinto is kind of like that. My friends and I had a few pretty good memories here from a couple years ago but going back recently was very underwhelming. Drinks were expensive (on par with/greater than city prices), portions were small, and the place was really dead for a Friday night. The sushi was pretty good though, as was the service.
(3)
Jon C.
I'm not a sushi person. So prior to tonight, I've never been to Shinto. Being a parent to two small children also means very little opportunity for date nights. Let me tell you why, when I get the next opportunity to escape parenthood for a few hours that I will be going to Shinto. My wife and I were making dinner tonight (Tikka Masala Chicken, for whatever worth that may be) and we realized we were out of rice. Crap. Off to make like a culinary superhero and find some plain old white rice. Nearest place? Shinto. I walked in, and stumped the poor Hostess by wanting to place an order for plain white rice. Her response? She tried to just give me free food. Didn't want to charge me. Neither did the manager. I had to plead my case to at least charge me something. Fortunately for all of us, they agreed. So I added a tip. That one small crazy expression of kindness is going to earn them my business. Fortunately, I won't have to drink myself silly at the bar before manning up enough to try...ugh...sushi. They have a hibachi bar. Saved. Thank you, Shinto--for a rare kindness I wouldn't expect in any restaurant, much less a steakhouse. And I got to save the dinner by bringing home the rice. Odd.
(5)
Frances O.
I really enjoy this place for their sushi. I can't even think of a roll that I haven't liked. My favorites are the lil delicious and volcano roll. The crab rangoon appetizer and the egg rolls are very good too. They usually have good groupon deals, or coupons in the local clipper magazines. I knocked them down one star, only because their hibachi is not the best in the area, it is decent though. Mondays are the best days to go because half price specialty sushi rolls! It is a bit crowded, but worth it.
(4)
Stephanie S.
The hibachi is your standard that you'll find at Domo 77, Benihana, etc. It's pretty good if you're looking for something like that. The sushi is some of my favorite in the area. The Little Delicious and Mexican rolls are the ones I like best. This places tries hard to be trendy and upscale, but it's really not. A decent place for weeknight sushi though.
(4)
Victrix V.
I've been here 3 times and this place has more flair than Domo 77 or other sushi/hibachi restaurants; and sometimes, they have better taste too, yet their hibachi is quite salty and their sushi is over priced for it being standardly and acceptably fresh (is it above average or outstandingly fresh? No.) . Their speciality is fried rolls and if you're not digging the fried scene their other selections aren't as creative. Basically, you're paying for atmosphere and for the kitchen to make you some of it's signature fried rolls (even if you're not ordering it) Other than that, it's acceptable to eat here, but I don't feel it's worth it for many reasons. Most people will enjoy this place, but I'm simply not a fan. I'm looking for fresher sushi for these prices and better ingredient quality and cooking regarding their seasonings and hibachi options. As a healthy foodie I shake my head, but I understand how this place still makes money and attracts.
(3)
Jen K.
This place has good food, without a doubt. If you like sushi and hibachi, the food will not disappoint you. However, it's all overpriced. Truly. I would only step foot in this place for sushi again if it was during their happy hour (M-F, 3-6pm), where many of the rolls are half price. Otherwise, you can find a sushi place in Naperville that is just as good at lower prices. It's definitely a trendy type of sushi place, meaning that it's not an authentic Japanese restaurant...they go for a night-club feel. The place is open late into the night! Are they a bar or restaurant? I'm never really sure. If you want an traditional Japanese sushi place, you will not get that here. It's all trendy, American-type rolls. If you want sashimi, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. The Tuesday night hibachi special is a good deal, but BE CAREFUL: the server will ask you if you want fried rice or regular rice. Of course, you want fried rice, when given the option, But buyer beware: it costs $3 extra, and they don't tell you that until you get the bill. I know it's a few extra bucks, but I find it deceptive. Most of the 9 people at our table ordered the fried rice, and the server told none of us about the extra charge. Also, this is a fairly popular special, so be prepared to wait awhile. After you are done waiting, be prepared to be crammed at a table above the normal capacity. I had to sit on a corner, and the host didn't seem to see a problem with this. It was a very irritating way to eat my dinner. Don't get me wrong, everything tasted great (except for the avocado tempura, or fried avocado, or whatever it's called...SO overrated). But its just kind of crazy how much everything costs, in my opinion. **All of the aforementioned comments are my opinion and not facts.**
(2)
Melissa T.
Love going here for happy hours! Staff are great and food are very delicious
(4)
Jacki A.
For starters, I've been coming here for a few years now and it seems as if not much has changed. The reason I do not give five stars is because of the price. Very pricey, but that's expected since the food is good and it's in Naperville. The whole place has a nice atmosphere and the host is friendly. Our waitress was pretty nice, and I'm picky about my wait staff. (Wow, that sounds reaaaally snobby...not meant to come off like that..) Anywho, she was a tall blonde who was really friendly and didn't give me attitude when I was very indecisive! I came here with a groupon, and upon arrival we had to strategically choose which rolls we would get so we didn't go over the 50$ mark. We decided on 4 rolls of sushi, I'm forgetting with kinds exactly but I know we got an unagi roll, a rasta roll (a new one for me, I would strongly recommend it!), and another two that I can't remember the names of but I think one of them was Black Widow and it was delicious! I think the people around us probably thought we had starved the rest of the day because when we got the four rolls, the two of us ate all of it in 5 minutes...a little embarrassing... Regardless of our record eating time, all rolls were amazing and the service wasn't bad either, but not spectacular. I wish there was more groupons or I will return when there is happy hour! Good job shinto.
(4)
Samantha C.
Mediocre hibachi, mediocre sushi. This place is ok, but it's definitely not for sushi aficionados. They would most probably be disappointed. This is more of a place for people who enjoy the feel of an exotic eatery but have blander or inexperienced palates. It's worth it to go to their happy hour, that's when you get the best deal for sushi. I would recommend trying their lil' delicious roll, it seems to be very popular. The best hibachi chef at this place is known as "White Chris", request him if you want more than mediocre hibachi.
(3)
Hayde J.
Great food, amazing rolls- most artsy I've seen around this area. Decently priced. They have daily specials for drinks or food and the restaurant has a nice outdoor seating area. I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes to be seated and the service has been pleasant every time I've gone to dine in and for carry out pick ups.
(4)
Jen Z.
I keep coming back because the food is great, the service varies. Monday nights are half off specialty rolls - awesome deal. I have no complaints about the food at all. I love the volcano and lil delicious rolls. Give the hibachi a try as well. Always comes out great. I've had great service here with no problems but there are other times that makes me question coming back. For example, I went there with a party of three and we had no reservations and half the tables were empty. We were told the wait was an hour. Then my sister remembered that Shinto was on OpenTable and she made a reservation right then and there for a time that was 10 mins in the future. We went back up to the stand and told them we had an Opentable reservation and they took us right away. All those empty tables never filled up. I don't know why they told us there was an hour wait. That kind of stuff gives me a negative view.
(4)
Tom S.
Go home Shinto...You're drunk. My wife and I frequent this place and I write this review not to warn potential customers about dinning here, but rather in hopes that ownership/management will read this and institute some basic serving training, or common sense....or at least a Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers" quality pep talk. The food: it's not Sunda, it's not Nobu, but it's always pretty darn good sushi when you consider the reasonable prices and the fact that it's in the middle of the Chicago suburbs, hundreds of miles from any fresh tuna or crab source. The details: we sat at the bar for dinner around 6:45 on a Monday night (half off speciality roll night). It was busy, but not crazy weekend busy, but still busier than usual. The service: shame, shame, shame Shinto. I consider myself a reasonably patient person and with about 13 years of bar tending/service experience between my wife and I, we know the difference between shoddy service due to a short staff on a busy night, and straight up zero F's being given by our lady bartender responsible for serving us our raw fish wrapped in rice. Last night, we had ourselves a strong case of the latter. While the food took well over an hour to come out, and we watched 3 other groups sit down after we ORDERED, yet still got their rolls before us, and the request for wasabi mayo on the side (wife is not a fan) was not fulfilled... These were not the causes of the frustration. It was the complete and utter silent treatment we received the entire time. In between flagging her down for drink refills and getting no explanation, apology, smoke signal, handshake, hug, or semblance of an empathetic acknowledgement for the extreme delay, we got to watch her text on her phone...while we longingly watched yellowtail and seaweed getting dunked in low sodium soy sauce all around us. To cap off our Monday night entertainment, we got to watch our absentee bar tender count her tips and close our her cash drawer... for 20 minutes ...after our plates had been cleared. Finally, with no plates, our glasses long emptied, and my credit card sitting on the bar for the entire time, her bar tending counterpart dude finally closed us out. As he handed me the check and semi apologized for "the long night" our 2 plus hour "Shinto Experience" ended. Miso Frustrated.
(1)
Lynn M.
Liked the atmosphere and live band, but sushi was not good. I usually get Ikura and uni sushi but the ikura at Shinto was nasty. Quality was not good at all, I wanted to spit it out. Uni is never available there. I also order the kani which is king crab, but i got imitation crab meat. Omg! I was so disappointed. Dont waste your money here. Go to Kiku Japanese restaurant in naperville. Much better sushi. Fresh and delicious. U won't b disappointed.
(1)
Regina H.
Have not had a bad meal yet. Sometimes service is a little slow so don't come if you're in a time crunch. But servers are always pleasant.
(5)
Brant W.
When Shinto first opened, it was the best sushi around, but has declined ever since. The size of the rolls and quality of the fish are not as good. Service has never been great, but this has also gotten worse. Hard to get water refilled and takes to long for food. Only a good deal during happy hour & for the Lil' Delicious-still one of my favorite rolls ever.
(3)
Scott P.
Visited with my girlfriend for our 3 year anniversary. We had heard good things from our building manager, and my girlfriends hair dresser. Unfortunately, our experience was unacceptable. I have never walked out of a restaurant before, but we were so disappointed by our experience that we had to. Essentially, we showed up. It was fairly empty, we placed our order for the chefs choice plate for 2. The waitress didn't seem to have any idea what was included in the order... its one of the bold, boxed offerings on the menu. My water was never refilled without my explicit asking, and even then took extremely long to get refilled considering the waitress had only 2 tables. The sides came, but since it was a meal for 2 we thought it would come with one soup and one salad for each of us... instead there was only one soup, and one salad... that we ended up having to split. I asked the waitress if this was a mistake, and she offered to add a second order of soup to our bill.... no thank you! The night continued, the sushi never arrived. We thought it would take about 20 minutes to make considering how empty the place was... we were wrong! After 30 minutes we flagged down the waitress who had not refilled my water, and asked when the food would arrive. She said "only a few more minutes". After 10 minutes she came over to apologize for the delay, saying 1 order had come in in front of ours, and our order involved a lot of thinly sliced pieces.... you would think thinly sliced pieces would be something a sushi place would be efficient at, and its a restaurant so having 1 order in front of ours should not impact anything. Once again we asked, how much longer. Once again "a few more minutes". Once again we waited about 10 minutes. We had now been waiting for 50 minutes. The waitress who still was not refilling our waters in a timely manner came over, we asked how much longer. She apologized and said "I would have walked out by now", we said we were at that point. She offered to give us 15% off the bill and free desert. We already had a coupon for 15% off, and the free desert was their valentines week special offered to everyone! We were not interested in the offer, we asked to talk to a manager. She said, the manager was in an interview. (Who interviews at a restaurant at 7pm on a Thursday?) We insisted. We waited(10 minutes now an hour after our order), didn't see any progress, started putting on our coats (we never talked to the manager as he was supposedly stuck in the interview.... what kind of manager can't get out of an interview for a disaster like this?). As we were about to walkout, we saw the waitress and host working on the computer. We walked over, ready to pay for the drink, soup and salad we had been provided. They did not charge us, and gave us a $20 gift card for our troubles. We left, went to Portilos, ordered food and got it in 4 minutes and finished eating in less than 15 minutes. This is going to go down as the most memorable anniversary ever, unfortunately not for good reasons. We will not be back.
(1)
Ed D.
Our second time here... first time was hibachi and this time we're trying their sushi. We usually go to Kiku but there was a coupon so decided to try this again. Place is very nicely decorated but their attention to detail is lacking. Our seats were a little dirty and we had one glass and one plate that had leftover dried food on it but no biggie since they replaced them really fast. The bathrooms were at least clean. The staff was very pleasant and food came out pretty fast. Chicken terriyaki was good. We also got shrimp tempura, caterpillar, eel and yellowtail rolls. Food tasted fresh. I still think pricing is a little high and that's probably why we don't come here more often but with a coupon its definitely worth it. Coupon came from a mailer.
(4)
Mariam A.
Food is good, the delicious roll is always my favorite. I always love coming inside because the ambiance they have put together is very modern and hip. I am giving them 2 stars b/c I came here last week with a group of friends and almost ALL of us were sick or getting sick the next day!! Either poor food handling or something.... Disappointed.
(2)
V.i.o.l.e.t.t.a. D.
This place is excellent for hibachi. I first came here for sushi the first time and I was underwhelmed for sure. The sushi was tiny compared to the other places I'd been and more expensive. I left wishing I had gotten the hibachi like everyone else I had come with so I made a mental note to come back and try the hibachi for myself. I'm glad I gave this place a second chance because my steak and chicken were great. Both times the chefs were very good at their jobs; funny, thoughtful, and excellent at preparing our meals. They were the best part of our experience for sure. Thumbs up for hiring great staff :] Helpful Tip: Expect to spend around $30 a pop when coming here not including tip. There are coupons and weekly specials you'll get in the mail which help a bit. Our bill was $75 or so for 2 people and we had a $20 off of $60+ so that was nice.
(4)
Rubrya G.
the sushi is great! hibachi is amazing!! it gets busy so sometimes the service is not as good bout most of the times its great! very fun atmosphere great for a double date night or a night out with the girls! love coming here!!! everything is perfectly season and the sushi is AMAZING! it is a bit pricey so try to go on Monday for sushi specials or 10 dollar hibachi Tuesdays!!! great choice!
(5)
Joan S.
Excellent food & service. Went this past Friday got there at 6:30 had a reservation, place was packed, got seated immediately. Laura our server went above & beyond. Cook was very entertaining and good. We all had something different, steak, shrimp, swordfish. We had a groupon and will be coming back again. Highly recommend
(5)
Kari B.
I've gone to this place since it first opened. The sushi is delicious. Any roll any time. Pay attention to specials, happy hour and coupons.
(4)
B J.
Def had an overall great experience!! the food and presentation was amazing and we had a nice celebration for a friends birthday!!!
(4)
rose f.
Several visits and no disappointments. SERVICE is consistent and customer oriented..food is consistent quality and prep, whether hibachi or sushi AND there are SOME deals to be on the look out for. Tuesday nights Hibachi, Monday night's rolls- the groupon, cocktail appetizer deals? Food is fresh and they will adjust seasoning etc as requested. Thank you!
(3)
Jaye R.
I finally found a place in Naperville that has sushi worth talking about. And it only took 3 years. My friend and I ate the spicy special roll (aka the roll of the day), and it was so tasty we ordered a second round. The drinks were very, very tasty. I highly recommend the cucumber-tini. Light and smooth, but packs a punch. I can't speak to the crowds because we went for a mid-afternoon lunch. It was fairly empty, however I absolutely loved the decor. Surprisingly hip for the 'burbs. I'd say that the sushi side seemed best used for "date night" while the hibachi side seemed great for families and groups. I also cannot speak to the hibachi, but I will say that when you're on the "maki" side of the restaurant, the loud clang of the spatula against the grill when they start the hibachi show may give you a minor heart attack...but only for a second. :-) I'll definitely be back. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the wait time. For the limited number of people in the place, the length of time it took to get our drinks and food was noticeably long but not insufferably long (if that makes sense). Our bar attendant/waitress was really nice and awesome and extremely apologetic when food or drinks took a while to prepare. Way to keep us top of mind! *applause*
(4)
Lauren G.
My husband & I used a Groupon for our dinner here, and I am very happy that I didn't pay full price. I have never been up-charged for fried rice at a hibachi table! They charge $4 for fried rice instead of plain white. Our server tried selling us on the fried rice, calling it "amazing" which it was very far from. It was actually quite tasteless & not worth the calories. I had the Steak & Chicken dinner - it was good, but nothing to rave about. Same with my husbands, except he had a nice big piece of fatty gristle in his steak. The California Roll was good, but it's pretty hard to mess that up. Our server was extremely slow, and was always apologizing for something. I think she forgot every request given to her by our full hibachi table!! We will not be returning to Shinto. Domo 77 on Ogden is AMAZING and I can't wait to go back there. Their fried rice is included, and is delicious. They have offers on Groupon a lot, so take them up on their deal :)
(1)
Nadia K.
My favorite Sushi in Naperville! I live down the street so I order a lot of takeout from here, but have also eaten in on both their Hibachi side, and the sushi side. The sushi is consistently delicious, as is the hibachi. I recommend their famous Little Delicious Rolls, as well as some of their unique rolls like the Filet Roll and the Rasta Roll. Hibachi is always good too, I spend the extra $$ on upgrading my steak to the chateaubriand because it is excellent. Their hibachi chefs are very entertaining. The food is on the pricey side, but they have deals during the week that I take advantage of. Nice bar too. I always take friends here that are visiting from out of town.
(5)
Marisa S.
Had a great experience at Shinto! My boyfriend just moved into that general area of town. We had passed Shinto a couple times on 59 and thought we should try it out. Lucky enough for us Google Offers had a deal for Shinto and we snatched it right up. The sushi is fresh and the rolls are interesting (quite a few rolls with cream cheese that's a no-no for me) just ask your server for a recommendation, they seem to know their stuff. I was happy with what I ordered, but I can't say I'd try all their rolls. The hibachi lunch is a great value for what you get. I had the calamari lunch($10) which had a choice of soup or salad (both are delicious), you also get appetizer shrimp and white or fried rice (at an upgrade). While the dinner is more expensive you definitely get more food for your dollar. You could be completely content with the lunch and a roll, that's what I did and I ended up having leftovers to take home! Our server was great, very knowledgeable and friendly and our hibachi chef was amazing! He was super entertaining and really knew how to cook good food, plus he was taking to us the whole time! I would go back for lunch anytime! P.S. the dessert is to die for... literally, everything is tempura covered but the cookie with cinnamon ice cream is amazing. Hope you saved your calories to eat the cookie!
(4)
Manny S.
This place rocks when it comes to sushi . Happy hour (between 3 and 6:00 PM) Monday thru Friday,Is very nice. On Monday half of speciality rolls. Decor is nice, drinks are decent and the triple berry mojito is awesome.
(4)
Rob S.
We've been here many times and used to enjoy it. What brought us in initially (1/2 price bottles of wine on Thursdays) has disappeared under the new ownership. Sushi used to taste fresh but now has gone down hill and is often 'fishy' rather than clean tasting. Their Hibachi is still pretty good but not any better than Domo, Benihana, Adoke or any other Japanese Steakhouse. We won't be returning.
(3)
JT L.
2nd behind Kiku... fried rice and chicken, not as good. Really, pre-cooked chicken for the fried rice? More discounts and promos here though
(2)
Kelley T.
My best friend took me here for dinner for my birthday this year. I would love to give them 5 stars because the sushi we had was outstanding! We went on a Monday so everything was discounted. The service we had was HORRIBLE! Our waitress took 10 minutes to bring us drinks, and we had to wave her down to get refills. She also never put in the order for our appetizer, which we only ordered because she warned us about the wait time for rolls. I'll be back, but hopefully I don't get that same waitress!
(4)
Robert P.
Great Sushi, We sit at the sushi counter and Mike takes great care of us every time.
(4)
Emi N.
Dinner on a Wednesday night. No reservation: no problem though I would recommend a reservation. They had to wait to fill the table. I ordered the vegetarian meal which was made before any meat touched the grill, which I thought was very thoughtful. Our chef (hibachi master?) Chris was great. Very personable, quick and lots of tricks after all, you pay for the show as well as the food. No kidding, the shrimp appetizer (I got tofu) he picked up on his spatula and tossed it in everyone's mouth. My husband caught his from about 15 feet away. This guy is good. This place is better than beni Hana (I've never had beni Hana offer to make me a vegetarian fried rice, let alone grill my meal on a clean grill the meat hasn't cooked on yet. With that, I got to start eating first, bonus! I will definitely be back!
(5)
Maria C.
Yum, yum, yum. Great appetizers, great sushi, great staff, the best sushi chefs, especially Mike!!! Mike is the king of sushi.
(5)
Renee H.
Went here for lunch & had hibachi & sushi. Both VERY GOOD! I had the scallop hibachi & my husband had the steak & shrimp. Very tasty & our server, Josh, was real nice. He was fun to talk to too. We were constantly checked on which I kinda liked. Everyone who worked there was super nice. Loved the atmosphere & the restaurant is really big. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Jason R.
This is a great Hibachi restaurant. I've been to most of the areas Hibachi restaurants and this one is the best so far! Upscale and clean! I've been here twice now and the chefs are very entertaining. I haven't tried much of their sushi yet though, but what I have had was very good! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Sejal P.
Good food, slow service. On Saturday nigh expect 1 hour or more wait. After being seated at our table, they sent wrong cart to our table. Waitress disappeared after our first round of drinks. We didn't get any water on the table until after our dinner was done when we asked for it. For a group of 6 this was extremely slow and unfriendly service. Food was good, i can't say i haven't had better Suhi, but at the same time it's good for this area.
(4)
Jimma J.
My first thought honestly was "Wow, this place used to be a billiards hall." Although you wouldn't even guess that. My second thought was that I really don't like Hibachi. I typically find it greasy and everything tastes the same. With that out of the way, I was quite surprised at how good everything was. Not good enough to change my mind about liking hibachi, but I went in with low expectations and left happy. This is definitely better than Benihana and Domo 77. The look and feel of the place really started to win me over. It's not your typical, generic Asian decor. It's a little more modern and open with a high ceiling. The chefs come on and make their show as they cook your food. Nothing special, but its got entertainment value and I have to hand it to them. I appreciate what they do. At first I did want to try the sushi given my dislike for hibachi, but the price was pretty high so the wife and I opted to share a hibachi and get some sides. I imagine that the sushi can't be too good since it doesn't seem like they have a dedicated sushi chef, but I can't judge the place on it without trying it. The steak and shrimp were better than I expected. It was light and the fried rice and udon was pretty good. Not great, but satisfying. The only real annoyance was that there was a birthday song every 10 minutes. I'm not even exaggerating that there were about 8 or 9 birthday announcements and songs while we were there, and the servers scream it out so no one can miss it. With all the other noise and cooking shows going on, the birthday screams were a little much. Not to bring down anyone's birthday, but you can have your celebration and song without screaming it and interrupting the entire restaurant. In all, Shinto was a surprisingly good place to eat. I would go back, but I'm not in a rush.
(3)
Jie S.
I loved the modern decor, delicious appetizers, and great services. However, pricey mediocre sushi rolls were not too impressive. Three girls went in for a Friday lunch with a $50 Groupon on the phone. It was a nice stop before we hit the outlet. The appetizers were great. We started with White Tuna Tataki, Fire n' Ice Salad, and Scallop Motyaki. They were kind of spicy in three unique ways. White Tuna Tataki was seared tuna on the bed of spring mixed salad. The tuna slices had a strong tasty spicy rub on the surface which was totally new to me. It went very well with Tuna and the salad. Fire n' Ice Salad had the tuna cubes with Siracha sauce. It was spicy in a southern Asian way with a hint of freshness of the sliced cucumber. Scallop Motyaki was really tasty and the mild one among three appetizers. It was more like a small stir fry type of dishes. I loved all of them especially White Tuna Tataki. However Caterpillar rolls and Volcano rolls were not impressive at all. The appetizers had raised up the bar so high and the sushi rolls hardly met up our expectations. The sashimi plate with salmon, tuna, and white fish was not as fresh as I would like. It was a bit disappoint for me. Our server was really sweet and polite. The whole meal would be too expensive if we didn't have the Group on. I will wait for some kind of coupon to try hibachi or do the appetizer again.
(4)
Kat V.
OUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR SUSHI!!!! Love everything about this place.. shocked to see some bad reviews. Over the last two years we have been her probably 8-12 times and never had a bad experience ... server of food! ALSO.. a HUGE plus is it is smokeless & odorless hibachi- you don't smell like your meal the rest of the night! What a rare and awesome find.
(5)
Mac H.
Okay so after my last visit more than a year ago, I succumbed to the idea of never going there again since my friends were going here for Monday specials. On Mondays, signature sushi rolls are half priced. Keep in mind, Monday specials are not good on any (even slightly) significant Mondays. Monday specials are no-go after almost any holiday (even if the holiday doesn't fall on a Monday). So after acquiring a bit more knowledge and visiting many sushi restaurants, I will give Shinto 3 stars. For the Naperville/Aurora area, sushi is good. In a broader comparison, it is average. Service this time around was much better. Reasons for me to go here again would be both Monday specials and my friend's ultimate love of Shinto (Me? Not so much!) - both conditions must be met for my any future visit.
(3)
D B.
This place drives me crazy. The food and drinks are very good - however the service is ALWAYS terrible. I notice others have expressed the same concern. My wife and I sat at the bar and had dinner one night. Couple of issues - Bartenders seemed more into the sports game to notice my empty vodka tonic (2) times. Why do I have to keep asking for each drink? You were watching TV while working? - Ordered dessert - waited 15 minutes, then was told they ran out of the item and the kitchen "never told anybody". - Once we ordered sushi and waited 45 minutes. It was somewhat crowded. The server apologized for the wait and said he would comp a glass of wine. Guess what? The glass of wine was on the bill.
(4)
Tamara K.
I love coming in on Mondays for the sushi happy hour, but now I love it even more after getting exceptional service from Maja. I will definitely be back more often thanks to her!
(5)
MJ L.
POST THE CORRECT HOURS ON YELP!!! It clearly says Today's Hours (1/4) 11:00am-1:00am. We arrived at 11:30 to find out that this place opens at 12:00pm. This review is only for the hours posted.
(3)
Kristin J.
A+ Hibachi. B- Sushi. The hibachi chefs are always really great and the cocktail menu compliments the food well. I prefer to go when I have a $25 for $50 Groupon. A message in Groupon etiquette however - tip based upon the TOTAL bill, not the Groupon amount. People who do that are 1) being cheap and 2) ensuring that places will stop accepting Groupons.
(3)
Avni S.
It's more like what I didn't like.. nothing.. fabulous sushi and hibachi.. drinks are no exception!
(4)
Courtenay G.
I was really excited to go to Shinto. lovely atmosphere seemed promising of a great experience, but unfortunately that's not what we got. Waitress didn't get us half the things we asked for, we had to flag down another server 20mins later to get what we needed. An hour later, we still hadn't gotten our food. In fact, the habachi chef had n't even started to cook yet. No explanations, not even a quick "sorry for the delay". We finally got our food an 1.5 hours after we arrived, and within 15mins, the waitress was asking us if she could take our plates (seriously!?). In the end, we were there 2.5 hours and we still hadn't gotten our bills. We finallu spoke to a manager, and she was not helpful at all. She didn't even try to apologize for the poor service. By the time that we got our checks, they charged us 18% gratuity. We spoke to the manager and had it removed. We were so mad, we were ready to leave and not pay. We were still there at 10pm, and we got there at 730pm!!! Inexcusable! Never going there again, to say the least. Horrible and inexcusable service.
(1)
Brandy B.
I came to the restaurant around 2:30pm today and asked to be seated on the patio because it was such a beautiful day and I wanted to quietly read a book while I ate. I was promptly seated and was the only one out there. Very pleasant. My waitress came out right away to get my drink order, then brought my drink right away which was wonderful. I ordered the shrimp shumai, the sunomo cucumber salad, and a spicy tuna roll with jalepeno added, and the shumai and salad came promptly which again, was wonderful. Sadly, my good experience stopped there. Not more than two bites into my food, the door to the patio burst open and a man and his girlfriend swept out onto the patio and proceeded to sit at the table literally right next to me (with 10 tables to choose from). I immediately noticed they reeked of alcohol. They then proceeded to each light a cigarette. I was shocked to see this as it was my understanding that the Smoke-free Illinois Act was still in effect. As the two blew smoke into the air, it wafted directly onto me in the breeze. The man proceeded to then take off his stinky shoes and prop his feet up on one of the seats across from him. The couple THEN proceeded to make out right in front of me, I kid you not, WITH tongue. I am not exaggerating. At this point I took my book, my purse, and my drink and went inside the restaurant and asked the bartender to please bring my food into the building, as I refused to sit with people blowing smoke in my face and making out next to my table while I'm trying to eat. Instead of asking the couple to please put out their cigarettes or even perhaps move further away on the patio, the bartender simply brought my food in to me. Though he was kind, I really felt like all accommodations were being made for this rude and obnoxious couple and at this point I was so incensed I just told him to wrap it up 'to go'. Another waitress then brought my sushi roll over to me (not knowing yet that I was leaving), and it was the wrong roll. I asked her to fix it and she took it back. Meanwhile, the bartender brought a bag with my shumai and salad wrapped up. He was kind enough to let me know he had wrapped the salad container in saran wrap just in case the dressing leaked. I waited probably 10 minutes and the waitress brought the correct roll in a to-go container, put it in the bag, then brought me the bill. $28.00 later, I was out the door with doubts that I'd ever come back. I was relegated to eating my nice sushi meal in my hot car in a parking lot as I was nowhere near home and was sorely disappointed to discover that there were no chopsticks, no utensils, no napkins, no soy sauce, not even the leftover shumai sauce in the bag. Just the 3 tiny containers of leftover food sitting in the bottom of this gargantuan bag. When I finally took a look at the spicy tuna roll, I realized it was crazy-overstuffed with jalepeno. I mean, there was more jalepeno than tuna! It was so unbelievably hot that I had to pick most of it out. And when I unwrapped the salad container it was so full of dressing that, despite my opening it delicately, it still spilled all over my lap and car seat and I had to go next door to the car wash to have the vinegar shampoo'd out of my seat, to the tune of $20. The Smoke-free Illinois Act states: "Beginning January 1, 2008, business owners shall not permit smoking at their business, or within 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes." I wonder why, if people are not allowed to smoke within 15 feet of an entrance/exit, these two yahoos were permitted to smoke not more than three feet from the door? I wonder why, if smokers are not even allowed within 15 FEET of open windows, these two yokels were permitted to sit right on top of me and blow smoke into my food? These are questions I await answers for, as I contacted the manager via their website tonight to complain. In terms of the order screw ups, unfortunately this is nothing new in my experience at Shinto. I have visited Shinto a few times and every single time something is screwed up. I do not mean to insult anyone, but they do not seem to hire the brightest bulbs, especially their hostesses who take the carry out orders. Today was the final straw, though, and I personally won't be coming back and will be informing my friends to avoid the place. Their prices are WAY too high for them to have such low standards of customer service.
(2)
David C.
Always excellent sushi! They're re-doing their cocktail menu, so that was a bit of an issue, but the food never disappoints. Very good service. Cool vibe in the restaurant, a bit dark. Sometimes it can be slow to be seated, but we made reservations this time and it was instantaneous.
(4)
Jillian H.
I've gone a few times and the experience has been hit or miss. Shinto's is a contemporary Hibachi and Sushi bar with a circular bar the divides the two sections. The dumpling appetizers are good but the vegetable maki roll was bland. The sushi is pretty good. My favorite traditional roll is the spicy tuna roll. The Mexican Roll is decent but kind of difficult to eat. I like the caterpillar and dragon rolls better. I've only had "good" service one time the other times it was mediocre at best. The prices are what you would expect for a restaurant like this.
(3)
Melissa K.
Really tasty sushi and nigiri. Everything tasted really fresh. We also had our first saki bombs here and the waitress was kind enough to show us how to properly "do" a saki bomb. Standard sushi prices (not cheap), so I was happy to have a groupon.
(4)
Kevin W.
After visiting here on a few more occasions I have to say either the quality is getting better or maybe I am adapting?! Either way the rolls of sushi I have ordered seem to have gotten better and the hibachi is always really good. I do still find their prices to be higher than most although. I still say this place is worth it with the Groupon deals, Yelp deals and Living Social deals that they constantly have out there. If I were to pay full price they would lose a couple of stars for sure.
(4)
Sue T.
We had a mixed group of folks, some wanted hibachi, some wanted sushi. The salmon had a nice caramelly crust and was served with good grilled vegetables. Watching the chef slice, dice, flip and season was fun. One downside -- we got to witness personally just how much oil was used, and sure enough, there was an oily sheen to the entrees. The sushi was just ok and the server insisted on filling up our soy dipping dishes like we were going to use them as finger bowls, even after we asked him to stop. We had to dump out the soy to mix the pearl of wasabi with just the amount of soy we needed. The seared scallops appetizer was the best thing we ordered. For dessert -- well, who knew deep-fried cookies were so good? This is a good place for kids or groups of friends, although the prices add up. There is better sushi to be found elsewhere.
(3)
Rosie D.
I bought a travelzoo coupon for this place because it sounded yummy and was close to my boyfriend's home. We went on a Monday night and did the hibachi grill meal. The restaurant is pretty swanked out. I liked the layout. It was pretty nice for a casual dinner or a swanky date night. Let me start by saying their food was off the mickey fickey CHAIN! We both ordered the dinner combos. I had steak and scallops and my boo had steak and shrimp. We also had sushi. The sushi roll I had was the volcano and it was delicious! Fresh, yummy, fun, everything a sushi lover like myself wants in a roll. The show the chef put on was fun. He was amazingly agile and he made our steak and seafood to perfection! I can't sing the food's praises enough. Yummy!!!! Ok so onto the not so fun stuff...the service. Our waiter was a bit of a ummm ummmm.... Snot. Yes we'll go with snot. I think he was mad because we had a coupon. I'm sure he's had to deal with a lot of them lately but really that's not my problem. He was pushy, kinda rude, and forgot to bring my rice. I guess I should've upgraded to the fried rice option to get better service. But really that's the only stain on this restaurant. And from reading the reviews this place clearly has a legacy of bad service. But i would say if you can handle the snotty service then check this place out. It's worth it trust me!
(3)
Jessica D.
This is one of two favorite Japanese restaurants I have in the area. I couldn't believe how whimsical the bamboo fountain area is, particularly with an underfoot, glass-bottom boat feel as you approach the sushi bar. The sushi bar area is not only well-stocked, and expertly-staffed, it's a complete aesthetic enjoyment sitting here for sushi. The really best part for me is that they had several choices for vegetarians, which can be a tricky proposition in many sushi places. They are very well versed in adult libations, and their hibachi section brings forth not only loud hurrahs from entertained patrons, but many a smiling face. Gorgeous open space, and harmonious decor plus excellent yummies equals a great Japanese restaurant.
(4)
Tina E.
Aways the Tempura Avocado!!!! Filet rolls, Lobster Rolls, Vegatable Maki Rolls- All amazing!! Beautiful decor. You won't believe your sitting on Rt 59
(5)
Howard L.
This is a brand new hibachi place, and the largest and most modern I've seen. I don't know how they are going to keep this ballroom sized place filled. Anyway, the sushi was decent, but not great, as I had a chirashi bowl for dinner. The wife and son had shrimp and swordfish, respectively, from the hibachi and it was pretty standard hibachi fare. The hoodless hibachi was interesting, particularly with like a 20' ceiling, and we didn't walk out smelling too strongly of the place. Decor is also stylishly contemporary, so that was also a little different for us as far as hibachi restaurants. The cooks also put on more of a show than some of their competition.
Very very good sushi. Great atmosphere. We had : Mexican Roll - Amazing Little Delicious roll - Amazing (had all the toppings you could think of. Will be back !
(5)
Joanne D.
Love the place - no matter what occasion that we have gone there the staff & food are always excellent. This is definitely better than Beni Hana and the food has a amazing taste never to dry. Love the drink selection as well, but I would suggest to make sure that you set up a reservation.
(5)
Bentlee O.
Seriously, this place was delicious! The atmosphere was very nice and upscale, the hostess was friendly and our waiter was very nice. The sushi was so good and the presentation was very beautiful! They had a full sushi menu with tons of selection, and I thoroughly enjoyed the drink menu! They also had a Monday night special were all specialty rolls were 50% off! We sat the the sushi bar where the chefs were friendly and offered us special rolls and soups as we waited for our main dish. I really loved this place and can't wait to go back!
(5)
Joe S.
NEVER AGAIN! The food at best can be called mediocre. The mediocre food could have been saved by good service, but the service was so horrible it made the experience even worse. Then the bartender rushes us to order, "dude, the kitchen closes in 5 min" - the kitchen was not closing in 5 min; we had 15min till closing time. The server just wanted to rush us out. I ordered the miso soup, "oh, I think we are out of miso - do you want me to check?" - what kind of Japanese Steak House is out of miso soup?? WTF, of course I want you to check that is why I ordered it! Next we get our food and my date didn't get a spoon for her noodle soup so she took mine. When I ask for another spoon I'm brought a Tea Spoon to eat my soup with - not a soup spoon, not a Japanese porcelain spoon, but a tea spoon. In a Japanese Steak House and I'm expected to use a metal teaspoon to eat soup??? Next, cleanliness: We sat at the bar but had to change seats because it was so dirty. The soy sauce btls that we were given were so dirty & sticky that I felt like I needed a shower after touching them. My (female) date used the restroom only to find a male employee in there cleaning - he would not leave to allow the her to use the facilities. All during the meal we could overhear the bartenders talking about the customers, about what kind of tips they were / were not leaving. After I pay with a credit card I pause while waiting for my date in the restroom before signing. Then the server returns, 'Can you sign that so we can close out the register?" And then I overhear him talking with disgust over the $3 dollar tip I left...
(1)
Marcy H.
I went with my husband during lunch last Tuesday. We ordered some half price sushi that was average. Then we ordered Hibachi. We were to early for the $12 special but to late for lunch. I ordered the steak and shrimp. The shrimp was good, maybe could have had another min on the grill but the steak was the thinnest and fattiest piece of meat. I was shocked that they would serve such a piece of meat. I remind you that I'm paying $24 for this combination meal. It had no flavor and was over cooked. I don't eat steak fat anyways! I would also like to mention that most sushi and Hibachi restaurants give you a nice side salad and soup. Shinto gives you only a salad or soup. Of course you can pay extra if you want both. With the exception of another group of people, we were the only ones in the restaurant. There are to many other really good hibachi and sushi restaurants in the area and we will not be back!
(2)
Ken D.
I had a chance/obligation to be in the area again for business, and decided to give Shinto a second go. How do I put this delicately....tuna tartare should not be akin to cat food. Enough said. If you're here for a cocktail...fine. If you're here for something nuanced, subtle and delicious, you're barking (or rather meowing) up the wrong tree.
(2)
Angela V.
My husband and I love sushi and went here on a recommendation. The food is kind of pricey, but it is worth it. We had the Bridge for Two meal which includes soup, ginger salad, nigiri, and two specialty rolls. The atmosphere was trendy and sleek. Service was excellent.
(5)
Lindsay B.
Went here on a Friday night to use a groupon- the overall experience was just what three stars says- A-Ok. First, the location was a bit strange- said it was on North Aurora Road, but you couldn't actually see the restaurant from there (more off 59). Second, the restaurant was insanely crowded at 8 pm on a Friday night, but they were able to seat us fairly quickly. If you are looking for a restaurant where you can have good conversation, this is probably not it. There was a DJ on Friday night- good music. Third, the food was quite good- we sat in the sushi section, and I thought it was quite good. We ate a Rasta Roll, Fire and Ice Roll, and the "Little" Tasty (or something like that). All were really good, and if I was in the neighborhood, I wouldn't mind stopping by for sushi again. Fourth, the service was pretty awful. We asked for water three or four times before it finally arrived. Our drinks sat empty most of the dinner, and the waiter seemed overwhelmed and in a hurry the whole time. He gave us free dessert the service was so slow. Overall, I would rate the food here four stars, and the service two- so I'm averaging out to three. Probably won't be back again unless I am really driving by.
(3)
Ms. Reviewer M.
Miao surprise, little delicious, volcano - all wonderful. The LD is my fav.
(4)
sum l.
NO THANK YOU! When the Chef at the table confirming our order, we specifically told him, we CANNOT eat too salty....so please handle our food with less salt :) As it turn out, I bet he misunderstood, perhaps he thought we love SALTY rice, SALTY steak and SALTY seafood. After one bite we had to drink the whole glass of water! We had to use water to wash all the food before eating!
If I could give Shinto more stars I would! The hibachi chicken is always tender and flavorful, the fried rice is always delicious, and the service is always excellent. The first thing that gets you when you walk in is the gorgeous decor. The thing that makes you stay is the food. Sure, it's a bit pricey, but what hibachi restaurant isn't?
(5)
Taryn H.
First of all, the food here is good quality and the ambiance is very nice. I have no issue whatsoever with the food -- and our Chef (Chris) was very good, friendly, and obviously skilled. My issue came with the service and the resulting management response to service. I was there with two girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We had a reservation for 7 PM but were not seated until closer to 7:30. We were seated at a table with a family that was also celebrating a birthday. Everyone's drinks took 20+ minutes to arrive. No one at the table received soup and salad (included in the price of every meal). The reason we never received the soup and salad was never explained. I believe our waiter said he "would look into it" at one point but nothing came of it nor were we offered the items later with our meal or to take home. I don't think it's illogical to expect that if I'm paying $40 dollars for a meal that's supposed to include soup and salad, I'd like to receive the promised food otherwise I expect consideration on the check. Our chef arrived and tried to rectify some of our issues (for instance, none of us had forks or chopsticks provided to us by the waiter and he also talked to someone at the bar about our drinks). He was a lot of fun. However, our waiter did not really acknowledge or apologize until he was directly asked by one of our fellow diners after the chef finished cooking our dinner (especially since we had two birthdays at the table). The manager did come over to apologize later and while the two birthdays had some of their food/drinks comped, my bill was not adjusted whatsoever. At this point (9:30ish) I just wanted to get out of there instead of waiting another 30-45 minutes to see if they would take some money off my bill so we departed. So I ended up paying $40+ for some shrimp, rice, and vegetables instead of a full multi-course meal. Overall: food fresh and good, chef excellent, customer service extremely poor. I don't have any desire to return.
(2)
Karla B.
Love this place. Always a good experience... Love the spider roll. Do another groupon offer please!!
(5)
Bryan S.
I had lunch at Shintos this week with other members of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. The sushi was amazing. Chef Chris made sure we had a great time. His preparation of the shrimp and scallops was amazing. It was a great time with great food!
(5)
William K.
Shinto is a pretty standard sushi deal. Nice place. Good food. Hot sake! The scene was pretty surreal on a Friday night. Shinto is pretty large, but I groaned when a 4-piece band started playing in the middle of the place. Live music during dinner... usually not good. But they start playing and the sax player in charge was absolutely amazing. Later, I went over a complimented the guy. His name is Reggie Foster, Jr. What an incredible talent. After we finished dinner, we moved to the bar so that we could listen to the music some more. We seemed to be surrounded by the cast from Glengarry Glen Ross... salesmen in their suits and large watches and pinkie rings. The guy sitting next to me bet me a hundo that Facebook's market cap after their IPO would be a trillion dollars. Snort. It was weird and fun. yow, bill
(3)
Maricris D.
Good food, entertaining chefs. You have to experience the hibachi service in order to get the full effect. Service was great, can't complain. A bit pricey, but worth the price for the food we ordered!
(4)
Subz F.
I had taken my family to Shinto for Hibachi lunch on my birthday. Our group of 6 were super-demanding & confused about what to order (as the rest 5 were having Japanese food for the first time!). Our waitress was super courteous and let us take our time without any rush and was very friendly and helped us each to understand what is what in the menu which was great (too bad I forgot her name)! Hibachi chef was awesome! I have had Hibachi meals before at Domo 77 & Hokkaido, but this Hibachi was the best experience I've had so far. Very skilled with his performance, plus, the food was AWESOME! The only reason why I'm not giving 5 stars is because the sushis were not so nice (1 sushi was broken before we even picked it up from the plate). But we were too busy to be happy & hence didn't bother for a replacement :) Overall, nice place, nice food & very good service. I am definitely going back there and recommending this for everyone!
(4)
Katie L.
Little delicious roll, and sushi happy hour. Perfection. Not the best hibachi dinner I've ever had, but I will definitely return for the sushi!
(3)
Mundo M.
A friend insisted we order take out from here for lunch and $30 bucks later we got what tasted like yesterday's sushi. The rolls we ate were too fishy. Sushi should not have a fishy smell. I'm not sure if we got left over sushi from the day before or if the fish used was just plain stinky. I should be fair and say friends I know have been there and rave about the sushi. Maybe my experience was just a one off.
(2)
Noor H.
We love this place and have been there numerous times and have never been disappointed. There are places that can be good one day and not the other but this place is always consistent. I have had both the hibachi side and the sushi side and both are good. Highly recommend.
(5)
Pamela B.
This place is AWESOME! It was my friend's birthday, and we were on the hunt for a good sushi place, so we stopped to try Shinto since they were supposed to be open till 1am, and not only 10pm like everyone else. When we walked in around 10:30pm or so, the host said they were already starting to close up for the night....however, the manager Eric came up to us and welcomed us in, told us to take our time, and enjoy ourselves. Everyone was VERY obliging and made us feel so welcome. We all sat at the bar and the bartender Nick was fantastic. He was so hospitable and friendly, and even made my friend a special birthday drink on the house. Of course, the sushi was AMAZING! We tried the Naperville Roll, Philly Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll (one of my faves because it's spicy!), and a specialty one that wasn't listed on the menu, the Filet Roll (delicious!)!! To top it all off, Eric, the extremely friendly and hospitable manager, brought my friend out an amazing dessert....Ice Cream Tempura (vanilla ice cream wrapped in think layer of pound cake, flash fried and served with a strawberry puree and chocolate sauce).....yum!! Shinto was fantastic, and we will definitely be returning very soon!
(5)
Josh M.
So I heard though the grapevine that Shinto had good deals during lunch for sushi. I decided to give it a go with my gf as usual. She had been here once before and said that it had the best spicy scallop roll she has ever had. I figured that was a good start considering we have been on a sushi kick for a while now. We ordered quite a few rolls since it was pretty much half off during happy hour. I got the wasabi pot stickers that were just OK. The calamari was the biggest turn off of the whole meal by far. I can't do the whole compressed sticks of mush thing - they are just nasty and the farthest thing from good calamari you can get. I was just hoping that the meal would get better from there but it was just average. We got the spicy scallops which were as good as she said - naturally sweet but just enough spice. On top of that we got the usual spicy tuna, philly, shrimp tempura rolls. Not that they were bad but it just wasn't the nice clean fresh taste that I separate the good sushi places from the great ones. I want to try this place again to see if they can redeem themselves for the half off happy hour. Like I said the sushi wasn't bad it just wasn't great. Try the spicy scallop if you get a chance and go for happy hour because the prices are very affordable and the menu is pretty big.
(3)
Will W.
This place rocks Tuesday has the best deal around and the drinks keep you feeling good. Jen at the bar is great. The cook we had puts on a show that everyone liked.
(5)
Elizabeth W.
I like Shinto, but it's not my favorite. The service is usually pretty good, the sushi decent and rolls large but it's not worth the price. Head over on a Monday when some of the best rolls are on special, or during happy hour 3-6! And if your server suggests any rolls that aren't on the menu ASK the price! We ended up with a roll that was mediocre and cost $18!!
(3)
Mike P.
Tried out Shinto via a Groupon offer and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is somewhat divided into 4 areas: traditional dining room, circular bar area, belly-up Sushi bar, and traditional Teppanyaki. However, the space is very open and well lit. Unlike a similar restaurant in the area (i.e., _ _ _ _ arigato mr. roboto), this place just seems a bit more upbeat and well lit. Food and drink were very good with our meal fairly priced ($23 for steak & shrimp) for the circuses offered. That said, I liked that the circuses seemed to be tailored to the tables. At one table, a birthday was being celebrated and lots of good showmanship was taking place. At our table it was just a few couples randomly assembled for dinner. So preparation was very professional tableside, but we (thank goodness) didn't get the egg toss in the chef's hat or the choo-choo flaming onion. We ordered the rather non-adventurous Chicago-Roll as a Sushi appetizer. It was well prepared, well served, but fairly tame which was OK as this was a safe bet. All-in-all, we'd go back again and probably try more interesting Sushi next time.
(4)
Andy S.
Place is nice and food are good. It is pretty expensive
(5)
Moe N.
Was there on 2-3-12 with my brother. The sushi was good but has too much mayo and sauces on them. Our appetizer came out cold. The waitress was really nice and knowledgeable.
(3)
Matt M.
Visited on a Wednesday night. The service was dreadful. This is probably the dullest waiter I've ever had at a $100+ dinner. He didn't really get anything wrong per se, but his attitude totally deflated the fun out of the evening. Food: A Atmosphere: A Hibachi Chef: A Server: D- I'd go again if I hear that they're upgrading their service staff.
(2)
Justin C.
Just had a fantastic lunch with many of my business associates. It was over the top. Fantastic. Not my first visit and certainly won't be my last.
(5)
Jasmine S.
Pretty good place! Only downside is that one time I came, the chef was accidentally almost hit my friend with his spatula....yikes. But that was just once. Every other time we've had a good experience with no flying spatulas
(4)
Racheal R.
Short & sweet of it: Hands downs, THE best sushi, hibachi, & service in the area. Don't believe me? Read my review about S****a located at Ogden/Iriquois. This has been our favorite place for ages! Worth every cent. A bit more pricey than the AYCE places in the area, but worth the extra $$. Zero complaints, amazingly fresh and flavorable food, amazing service. Can't stress enough... we've learned our lesson, and will never stray from here on out.
(5)
Veronica T.
Everything was awesome the show the drinks the food the desert and the service! They also sang me happy birthday and gave me a free desert. Keeping them on my list!
(5)
Suzanne Z.
What a fun experience this place was! Apparently, I did it wrong though, I keep reading about how you can save with coupons and other deals... neither of which I came prepared for. The night was a little bit more than I expected, with martini's costing $10 a piece and most of the sushi rolls being around $15-17. The place has a clean and trendy atmosphere. The giant hibachi area has color- changing lights, and the sushi side has nice little tables. The clientele was a young 20s crowd, so being there definitely made me feel cool and trendy too! It was bustling when we arrived, but we were still able to be seated promptly. Our waiter came to speak with us right away as well, and was very attentive throughout the meal. We ordered the shrimp dumpling appetizer, which was savory and delicious. I thought it was much better on its own, than with the soy sauce it came with. For the entree, our helpful server recommended his favorites and popular orders to help us out. We ordered the Naper roll- shrimp tempura, crab salad on top, the Little Delicious- a fried sushi roll, and the Jekyll and Hyde roll- with mango and jalapeño, which were all fantastic. I am no sushi aficionado, but I definitely think it was the best sushi I've had. And props to the server for not making me feel like an idiot for needing those chopstick cheaters to eat with. I was going to use a fork until he showed me those! 3 rolls between two people left us extremely full and satisfied. Each roll was 8-12 pieces. Their martinis were awesome too- I had the passion martini, which had a pineapple and mango/passion fruit?? I can't quite remember, but it went down easy and was a nice treat. I would definitely go back again for sushi or to try hibachi, which I've never done. I will prepare more next time to save a few dollars though!
(4)
Tonya K.
Since this review, I have been to Shinto more times than I can remember. The Sushi is amazing - still love the Captain Jack roll - I always order it. Service is always great! Friendly, quick, and attentive
(5)
Ross B.
So here I am sitting at the bar for over ten minutes without being seen by either bartender. It's a circular bar. How hard is it to serve five people on a Thursday with two bartenders? Food is good but the service sucks. Update: I ended up walking out after thirty minutes without so much as a menu. Meanwhile a group of six country club types walked in and immediately got drinks and serviced across from me. Awesome.
(1)
Saba A.
I'm not going to read bad reviews- why do people complain when you are eating delicious Sushi! Well- I would only come on Monday's for the half price deal they have and try to come before 2 to avoid the 3 pm rush! I came in with my brotehr and sister and the service was a little show- so maybe that wasn't cooll but it was nice to get large, delicious, and wonderful presentations of sushi with a side of vegetable fried rice for 4 dollars. We passed up on the drink special but if you love Sushi - come here! Perfect, filling, sushi lunch in the middle of the afternoon! Great signature sushi's to choose from as well. Can't go wrong!
(4)
Joey H.
Very good sushi. You can tell how fresh it is. They are a little pricey for the good rolls but I take advantage of the 1/2 price Monday's.
(3)
Erica B.
Come here all the time for happy hour sushi and happy hour drinks! I usually sit at the bar which seats 30 people. On each side of the bar is either dining for sushi and menu and the otherwise is hibachi!
(5)
Rhonda S.
In town visiting friends and family. My best friend insisted we go here and now I know why!! $5 martini Tuesdays We sampled a little of everything: House salad is delish love the ginger dressing. Yellowtail, white tuna and sweet shrimp nigiri Rainbow roll Gorgeous restaurant. Even the bathroom is neat!! Look at the ceiling in the bathroom, it is super cool! The circle bar is immaculate. Beautiful fish tank. Ambiance is trendy and love the upbeat music. Friendly service. Our server Maja was awesome. I ordered a Cosmo and was having a hard time drinking it because it was a little too sweet for me. She noticed and asked if she could bring me something else. She brought me an awesome lemon tini which was perfect. Definitely will be back!!!!!
(5)
Joulie S.
one of my favorite Sushi spots. it's quite a drive but it sure is well worth it. They have sushi deals on Monday nights, which is awesome for all the sushi lovers! They have a great collection to choose from as well, a little of everything for everyone. It does get a bit crowded since its a great deal, so the service might be slow. Depending on how big of a complainer you are, your waiter might not come by your table as often as you like....so order all your sushi ahead of time before you starve.
(5)
Pat E.
Just an awesome experience all around. The restaurant was clean, the service was fast, and the food was AWESOME! I got every single fish they had on the menu (not really). Yellowfin Tuna cooked medium rare, a side of scallops, and the shrimp that comes with the hibachi grill special. This also includes Miso soup and a Ginger salad. This place has vents that keep you from smelling like Teriyaki sauce for seventeen days after. I cannot wait to be back here! The reason I would ever dock this place is just the prices. I CANNOT BRING MYSELF TO DO IT! Expensive? So what? You're paying for an experience! I can't wait until someone does something of substance in my life again so we can celebrate at SHINTO!
(5)
Tina D.
Great sushi. I am vegetarian so sometimes it is hard to find a sushi place with good options but Shinto always accommodates and even allows me to make my own roll with whatever veggie ingredients I like. The drinks are good too. They also have Groupon for this place which make it a great deal.
(4)
Traci G.
Love this place! They have one side specifically for sushi and the other side is for habachi, in the middle is a bar. I've only eaten the sushi here plus had a few drinks. Everything is delicious! They do take out as well which is great for when I want to stop after work to pick up some delicious sushi. The only reasons for the 4 stars is one it gets pretty packed at night so come early or be prepared to wait (not sure if they take reservations) and the sushi can be a little pricey too. But on Mondays they have half off on all of their speciality rolls.....you can't use it on carry out orders though. Despite those two things I still love this place and will be going back very soon!
(4)
Fred C.
The food was great, it was only 2 of us they were not really busy ,so they sat us down and the chef cook for just two of us ,unlike other places where they make you wait to fill the table ,awesome experience great time and great dinner . Thanks again Chef Chris
Wonderful sushi and great service from here! The food is fresh, and the sushi selection is nice. The Miso Surprise and Dragon Roll are some of my favorites. Also, their fried cookie dessert with ice cream (forgot what it was called) is amazing! Happy hour on Mondays has half-off specialty rolls.
(5)
Amy H.
Solid sushi and hibachi. The restaurant has a fun atmosphere and the staff is always friendly and helpful...maybe a little too helpful on this last visit though. (Felt a little rushed at the end for no apparent reason other than I think the server was trying to be super efficient). I haven't been in a sushi mood in a while so I tried the hibachi here last time. I've been several times before for the sushi and always enjoyed it. Our hibachi chef, Chris, was really cool, kept me and my husband entertained as we were the only guests at our table on this particular evening. Great steak and fried rice- and don't forget to ask for the egg sauce if you so desire. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere on the menu, so I had to speak up to get it. Yum-o. We always have a great time here, whether we're enjoying sushi, hibachi or martinis at the bar. So, I decided to upgrade my rating. 5 stars for Shinto!
(5)
Jennifer B.
I like going to Shinto. It's close to home and I always feel like I roll out of there after eating so much! I've never been to the hibachi side so this review is only for sushi. The reason I gave 4 stars is it is kind of pricey. The food is pretty good but you are definitely paying for the atmosphere more than anything. The artistry for the sushi is very good, which gains a star. But, they lose a star for service because the waitstaff can be hard to flag down or find sometimes. They are pleasant though. They have specials on Monday so we like to go then.
(4)
Nick B.
Whenever the gf and I think of sushi. This is the place in the area we go to. Nothing can compare to it around in the burbs. Honestly the sushi and drinks have always been yummy. All i can say is make sure you get a order of the lil delicious. that is a must every time.
(5)
Lauren P.
I think this is by far my fave hibachi place... SO GLAD I BOUGHT THE DEAL FOR THIS RESTO! Everything is good ... My fave was the egg yolk - make sure you order that over your shrimp! AND THE YUM YUM SAUCE! Tuesday I want to say is half off hibachi entrees - I don't know if I would go because it might be chaos.... Besides the food the restaurant is huge and has a really nice atmosphere with their modern bar in the middle.
(5)
Kimburly H.
One of my favorite places to go. Hibachi is awesome and I crave their sushi :) Awesome atmosphere too!
(5)
Angie R.
I've been to Shinto many times over the years and I have never had a bad experience. Their sushi rolls are all delicious, the ambiance is great and the cocktails are to die for. The staff is always pleasant and the food on point. Highly recommended.
Love love love the food, and the staff is amazingly polite too! I go at least once a week. 12 dollar hibachi on Tuesdays!! woot! :)
(5)
Audrey W.
Always the best hibachi! My husband and I love it so much. It's a bit pricey, but the fried rice is so worth it. The sushi is delicious as well. This place is our favorite. We recommend it to everyone.
(5)
Marc F.
The sushi was excellent, and I'm pretty picky with sushi. The place is beautiful, the prices are very good. Service was good, but not exceptional... but still acceptable. We'll be back, though the traffic right in this area is horrific. Came back again, service was awesome!!!
(5)
J.W. W.
The sushi is actually very good, the hibachi not so much. If this was just for the sushi side I would give it four stars.
(3)
Cathy R.
We decided to finally check this place out after noticing the many positive reviews, but I would have to disagree. Okay, I take that last sentence back partially...the quality of the fish was good, not too fishy, which is very important. We showed up on a Monday night to find the place fairly busy due to their 50% off rolls. We were told by the hostess that it would be a 25-30 minute wait for a seat, but allowed us to sit and eat at the bar...there were a lot of seats available at the sushi bar, so I'm not sure why we weren't offered to sit there. We ordered a couple of specialty rolls that didn't really stand out (which is why I can't even remember the names) and your typical salmon, yellow tail, mackerel, sweet egg, shrimp, and eel sushi. It took 45 minutes for us to get our food after my husband had to say something to the bartender. By the time we received our food, the actual seating area was already clearing out, so B.S. on the hostess who quoted such a long wait time. Although we were sitting at the bar and didn't order alcoholic beverages, we didn't receive refills of water or iced tea, so that turned me off as well as the fact that those specialty rolls that were supposed to be 50% off were not reflected in the bill. What is 15 divided by 2? 7.50, not 8. Fine, it's a dinky 50 cent difference, but if you're going to promote 50% off, at least do the math properly. Yes, silly stuff like that bothers me. The place came off a bit pretentious to me, but I guess that's the vibe overall - customers with a ton of blond highlights in their hair, lip injections, and a wonderful orange skin glow from the natural sunshine that the Chicagoland area has enjoyed this past winter!
(3)
Joey D.
Easily the best Hibachi I've ever had! Yes my meal was $50 dollars (the Imperial Feast), but it was well worth every penny. Would HIGHLY recommend to a friend!
(5)
Jeramiah G.
My girlfriend and I have been here twice. So far, we enjoyed our time here. The food is tasty and nothing feels over done. The hibachi was excellent and the sushi is great. They event have happy hour during the week. Also this place has coupons quite a bit on groupon and living social so that's nice too.
(4)
Luis C.
Bad service from the hostess, she wants me to wait 30 min for a table when there were lots of table available
(1)
Graciela S.
Alright so the hibachi was delicious and Chris was an awesome hibachi man. The sushi was not impressive at all. And they charged, $1 for the spicy mayo tiny minature portion... That I found a hair in... The service nonexistent. I swear our server was new... Or just like previous reviews said - an airhead. If you have a couple of hours to wait and eat go for it. But if your crunched on time just run the other way. It was expensive and not worth it.
(2)
Mavis R.
We just had sushi (maybe their habachi is better?) and seaweed wrapping the rolls was partially shriveled and very difficult to chew. They sliced one roll diagonally so, while it looked pretty, it was harder to eat and each bite only had half the ingredients. The tuna in one roll looked funny so we stopped eating. The waiter came by to ask if we wanted more food but walked away while we were talking to him. He also disappeared once we had the check so we had go up front to pay. While we waited we watched 3 bus boys clean off and set a single table at a time. They gave us a "family discount" when we complained but as this was less than the cost of a single roll which I am concerned might make me sick, this was underwhelming. It was also very noisy. Their cranberry juice was good. Maybe their cocktails are also good?
(1)
Samuel C.
1/2 off specialty rolls on Mondays. Also you can't go wrong with the hibachi side of it. Good food but a but pricey. Amazing round shape bar, great ambiance, trendy and love the music they play.
(4)
Hahaha H.
The sushi here is half price on Mondays, but the only roll really worth it was the Mexican roll. Almost everything else is just trying too hard to cover up the fat that it's sushi, by giving you a lot of tempura and cream cheese and a bunch of American-ized ingredients. The Hibachi is GARBAGE. It just tastes like salt and gave my boyfriend a high blood pressure attack.
(3)
M f.
The blueberry acai tondie for. The pineapple martini so yummy. I came in 30 minutes before they close and they were hospitable
(5)
Renee R.
shinto has become a go-to spot whenever i'm craving sushi. the atmosphere is great, the drinks will flow and the food will make your belly happy. unfortunately, having lived downtown in chicago, i cant honestly rate this any higher than three stars. compared to other sushi places, this menu just doesn't live up. many of the rolls are heavily fried and there aren't a ton of unique combinations or specialty rolls. it will satisfy your sushi craving but just doesn't compare. all in all, as far as the burbs are concerned, this is a top notch sushi restaurant and worth checking out.
(3)
Brenda H.
I prefer Shinto to Benihana when it comes to hibachi. Everything about this place far exceeds what I've come to expect from Benihana. I always upgrade my steak to the chateaubriand. It's, quite honestly, delicious and I think it's better than the steak served at most steakhouses that exceed that price range. No matter what anyone says, I won't take back that statement. I've been here about a half dozen times in the past 2 years, I've never left disappointed. The sides may not be the greatest but I don't like soup.. or salad, so that's not really eaten. The veggies are better than those served at Benihana and seasoned well. The fried rice is ok, just needs a little extra soy sauce (which is available at your table). The shrimp appetizer is a nice bonus and they score major points against Benihana there. Then I feast on my chateaubriand and extra shrimp at the end. My boyfriend likes their Japanese beer and sushi. I don't like sushi and he had to beg me to try tempura shrimp--not bad! We actually really liked their tempura cookie dessert, I don't remember what it was called but it came with ice cream. I was too full to eat but somehow I kept eating this dessert till there was nothing left.
(4)
Sarah S.
The hibachi here is great! The server we had was fun & entertaining. Everything tasted great. The cocktails are really good too. We went on the hibachi special night and prices were reasonable. No reservation needed.
(5)
Laura B.
I was hesitant in giving this place 3 stars. I feel like soon it will change to 2 if things don't change. The quality and portions of their food has gone down so much since they first opened. I use to love their hibachi but have been very disappointed the last couple of times I've gone. The amount you spend here you would think you'd get to leave satisfied but nopes. Although I do love their happy hour deal. Their sushi is pretty darn yummy. I love the lil delicious. I think I'll only go here for happy hr now or only when they have specials. Having to pay full price and possibly leave dissatisfied will make me extremely unhappy. Basically this place is a hit or miss.
(3)
Maria L.
Came here on a Saturday night with a Groupon. When calling earlier, they said they didnt have any reservations open until 8 but when I called around 6, they said they could seat us, weird. Anyway, after trying a couple hibachi places in the burbs, I would say this one has probably the best combination of fresher ingredients, environment and service. The restaurant was lively, as well as the "Japanese" hibachi chef (ie Juan). Although I would not come here without a Groupon, it was pretty expensive for the burbs. We started with a pretty tasty seared white tuna appetizer. Then we had the typical broth soup, salad with ginger dressing, vegetables, and rice. Getting fried rice is an extra $3. As for the proteins, I got the steak and chicken. The regular steak is not the best steak, but you have options to upgrade. The chicken was decent. I also tried other people's tuna, scallops, and lobster and those were pretty tasty. Overall, a good hibachi place in the Nape!
(4)
Eric H.
Frinking awesome! Love this place. Great food and atmosphere. Claudia was our server. She was amazing.
(5)
Tania J.
Unfortunately the staff turnover is crazy... and slow always. There tonight and had to send my sushi back! I don't think you should ever serve the end of a fish with the chewy fascia exposed in sushi anytime, anywhere!! They should have known better. Disappointed. I'll not go back. Lot's of sushi out there... on the prowl for better.
(2)
Carrie H.
Absolutely love this place! This is a great sushi restaurant! The food is so good along with the atmosphere! Every time I've come here its been amazing!
(5)
Abbey W.
My boyfriend and I have been going to the Shinto for 4 years now. I even had my family go here for my graduation dinner and drive here from NIU. This was our favorite place until our last experience on his birthday. We are reward members and always miss out on the points for our freebies because we don't save our receipt. Back in November I had asked more details about the reward program and told the waiter how we all miss using our rewards. He was nice enough to give us a coupon for a free specialty roll ( signed by the manager that we have never meant. I have actually never meant a manager here until Tuesday the 10th when we went for my boyfriends birthday). Anyways on Tuesday we showed the coupon to the waiter before ordering. Then at the end of out hibachi meal a manager (Brandon) comes up to me asking who gave me the coupon and the manager. He said he did not recognize the signature. He asked who the manager was 7 months ago! I said I didn't even know the severs name tonight and have never meant a manager that how should I know. He asked how did we get this coupon that the coupon is only given to employees. I explained and he said he had to make more calls because at this point he cannot honor the coupon! Brandon comes back 15 minutes later when only one couple other than us was left at the table and tells us he can not honor the free speciality roll. That he and others there did not recognize the signature and that the date looks like different handwriting! He said I should know the name of the manager who signed it because they only have for managers there! Another couple at the table even stepped in saying how we showed the waiter the coupon and how ridiculous he was being. I was so livid that this guy was accusing me pretty much if either strealing this coupon or of stealing and committing fraud and for just $15! We use to rave about this place and there customer service. This was my boyfriends birthday and the manager ruined it. The receipt even said birthday and across said $0.00 ( real classy) don't add it if you are not going to say anything. Another table had a couple who had a birthday and servers came with dessert and sang. I have always tagged my self when we come and promote how great this place was. You now can forget that. I have never been so embarrassed or insulted. Shinto's service use to be great. The managers or at least Brandon need a real wake up call and training in customer service. As this was so insulting! Thank you for horrible Shinto "Experience"
(1)
Keith L.
Probably one of the best suburban sushi restaurants around. Excellent rolls, but not cheap at all. I will definitely come back if I plan on dropping a big dining tab!
(4)
A G.
I came here a few months ago for my mother in-law's birthday dinner. The waitress guided me through the items on the menu which was super helpful and when the hibachi came, I could not help but smile watching the cook flip and chop our food while tossing the knives around and lighting the onion tower on fire. It was a fun experience and I came back a few weeks ago on a weekday with the same great experience. I love their food, they have great service. I'm just not a big fan of the bill.
(5)
Claira V.
Only reviewing based on ordering sushi. I have been here a few times. The sushi quality is good and very flavorful rolls. Good customer service too. Just wish they had better happy hour specials.
(4)
Christopher K.
My friend and I stuck with the sushi and it was pretty solid. The selection was good, the presentation was good, and the service was good. It was a bit overpriced but nothing that would keep me from returning.
(4)
Nina M.
Today was the first time I've tried Shinto. I have to say, it was pretty good! My friend and I came in around 3 and it just so happened to be during their happy hour. We ordered the spicy tuna, unagi, eel roll, and crunchy roll. We thoroughly enjoyed the eels and spicy tuna. Would have enjoyed the crunchy roll more if the shrimp was properly peeled. Overall, we were satisfied and enjoyed the sushi. With the prices they offered during happy hour, the sushi was definitely worth it! Really enjoyed the unagi. Delish! P.S Mondays they offer half-price special rolls! Yum!
(5)
Aijaz H.
One of the best Sushi restaurants around. Our family favorites: Monster, Bear Down, Shrimp Tempura, Volcano, Caterpillar. Enjoy...
(5)
Christina M.
Love the sushi here!!! Have been coming for months for half off Monday specials! The sushi rolls are decent size with a huge selection ranging from crab to mixtures of spices tuna n other raw dishes! I highly recommend this sushi restaurant!!
Spent 3 hours here total. Waitress was never to be found, second time they didn't turn the grill on so the chef left and came back later. Manager was useless and didn't apologize about the service until we asked for the owner's card. They messed up our checks 3 times. Never coming back here again.
(1)
Lisa P.
Update: Ended up waiting for 3 hours. The manager was little help in resolving the issue, the waitress/manager took 3 tries to run our cards, and was visibly bad mouthing out table to the rest of the staff while running our cards. I understand some tables are harder than others but my table was polite the whole time, we never raised our voices at anyone, and all we wanted was to leave so we could continue with out night. I will NEVER be returning to Shinto nor will I ever recommend it to anyone looking for a Japanese Restaurant with Hibachi. All in all, I was extremely disappointed with the service provided and I was super excited to come here too.
(1)
Madeleine B.
This is honestly one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a sushi bar. Upon arriving I asked what was in a chirashi bowl at this location since it wasn't listed on their menu, the hostess had no idea, the bar tender didn't know, and some girl at the bar had to list it off for them. I ordered the chirashi and my boyfriend got a chicken teriyaki meal. We got everything to go and when we got home I opened my chirashi's, they had put it in two flat to go containers, and the over whelming smell of rotten fish came out and took over our kitchen. Just looking at the tuna you could see blood line as well as very thick tendons running through each shredded piece. I looked over the rest of the fish and could see slime collecting in-between each piece. It was disgusting. My boyfriend pulled out his teriyaki chicken and for 20 bucks he got what appeared to be a precooked, extremely thin chicken cutlet that they just slapped some sauce on. We've both been eating sushi for years and while we didn't expect Shinto to be top of the line, we at least expected it to be edible. Instead we got home with food that I can't eat and he doesn't feel comfortable eating any of his after seeing what they sent out as passable for mine. Overall we will never be back and I'll be calling tomorrow demanding a refund, this is absolutely ridiculous. *UPDATE* I called today and spoke with Nick, he was very friendly and refunded the order and offered to have us in to be taken care of. However, I will never return after seeing the unsafe food that was considered severable.
(1)
eric s.
Bought a groupon and decided to try it out. Only my wife and I, so we decided to just head out with no reservation and eat at the bar. Checked the website for hours and it showed that they are open on Sundays. Called in advance and got no answer; figured they were busy and not answering. Drove all the way out there and they were closed. No sign. No message on their answering machine. Nothing on their website. I'll eat the groupon and wont go back.
(1)
I H.
Service and quality of the food was so-so. Went there on a Sunday afternoon therefore it was not so busy. The waitress was nice but kept disappearing and we had to ask for things that would normally be available to diners. Things like a napkin and a fork. We ordered an appetizer sampler and the chicken on a stick came out cold, was so dry and the sauce that they drizzled on it made it inedible. The atmosphere was young and hip. As soon as you walked in, you were greeted by clubby/loungy music. The prices were on the high side. It's not worth coming back.
(1)
Kat G.
Meh. I am still trying to figure out why this place is expensive and people are willing to pay the prices they ask for. I used a Groupon at this place that knocked off $50 from the bill and still felt this place was over priced. We were seated at our table and my place setting clearly had a clump of rice and was not clean. I pointed it out to the hostess and got an "oh." So that was the first and lasting impression. We then proceeded to order appetizers and drinks. We had the scallop tempura which was decent, and I would order again. What was most disappointing was they couldn't get the little details right such as my husband's beer was warm and we asked them to get us another or cool it. By the time it was properly cooled, it was brought back towards the end of the meal. It must have been a fresh batch but it was 7pm - well into dinner service hour so I'm not sure why their beers weren't stocked earlier. I had the passion-tini. There was little passion to feel as I drank it. It tasted so artificial and I had a cough-syrupy after-taste in my mouth. Their sushi was alright. I liked the combinations and flavorings but they were way overpriced. The quality was "good" but nothing to scream about. In fact, this place charges more for lower-quality sushi than some places on Michigan Ave., Downtown Chicago. I don't mind paying a lot for sushi but when I know I'm not getting the best quality or "blow your mind sushi" for top price, I'm not going to be jumping to come back here. We enjoyed the Black Widow, Jekyll & Hyde, and The Captain Jack rolls, but we never had a "wow" moment. I did not try their hibachi and I will give this place another shot for it, but I don't think I will come back here for sushi unless it is their Monday night half off rolls special. I'll pay half of what they ask for because I think that is honestly where their sushi should be priced at. I'd rather drive to Chicago and go to Sushi Samba than pay the same price for lower quality/less enthusiastic sushi.
(3)
Rachael Z.
I have only been to Hibachi here, but vow to dine in on the other side of the restaurant sometime! Hibachi Make sure you pay attention to your chef, otherwise they won't entertain you! I learned this the hard way. Order the egg yolk sauce. It's a super cheap side so if you don't like it, it's not bad to waste, but it's incredibly less than other hibachi restaurants. Drinks Good martinis and wine prices! Bar? Confusing! While half is a Hibachi area, the bar area is filled with people who look like they belong in a club downtown. Overall I love this place and their constant advertising will also save you money!
(4)
Carmen N.
I love the sushi here. I always play it safe and choose the same sushi everytime i come here. I usually end up here after work with co-workers since it right down the street. Eventhough the traffic around this place is busy and not the easiest place to get to, its well worth it!
(4)
Kestutis N.
This is the problem with restaurants these days. They just don't give a dam. Service is as you would expect from a chain restaurant, now as food is concerned I would not recommend this place to anyone unless you want Chinese. ( if you go to Japanese restaurant and cooks are Chinese you might as well go to your local take out Chinese restaurant) chances are you'll get same thing cheaper. I'm talking from experience when I say this, if cooks not Japanese or Korean you will not get what you paid for. Ok, enough ranting about that... Hibachi grill: dirty with leftovers on the grill an the table, smell was atrocious from old oil that was sitting there for months ( I presume) Grill master: seemed like he was forced to work there and I'm sorry but if you care that much about the food you serve then you do not deserve to be called a cook let along a master, everything he served was bad Chinese food and the worst thing is he couldn't do that right (undercooked rice) and from the time he rolled the cart from the door to the grill it seemed like he's waking to the electric chair, not to mention the whatever was on that cart scared the living Jesus out of me. Then when finished he goes to clean a grill with a dirty rags and stuff just flies all over the places leaving the bits and chunks of leftovers on the grill. If any Japanese person would see this horrifying display of disrespect for their culture and cuisine they would commit a suicide at the doorsteps before sitting down at the table. Now the sushi: the only thing remotely decent was crispy roll but I still couldn't tell what I was eating. Any raw fish should be consumed with heavy amount of soy sauce just to make sure you don't get sick. The server was accommodating and pleasant even though she messed up a little she came back quick and corrected the issue. Me personally wouldn't come back to this place even if it was free.
(1)
Rachel A.
Shinto has awesome sushi and hibachi! They can be pretty pricey as well. The restaurant has a good vibe and is upscale on the classiness scale.
(5)
KiKi I.
I have to start by saying...we loved the rolls we got "the Guatemalan" & "black widow"..however, it was extremely dark and hard to see anything...including the menu. The waiter had to take our sushi rolls back to see in better light what we ordered to tell us. Also, none of the drinks wowed me. Overall, good sushi but wasn't wowed to make us go back.
(3)
Brittney N.
I love Shinto The restaurant's atmosphere is very welcoming and there's usually a live band that plays on weeknights. The sushi and hibachi is probably one of the best in my book! My favorite roll is the little delicious even if it's a little pricey; I believe it's $15 for a the roll (there are days where certain rolls are 50% off)? But I've been here for birthday celebrations, dates, and/or a quick lunch with friends. The servers are always polite and attentive so overall I've only have positive experiences.
(5)
Lindsay S.
This name should probably be changed to Sh*t h*le..... just sayin. Upon entering, it's stunning. VERY trendy, high energy, you're greeting authentically by someone who barely knows a word of English. OH it's JUST LIKE Japan! Before i get TOO long-winded i just want to say that the Japanese guy who cooked our food was beyond awesome. It was the server that sucked. The cook was young, cute, friendly and really outgoing and funny. We left HIM a hefty tip, he deserved it. Now onto the bad stuff. If you don't want to read on all i have to say is the service is crap and the portions are small. They didn't have the type of sushi we wanted, so i didn't get a chance to try it. Our meal sucked. Our server was SO busy flirting with the guys at the end of our hibachi table i think she forget we were there. Because it was my boyfriend and I, and two of my male friends (who are together), Obviously, since no one at OUR end was looking to score she turned her attention towards the cheapo metrosexual graphic-Tshirt wearing boys with frosty highlights and orange skin. The guys at the other end of the table weren't even there to eat hibachi, they were there to drink. They fooled the waitress into thinking they were going to order just to get the free miso and salad. After those dishes came they decided "they were just going to have sushi". She giggled and took their order and then brought over ANOTHER server, because apparently, she was incapable of handling all three boys by herself. Somehow i think she's done it before, though.......... She mixed up our food, didn't bring us refills, EVER. My boyfriend ordered sea urchin and she brought him eel. He said "i ordered sea urchin" and she's like yeah i know, we're out of that. He's like, "well i don't want this". So in other words, i think the restaurant attempted to pawn-off a cheaper sushi on someone assuming they wouldn't know the difference between the expensive urchin and the cheap eel. Nice try. As if this all wasn't enough, the meal ended with two of the servers doing shots with the boys at the other end of our table. Oh, drinking on the job? How becoming. In the end i decided to write a letter and just leave. However, my friend's high-strung boyfriend decided HE was going to argue with the manager who didn't speak a WORD of English. Needless to say, i never went back. If you're a guy that fits the above description, i'm sure you'll have a blast. If you're a married couple, dating or you're gay... sorry, the servers aren't interested in you.
(1)
Allison C.
Im giving 5 stars because of the server Nick. I would say the sushi is 4 stars, however, every time I go I ask for Nick because he really delivers the best customer experience. So ask for Nick if you want to complete your experience. I have gone to Shinto sooooo many times and never have I had bad sushi. Its always fresh and they have an AMAZING happy hour from 3-6 M-Sat where a ton of their sushi is half price.
(5)
Mark O.
Disappointing experience. Greeted by waiter, then never heard from him again. Thankfully, after 20 mins of just sitting with closed menus, another very polite server--Shirin--rescued the night. She apologized, smiled, made friendly suggestions on orders, and got our food quickly. Of course, our waiter never did acknowledge us again, even though he served the table right next to us. Also, some of the dishes were dirty and the soy sauce containers dripped soy sauce rather than poured.
(2)
Pamela P.
I live in Naperville and frequent Shinto's about once a week. It's super nice on Tuesdays with the $12 hibachi's and 1/2 price sushi between 4-6. Victor is one of the best cooks there, so if he's there ask for him, American Chris is another really good one....the best is that they both speak fantastics english, cook well and season perfectly. They put on a good show, but good food is most important with me. The sushi is ALWAYS fresh, I LOVE the little delicious, but all the sushi is fresh and to die for. I completely agree about the service....it's mostly the young dingbat girls. Its very important that if you have an issue with service that you tell them. I have been doing this regularly and over time I'm not seeing their faces anymore. I'm so the type of person that can't stand poor service, it just ruins the general over all experience; it's just NOT ok. For those of us that remember Boston Blackies(just down the road), same deal....poor service prevailed over the fantastic food they served. Eventually, Unfortunately that will be the same demise for Shinto's if they don't revamp the quality of servers that they have working for them. I enjoy the food so much that it's kinda sorta worth the risk when I go there, but I've hung in there. Once you get to know the staff you can ask to be sat in their section. When it's super crowded it's a bit tougher to choose. If you have an issue, tell the manager, tell someone. They have another resturaunt in Strongsville, OH. Crappy service may fly there, but for here the bars a little higher.
(4)
Bryan R.
The food here is fantastic. The atmosphere is very club-like, a little intense for a Sunday evening dinner (like when we went). We've gone three times and weirdly, there has never been more than a few other people there. Their food is incredibly affordable for what you get, and on Sundays and Mondays you can get almost half of the menu for half price. A great way to try a lot or save money on what otherwise may have been a special 'treat'.
(5)
Vick C.
I like their wine bar design, very modern. I always go there for lunch, fresh sushi roll and they serve American style Japanese food. I'm not a big fan of Hibachi but I tried one time still, I don't like they flow the food to the customer since they never know how to aim it to their mouth, kind of messy!
(3)
Adrian W.
Consistency is key in sushi. My background with spices is seriously subpar. I don't handle them well at all and will casually tear up with peppers. Just for you people who may want to know how to end Adrian W... Came here for my second time last night and ordered the Guatemalan sushi which I had the previous time. I realize it has jalapenos in it but the first time I had it, no kick. Last night? SERIOUS kick. So much so I had to guzzle my water like a camel. The food here is great, no doubt. I can say that our waiter was on top of his game, the others, meh.
(3)
Erica P.
I like the place, although it never seems very busy. The first time we went, it was a Friday night and we sat at the bar...we had saki bombs and I ordered the Hawaiian Roll which was super yummy! The next few times, I planned accordingly to visit when they had special offerings. When we went on a Monday, they offer discounted specialty rolls: -Their "award winning" roll Lil Delicious $10 vs $15...I tried it, I wasn't overly impressed...then again, I don't like cream cheese in my sushi rolls. -Volcano roll $7 vs $10...I really liked this one in comparison with the Lil Delicious. -They also have the lobster roll and black widow rolls for $12 vs $17...and a couple others, too. -Monday's they also offer $5 top shelf martinis The next time I went was during their happy hour from 3pm-6pm...what a value! Half price sushi (traditional rolls) and appetizers...I tried their pan seared scallops, not so great...maybe they would be better without their specialty teriyaki sauce. The spicy tuna roll was phenomenal, the best I have had in the area.
(4)
Brian G.
If you're a sushi freshman, this place is perfect for you! Habachi backup with great service for those not interested in sushi. Knowledagble server staff with great sushi recommendations. The spicey crab role was actually spicey! Spicey roles are usually mild or not spicey at other sushi bars - Shinto delivers! Don't let the spciey crab role scare you, there are so many other wonderful sushi rolls to pick from. The Habachi chefs are very friendly. You DO NOT get that rushed feeling that you would at other Habachi "bars". We've been to this place roughly five times and find ourselves spending two hours easily relaxing over good sushi, good drinks, good service, and a great place to spend time with friends. Shinto has easily become my favorite place in DuPage. Only one problem to note and I'm certain this is more for the landlord/property owner which Shinto likely is not. Please talk to the property manager and have the lighting fixed in the parking lot.
(5)
Kyle D.
This review is only on the maki as I haven't tried the hibachi aspect to this restaurant. I have had many of the rolls on the menu both for lunch and dinner and have never been unimpressed. There is a huge influx of sushi houses lately in the Fox Valley area, but for me Shinto's freshness and creativity stands apart almost as well as Swordfish in Batavia. The decor in Shinto is very trendy and visually appealing from the blue concave ceiling over the bar to the goldfish pond in the floor. I have had great service at the bar, at the sushi tables, and at the sushi bar. Fast service with fresh ingredients make for a really fun night out. Their specials are also good for those complaining about price, which can be kinda unreasonable on some specialty rolls. I will keep coming back to this restaurant. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is one time I was in there with a D.J. and it was really loud and kinda didn't fit with the restaurant, but kinda did (if you know what i mean). It wasn't for me, but I just avoid it during those times. Recommendations: Chicago Roll, and the Little Delicious.
(4)
Sara B.
great wine selection. Great sushi. The place was empty when we were there but it made the meal really enjoyable.
(4)
K. M.
Celebrated my birthday at Shinto's last week! My only complaint is how long we had to wait. We had a 7:00 reservation for 4. We were all there on time but were told to sit at the bar while they prepare our table. We were not seated until 7:20. I am not a fan of waiting more than 10 minutes if I have a reservation and the place is not busy. Then we had to wait until 7:50 for them to bring our soup and salad. This was just ridiculous. However, after all our waiting everything else was GREAT! Our sushi was so good I could have just eaten that. The portions were large enough that we ordered 2 rolls for 2 of us and we were starting to get full. Just ask what the fresh fish is for the day. They will always tell you. The hibachi portion of dinner was great too! I always get the chicken and steak combo so I can really taste the flavors of the cook. Our cook was awesome. We eat Japanese a lot and I have never met a cook who I wanted to stay and hang out with after dinner. By the time he left the table we had all laughed so hard we were new friends with the people sitting with us. He was able to turn the dinner into an experience. I highly recommend asking for Victor or Papi. (He says everyone calls him Papi and that is what his name tag said but it is really Victor.) For the birthday portion of the night the server brought out Saki bombs for the whole table. This was a neat experience because I have never had a Saki bomb. Then they brought out a dessert big enough to feed the whole table. My favorite place for a birthday dinner. Price was high but we all enjoyed it. Highly recommend
(4)
Rob D.
Not being a Sushi fan, I was skeptical when my kids cajoled me into going to Shinto's, but I left pleasantly suprised. The night we were there we opted for the sushi menu rather than the hibachi experience. The waitress was quite nice and willing to explain things to a Sushi newbie like me. I began with a bowl of onion soup that had good flavor but a little too much salt. my combo platter contained a chef's choice of Nigiri, Sashimi and a Spicy Tuna Roll. All of the food was beuatifully presented and very fresh. The white tuna was particularly good, as was the spicy tuna roll. My son had a similar dish and was equally impressed. My wife and daughter had Udon noodles, a Philly and a Tempura Roll, all of which were pronounced delicious. The decor and atmosphere of the place is trendy and bright. My only critcism is that considering we were there at about 5PM and were one of only a handful of customers in the restaurant, we waited an inordinate amount of time for our food. Given the final product, though, i can forgive this and will be going back again.
(4)
Elora V.
First time I went to this place it was really cool.... it was a lil modern take on sushi and hibachih..It reminded me a bit of Benihana back in the day but with a Trendy atmosphere and decor... I went with my friend and we both fell in love with the place.. it can get very busy on weekends so I suggest you make reservations ahead of time..
(5)
Bill D.
Walked in Saturday evening at 5:00 and they didn't have our reservation, but eventually found it; asked the manager how to use the Yelp app $10 check-in coupon - he said he'd take care if it; sat at the bar waiting for the rest of our party and was greeted by a very pleasant bartender - very good Riesling wine; it took a little while for the action to begin at the grill- hibachi; Chris, the hibachi chef was pretty entertaining and interactive; wife loved the scallops, while my steak and chicken was good - the steak was just ok, but can be "upgraded" to NY strip for an extra cost; tue bill came - no $10 credit, which the check-girl took care of, but it took a while as she was pretty busy. Overall, we had a nice experience and dinner.
(4)
Adam S.
Great sushi and the little delicious roll is a necessity. Hibachi is extremely tasty and they put on an awesome show!!!
(5)
Jeffrey G.
Price is much higher then needed. Don't go if you are on a budget, even during happy hour. Not happy with how the groupons are being made and honored. Beware of the fine print. Overall, try it, we will never go back.
(1)
Marc B.
I avoid this place at all costs. It is a poorly run establishment with little attention paid to the details of properly trained servers, cleanliness, value, and good food. Find another place!!
(1)
Jesse W.
Ever since this place has opened, my wife and I have made many, many trips there. We've eaten a lot of sushi in the area and now consider Shinto to be the best. People are nice, always saying "hi" and talking with you...but, really, the food is excellent (we've only had the sushi). We go for their happy hour a lot of the time and get appetizers and sushi for half off. It's a good value for what I say is excellent sushi. I would say it's Trendy and upscale, but I've come in with shorts and a t-shirt and they don't mind. Nice bar with a couple of TV's. I live in Warrenville, I just wish it was closer as route 59 traffic is a problem around 4/5 in the afternoon.
(5)
Brandon B.
I regularly attend Shinto when I am back in town....and it is always a good meal, but tonight was different, it was GREAT. Juan our Habachi Chef was off the chain providing us with awesome entertainment and the most delicious Hibachi I can remember. Not to mention Tuesdays are $12 Habachi which is an unbelievable deal. Soup, Salad and a Hefty portion of steak, chicken or shrimp. Highly recommend to anyone celebrating a birthday or looking for a delicious dinner.
(5)
Erica Z.
I can't speak for the sushi, however I've never been disappointed with the hibachi. Coming from a vegetarian perspective, the veggie entree has PLENTY of food. Sometimes eating vegetarian can mean that you get the short end of the stick, but not at Shinto. Veggie entree comes with mixed veggies, tofu, soup, salad, udon noodles, and rice. The side sauces are good, and the chefs are always friendly. Tend to frequent this place after family, friends and I all purchased the maximum amount of Groupons. Would definitely suggest going for lunch - you only get the choice of soup OR salad, but it's plenty of food, and much cheaper.
(5)
Eva V.
I am a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to Sushi, but some friends wanted to try this place...and I grudgingly went. I am so glad I did--Shinto is now on our favorite Sushi restaurant list! When trying a new Sushi place, I order sashimi first. If you have good, fresh fish everything else is usually good as well. We ordered one of the sashimi combo dinners to share, and were blown away by the quality of fish! The service was a little slow, but they made up for it in friendliness. Beautiful place, beautiful fish and very good looking servers :D
(4)
G. L.
Review for Sushi Only. I went to Shinto recently to continue my hunt for good sushi in the Naperville area (quite a quest btw!) Sushi-wise, I have to say that I have had better... It was just ok... Service seemed a bit green to say the least...? The staff didn't greet me until I was already there for 15 minutes or so... And wasn't really engaged other than "what would you like" and "here it is"... Really the only positive for this place is the atmosphere... Seems like it could be a great place to hang out on a Friday/Saturday night sometime for drinks/the bar... Have to try their teppan food on the hibachi... Maybe things will be different.
(2)
Jill A.
Alright! My hubbs and I went here for our 3rd wedding anniversary. Can someone say FANTASTIC!? We did go on a wed. night - not too busy. We got dressed up and we were afraid we may have over done it, but once inside we fit right in. Very high class, modern, stylish restaurant. We ate both sushi, and hibachi, which both were amazing. We had the lobster and veggies (all cooked perfectly) and we tried a "safe" roll, and we had to try their little delicious roll. Our waiter couldn't have said it better himself when he told us we would have never tried anything like it before. It was fantastic. Our waiter was so knowledgeable about the menu, was super friendly, and accommodating, and offered us free champagne or dessert for our special night. We opted with dessert, however later in the evening when it was time, we thanked him and politely told him no thanks, we were SO stuffed! He was kind enough to let him manager know and she took an additional 10% off our check!! Wonderful service, and great food! We want to go back when we're out that way again, only next time it will be JUST for the sushi - we have to try more!
(5)
Ahmad N.
The place was nice but the specialty sushinrolls had too much mayo and sauce on them.
(3)
John S.
I can't say enough good things about Shinto. First off when you enter the door the decor is great. It feels like you just stepped into a very nice restaurant in Japan. The Dinning room is separated into two sides one side for Sushi and another Habachi side. Last night we choose to do the Habacci side. We also ordered some sushi as an appetizer. I ordered the Filet as my main course with the fried rice. Our Chef was lots of fun and really involved the kids that were sitting at the table with us. My filet was cooked perfectly and had a great taste. I also enjoyed the sushi and it was my first time trying actually sushi. After dinner we decided to have a few drinks at the bar. The bar staff was very friendly. A great experience over all I highly recommend Shinto.
(5)
Jessica G.
Came here as part of a big group for a work dinner. It's pretty standard hibachi - I have not tried the sushi though I have heard it was good. The service was a little slow, though it could have been the fact that we had a very large group of people in there. Our server was very friendly and helpful and was kind enough to bring special dressing out for two people who didn't want the standard ginger. The food is pretty usual for hibachi but I think if I ever eat there again, I will be asking for them to NOT cook my food in a load of garlic butter, which seems to be how they do it there. It's tasty but it was on the greasy side for my liking. I also never did get my rice - the other people at the table all had the fried rice and I had steamed and I think it was just forgotten in there. Drinks took a while to come from the bar but according to the other people at my table, they were good. Overall, an all-right experience.
(3)
Donna S.
Not a good experience. Seated with no place settings. Appetizers came & had to ask for forks and napkins. Server returned with 4 sets of chopsticks but only 3 forks and shrugged it off like oh well & didn't bring another fork (eventually we were brought another fork). Overheard staff talking at next table over about being out of bar glasses. It is 5:15 on a Saturday night... why aren't they prepared? Server removed drink menu with food menus - not too smart if he wanted us to pick out another drink. Dinner vegetable was supposed to be steamed broccoli & carrots but was mostly onions and some broccoli - no carrots. Had to ask three times for food boxes. Initially asked for 3 and explained what was going into each container (my friend also asked for 1). Server returned with 2. Asked for 2 more and again he returned with 1. Had to ask one more time to get my third container. While boxing up our leftovers, someone tried delivering us a place of someone else's food (as if we ordered more food at the end of our meal, yeah right). They seemed confused what table food was to go to. Only plus was server brought me a 'sip' of Saki to try to see if I liked it before ordering a glass (I'd never had Saki before). I wouldn't go back for dinner - service wasn't worth the food price - but would consider having happy hour appetizers in the bar on a Saturday afternoon.
(2)
Minners N.
Coming from the city, I wasn't expecting the best sushi in the suburbs but was pleasantly surprised with the somewhat fresh fish and decent selection of maki. However, considering this is a more "upscale" sushi joint and it's in the burbs, I was expecting immaculate cleanliness. Epic fail. We were lured in by the happy hour deal and were warmly welcomed into the restaurant and seated against the side wall where the seats were heavily worn and in dire need of replacing. The inside pages of the menu had food residues from previous diners as did the sticky table. I ordered a cup of green tea and was quickly given a pot with a glass mug. Without even touching the mug I could see it was not clean so I asked for another cup, hoping it was just a one-time mishap. The second mug still had some leftover residues so I attempted to clean it myself with a wetnap. After one quick swipe, the wetnap was brown. The water glass, which was never filled for us, looked cleaned so I poured the tea into there. From far away everything does look clean, but being the germ-a-phob that I am, I noticed every off detail. The service was decent, though the waitress seemed to know very little about the menu and had to run back to get answers for most every question we had about the menu. This could have been our place to grab a quick sushi dinner, but i grimace just thinking of my experience there and what else was lurking in my food...
(2)
Michelle T.
This is my go-to place on a Friday or Saturday night if I want to sit at the bar, have a good cocktail and eat sushi. The decor is modern and the vibe is neat, especially for being located in a Naperville strip mall. It's not the BEST sushi or hibachi I've ever had but it's still good. Service can be a little slow at times but I'm usually not in a rush when I go there.
(4)
Kristen J.
We just went here for my mother-in-law's birthday a few weeks ago. The ambiance is really chic for Naperville and the food was very, very good. Its pricey, but sushi/hibachi places usually are. I really enjoyed the swordfish and scallops we had for dinner and the rolls we ordered for our appetizer. It was a great time and we plan to go back, you know, when we have $150 laying around. NEW*** we just went back a 2nd time for SUSHI only and it was just okay. Nothing special. And again, a bit over-priced considering it was lack-luster.
(3)
Johanna J.
After a lil rocky start the Shinto made up for it which made for an awesome time. Tried the sushi class with friends and really enjoyed myself. Gustavo was great and made some really good rolls. I would recommend the lil delicious because that it was. I know I will be back again. Next time though I might try it on their jazz night and I hear the hibachi is really good.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Shinto gets 5 stars because I am not a fan of Japanese or sushi - UNTIL I came here. Awesome food, moreover the atmophere is first class. It's not like your typical sushi house; the vibe here is upscale. My husband and I went on a night that they had live entertainment (singers). So if you visit when they have something special going on, you'll want to stay and have a good time. My husband wasn't exactly entranced by the singers that night, but I thought it was super cool. I also ended up meeting the general manager, Dana, at a networking event recently. It was further clear to me why I was so impressed w/ this restaurant.. the Shinto management is awesome!
(5)
Marc L.
Have never had a bad experience here, and are repeat customers. Sushi is awesome and the hibachi grill dishes are delicious, the steak melts in your mouth. Service is always top notch and drinks top off the meal. The kind of hard to get to location, keeps this a bit of a hidden gem.
(5)
Claudia R.
First off...Shinto is in a little strip mall next to Enterprise, so I was not setting my expectations high at all when walking in here. However, I have to say the sushi here is on par with Kiku, my other Naperville fav for Sushi. My friends and I get the Miso Surprise and just love it. The drinks at bar are great too. This place is close to my office and on my way home so I frequently stop by for drinks. I love the Sangria...so yummy and has a kick to it. It is also amusing to watch the Cougurs of Naperville out on the prowl as they flirt with the bartenders. Drinks and laughs after a long day at the office...who could ask for more?
(4)
Albert C.
Unimpressed, at least by the sushi side of things. Located out on the western edge of Naperville, the atmosphere tries very hard to be hip and kewl. Does this fit in Naperville? Not really. It wouldn't necessarily be out of place in River North or Santana Row, however. The interior is split into the teppanyaki side and the sushi lounge. My friends opted for the sushi lounge, which was comfortable enough, though pretty empty on a Thursday night. We started off with the scallop tempura, which was ok taste-wise, but had four rather pitiful looking scallops and a few vegetables. The spicy tuna roll and shrimp tempura roll were pretty standard and decent. The Shinto sushi platter looked promising with a nice variety of fish, but the fish wasn't all that fresh and some of it was decidedly tough. I know that fish just isn't that fresh out in the Midwest but this was a step below what I expected. I *might* come back at some point in the future to check out the teppanyaki side of things, but I can't say that I recommend the sushi... though if you're looking for atmosphere, Shinto has loads of it.
(2)
Ashok S.
Great food and good environment. Service is good. Sushi is decent nothing to brag about. Rolls are good.
(4)
Vanessa R.
Well to start off let me say that our chef was super nice but after that the rest of the staff falls short. Our waitress was nowhere to be found other staff had to try to pick up for her slack. We saw her 2 times during our visit. The horrible part is that because the tip was already included in the bill she walked away with 150 bucks just in tips! The food was average nothing worth the price. Your paying for the show and the fact that its a trendy place!
(2)
Sam R.
We've been to Shinto no less than two dozen times over the last couple of years. Always for sushi-cannot comment on the hibachi side of the restaurant. The sushi, and we have a solid base of experience to draw from, is above average. We went there last night and used our $50 groupon. Nice value for sure. The issue I have is with their inconsistent pricing. Bottles of wine are shown at one price on the menu and then you get the bill and the price is several dollars higher. The same thing with sushi rolls-except the increase may only be a couple dollars. Really? they don't think people see this? By the time we caught it, it was too late-we were already out the door. We ordered "large pours" of wine for a couple extra dollars and we clearly received the regular pour. The server said they would check with the bar- never followed up with us. We'll continue to come to Shinto but ONLY when we have a groupon. Would rather go down the street to Kiku or Wild Tuna.
(2)
Christina C.
The impression when I first walked into Shinto was that it was a really trendy place. It kind of looks like a bar you would in Las Vegas or something. I've been there a few times with family and friends and have had both the sushi and hibachi. The sushi is whatever to me. I got the little delicious and scorpion roll and I personally think my home made sushi taste almost the same which isn't saying much. Now the hibachi is pretty good. I shared the scallops, chicken, and steak combo with my cousin and it was yummy :) The chefs are great and definitely do a good job entertaining. Another plus is not smelling like food when you walk out. Oh, and the calamari appetizer is pretty good too. It was a tad bit soggy when we got it but the sweet sauce they use is very tasty. I have gone at least 4 or 5 times. The sushi is average but the hibachi is good. I'd rather go to Sushi Yama in Geneva for sushi. My friends and family go here a lot, so its the only reason why I go.
(3)
Mike T.
We had a coupon to go here so we decided to go on a random weeknight, close to closing time. If we didn't have a coupon, I might not have found this place. It was hard to find because I must have gotten the address wrong and you can not easily get around the busy route 59. We ordered way too much food though and I felt like exploding. The appetizer was good and the rolls' portions was huge.
(4)
Chole L.
I went there to eat bec i got a $25 certificate from restaurant.com . Food wasn't that great compared to other sushi restaurants. Service was good tho. I would recommend others to try it but i don't think i would go back there again.
(3)
Warren C.
New look for an old style restaurant. Modern style of Benihana's. Bar was nice and good service. The food is good as well. I had the yellow fin tuna on the hibachi grill. Sides are typical, like Benihana, with rice and veggies. Over all a nice place with good food.
(5)
Amy E.
My boyfriend and I are regulars here. Great vibe, LOVE the sashimi. Try the Delicious Roll if you're new to sushi- it's got a lot of flavor and tastes great on any palate.
(4)
Ming C.
Not bad. I came all the way from chicago downtown to Naperville to dine out at this place. I love the Hibachi style and the food is very good. Really wish there is one in downtown chicago.
(4)
Liz B.
Came here on a "date" with my best friend because she had a goupon. We made a reservation early (6:30), but we got a little lost because this place is very difficult to find if you're not familiar with Naperville (FYI, it's behind a gas station). The restaurant was enormous and people were everywhere. I did not expect 6:30 to be a busy restaurant time. We got our table and our waiter was very nice, but I think he was a little overwhelmed. It was really dark in there too, maybe good for a romantic setting but it was way too big with too much going on to be intimate. The food and martinis were great. If it was closer to me, I'd go again, but I wasn't blown away by it.
(4)
Paul P.
This place has a contemporery feel and decor. I sat in the bar as always. I did not had any traditonal sushi, but their specilty rolls are awsome! The service at the bar was very good, but there was no one else there at the time. The beer is better than most for a Japanese place. Drink selection is very good. Thay have an extencive cocktail menu. I would go back for the sushi anytime. The prices are steep, but they have to pay for the decor somehow. Well kept restrooms are a plus.
(4)
MeLissa H.
If I could live here, I would! Their food is to die for! I never had a bad experience in the two years of coming here and that's at least 30 times, more than enough to dent the wallet. Pricey but excellent quality food. I always have leftover hibachi and the chefs are wonderful even if "new" at their tricks.
(5)
Cb L.
Chris is the best at the bar. Makes the experience worth every penny.
(5)
David L.
I wasn't sure what to expect going in here other than that it looked like a fun, cool place from the outside. It's very spacious with plenty of seating, but is actually kind of quaint. They have a circular bar which provides for good conversation and the $5 Monday Martini special-Grey Goose a little dirty for me-came as a great surprise! Nice pour by the bartender! We had sushi and hibachi items and all were very good. I would suggest the Caterpillar roll as an appetizer and steak and scallops for dinner. The grilled scallops were tender and very, very good! The wait staff and manager were very attentive, always making sure we had everything we needed but not being pests. Last but not least, the hibachi grill chef-I doubt that's his title-was funny and entertaining.
(4)
Kathleen G.
Really awesome sushi and atmosphere. My favorite in Naperville.
(4)
Chris W.
We love sushi and hibachi, and have been here several times previously, dining both at a hibachi and at a sushi table. Last night was our most recent trip. We decided to do hibachi. The food and service were excellent! The hibachi chef was entertaining, and our waiter was very attentive - quickly whisking away empty plates, and refilling water and other beverages promptly. The alchololic drinks are a bit pricy, but we had a Groupon which made the price of the experience much more palateable. Overall, we enjoy this restaurant and will go back.
(4)
Terry P.
My first time here. First I am not a fan of restaurants in strip malls. That being said this place was nicely done. However, please loose the Ghetto Rap Dance Music. At least play some relaxing oriental music in the background. The food was good, but a bit pricey for a Benihana want-to-be. I may go back again.
(3)
J Mae S.
First of all, I am a sushi newbie. That being said, I have visited Shinto a few months ago with one group of friends and made a return today for my birthday. 3 of my friends are sushi fans and frequent other sushi joints around our area. I asked, "what makes sushi good or bad?" Their response was the fish needs to be fresh (no odors), rice sticky and not hard, and veggies fresh. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box which was pretty tasty. The fish was fresh and I finished almost the entire meal. My friends ordered the beef negimaki bento box, chicken yaki udon, steak & shrimp combination hibachi, and steak hibachi. The 3 friends were more than satisfied with their meals. We chose Shinto because we had a $25 (for $50) Groupon. They honored our Groupon without any hesitation and allowed us to order sushi and not hibachi in the hibachi area (although 2 friends did order hibachi). **I must note that the half-price sushi starts @ 2p.m. on Saturdays. We also ordered the "Little" Delicious Roll, which was very delicious, but the waitress could have pointed out that we would have received half-price on that specialty roll if we had ordered one beverage (and saved $7.50 in the process). I will return again, especially for half-price sushi with a Groupon, but even without a Groupon, the sushi is good enough for a return visit.
(4)
Melanie P.
Although it's not easy to get into this restaurant if you are heading on Rt. 59 southbound, I do really like the location. The dining area is huge--hibatchi to the left, sushi to the right, and a gorgeous bar in the center. I've only tried the sushi side because it is just that damn good. I like hibatchi, too, but now I am hooked on the sushi here and am working my way through their specialty rolls. I love the twinkling table tops and the dinnerware. The miso soup is the best I have ever had and it is served in lovely green glazed ceramic bowls with matching spoons--no plastic spoons with yucky decals on them here! They have no problem accommodating someone with a gluten free/dairy free diet. The wait staff has always been friendly and never messed up an order. We like to go on Saturday afternoons when they have great specials. We never have to wait for a table. The points card, cleanliness, and super friendly staff keeps me coming back, too. No problem finding parking, which can be the case at Sushi House in downtown Naperville.
(5)
Wendy F.
We went to Shinto this past weekend - and while the food and service were as great as ever - they definitely have a problem with their A/C when the temp gets in the 90's. We were there about 6pm - and the bar and sushi area was comfortable, but as soon as you went into the hibachi grill area - it was HOT! Our poor chef was so hot and miserable - and it felt very warm to us, even just sitting still. They need to put in fans and/or boost the A/C for hot days!
(4)
Aaron G.
Amazing!!! Best Japanese steak house around. The environment is amazing and staff is great too.
(5)
Rich K.
I really enjoyed Shinto. The food quality is top notch. I think the performance by the cooks is better here than at other locations.
(3)
Janis T.
Food was just okay, but very deseptive advertising. Had a double take deal coupons for $40 which was of no use since you can't use on any specials or happy hour. Coupon does NOT state this nor did the waitress tell us when we started ordering. So what was suppose to cost us an additional $30 ended up to be $112. Manager pretty much ignored us, would not go back. Buyer Beware.
(1)
Vicki R.
I've been to Shinto twice now.. first time was okay 2nd time was terrible the waitress forgot our appetizer then she forgot 1 of our rolls when we finally got the appetizer and not till after she brought us the bill did she realize that she had forgotten half of our order.. We only visited Shinto again because it's so close to home. From now on I'd rather take the 30 minute drive and visit Kinta, Orchid, Tokyo Bay , Wild Tuna or Swordfish... They are definitely worth the drive.
(2)
Ryan R.
My wife and I were excited to try this out because it had been recommended by a friend but we ended up really disappointed. The decor was very nice and modern and it was very clean, but the food was very over priced and the service was poor. To elaborate on the food, my wife and I both ordered from the hibachi menu. She ordered chicken and I ordered steak and scallops. The steak was a poor cut of meat that turned out to be mostly fat and gristle and the scallops were over cooked to the point that they were very chewy and hard to cut. Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way is that it cost an additional $3 just to get fried rice. All in all the food was expensive, not well prepared, and I got less food at Shinto than I have at any other hibachi restaurant. Now for the service, the chef was polite and likable, but our server was missing in action. One of the other guests at the table ordered a beer as the salads were brought out and never received it because she never came back to the table. She was to busy doing sake bombs with another table. Fifteen minutes after dinner was complete and the table had been cleared I had to hunt down the manager in order to pay our bill. I don't think that we will be trying this restaurant again.
(1)
Kate D.
Update: awful first dining-in experience. Carried out lots since then but just gave them another dine-in chance this weekend. Hostess was friendly but had no idea how to judge what the wait was. The couple in front of us had been told it was 15 minutes and ordered from the bar after 45 minutes went by. We didn't chance it and ordered from the bar right away. The bartender had the most manicured eyebrows I've ever seen! Oh and he was attentive and did a good job. Our sushi was delish. There was a $5 Belvedere you-call-it special so I took advantage of that. It was a positive experience and earned them an updated review from me. It's a bit pricey and the hostesses still need some polishing but Shinto deserves a solid 3 star "a-ok."
(3)
Erin S.
Here's a letter I wrote to the GM after a horrible experience: I wanted to write because I am concerned. I give you my history because I would like for you to understand my concern from a person who has come to Shinto from the beginning and has worked for 13 years in the restaurant business, as a hostess, server, manager and event planner, at some great restaurants with outstanding service in the Western Suburbs. My mom and I came in tonight (Wednesday 8/29) around 5:00pm. There were zero people on the patio, and maybe 4 people in the bar and 2 people in the dining room. The hostess (a blonde girl I believe) was very friendly and very welcoming. We asked if we could have "Happy Hour" on the patio and she said "Of course!" We were seated on the patio and the gentleman that seated us allowed us to choose our seat, and was very nice to put up the umbrella to block out the crazy sun! :) Next, a bartender came out and delivered our water with cucumber and asked to take our drink order- he explained he wouldn't be taking our order, but he wanted us to make sure we had our drinks. He realized that we didn't have a drink menu, so he left to grab one, and less than 15 seconds later came back with a drink menu! Yay! :) Then the server came out. She brought out another drink menu, which was nice, so we each had one. HOWEVER, there were 2 pages missing in the drink menu. She asked if we needed to order drinks yet, and we didn't so she went back inside. She came back and took our drink order- A glass of Cupcake Pinot Noir and a Dragonberry Mojito (I think). At the same time, we ordered Tempura Avocado. The server was making a squinted face, and was covering up her eyes because it was bright out- but she wasn't doing this discreetly- it was like she was being blinded. We were deciding on our main order, and she came back (no drinks, no appetizers yet) and asked if we were ready to order. We weren't. And then she proceeded to sneeze a HUGE sneeze very dramatically (away from us, thank goodness) but bending over, saying "HACHOO!" very loudly and flipping her hair. Then she left. She came back 2 minutes later (still no drinks, no appetizers) and again asked if we were ready to order. (Squinting like she was being blinded, with her eyes almost closed and her arm over her eyes) We gave her the sheet we filled out as the Avocados were being placed on our table. (Still no drinks). We did not have plates, silverware, or chopsticks- so we asked for all of these things. The soy sauce cups were on the table, stacked... and one had a big chip out of it. The Tempura Avocado was sitting there, our server said she would go and get the utensils. So we sat. And sat... and sat... for at LEAST 3 minutes. I said to my mom, "I bet she's putting the order in" So I got up, went inside to the bartender (Glancing over to see our server put her order pad in her apron after entering things in the computer) and asked the bartender for napkins and utensils. Our server came hustling over saying "I got it! I got it! I was just getting your drinks to bring out with it!" (Yes, we still hadn't received our glass of wine or mojito!!!!!). --I'm sorry, I was always taught that a guest request supercedes any other item you need to do. Even further than that, you NEVER EVER put food on a table without all the instruments with which to eat it. EVER. The fact that we sat without means to eat a warm appetizer is unacceptable. The fact that our appetizer touched our table BEFORE we received our drinks is even more unacceptable-- After she brought out the utensils (fork had dried food on it that I just chipped off) we ate our appetizer- but didn't have share plates. We also would have wanted some wasabi, but we actually said to each other that we shouldn't bother asking because it would take too long to get it. We were then served our food, which was very good (Little Delicious Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Goyza and Tuna Nigiri). I had a little drama with a bee, so we moved inside and we sat at the bar. My mom's Beef dish came out, and she was very pleased with it. HOWEVER. I think my mom had one bite of beef, and I still had several pieces of sushi on my plate and our server kept asking if we wanted to order more... and when we finally said no, she said "Well, how about dessert?" I was FUMING. This was NOT a Saturday night, you didn't have a line out the door, we were sitting at the bar, there were plenty of seats. WHY is she asking about dessert when we're not even close to finished with dinner/happy hour!!!!! THEN, to top it all off... SHE BROUGHT US THE CHECK!! Are you joking?! That was the last straw for me. My mom and I left her a 15% tip on the discounted, happy hour price. I would like you to know that I fully well know that a tip should be at least 20%... and that you should tip on the PRE-discounted prices. And you know what, 99.9% of the time I do. But your server really earned that 15%. (I wrote more, but this is all I could fit)
(2)
Blanca R.
I have eaten here a couple of times, and have never been disappointed. The only problem, is that they are never very busy, which makes me worry. I loved the Mexican roll. Hibachi was quite fun too...loved the scallops. All in all, the service is great, and it's a great place to go with a group. Oh..,.by the way...definitely get the dessert! They are all good.
(4)
Mehmet C.
We just went there, this will certainly be one of our favorite sushi places; great rolls, great ambiance and service.
(4)
Kristie S.
Positives: EXCELLENT, FRESH food in an exceptional atmosphere Negatives: Poor service - The sushi wait staff doesn't know the menu. They mess up orders, and they aren't attentive.
(4)
Loryn R.
I've been to shinto a few times, mainly because they had certificates on restaurant.com (which later seemed to be an issue). My first experience here was not good. The food was so-so, nothing mind blowing and the service was beyond less than par (which has not improved). I hadn't gone here for some time and decided to try it again to see if they had improved any. I will admit the sushi DID get a lot better, but it's hard to balance that out with the always terrible service i receive. The order of the menu can be slightly confusing when you see sushi rolls then appetizers and then specialty rolls. They need a better order to that. Also, the ordering menu itself doesn't even have all of the rolls you can order. I'm always having to write in what I want on the side and hope they don't forget. I've waited a great deal of time for my appetizer which came after the sushi came. Apparently someone had forgot to put my order in. Our waitress almost never comes back to check if we need anything or refill our water (I don't drink pop, sorry if you're not making money off my free water). All in all, the sushi has improved and I'd really like to try the hibachi. As for the service, it's still TERRIBLE. There are much better places in Naperville for sushi. I recommend going to Yamado where you get GREAT personal service.
(2)
Ashley B.
One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Naperville!
(4)
Tanida B.
Don't waste your time here. Obnoxious staff and food to boot.
(1)
Brenda V.
Nice surprise in the burbs. Food and cocktails are delicious, service is perfect. I loved the dj spinning in the middle of the resaurant, very rock n' sushi..
(5)
Justin T.
I got to say, this is by far one of the best sushi restaurants in this end of town. The service was great, the whole staff was very friendly, especially Cami our waitress. The rolls were priced fairly average compared to the other sushi establishments in Naperviile and surrounding areas. The best rolls have to be the fire and ice roll, dragon roll, etc. If you are looking for a new sushi restaurant and are sick of the pre-made Jewel made junk. Come here!
(5)
James K.
I tried it for the 1st time and if it weren't for the happy hour specials and good sushi I probably wouldn't go back. The Hibachi Chef needed more practice on how to entertain the guests. He wasn't very skilled but the food was good. The server didn't come over much and when she did was forgetful. All in all it was ok but had better.
(3)
Agnes S.
Very bad, only the rolls were good though it is not typical, imagine a roll mixed with some ingredients fried in tempura batter. On the other hand sushi, sashimi, and beef were poor quality. For example beef had tough parts and salmon had an after taste. The lunch sashimi bento box only had six small pieces. Also service was very poor and slow. We came right as they opened for lunch, we were the only patrons. Food came in a careless order. At that point three other small groups had arrived. We asked for the bill, were seemingly ignored by the hostess, asked again this time the waiter. In total we waited 12 minutes for the bill. By that point two more parties had arrived, though larger. It took another 8 minutes after we gave the credit card for the waiter to return it so that we could leave. In that time the waiter threw away the vegetables I asked to have boxed. mzs
(1)
daniela m.
good food very slow service. plus i was charged for somenthing i didn`t order or got, and music was so loud my date and i had to leave ,wi didn`t even finished ouar drinks. a dont think wi will be back
(3)
Keir H.
Hmmm. If I had been writing this a few months ago it would have been four stars but the last few times I have been there have been disappointing and I am now taking a break... Me and the boy-toy love sushi and this place is practically across the street. First experience was great...they were not not busy and the place was a little empty. Livens up weekends and late when they have events going on. The banquet seating along the wall is too low for the tables and you will feel like your a little kid eating. But the food and friendly service more than made up for it. As well as the cute bartender who sent over a tasty libation with compliments. They have some good creative rolls, nice presentation and tasty seaweed salad. Not huge on hibachi but the few times we have done it here were good. Came here for hibachi for my friend's birthday in Feb. and the chef was hilarious and so was our waiter. Fun time. Good place to just go sit at the bar and have a drink, small bite and catch up. (for whatever reasons the acoustics of the bar allow you to hear the people across from you conversations...anyway...) Then something changed...mainly food quality wise. Fish not tasting as fresh. I made the mistake of ordering the baby octopus salad...oh my...first thought with the lighting and the sauce it looked like a bowl of bloody rabbit fetuses. Agedashi Tofu very disappointing, gave it another chance and it was worse. We'll go back and see if they are on their back on their game...in awhile.
(3)
Simon C.
For the price they charge, I expect more. I've been there 4 times, which I found pretty amazing that I went back three times. Now I'm pretty sure they're just not on par with other higher end sushi restaurant in terms of food and service. First time there, we had hibachi. The cook was a newbie and he didn't know ANY tricks. He wasn't even very good at cooking. He forgot my egg yolk on my shrimps so he basically just put some egg yolk on the grill, cooked it a little with oil, and put that oily patch of soggy yellow slime on my plate... Not professional. Second time there for hibachi for my cousin's birthday. The waiter was barely legal and he didn't know much about beer. I order a Tsing Tao. He hesitated for a moment and said ok. Well, he brought me a "Tiger". He was also not very attentive. We constantly need to ask him to refill our glasses with water. Third time there for sushi. Service was ok this time. We ordered some rolls and sushis. I found a piece of salmon bone in our roll. It was as big as a toothpick. We complained to the waitress and we got another roll free of charge. But still, that was pretty gross. We were also lucky that we were not with little kids who could easily choke on that big piece of bone. Fourth time there, which would also be my last time, was just unacceptable. We didn't know what to eat in Naperville at 9:30pm so we would like to give Shinto another try. Upon sitting down, our waitress greeted us promptly and politely. My wife even secretly asked for a dessert for my birthday. We placed our order. Then, for the next 25 minutes, we had not seen the waitress. It was a slow Tuesday evening. It was the bartender who finally realize our drinks had been sitting at the bar for like 20 minutes and he brought us our drink and he asked if we place the order already. We told him what we ordered. He tried to find the waitress but she was nowhere to be found so the bartender brought us the soups. Another waitress brought us some sushis. As we were eating, our waitress finally showed up with another plate of sushi. She did not offer an apology. Then she disappeared again for 30 minutes. I asked another waitress for the bill and the manager. The manager came and apologize and took care of our entire bill plus a $25 gift card for future visit. Ok whatever we took that and stood up. Oh my waitress showed up again and told us she was about to bring out the cake. My wife and I was like it didn't even matter anymore. You just ruined our evening. At the end, that waitress did NOT offer any kind of apology. I don't see any more good reason of going back. Even with that $25 gift card.
(1)
Cindy P.
love the decor my bf and i went on valentines day and had bought the $50 for $25 certificate on yelp and they still accepted it even though it was valentines day the food was good and i just couldnt beat the price thanks to the coupon.
(4)
Suzanne T.
Brad and Brian rocked as the staff. Went for a birthday party!! So much fun !! Great food and presentation
(5)
Joedel G.
I got a deal from Groupon thats why we came to this place. We've seen this place before but never visited. As soon as we entered we were greeted right away and given an option for a hibachi or sushi, we've choosen sushi since I have always a craving for this. Our server came and gave us some menu options since our first time on that place. His name is Kevin and he even asked me if we have groupon. Very pleasant and attentive server. We ordered a couple of drinks, the sake was good, not overwhelming, of course my wife had a moscato d' asti her favorite. We ordered a teriyaki glazed calamari which is very tender and sweet, I liked it. Kevin recommended the Geisha sushi platter and I upgraded it with some red and white tuna sashimi, yumm..really the white tuna melts in my mouth, very fresh and tasty. The Geisha is very good, i like the salmon mixed it with some crispy shrimp and lightly covered with creamy ingredients, the texture is phenominal. The vegetable tempura is just okay. Kevin is so good that he even poured my Sapporo nicely to the glass, very smooth and perfect for the sushi. This place is spacious and not crowded, parking is easy, price is not so bad, $ 100 a dinner for two. Recommended and I will come back.
(4)
James H.
Took my family there in October 2011, two of us got food poisoning from steak. We called to inform them and did not receive a call back. A friend went last week and got food poisoning after eating sushi. Will never go back here again.
(1)
Tina P.
Expensive menu items in a crowded, club-like atmosphere. A little to trendy for my taste, with the dance music blaring louder than the conversation. In all honestly there are better Japanese Steakhouses for your money. The food is comparable to other Hibachi places in the area-maybe even a little better-but it did not make up for the long wait and poor service. We made reservations for 8pm and were not seated until 8:30. The Hibachi chef did not show up for another 40 minutes after that. When he did show up, he was not playful or funny like a typical Hibachi chef. There was no smiling and no throwing of shrimp, etc. The sushi was very tasty, but extremely overpriced at $15 per roll. When the meal was finally finished, we were there two and a half hours, with no apology from the waitstaff or management. I would definitely recommend other popular Hibachi restaurants in the Fox Valley area over this one.
(2)
Cecille A.
I've been to this place twice since they opened. It's a very nice and spacious place compared to other sushi places I've been to in the area. It has a very trendy and contemporary vibe, like you're at a nightclub in the city. The circular bar area is cool and I like the bamboo decor I went, when it wasn't very busy... maybe 3 or 4 other guests, but it was the middle of the afternoon. The sushi that we ordered was very good. I like that there is a huge selection on their menu. Overall, it was a good experience and I'd come back again.
(4)
Vladimir D.
first Let me state that I'm a pretty laid back, easy to please person. I called on Friday night to make a reservation for the next weds at 8pm, and told the woman on the phone that we wanted to do hibachi, but were not sure if it would be possible since i have an allergy to shellfish, and cant have anything even PREPPED on the same table as shellfish, she assured me this wouldn't be a problem. i also asked if our party of three was enough for hibachi, as some places are anywhere from 6-12 per table. she swore up and down it was fine, and we would have a table reserved. i told her on the phone that i did not want to have to wait for more than 5 minutes for a table as it was my girlfriends GOLDEN birthday (28). again, she swears up and down it wont be a problem. i figure OK great. we show up at 7:45pm (a bit early), but we both got done with our earlier plans. I was a bit taken back by the fact they were blasting techno dance music in there. as if the bar and restaurant were some trendy upscale night club (news flash, YOU'RE NOT). i wanted to leave and go to the Palmer house, where i could have gotten my usual table, but she really wanted sushi and heard great things about Shinto. so the two of us went in (her best friend had a sick kid, so 1 less in our party). i was told by the hostess that they were waiting for the table to clear and it would be about 15mins before we were seated. OK since we were early. but 8:05 comes around and no seating. i take a quick gander in the hibachi section, and not only are there open tables/grills, but NO TABLE is done eating or being cleaned. wtf?? i asked how long it would be, and she said again, 10 minutes. i was ready to leave but since my gf had her heart set on Shinto, and its her birthday we stayed around. we were not seated until 8:35pm (i was checking my watch the whole time). two other couples who had made reservations were seated with us, and had been waiting almost as long. why this was necessary was never explained to me, as they had plenty of open grills and tables. we were brought some water and told our waiter would be by shortly. 25mins later, a hostess came by and took our drink orders cause the waiter never came by. we waited 18minutes before our drinks came, and even then there was no soda of any kind cause they had no Co2. wtf kind of place has this issue at 8:30 on a weds night? finally at 9:04pm she came back and took our orders. again my gf mentioned my shellfish allergy and we were told no problem. our chef came out with everything ready to go, only to find the grill hadn't been turned on. i mean seriously now, WTF!!!! i flat out said out loud "we should have went to the Palmer house" i was quite loud and i know everyone in hibachi heard me. i was (and still am) quite pissed about this. i realize its not the chefs fault but seriously who runs this place, a chimp?? so after our brief show, we were served our food (which was really good, i will commend the chef on that. When we were given plates, i noticed that there was something or other on my girlfriends (and also on 2 other plates at the table) and it took 5 minutes for them to bring clean dishes to us. i mean who wants to eat on dirty dishes in a supposedly upscale restaurant? i can not forgive the horrible service that night. the manager on duty came by and took off all the drinks for the whole table (which was separate checks) which i was also quick to point out to him we never got more than one drink. seriously she had A BEER and i had A MARTINI. never offered another drink, refill, anything of the such. not even another water..and i had asked for one 2 times. so he also gave us a complimentary sushi roll. which would have been fine except for 1 important detail which he neglected to mention when asked, there is SHELLFISH IN THE SUSHI ROLLS. so after a shit-tastic night costing me 59.00, i had to go to the emergency room because of either 1) ignorance, or 2) laziness, and almost died. thank you Shinto for ruining my girlfriends golden birthday and damn near killing me in the process.
(1)
Laura T.
I absolutely love Shinto! Their sushi and hibachi are always delicious, the service outstanding, and the ambiance very relaxing ... especially after a long day at work. You would never know such a nice restaurant was located in an unflattering strip mall off of a busy intersection on Rt 59. I'd say that's it's only downfall. I've gone there after work with my husband and friends for dinner and drinks, and I've also brought my family, including small children who absolutely loved watching the very entertaining and talented hibachi chefs, and my father who doesn't like anything but homemade italian food ... Everyone was pleased! I also always find coupon deals on restaurant.com which really helps with the cost. Unfortunately, most good sushi is on the pricey side, so that helps.
(4)
Niki M.
uhh I feel sick. We just ate there tonight and let me tell you... not so good. The sushi in one word gross. Either way to much cream cheese or no flavor at all. We also had hibachi grill...horrible. The fried rice was flavorless and i had garlic shrimp, basically i do not recommend that, i cant even explain the flavor. We normally eat at Kiku (view my other review) and kiku is way way way better. Not only is the food gross but it is way overpriced 190 for 4 of us. Seriously skip shinto an try kiku.
(1)
Dee E.
I went to Shinto for the first time tonight and I really enjoyed it! I like Kiku, but I think I prefer Shinto. Sushi rolls are original and high quality. The cocktails are killer. I recommend and will definitely be back.
(4)
Yvonne M.
Went here on Tuesday which is $12 hibachi day!! The food was wonderful, the service was good and the overall atmosphere was fantastic! We had a really good time and I'd like to go back soon!
(5)
G L.
We had lunch at Shinto and unfortunately we were really disappointed--there is much better sushi in Naperville and I would drive the extra mile to find it. The waitress and staff were very friendly which actually saved the place; however, the fish was, well, just bad. When you pay $17 for a roll, I expect not only really great, high quality fish, I also expect to get a fair amount of it. (As an aside, $17 for a roll is crazy expensive--even Japonais doesn't step on the price that much! . . .lol Unfortunately, the sushi chefs that prepared the rolls the day we were there were very, very light on the fish. In defense of Shinto, it seems like it may be a fun place to grab drinks at the huge bar and we did not dine in the Hibachi room--so the cooked food may be better. If I were to go back, (albeit not likely) I would go that route and avoid the sushi all together.
(2)
Mark P.
I signed up to Yelp just to comment on this restaurant. We have visited several Japanese restaurants as it is our favorite fare and I must say, this is the worst we have been to. Our favorite is "Ron of Japan" and we frequent "Tairyo" as we know the manager and the food is good. The sushi here was decent, but there was fish eggs on the california roll and our kids would not eat it. Never saw that before. The cook was arrogant and not very helpful. Not a very good cook either. The fried rice was flavorless, except for the fact that there was way too much salt. $11.00 for a small sake? Crazy! It was over $200 for two adults and two kids under twelve. My wife ordered a Lobster tail and they brought two tiny tails. They charged us $48 for "Twin Lobster tails". The Chicken was drowned in sauce. They didn't even have Katsup, which my 8-year old likes with her chicken. It was really just a bad experience. The waitress was decent enough. Definitely not worth the Money and the portions are small. Will not return. Sorry. There are much, much better places.
(1)
Fozzy B.
I was put off by how the "greeter" asked if we had a reservation. We said no, she says nothing and makes a dumbfounded expression. Then she and her two associates decide to speak after several seconds of silence. They say you can sit at the sushi bar "it's cramped but it's open there". We pass and say we want an actual table. They ask "sushi or other". We say both. They are dumbfounded and begin to ask us the same question three times. I guess it's too hard to get a table for two and be served sushi and beef at the same time. I understand the concept of hibachi, but that's not the point here. Then after getting through to them, they say a wait time of 20 min. We say that's fine and stand there. Since the "greeters" did not even try to say "go ahead and have a drink at the bar and I will come over to let you know when the table is ready", we go ahead ourselves. Bartender was excellent and nice. "Greeter" says "table ready" and heads us over to hibachi grill. Uh ok. We just wanted a freakin table for two. WTF. Server was excellent though. But sushi was ok (hit or miss). Meat was standard. Price was high for a joint sandwiched between the gas station and rental car. Do a favor to yourself and check out Zaidi's Sushi & Steak further south on 59 rt. They are what Shinto is striving to be. Shinto ownership must realize the importance of a welcoming atmosphere BEFORE getting seated. This is fine in the city, but when half the clientele is over 50 in a Eddie Bauer parka, they should recognize what they're doing behind that gas station over there. Enough said.
(2)
Kush D.
Pretty sub par when it comes to Teppanyaki. Felt rushed...how many times have your gone to a Teppanyaki joint, and finished in a 35 minutes? Food was very bland. The ginger sauce left much to be desired. If you're coming from the city or north, head to Tsukasa or Ron of Japan instead.
(2)
Chris R.
Love this place!!! They offer an extensive menu and everything we ordered was delicious. The decor is very modern and there is separate seating areas for dining options. Only complaint- the lights are very dim. If you like sushi this is the place in Naperville!
(5)
Stephanie C.
I made a reservation at Shinto for my friends bachelorette party for 7 people. They asked if I wanted them to decorate for me before I got there so I agreed, and they did an awesome job! They put out balloons, confetti and cute favors for everybody, and they didn't even charge me for it! The waiter was fantastic, and I really wish I remember his name. He was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu, including the massive list of delicious drinks, and made great recommendations. We ordered the party platter of sushi, which included chef's choice of nigiri and sashimi, plus you were able to choose 5 rolls to add - a luxury that's not afforded at most sushi restaurants. All the food was great and the presentation was perfect - also, all for $90!! For serving 5-6 people at a sushi restaurant, the price can't be beat. The inside is very trendy and made for a fun atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anybody and will definitely be going back. Thanks Shinto!!
(5)
Dwayne H.
I concur with previous reviews that this is pretty standard stuff. The only problem I had was that the service was really off that night...mostly the sequencing of dishes. The restaurant has a great open feeling to it though I'm not a fan of the fake bamboo--that stuff grows like a weed, so why not the real thing?! The bar area looked neat--big, circular bar with good lighting. Our waiter, Frankie, was very nice, but we got the feeling that he was rather new. He couldn't answer many questions about the dishes and what was included. We were a table of three. We ordered appetizers. Two of us ordered one of the sushi-sashimi combination dinners and the other had the terriyaki salmon. The menu indicated the sushi-sashimi platter was for two people with miso soup and salad included. Frankie told us later that it was either or after having brought us the soup (onion vice the miso which was awful--tasted like salted beef broth). Soup and edamame came out first followed by the main courses and then the other appetizer. The salmon terriyaki was rather flavorless. Everything seemed to arrive within about a 10 minute span of time. I'd recommend ordering as you want to be served to prevent this from happening. The highlight of the evening though was that they offered 1/2 price wine on Thursday nights and the selection/prices were very reasonable. Skip the Japanese tempura-style ice cream desserts. It comes out as an oil-soaked, soggy casing over rather bland vanilla ice cream.
(2)
Mike U.
My second time here, went just to the Sushi bar. Some pretty interesting rolls available, but the more basic stuff like the sashimi and nigiri itself were kind of average. Last time I was here we had the Habachi which was pretty good, a couple of notches above a Benihana, but I'm still on the look out for a knockout sushi place in the west burbs.
(3)
a n.
This place has amazing Hibachi and Sushi. Great place to go to for happy hours right after work and before 7pm, and their Sunday & Monday sushi specials is a great value. Glad we found it in it's semi hidden location.
(4)
Andi B.
Bought the groupon for Shinto despite all the negative reviews. I thought this place was great! We went late on a Sunday afternoon and the service was excellent and fast. The prices seemed a bit pricey but probably about the same as other sushi places in Naperville. The nigiri was perfect. The seaweed salad was yummy. We tried the Little Delicious Roll, which was awesome with a little kick. The only negative was the spicy tuna roll. My boyfriend gets the spicy tuna roll every sushi place we go and he said theirs was a bit too spicy. He loves spicy food, but thought it was too spicy for sushi. Wish we bought more groupons, but will definitely go back - they have plenty of special rolls to try. The decor was stylish and modern, but there was a fountain that was a bit too loud. Overall if you are concerned with having a fast dinner, try going at an off-peak time. Delicious sushi - we even saw a sign that they offer sushi making classes that we will look into doing sometime too!
(4)
Ashley G.
The sushi and hibachi are great. the smokless tables don't leave you clothes and hair smelling like oil and smoke. they have a huge cocktail and wine list as well, so there is something for everyone. Great place to go with a group of people.
(5)
Andrew T.
$12 dinner specials, Tuesday wine deals and happy hour sushi and appetizers (M-F 3-6pm, Saturday 2-5pm). On top of all this, the hibachi is great, the cooks put on a great show and the food is awesome. Our waiter even gave us a round of sake bombs on the house. The service is great, and they also have drink specials M-Th. I generally go for their drink specials and a little sum'n sum'n to munch on. They have a long list of sushi and maki to order from. The prices are a little steep, but are worth it. Having worked in a Japanese restaurant before, I tend to be critical of sushi/maki and this place makes the cut. The atmosphere is dim and trendy. There are two dining areas, one for hibachi, one for dining, and a bar in the middle that is very picturesque. The bar has great drink selections, and the bartenders are always more than willing to make recommendations. The cocktails always hit the spot, and are made very well. Classy, trendy and hip.
(3)
Mary W.
Servers Kevin and Alex are great. Disappointed in cleanliness tonight. In addition, when we walked in tonight the hostess was on phone. No problem except it was a personal call and she didn't stop the conversation. We asked for a table and she didn't know where to put us!?? Only 2 chefs for a very busy night. There was a table of employees "whining" behind a curtain right next to our table. Very disappointed. Too much $ for dirty dishes and unattentive staff except for our waiter and chef Juan who tried very hard.
(2)
Tami P.
Shintos is a hidden gem. Great food, nice atmosphere & fabulous staff!! By far, the best sushi place in the burbs:) I refer ppl to go here all the time and I go on a regular basis because it's so great!
(5)
Hayley H.
Although expensive, this trendy spot was a great! The design is stunning, the waiters, friendly and fun. Ask for a saki bomb and watch the fun ensue. The chef's were entertaining and worth every penny. Great place to celebrate any occasion, I went for my birthday and got a special treat at the end.
(4)
Nicole D.
I went to Shinto on Wednesday with a friend and we wanted to take advantage of the Happy Hour offerings of discounted sushi & appetizers. Once we were sat we were given a sheet to fill out with our choices. One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when a server does not educate you on portions and just lets you order away only thinking about $$$ and not about making sure we have a good experience. First the drink we were told was on special that day ended up not being on special so the server just brought us some other mixed drink and said if we wanted the other we'd have to pay full price. Now to me the right thing to do would have been to give us the drink SHE mistakenly told us was on special and then if we wanted more that would be on us to pay full price. Food started coming out in a timely manner, however I was a but disappointed that yet agian our server did not take the time to make sure we got a variety of things off our list, instead we were stuck eating all our fried options together and by the time the sushi showed up maybe 30 mins later we were totally full. LITERALLY at least 5 times throughout our time there different servers/ food runners attempted to drop off plates of food that were not ours, VERY annoying to continually be interrupted to have to stop them from putting the food down on our table. Not once did our server stop by to acknowledge this repeated issue. Overall the food was good, our server was friendly, but there were definitely some things lacking from my experience. I'm not sure that I would go back to Shinto anytime soon, I honestly thought it fell a bit flat for the expectations I had of it.
(2)
Kelli C.
I enjoyed my experience at Shinto, but I can't say it was fantastic. I went for a birthday dinner with the parents and we did the hibachi. Our servers were incredibly attentive and spot on, but our chef just did not interact with our table at all. It didn't feel like he really put on a show. He did the knives, onion volcano, egg trick and then cooked our food. That was pretty much it. I would have liked to see more, especially with the price of the food. The onion soup you get before the meal was very good and the salad was pretty tasty. While the food was very good and they do you give you a lot it, I would have liked to have had a better hibachi experience. If it is your birthday they bring you a "special dessert". The dessert was a deep fried cookie with ice cream. It was nice, but nothing to write home about. The decor is gorgeous. I didn't have a chance to try the sushi, but it looked very good. I think I would return to give the sushi a try, but not sure if I'd come back for the hibachi.
(3)
Scott F.
Good service, great food, dishonest marketing practices and management. My first visit there I overheard someone being denied the ability to use a coupon (or groupon?) because they did not have a reservation. Seemed a little petty, but I assumed it was probably in the fine print and the customer didn't read it. Then my second visit I took my family with a $25 off $50 or more coupon that we received in a welcome packet after recently moving to a new neighborhood. The only fine print is that the coupon is not good on specials, and tip is not included. No problem. We enjoyed a very nice meal and ordered a few extra items than we normally would have since we had a free $25 to use. When I got the bill and gave the waiter the coupon, he informed me it was a holiday and they are not accepting coupons on holidays. I re read the fine print (no mention of not being valid on holidays), and asked if that policy was posted somewhere that I maybe didn't notice. Nope, not posted anywhere. I then asked the waiter to double check with the manager, which he gladly did. To no avail, the manager decided to enforce a policy that is not otherwise published or mentioned. And I was stick with a bill $25 larger than I expected when we chose to go to that restaurant. It's a shame as the food and service is really good. But I can't support a business that is not honest with their customers and doesn't honor their own promotions. During our meal, my wife and I were informally planning to return with a group of 8 friends in the next few weeks, but we will plan on somewhere else instead. Bottom line, don't expect any promotions or coupons to be honored. The food and service is great, but I wonder what else management won't do for their customers, for example if there is a problem with an order or a special request. For the high price you pay for a meal here, you should expect to leave completely satisfied. If that is your expectation as well, you might want to consider an alternative.
(2)
Nikka A.
Their sushi & hibachi's really good. I only gave it 4 stars because of their service. You have to flag down the server if you need something. But definitely will be back because of the good food.
(4)
Gayle B.
Whenever I come to the Aurora mall from Hoffman Estates, we have to come here for lunch. Very reasonable for excellent quality sushi and hibachi.
(5)
James M.
So, every Monday is half price rolls. That was why we went in. My favorite roll is the spicy tuna. When we got in, I found that was not on the half price list, but they did still have a happy hour going, and it was on that list. The happy hour prices are ridiculous. My spicy tuna rolls were only $2.5. I have never seen them that cheap before. There was a nice ambiance and wasn't too loud. Some tables' lighting could have been better, but we had one that was well lit. Definitely going to go back.
(4)
Alan L.
9/8 9pm - Sat at the bar, bartender was clearly stressed out he had an assistant that should never be allowed to be serve the public, attitude was obvious that he did not want to be there, slamming bottles, throwing things around the bar, etc. He was miffed that after 10 mins looking at the menu we asked to order he gave us the impression he was doing us a favor. Overall service was very slow, if you sat anywhere but the bar you got better service.. Seemed like the bar customers were a second thought and a bother. Ordered several appetizers, Terraki Calamari were very good, so good we ordered another order which came soggy and cold, they were sent back and the kitchen re fried them instead of making a new order, which resulted in them being burned and un edible, such a let down!! Admit your mistakes and correct them don't try hiding them because you will loose a customer for the cost of an order of Calamari !! That does not make any business sense.
(1)
Erik H.
I'll add a corollary to my previous review. After writing my last review I was contacted by the manager, Kurtis, who apologized and offered a free meal. That was definitely appreciated. So my girlfriend, friend and I returned on a Saturday for lunch and we were greeted with some pretty good service and some pretty good food. I'm not naive about this whole situation but I thought I'd judge them on the quality of their food this time, and thanks to our server Shirin and chef Chris we had a great time. And the food didn't disappoint! While not entirely dissimilar to places such as Benihana and Japan 77, Shinto's main strengths lie in its breaking out of the mold of these other hibachi places. From the Jekyll & Hyde sushi roll with mango and jalapenos to the brownie fried in tempura batter, their creations have paid off in terms of flavor and presentation. I wouldn't recommend having a big event here, but come with a few friends for the lunch specials, the creative food or the live music and I think you'll be satisfied.
(3)
Marissa B.
I love Shinto!! My sister and I originally started coming here because we LOVE their spider rolls and especially their crunchy spicy tuna rolls. Add on a side of edamame and a house salad with the ginger dressing, it is a great meal. I finally talked my boyfriend into eating here, and he loves it, too. Mondays are half priced rolls during happy hour, so if you can make it, that is the best night to come in! Service has never been an issue for me.
(5)
Min C.
Solid food but overpriced booze for where (and what) it is. I still drink there--- every time.
(4)
Ashray L.
Being a vegetarian, I was a bit circumspect of Japanese Cuisine. However, ever since my first visit to Shinto, I have almost become a regular. Try the Agedashi Tofu as an appetizer. It is amazing. There aren't many vegetarian entree options in Sushi (Cucumber and Avocados) and Hibachi (Unique Vegetarian Dinner). However, both the options are really very tasty and filling. The Hibachi quantity is huge as well (even after being a veggie hibachi) If you tell the Hibachi chef that you are vegetarian he would make the vegetarian dinner first before any meat touches the grill. All in all, this is one of the best Japanese places that I have been to and would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Stefan K.
Tip #1, do not go until after the sun is down. The building faces west and the sun was blinding. Service was extremely slow all around. A huge pet peeve of mine is bad service. First the server took my drink order, then disappeared for 10 mins, only to return to inform me that they "Don't carry that". Not a HUGE deal, even though they should know what they stock. Order something else and wait another 10 mins. The bottle that I was given was room temp. Now either the bottle was JUST stocked and pulled to serve or sat and waited for a little too long in the sun before it made it's way to me. The food was nothing special at all. The place was nothing special at all. Not worth the effort.
(1)
Amanda T.
I found myself in Naperville on a Thursday night not too long ago. Two ladyfriends and myself decided to stop in for some late-ish night sushi and drinks. We checked their website for the hours to make sure it was open and it said: "Afterhours Bar & Lounge: Open until 1am Thursday - Saturday Full Service Kitchen Dinners & Sushi Menu til 12:30 am Thursday - Saturday." [this was copied/pasted from Shinto's website] We got there around 9:30, sat at the bar, and ordered drink and only a few rolls, since we figured the kitchen was still open till 12:30. Sooo can someone please tell me why the kitchen closed at 10:15 and last call was at like 10:45?? It didn't look like that on the website, unless my eyes are fooling me-but I think not! And I have two other sets of eyes to back me up as well. I should have checked the hours on Yelp-it seems more accurate. Besides being completely blindsided by false advertising, the drinks are strong. This could be both a good or bad thing. And the rolls, well they're just sushi rolls. Nothing too spectacular about them. Just the average run of the mill sushi place.
(2)
Christi F.
This place is wonderful. Our chef, Brad, was very entertaining and a great conversationalist! Wow can he cook! The fried rice was the best I've ever had. Also would recommend the calamari appetizer. So much fun, food was great and an overall great time. Also, love the decor!
(5)
marc p.
Went to Shinto for New Years Eve this year. Made reservations for 2 the night before. We arrived a bit early and had a drink at the bar - a martini and a Sapporo - $22.00. Not complaining, it was a big beer and martini's are expensive. Got seated and ordered a sushi roll and our meals. The sushi roll arrived fifteen minutes later and within 5 minutes our soup AND salad was delivered. I don't know what the soup and salad came simultaneously, but it did and that was kind of annoying since we didn't want them at the same time and we definitely didn't want them 5 minutes after receiving our huge sushi roll. The roll was good though and the soup and salad were average. Chef came out and prepared our meals - the usual fair and games insued. Nothing different, nothing special. Food was good. Found it strange that they charge you an extra few dollars for fried rice on top of the $25.00 for chicken and steak combo dinner. Really? You can't just include fried rice?? Kiku does (another hibachi restaurant around the corner). On top of it, they filled the bowls of rice about 2/3, not even full. Moved over to the bar area for the celebration at midnight. The band was not good, at all. The tv's showed the countdown occurring and the dj came on the mic and said the tv's were wrong. umm, ok. People didn't hear him and counted down with the tv's anyway...some of the balloons dropped. After that, dj came on and started counting down, we all counted down again, more balloons dropped and it was the new year. Interesting, kind of a cluster. The bartenders proceeded to spray champaign from behind the bar all over the people around the bar. Some liked it, most didn't. It turned their floors into ice rinks. Nobody could walk on them without almost falling, including me and I wasn't drunk. We shuffled our way around and made our way out by 12:15. I definitely prefer Kiku. Been to Shinto before and it was ok, went back because they have a larger bar area and I wanted that for NYE. Probably won't be going back. Prefer the larger portions of Kiku, fried rice included, and just overall hibachi experience is a little nicer.
(2)
Andrew T.
To me this is kind of standard Japanese steakhouse fare, albeit with a few distinguishing characteristics. Went here recently with some friends, and did the hibachi side of the restaurant. Menu is decent, although a tad spendy, I think. They do have some different items - the standard steak/chicken/tuna/scallops are there, but also white tuna, swordfish, and Kobe beef. The meal includes the rice and the veggies and also either shrimp flambe or a mushroom appetizer. By the way, if you pay the $60 price for Kobe beef only to have it assaulted by a crazy spatula slinging comedy chef - you're a fool. It's a bit nickel and dimey - fried rice is $3 more...and egg yolk topping (which looks kind of revolting) is $5 more. I definitely wanted fried rice, and so did everyone else at our table...that must be a real profit center for these guys. Standard stuff from the chef. Flipping knives and spatulas, spinning the egg around, the onion volcano, so on, so forth. This place did like to do a lot of flipping food in to people's mouths...which...is kind of annoying, if you ask me. Someone at a nearby table managed to miss the food with his mouth, bounce it off his face, and hit one of my friends. Hmm. There was also heavy emphasis on Sake bombs, which we discovered was because they were on special that night. The...um..."classy" (for lack of a better word) other folks at our table enjoyed them - we were even offered one, on the house, by our waiter (who did two himself at our table alone), which we all politely declined. The food was fine. Swordfish was a nice change, and it tasted good, but I'm not sure it was exceptional. Sides/veggies/rice/etc were all normal. All in all...totally decent, just nothing really different or exceptional. They do have a bar, which was rapidly turning in to the frattiest place in Naperville, outside of maybe Jimmy's in downtown. Lots of wifebeaters...I expected to see a lot of flowing Heineken. I assume they were subbing Sake bombs instead of Jaeger bombs. They were also setting up a DJ - I really can't comment on what that was like, as we left before it really got started. OK - whew. Basically, not a bad Japanese steakhouse, if you like that sort of thing. A tad pricey, but oh well. I'll have to try the sushi side next time - someone at our table did have an *incredible* looking roll, but based on the prices from that side of the menu, I bet it was a solid $20.
(3)
Vanessa S.
I have to disagree with the former review - Go directly to Shinto, pass Kiku! Shinto made this ex city girl feel right at home. Great big bar, snotty staff, and loud dance music. Our bartender was great, and the martinis - go on Monday - all top shelf are only $5, were delicious! We had a variety of sushi rolls, there was nothing uber inventive, but the fish was fresh, and I really had no complaints about the food. Great place to go for drinks and sushi, it was pretty sparse, maybe because it is still so new. But it is way cheaper than Kiku, and it's nice to have a place with a pulse in the burbs.
(4)
Joanne W.
Some very dear friends of mine took me here for a belated birthday dinner. My bff had heard good things and after a sushi hiatus, decided she was ready to give it another go. Yesss! I love me some sushi and and am happy to report that this cuisine is back on our list of dining options when going to grab a bite together. We had a pretty good experience at Shinto. We went on a Sunday and took advantage of some of their specials which included the Volcano roll and the Spicy Shinto roll. We also ordered the spicy tuna combo platter and a catepillar roll for good measure. Oh and we started with soup, seaweed salad and wasabi shumai. All of the rolls were quite tasty. I was partial to the Volcano roll while my bff favored the Catepillar roll. A couple different pieces of sashimi were served with the combo platter - they were OK, not great. We all enjoyed our soup - I had the onion soup with bits of fried onion and mushroom while my friends had the miso. The shumai was good also but I thought the wasabi dumpling was a bit too soggy. Shinto is kid friendly - don't let the modern and sleek decor fool you. We saw other patrons there with small children on the hibachi side of the restaurant. The bar area is pretty cool but I'm not sure how I felt about the gigantic bamboo fence. The service was adequate and the food came out speedily. Our total bill for all the food we ordered plus a glass of wine & a beer? A whopping $77 (without tip). Seriously, that is like $25 per person! We all agreed this this was a great value for the amount of food we received and were quite happy. We polished off everything and left with bellies full of Nemo. It was a glorious thing. I would definitely give Shinto another go and take advantage of their daily specials!
(4)
Maggie C.
Did the Hibachi style and the chef had an awesome personality, but it made up for his lack of entertaining skills like some other chefs. The food was delicious and I did love the Sushi. However I was not happy about the service. The new guy in training was nicer (even though he accidentally spilled his tray of drinks). They were slow on replacing the napkins and the plates that was spilled on. Also, they weren't quick and didn't have a good eye on watching how we needed soy sauce w/our sushi, drinks to be refilled, take away empty dishes, or just overall checking in with how things are going throughout the meal. At the end, the waitress was putting everybody's food in take home boxes and forgot my friend with all this leftover sushi. Then, as we left there was a bunch workers and hostess chatting up and didn't say "Thank You, have a nice day." I would of expected those small warming touches at these nice restaurants, especially a Japanese restaurant. If they don't fix their service, then I'd rather go to Domo 77 w/ better service.
(2)
Fran F.
Best sushi around! Great hibachi food, too! Happy hour specials are the best. A bit pricey but excellent!
(5)
Denise M.
I got a coupon for this place from Goupon, and as a big fan of hibachi was looking forward to it. I ended up pretty disappointed, actually. We went on a Friday evening so it was pretty busy. We were told it'd be a 30 minute wait, so we sat at the bar... for about 45 minutes until I went up to the hostess stand to ask how much longer the wait was. They clearly forgot about us, because they told us we could be seated right away. The first hibachi table they brought us to turned out to be full, so we had to move again. We ordered an appetizer which never came; again, totally forgot about us. We asked the waitress about it after our main meal was finished cooking and she put the order in then. Finally at the end of the night, we got our check, and the coupon that I gave to the waitress after we were seated wasn't applied; I had to ask about and they ran my card twice; definitely going to make sure I don't get double charged. Despite this, the chef was good and the food was excellent. I got the white tuna and my bf got the swordfish steak, and both were delicious. The food wasn't enough to fix a bad first impression in service though.
(2)
Devonie M.
Standard hibachi, which was good. I have visited several times and tried different sushi and sashimi and have never been impressed. The prices also are high. The decor and ambience of the restaurant is very cool, however. Also they have $5 martinis on Monday - an absolute win.
(2)
Andrew B.
Happy hour makes for very high quality- low cost rolls... But you have to order a beverage. I just wanted water, but was required to order a beverage. It was wasteful and just didn't seem right.
(3)
Todd H.
My fiancee and I came here for dinner on a Wed. We sat in the Hibachi area in hopes that we've found a new place to fill the void of our old fav of JMK Nippon in Rockford. I had the beef sashimi appetizer, which was good, but it advertised a Ginger wasabi dipping sauce that had no evidence of wasabi. I love spicy food and sauces so this was a huge disappointment (sauce wise. The beef was amazing). The mushroom soup was good, but my fiancee couldn't have it because it contained beef stock and she is vegetarian. The ginger dressing on the salad was tasty as well. Unfortunately, these were the best two things we had this night. With my fiancee being vegetarian, they tried their hardest to accommodate her, which was appreciated, but neglected to add her mushroom app in place of shrimp, and the amount of food in her "dinner" in no way equaled $17. I had the steak hibachi, which was ok. The steak wasn't very tender and wasn't seasoned well. Again, it wasn't worth the $24 charge. The dipping sauces we were given for our meal lacked character and flavor. One was a glorified applesauce, the other a mix of mayo and ketchup. I asked if there was a spicier sauce, and received sriacha. No cocktails, no dessert, 1/2 price app and our bill was $55. Not going back. Our chef was very personable and a lot of fun. Although, we felt we were being hurried out by our server, Heather.
(2)
Lauren W.
I can't believe that this only has three stars (as of 7/22/11 at least)! First things first...if you want to try it out..definitely go on Tuesdays for dinner ($12 special) or during happy hour when sushi is half price (M-F 3-6 and Saturday 2-5..I think). I do this whenever I want sushi and I get a few different rolls and everything it's super cheap. Definitely try the Little Delicious. I think for the price it is great! I have been there four times so far, just got a Groupon to go back. I think I'm going next week..but yea, I loveee it :) I don't remember the service every time, but I do remember 2 of the times were exceptional. We had an AMAZING waitress our first time we went there (she helped us out with the perk card and stuff so we could get the best deals and told us about happy hour so we'd know when to come back) and a really nice guy another time. I don't really remember the service the other two times (not stellar and not bad, just average..I'm guessing).
(5)
Ben B.
Excellent service. Good quality sushi!! Management was super!! Make sure your groupon is valid. We had a little trouble, although it was groupon's fault. Management fixed the everything!!! Great customer service!!!!
(5)
Sara L.
Came here for my birthday dinner with my sisters not knowing it is hibachi place. At first I was thinking ..great I'm going to smell like food all night...sexyy!! Nope, we left the place not reeking of food! They have a smokeless hibachi grill system, which is pretty cool. The food was amazing! The sushi was fresh and tasted wonderful. I was surprised to see they do have caipirinhas....all I can say is yummster!! The service was great and the waiter was very attentive, I think we had two..who knows I was enjoying the food, drinks, and company too much!! I recommend this place and hopefully will be going back soon!!
(4)
Emma W.
Oh Hibachi how I love you! I've been to all this chains and they left me wanting more..... Sure they can all make an onion train and flip shrimp tails into hats, but hows the food? Shinto was excellent! I had the steak and chicken with fried rice and veggies. Flavorful, tender and tasty! Huge perk, the drinks! I had a mouth watering chocolate martini and for those trying to stay health conscious while boozing there is a skinny drink menu. They also offer sushi rolling classes so if you feel like becoming a sushi ninja this would make an interesting outing.
(5)
Mark T.
Called to place a pick-up order. Had to repeat my entire order three times, between two different employees, to get it right. Upon arriving, they gave me another customer's order. If I didn't study the receipt on the bag, I would have left with the wrong food. The sushi is mediocre at best. Naperville residents have no clue what sushi should look, smell, or taste like, so the quality continues to decrease in favor of increasing profits. Save yourself the money -- this place isn't worth it.
(2)
Tak-seng L.
As always, I judge a sushi place first by the quality/value of the food and then by the ambiance and service. Overall, you should enjoy yourself at this place and be pleased with everything. They do have several hibachi grills and while we haven't sat at one yet, they look like they do the tradition justice. The chefs are doin' their thing, flippin' the food around and making things ignite. When it's really busy those grills really do heat up the place so don't be surprised if this happens on a busy night. The few times that I've been here I've sat at the bar and had a good time chatting with the bartenders and hangin' out. They have a Buddha drink (called the Buda...?) and you get a souvenir glass...I didn't want it and sadly, they just throw them out (boo! Recycle people!). But the drink was tasty with sake and cucumber flavor. The sake's are good and they have a nice selection. Of course, I always go by my hot sake standby. As for the food, the value is pretty good but not the greatest. However, the fish is fresh and of good quality. What tells me this is how the octopus (tako) goes down. If it's really chewy and tough...not a good sign. But you're good to go here. The portions are fair but the price is a little high in my opinion. I've had sashimi, some basic rolls and chirashi (raw fish piled on sushi rice). All of it was very good. The ambiance is definitely more trendy and they have a large circular bar in the middle, which is kinda fun. I've sat mostly here and they haven't minded me hanging out for a while as I journal. The music in the place is also a little trendy...kinda club-like and they sometimes have a dj. It definitely has a suburban bar scene feel to it with a mix of late 20's and 30's crowd. While I love places like this, the clientele don't quite give off that laid back and chill vibe you're gonna get when you hang out in the City but it's not too bad nonetheless. The reasons I didn't give this a 5 star is because of the value of the food, the layout of the place (big open spaces that have minimal divisions to it so the coziness factor takes a nose-dive) and the vibe of the clientele. Of course, the restaurant can't do much about the clientele but if you're laid back and know that City chill feel...then please become a regular like I have! If you see me there at the bar, stop on by. :)
(4)
Tonitini C.
even with the yelp deal, it was still a bit pricey especially if you don't consider the happy hour "menu". this, and like any other hibachi grill, is of course, ALWAYS good. at night, it gets really packed on both sides, hibachi and sushi lounge side. I do recommend this as a place to quickly grab drinks after work with friends. It's a local japanese fix for the people who live close to naperville and aurora and right off of 59.
(5)
Elizabeth A.
Loooooove this place ... Had a sushi roll that I can't remember the name of but it was a house specialty and was amazing ! Can't wait to go back
(5)
Kelle V.
Our chef was impressive, showing us some moves we hadn't seen before. Not much of a wait for an early Friday night, and the food was good. Definitely in the top couple of Japanese steakhouses we've been to.
(4)
Anita M.
Smokeless & odorless hibachi- what a rare and awesome find! I've always passed by and finally got the chance to give Shinto a try for my sister's birthday. The place is very spacious and fits well into the Naperville as a trendy spot for after hour drinks and dinner. Upon walking in we were greeted by friendly hosts and seated on the hibachi side right away. There's a neat circular bar that sits between the two rooms-with the left side for hibachi and the other for those who only want to order sushi and or appetizers. We decided on hibachi for dinner and choose the strip steak and scallops. Both were cooked very well and very flavorful. Our chef was very funny and entertaining too. It was a little confusing because we had 2 servers but overall the service was very good. With its big space, its a great place for larger parties and from what I could see they even have a private section which I assume you can request. Great food and drinks- I will be back to try more!
(4)
Robin G.
The food was very good. The service was very slow. They have a real scam going on. On Mondays, specialty rolls are half price. When we got our bill, a $17 roll was billed at $9 and a $15 was billed at $8. When I called it to their attention they said they ROUND UP! If they do that several times a day for several people, that's some nice extra money they're receiving. CHECK YOU'RE BILL!
(3)
Rachell E.
Not a fan of Shinto. The first time I went, I thought that maybe it was just a bad night there and that the service and sushi weren't really as bad as they were. I was wrong, tried them again and the service was equally as bad, and this time I had hibachi only. The rolls I had were mushy because the rice wasn't prepared correctly and I couldn't taste the fish or other ingredients. They hibachi was good but the sauces to dip were HORRIBLE!!! I mentioned to the chef that I should've chosen to go to my normal hibachi place and he said 'me too, I'm glad there are so many other choices in this area, More choices for you, More choices for me'. I guess he isn't to happy at Shinto either, lol. Dinner for 2, no drinks, plus tip averaged 80 dollars.
(2)
Dayna C.
Love this place...go there often with sisters/girlfriends for sushi. I highly recommend the Little Delicious...definitely my favorite sushi roll on the menu! Service is always prompt and friendly too.
(5)
Jordan T.
Awesome! Normally when people suggest hibachi I think "oh great, I'm going to spend almost $100 on just myself, to sweat over my mediocre asian stir fry." Not the case here. Shinto is an awesome dining experience. I went in with my boyfriend the night of the blizzard which gives them 5 stars to start with because they were the only thing open! They have awesome, extremely fresh food that is reasonably priced. For two people we walked out at right around $100. We had an appetizer, a bottle of wine and hibachi. The staff was super fun and friendly. They have a very nicely decorated restaurant AND they actually made a great investment in a really good ventillation system. You aren't sweating from heat the entire meal, and you don't walk out smelling like smoke. If you're in Naperville- definitely stop in! Make sure you swing by the bar for a cocktail first as well, the bartenders rock.
(5)
Kelli Ann L.
I wish there were 1/2 stars...I would go with 3.5 - but I would rather UP it than take away. It is a bit overpriced for the size of the rolls - BUT - the ADD ON option is really great! There is an awful lot of crab on the menu.....which is an issue for me - and alot of tempura or fried things - harder to find rolls with just fish, etc....and the wait staff should know what is imitation versus real crab....because I had something that was real...and they thought it was not - they should have asked. I was impressed that we did NOT smell like sushi or hibachi when we left....the environment is really cute and well kept and clean and everyone is very polite. They are a little slow with service, but we did also show up on a Friday evening at 6 pm - we were immediately seated without a reservation, and it was overall a very good experience. The best thing is - EVERYTHING was FRESH and TASTY! So - in an area with very little options for sushi - they COULD have allowed the taste to suffer...they did not. We did not have drinks - but looking around - EVERYONE seemed to really be enjoying them - so.....if I am ever back in the area - I will stop in and try one - and have a yummy roll. The miso soup was also quite tasty!!!
(4)
Janet B.
Naperville is such a big place that, even tho we are sushi lovers, we had never gone this far north. We probably never would have made it except my husband had bid on gift certificates in a charity auction. But it was worth the trip! We chose the hibachi side of this spacious restaurant but supplemented our meal with amazing sushi rolls. On the grill we had chicken, steak and scallops. All were tender & flavorful. Our waiter kept our drink glasses full which is our ultimate test of service. We plan to return for sushi happy hour!
(5)
Daniel L.
New menu, new style. Same old AWESOMENESS!
(5)
Joedel G.
I got a deal from Groupon thats why we came to this place. We've seen this place before but never visited. As soon as we entered we were greeted right away and given an option for a hibachi or sushi, we've choosen sushi since I have always a craving for this. Our server came and gave us some menu options since our first time on that place. His name is Kevin and he even asked me if we have groupon. Very pleasant and attentive server. We ordered a couple of drinks, the sake was good, not overwhelming, of course my wife had a moscato d' asti her favorite. We ordered a teriyaki glazed calamari which is very tender and sweet, I liked it. Kevin recommended the Geisha sushi platter and I upgraded it with some red and white tuna sashimi, yumm..really the white tuna melts in my mouth, very fresh and tasty. The Geisha is very good, i like the salmon mixed it with some crispy shrimp and lightly covered with creamy ingredients, the texture is phenominal. The vegetable tempura is just okay. Kevin is so good that he even poured my Sapporo nicely to the glass, very smooth and perfect for the sushi. This place is spacious and not crowded, parking is easy, price is not so bad, $ 100 a dinner for two. Recommended and I will come back.
(4)
James H.
Took my family there in October 2011, two of us got food poisoning from steak. We called to inform them and did not receive a call back. A friend went last week and got food poisoning after eating sushi. Will never go back here again.
(1)
Tina P.
Expensive menu items in a crowded, club-like atmosphere. A little to trendy for my taste, with the dance music blaring louder than the conversation. In all honestly there are better Japanese Steakhouses for your money. The food is comparable to other Hibachi places in the area-maybe even a little better-but it did not make up for the long wait and poor service. We made reservations for 8pm and were not seated until 8:30. The Hibachi chef did not show up for another 40 minutes after that. When he did show up, he was not playful or funny like a typical Hibachi chef. There was no smiling and no throwing of shrimp, etc. The sushi was very tasty, but extremely overpriced at $15 per roll. When the meal was finally finished, we were there two and a half hours, with no apology from the waitstaff or management. I would definitely recommend other popular Hibachi restaurants in the Fox Valley area over this one.
(2)
Cecille A.
I've been to this place twice since they opened. It's a very nice and spacious place compared to other sushi places I've been to in the area. It has a very trendy and contemporary vibe, like you're at a nightclub in the city. The circular bar area is cool and I like the bamboo decor I went, when it wasn't very busy... maybe 3 or 4 other guests, but it was the middle of the afternoon. The sushi that we ordered was very good. I like that there is a huge selection on their menu. Overall, it was a good experience and I'd come back again.
(4)
Vladimir D.
first Let me state that I'm a pretty laid back, easy to please person. I called on Friday night to make a reservation for the next weds at 8pm, and told the woman on the phone that we wanted to do hibachi, but were not sure if it would be possible since i have an allergy to shellfish, and cant have anything even PREPPED on the same table as shellfish, she assured me this wouldn't be a problem. i also asked if our party of three was enough for hibachi, as some places are anywhere from 6-12 per table. she swore up and down it was fine, and we would have a table reserved. i told her on the phone that i did not want to have to wait for more than 5 minutes for a table as it was my girlfriends GOLDEN birthday (28). again, she swears up and down it wont be a problem. i figure OK great. we show up at 7:45pm (a bit early), but we both got done with our earlier plans. I was a bit taken back by the fact they were blasting techno dance music in there. as if the bar and restaurant were some trendy upscale night club (news flash, YOU'RE NOT). i wanted to leave and go to the Palmer house, where i could have gotten my usual table, but she really wanted sushi and heard great things about Shinto. so the two of us went in (her best friend had a sick kid, so 1 less in our party). i was told by the hostess that they were waiting for the table to clear and it would be about 15mins before we were seated. OK since we were early. but 8:05 comes around and no seating. i take a quick gander in the hibachi section, and not only are there open tables/grills, but NO TABLE is done eating or being cleaned. wtf?? i asked how long it would be, and she said again, 10 minutes. i was ready to leave but since my gf had her heart set on Shinto, and its her birthday we stayed around. we were not seated until 8:35pm (i was checking my watch the whole time). two other couples who had made reservations were seated with us, and had been waiting almost as long. why this was necessary was never explained to me, as they had plenty of open grills and tables. we were brought some water and told our waiter would be by shortly. 25mins later, a hostess came by and took our drink orders cause the waiter never came by. we waited 18minutes before our drinks came, and even then there was no soda of any kind cause they had no Co2. wtf kind of place has this issue at 8:30 on a weds night? finally at 9:04pm she came back and took our orders. again my gf mentioned my shellfish allergy and we were told no problem. our chef came out with everything ready to go, only to find the grill hadn't been turned on. i mean seriously now, WTF!!!! i flat out said out loud "we should have went to the Palmer house" i was quite loud and i know everyone in hibachi heard me. i was (and still am) quite pissed about this. i realize its not the chefs fault but seriously who runs this place, a chimp?? so after our brief show, we were served our food (which was really good, i will commend the chef on that. When we were given plates, i noticed that there was something or other on my girlfriends (and also on 2 other plates at the table) and it took 5 minutes for them to bring clean dishes to us. i mean who wants to eat on dirty dishes in a supposedly upscale restaurant? i can not forgive the horrible service that night. the manager on duty came by and took off all the drinks for the whole table (which was separate checks) which i was also quick to point out to him we never got more than one drink. seriously she had A BEER and i had A MARTINI. never offered another drink, refill, anything of the such. not even another water..and i had asked for one 2 times. so he also gave us a complimentary sushi roll. which would have been fine except for 1 important detail which he neglected to mention when asked, there is SHELLFISH IN THE SUSHI ROLLS. so after a shit-tastic night costing me 59.00, i had to go to the emergency room because of either 1) ignorance, or 2) laziness, and almost died. thank you Shinto for ruining my girlfriends golden birthday and damn near killing me in the process.
(1)
Laura T.
I absolutely love Shinto! Their sushi and hibachi are always delicious, the service outstanding, and the ambiance very relaxing ... especially after a long day at work. You would never know such a nice restaurant was located in an unflattering strip mall off of a busy intersection on Rt 59. I'd say that's it's only downfall. I've gone there after work with my husband and friends for dinner and drinks, and I've also brought my family, including small children who absolutely loved watching the very entertaining and talented hibachi chefs, and my father who doesn't like anything but homemade italian food ... Everyone was pleased! I also always find coupon deals on restaurant.com which really helps with the cost. Unfortunately, most good sushi is on the pricey side, so that helps.
(4)
Niki M.
uhh I feel sick. We just ate there tonight and let me tell you... not so good. The sushi in one word gross. Either way to much cream cheese or no flavor at all. We also had hibachi grill...horrible. The fried rice was flavorless and i had garlic shrimp, basically i do not recommend that, i cant even explain the flavor. We normally eat at Kiku (view my other review) and kiku is way way way better. Not only is the food gross but it is way overpriced 190 for 4 of us. Seriously skip shinto an try kiku.
(1)
Dee E.
I went to Shinto for the first time tonight and I really enjoyed it! I like Kiku, but I think I prefer Shinto. Sushi rolls are original and high quality. The cocktails are killer. I recommend and will definitely be back.
(4)
Yvonne M.
Went here on Tuesday which is $12 hibachi day!! The food was wonderful, the service was good and the overall atmosphere was fantastic! We had a really good time and I'd like to go back soon!
(5)
G L.
We had lunch at Shinto and unfortunately we were really disappointed--there is much better sushi in Naperville and I would drive the extra mile to find it. The waitress and staff were very friendly which actually saved the place; however, the fish was, well, just bad. When you pay $17 for a roll, I expect not only really great, high quality fish, I also expect to get a fair amount of it. (As an aside, $17 for a roll is crazy expensive--even Japonais doesn't step on the price that much! . . .lol Unfortunately, the sushi chefs that prepared the rolls the day we were there were very, very light on the fish. In defense of Shinto, it seems like it may be a fun place to grab drinks at the huge bar and we did not dine in the Hibachi room--so the cooked food may be better. If I were to go back, (albeit not likely) I would go that route and avoid the sushi all together.
(2)
Mark P.
I signed up to Yelp just to comment on this restaurant. We have visited several Japanese restaurants as it is our favorite fare and I must say, this is the worst we have been to. Our favorite is "Ron of Japan" and we frequent "Tairyo" as we know the manager and the food is good. The sushi here was decent, but there was fish eggs on the california roll and our kids would not eat it. Never saw that before. The cook was arrogant and not very helpful. Not a very good cook either. The fried rice was flavorless, except for the fact that there was way too much salt. $11.00 for a small sake? Crazy! It was over $200 for two adults and two kids under twelve. My wife ordered a Lobster tail and they brought two tiny tails. They charged us $48 for "Twin Lobster tails". The Chicken was drowned in sauce. They didn't even have Katsup, which my 8-year old likes with her chicken. It was really just a bad experience. The waitress was decent enough. Definitely not worth the Money and the portions are small. Will not return. Sorry. There are much, much better places.
(1)
Fozzy B.
I was put off by how the "greeter" asked if we had a reservation. We said no, she says nothing and makes a dumbfounded expression. Then she and her two associates decide to speak after several seconds of silence. They say you can sit at the sushi bar "it's cramped but it's open there". We pass and say we want an actual table. They ask "sushi or other". We say both. They are dumbfounded and begin to ask us the same question three times. I guess it's too hard to get a table for two and be served sushi and beef at the same time. I understand the concept of hibachi, but that's not the point here. Then after getting through to them, they say a wait time of 20 min. We say that's fine and stand there. Since the "greeters" did not even try to say "go ahead and have a drink at the bar and I will come over to let you know when the table is ready", we go ahead ourselves. Bartender was excellent and nice. "Greeter" says "table ready" and heads us over to hibachi grill. Uh ok. We just wanted a freakin table for two. WTF. Server was excellent though. But sushi was ok (hit or miss). Meat was standard. Price was high for a joint sandwiched between the gas station and rental car. Do a favor to yourself and check out Zaidi's Sushi & Steak further south on 59 rt. They are what Shinto is striving to be. Shinto ownership must realize the importance of a welcoming atmosphere BEFORE getting seated. This is fine in the city, but when half the clientele is over 50 in a Eddie Bauer parka, they should recognize what they're doing behind that gas station over there. Enough said.
(2)
Kush D.
Pretty sub par when it comes to Teppanyaki. Felt rushed...how many times have your gone to a Teppanyaki joint, and finished in a 35 minutes? Food was very bland. The ginger sauce left much to be desired. If you're coming from the city or north, head to Tsukasa or Ron of Japan instead.
(2)
Chris R.
Love this place!!! They offer an extensive menu and everything we ordered was delicious. The decor is very modern and there is separate seating areas for dining options. Only complaint- the lights are very dim. If you like sushi this is the place in Naperville!
(5)
Stephanie C.
I made a reservation at Shinto for my friends bachelorette party for 7 people. They asked if I wanted them to decorate for me before I got there so I agreed, and they did an awesome job! They put out balloons, confetti and cute favors for everybody, and they didn't even charge me for it! The waiter was fantastic, and I really wish I remember his name. He was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu, including the massive list of delicious drinks, and made great recommendations. We ordered the party platter of sushi, which included chef's choice of nigiri and sashimi, plus you were able to choose 5 rolls to add - a luxury that's not afforded at most sushi restaurants. All the food was great and the presentation was perfect - also, all for $90!! For serving 5-6 people at a sushi restaurant, the price can't be beat. The inside is very trendy and made for a fun atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anybody and will definitely be going back. Thanks Shinto!!
(5)
Dwayne H.
I concur with previous reviews that this is pretty standard stuff. The only problem I had was that the service was really off that night...mostly the sequencing of dishes. The restaurant has a great open feeling to it though I'm not a fan of the fake bamboo--that stuff grows like a weed, so why not the real thing?! The bar area looked neat--big, circular bar with good lighting. Our waiter, Frankie, was very nice, but we got the feeling that he was rather new. He couldn't answer many questions about the dishes and what was included. We were a table of three. We ordered appetizers. Two of us ordered one of the sushi-sashimi combination dinners and the other had the terriyaki salmon. The menu indicated the sushi-sashimi platter was for two people with miso soup and salad included. Frankie told us later that it was either or after having brought us the soup (onion vice the miso which was awful--tasted like salted beef broth). Soup and edamame came out first followed by the main courses and then the other appetizer. The salmon terriyaki was rather flavorless. Everything seemed to arrive within about a 10 minute span of time. I'd recommend ordering as you want to be served to prevent this from happening. The highlight of the evening though was that they offered 1/2 price wine on Thursday nights and the selection/prices were very reasonable. Skip the Japanese tempura-style ice cream desserts. It comes out as an oil-soaked, soggy casing over rather bland vanilla ice cream.
(2)
Mike U.
My second time here, went just to the Sushi bar. Some pretty interesting rolls available, but the more basic stuff like the sashimi and nigiri itself were kind of average. Last time I was here we had the Habachi which was pretty good, a couple of notches above a Benihana, but I'm still on the look out for a knockout sushi place in the west burbs.
(3)
a n.
This place has amazing Hibachi and Sushi. Great place to go to for happy hours right after work and before 7pm, and their Sunday & Monday sushi specials is a great value. Glad we found it in it's semi hidden location.
(4)
Andi B.
Bought the groupon for Shinto despite all the negative reviews. I thought this place was great! We went late on a Sunday afternoon and the service was excellent and fast. The prices seemed a bit pricey but probably about the same as other sushi places in Naperville. The nigiri was perfect. The seaweed salad was yummy. We tried the Little Delicious Roll, which was awesome with a little kick. The only negative was the spicy tuna roll. My boyfriend gets the spicy tuna roll every sushi place we go and he said theirs was a bit too spicy. He loves spicy food, but thought it was too spicy for sushi. Wish we bought more groupons, but will definitely go back - they have plenty of special rolls to try. The decor was stylish and modern, but there was a fountain that was a bit too loud. Overall if you are concerned with having a fast dinner, try going at an off-peak time. Delicious sushi - we even saw a sign that they offer sushi making classes that we will look into doing sometime too!
(4)
Ashley G.
The sushi and hibachi are great. the smokless tables don't leave you clothes and hair smelling like oil and smoke. they have a huge cocktail and wine list as well, so there is something for everyone. Great place to go with a group of people.
(5)
Scott F.
Good service, great food, dishonest marketing practices and management. My first visit there I overheard someone being denied the ability to use a coupon (or groupon?) because they did not have a reservation. Seemed a little petty, but I assumed it was probably in the fine print and the customer didn't read it. Then my second visit I took my family with a $25 off $50 or more coupon that we received in a welcome packet after recently moving to a new neighborhood. The only fine print is that the coupon is not good on specials, and tip is not included. No problem. We enjoyed a very nice meal and ordered a few extra items than we normally would have since we had a free $25 to use. When I got the bill and gave the waiter the coupon, he informed me it was a holiday and they are not accepting coupons on holidays. I re read the fine print (no mention of not being valid on holidays), and asked if that policy was posted somewhere that I maybe didn't notice. Nope, not posted anywhere. I then asked the waiter to double check with the manager, which he gladly did. To no avail, the manager decided to enforce a policy that is not otherwise published or mentioned. And I was stick with a bill $25 larger than I expected when we chose to go to that restaurant. It's a shame as the food and service is really good. But I can't support a business that is not honest with their customers and doesn't honor their own promotions. During our meal, my wife and I were informally planning to return with a group of 8 friends in the next few weeks, but we will plan on somewhere else instead. Bottom line, don't expect any promotions or coupons to be honored. The food and service is great, but I wonder what else management won't do for their customers, for example if there is a problem with an order or a special request. For the high price you pay for a meal here, you should expect to leave completely satisfied. If that is your expectation as well, you might want to consider an alternative.
(2)
Alan L.
9/8 9pm - Sat at the bar, bartender was clearly stressed out he had an assistant that should never be allowed to be serve the public, attitude was obvious that he did not want to be there, slamming bottles, throwing things around the bar, etc. He was miffed that after 10 mins looking at the menu we asked to order he gave us the impression he was doing us a favor. Overall service was very slow, if you sat anywhere but the bar you got better service.. Seemed like the bar customers were a second thought and a bother. Ordered several appetizers, Terraki Calamari were very good, so good we ordered another order which came soggy and cold, they were sent back and the kitchen re fried them instead of making a new order, which resulted in them being burned and un edible, such a let down!! Admit your mistakes and correct them don't try hiding them because you will loose a customer for the cost of an order of Calamari !! That does not make any business sense.
(1)
Erik H.
I'll add a corollary to my previous review. After writing my last review I was contacted by the manager, Kurtis, who apologized and offered a free meal. That was definitely appreciated. So my girlfriend, friend and I returned on a Saturday for lunch and we were greeted with some pretty good service and some pretty good food. I'm not naive about this whole situation but I thought I'd judge them on the quality of their food this time, and thanks to our server Shirin and chef Chris we had a great time. And the food didn't disappoint! While not entirely dissimilar to places such as Benihana and Japan 77, Shinto's main strengths lie in its breaking out of the mold of these other hibachi places. From the Jekyll & Hyde sushi roll with mango and jalapenos to the brownie fried in tempura batter, their creations have paid off in terms of flavor and presentation. I wouldn't recommend having a big event here, but come with a few friends for the lunch specials, the creative food or the live music and I think you'll be satisfied.
(3)
Marissa B.
I love Shinto!! My sister and I originally started coming here because we LOVE their spider rolls and especially their crunchy spicy tuna rolls. Add on a side of edamame and a house salad with the ginger dressing, it is a great meal. I finally talked my boyfriend into eating here, and he loves it, too. Mondays are half priced rolls during happy hour, so if you can make it, that is the best night to come in! Service has never been an issue for me.
(5)
Min C.
Solid food but overpriced booze for where (and what) it is. I still drink there--- every time.
(4)
Ashray L.
Being a vegetarian, I was a bit circumspect of Japanese Cuisine. However, ever since my first visit to Shinto, I have almost become a regular. Try the Agedashi Tofu as an appetizer. It is amazing. There aren't many vegetarian entree options in Sushi (Cucumber and Avocados) and Hibachi (Unique Vegetarian Dinner). However, both the options are really very tasty and filling. The Hibachi quantity is huge as well (even after being a veggie hibachi) If you tell the Hibachi chef that you are vegetarian he would make the vegetarian dinner first before any meat touches the grill. All in all, this is one of the best Japanese places that I have been to and would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Stefan K.
Tip #1, do not go until after the sun is down. The building faces west and the sun was blinding. Service was extremely slow all around. A huge pet peeve of mine is bad service. First the server took my drink order, then disappeared for 10 mins, only to return to inform me that they "Don't carry that". Not a HUGE deal, even though they should know what they stock. Order something else and wait another 10 mins. The bottle that I was given was room temp. Now either the bottle was JUST stocked and pulled to serve or sat and waited for a little too long in the sun before it made it's way to me. The food was nothing special at all. The place was nothing special at all. Not worth the effort.
(1)
Amanda T.
I found myself in Naperville on a Thursday night not too long ago. Two ladyfriends and myself decided to stop in for some late-ish night sushi and drinks. We checked their website for the hours to make sure it was open and it said: "Afterhours Bar & Lounge: Open until 1am Thursday - Saturday Full Service Kitchen Dinners & Sushi Menu til 12:30 am Thursday - Saturday." [this was copied/pasted from Shinto's website] We got there around 9:30, sat at the bar, and ordered drink and only a few rolls, since we figured the kitchen was still open till 12:30. Sooo can someone please tell me why the kitchen closed at 10:15 and last call was at like 10:45?? It didn't look like that on the website, unless my eyes are fooling me-but I think not! And I have two other sets of eyes to back me up as well. I should have checked the hours on Yelp-it seems more accurate. Besides being completely blindsided by false advertising, the drinks are strong. This could be both a good or bad thing. And the rolls, well they're just sushi rolls. Nothing too spectacular about them. Just the average run of the mill sushi place.
(2)
Christi F.
This place is wonderful. Our chef, Brad, was very entertaining and a great conversationalist! Wow can he cook! The fried rice was the best I've ever had. Also would recommend the calamari appetizer. So much fun, food was great and an overall great time. Also, love the decor!
(5)
marc p.
Went to Shinto for New Years Eve this year. Made reservations for 2 the night before. We arrived a bit early and had a drink at the bar - a martini and a Sapporo - $22.00. Not complaining, it was a big beer and martini's are expensive. Got seated and ordered a sushi roll and our meals. The sushi roll arrived fifteen minutes later and within 5 minutes our soup AND salad was delivered. I don't know what the soup and salad came simultaneously, but it did and that was kind of annoying since we didn't want them at the same time and we definitely didn't want them 5 minutes after receiving our huge sushi roll. The roll was good though and the soup and salad were average. Chef came out and prepared our meals - the usual fair and games insued. Nothing different, nothing special. Food was good. Found it strange that they charge you an extra few dollars for fried rice on top of the $25.00 for chicken and steak combo dinner. Really? You can't just include fried rice?? Kiku does (another hibachi restaurant around the corner). On top of it, they filled the bowls of rice about 2/3, not even full. Moved over to the bar area for the celebration at midnight. The band was not good, at all. The tv's showed the countdown occurring and the dj came on the mic and said the tv's were wrong. umm, ok. People didn't hear him and counted down with the tv's anyway...some of the balloons dropped. After that, dj came on and started counting down, we all counted down again, more balloons dropped and it was the new year. Interesting, kind of a cluster. The bartenders proceeded to spray champaign from behind the bar all over the people around the bar. Some liked it, most didn't. It turned their floors into ice rinks. Nobody could walk on them without almost falling, including me and I wasn't drunk. We shuffled our way around and made our way out by 12:15. I definitely prefer Kiku. Been to Shinto before and it was ok, went back because they have a larger bar area and I wanted that for NYE. Probably won't be going back. Prefer the larger portions of Kiku, fried rice included, and just overall hibachi experience is a little nicer.
(2)
James M.
So, every Monday is half price rolls. That was why we went in. My favorite roll is the spicy tuna. When we got in, I found that was not on the half price list, but they did still have a happy hour going, and it was on that list. The happy hour prices are ridiculous. My spicy tuna rolls were only $2.5. I have never seen them that cheap before. There was a nice ambiance and wasn't too loud. Some tables' lighting could have been better, but we had one that was well lit. Definitely going to go back.
(4)
Hayley H.
Although expensive, this trendy spot was a great! The design is stunning, the waiters, friendly and fun. Ask for a saki bomb and watch the fun ensue. The chef's were entertaining and worth every penny. Great place to celebrate any occasion, I went for my birthday and got a special treat at the end.
(4)
Andrew T.
To me this is kind of standard Japanese steakhouse fare, albeit with a few distinguishing characteristics. Went here recently with some friends, and did the hibachi side of the restaurant. Menu is decent, although a tad spendy, I think. They do have some different items - the standard steak/chicken/tuna/scallops are there, but also white tuna, swordfish, and Kobe beef. The meal includes the rice and the veggies and also either shrimp flambe or a mushroom appetizer. By the way, if you pay the $60 price for Kobe beef only to have it assaulted by a crazy spatula slinging comedy chef - you're a fool. It's a bit nickel and dimey - fried rice is $3 more...and egg yolk topping (which looks kind of revolting) is $5 more. I definitely wanted fried rice, and so did everyone else at our table...that must be a real profit center for these guys. Standard stuff from the chef. Flipping knives and spatulas, spinning the egg around, the onion volcano, so on, so forth. This place did like to do a lot of flipping food in to people's mouths...which...is kind of annoying, if you ask me. Someone at a nearby table managed to miss the food with his mouth, bounce it off his face, and hit one of my friends. Hmm. There was also heavy emphasis on Sake bombs, which we discovered was because they were on special that night. The...um..."classy" (for lack of a better word) other folks at our table enjoyed them - we were even offered one, on the house, by our waiter (who did two himself at our table alone), which we all politely declined. The food was fine. Swordfish was a nice change, and it tasted good, but I'm not sure it was exceptional. Sides/veggies/rice/etc were all normal. All in all...totally decent, just nothing really different or exceptional. They do have a bar, which was rapidly turning in to the frattiest place in Naperville, outside of maybe Jimmy's in downtown. Lots of wifebeaters...I expected to see a lot of flowing Heineken. I assume they were subbing Sake bombs instead of Jaeger bombs. They were also setting up a DJ - I really can't comment on what that was like, as we left before it really got started. OK - whew. Basically, not a bad Japanese steakhouse, if you like that sort of thing. A tad pricey, but oh well. I'll have to try the sushi side next time - someone at our table did have an *incredible* looking roll, but based on the prices from that side of the menu, I bet it was a solid $20.
(3)
Vanessa S.
I have to disagree with the former review - Go directly to Shinto, pass Kiku! Shinto made this ex city girl feel right at home. Great big bar, snotty staff, and loud dance music. Our bartender was great, and the martinis - go on Monday - all top shelf are only $5, were delicious! We had a variety of sushi rolls, there was nothing uber inventive, but the fish was fresh, and I really had no complaints about the food. Great place to go for drinks and sushi, it was pretty sparse, maybe because it is still so new. But it is way cheaper than Kiku, and it's nice to have a place with a pulse in the burbs.
(4)
Joanne W.
Some very dear friends of mine took me here for a belated birthday dinner. My bff had heard good things and after a sushi hiatus, decided she was ready to give it another go. Yesss! I love me some sushi and and am happy to report that this cuisine is back on our list of dining options when going to grab a bite together. We had a pretty good experience at Shinto. We went on a Sunday and took advantage of some of their specials which included the Volcano roll and the Spicy Shinto roll. We also ordered the spicy tuna combo platter and a catepillar roll for good measure. Oh and we started with soup, seaweed salad and wasabi shumai. All of the rolls were quite tasty. I was partial to the Volcano roll while my bff favored the Catepillar roll. A couple different pieces of sashimi were served with the combo platter - they were OK, not great. We all enjoyed our soup - I had the onion soup with bits of fried onion and mushroom while my friends had the miso. The shumai was good also but I thought the wasabi dumpling was a bit too soggy. Shinto is kid friendly - don't let the modern and sleek decor fool you. We saw other patrons there with small children on the hibachi side of the restaurant. The bar area is pretty cool but I'm not sure how I felt about the gigantic bamboo fence. The service was adequate and the food came out speedily. Our total bill for all the food we ordered plus a glass of wine & a beer? A whopping $77 (without tip). Seriously, that is like $25 per person! We all agreed this this was a great value for the amount of food we received and were quite happy. We polished off everything and left with bellies full of Nemo. It was a glorious thing. I would definitely give Shinto another go and take advantage of their daily specials!
(4)
Maggie C.
Did the Hibachi style and the chef had an awesome personality, but it made up for his lack of entertaining skills like some other chefs. The food was delicious and I did love the Sushi. However I was not happy about the service. The new guy in training was nicer (even though he accidentally spilled his tray of drinks). They were slow on replacing the napkins and the plates that was spilled on. Also, they weren't quick and didn't have a good eye on watching how we needed soy sauce w/our sushi, drinks to be refilled, take away empty dishes, or just overall checking in with how things are going throughout the meal. At the end, the waitress was putting everybody's food in take home boxes and forgot my friend with all this leftover sushi. Then, as we left there was a bunch workers and hostess chatting up and didn't say "Thank You, have a nice day." I would of expected those small warming touches at these nice restaurants, especially a Japanese restaurant. If they don't fix their service, then I'd rather go to Domo 77 w/ better service.
(2)
Fran F.
Best sushi around! Great hibachi food, too! Happy hour specials are the best. A bit pricey but excellent!
(5)
Denise M.
I got a coupon for this place from Goupon, and as a big fan of hibachi was looking forward to it. I ended up pretty disappointed, actually. We went on a Friday evening so it was pretty busy. We were told it'd be a 30 minute wait, so we sat at the bar... for about 45 minutes until I went up to the hostess stand to ask how much longer the wait was. They clearly forgot about us, because they told us we could be seated right away. The first hibachi table they brought us to turned out to be full, so we had to move again. We ordered an appetizer which never came; again, totally forgot about us. We asked the waitress about it after our main meal was finished cooking and she put the order in then. Finally at the end of the night, we got our check, and the coupon that I gave to the waitress after we were seated wasn't applied; I had to ask about and they ran my card twice; definitely going to make sure I don't get double charged. Despite this, the chef was good and the food was excellent. I got the white tuna and my bf got the swordfish steak, and both were delicious. The food wasn't enough to fix a bad first impression in service though.
(2)
Devonie M.
Standard hibachi, which was good. I have visited several times and tried different sushi and sashimi and have never been impressed. The prices also are high. The decor and ambience of the restaurant is very cool, however. Also they have $5 martinis on Monday - an absolute win.
(2)
Andrew B.
Happy hour makes for very high quality- low cost rolls... But you have to order a beverage. I just wanted water, but was required to order a beverage. It was wasteful and just didn't seem right.
(3)
Todd H.
My fiancee and I came here for dinner on a Wed. We sat in the Hibachi area in hopes that we've found a new place to fill the void of our old fav of JMK Nippon in Rockford. I had the beef sashimi appetizer, which was good, but it advertised a Ginger wasabi dipping sauce that had no evidence of wasabi. I love spicy food and sauces so this was a huge disappointment (sauce wise. The beef was amazing). The mushroom soup was good, but my fiancee couldn't have it because it contained beef stock and she is vegetarian. The ginger dressing on the salad was tasty as well. Unfortunately, these were the best two things we had this night. With my fiancee being vegetarian, they tried their hardest to accommodate her, which was appreciated, but neglected to add her mushroom app in place of shrimp, and the amount of food in her "dinner" in no way equaled $17. I had the steak hibachi, which was ok. The steak wasn't very tender and wasn't seasoned well. Again, it wasn't worth the $24 charge. The dipping sauces we were given for our meal lacked character and flavor. One was a glorified applesauce, the other a mix of mayo and ketchup. I asked if there was a spicier sauce, and received sriacha. No cocktails, no dessert, 1/2 price app and our bill was $55. Not going back. Our chef was very personable and a lot of fun. Although, we felt we were being hurried out by our server, Heather.
(2)
Lauren W.
I can't believe that this only has three stars (as of 7/22/11 at least)! First things first...if you want to try it out..definitely go on Tuesdays for dinner ($12 special) or during happy hour when sushi is half price (M-F 3-6 and Saturday 2-5..I think). I do this whenever I want sushi and I get a few different rolls and everything it's super cheap. Definitely try the Little Delicious. I think for the price it is great! I have been there four times so far, just got a Groupon to go back. I think I'm going next week..but yea, I loveee it :) I don't remember the service every time, but I do remember 2 of the times were exceptional. We had an AMAZING waitress our first time we went there (she helped us out with the perk card and stuff so we could get the best deals and told us about happy hour so we'd know when to come back) and a really nice guy another time. I don't really remember the service the other two times (not stellar and not bad, just average..I'm guessing).
(5)
Ben B.
Excellent service. Good quality sushi!! Management was super!! Make sure your groupon is valid. We had a little trouble, although it was groupon's fault. Management fixed the everything!!! Great customer service!!!!
(5)
Sara L.
Came here for my birthday dinner with my sisters not knowing it is hibachi place. At first I was thinking ..great I'm going to smell like food all night...sexyy!! Nope, we left the place not reeking of food! They have a smokeless hibachi grill system, which is pretty cool. The food was amazing! The sushi was fresh and tasted wonderful. I was surprised to see they do have caipirinhas....all I can say is yummster!! The service was great and the waiter was very attentive, I think we had two..who knows I was enjoying the food, drinks, and company too much!! I recommend this place and hopefully will be going back soon!!
(4)
Emma W.
Oh Hibachi how I love you! I've been to all this chains and they left me wanting more..... Sure they can all make an onion train and flip shrimp tails into hats, but hows the food? Shinto was excellent! I had the steak and chicken with fried rice and veggies. Flavorful, tender and tasty! Huge perk, the drinks! I had a mouth watering chocolate martini and for those trying to stay health conscious while boozing there is a skinny drink menu. They also offer sushi rolling classes so if you feel like becoming a sushi ninja this would make an interesting outing.
(5)
Mark T.
Called to place a pick-up order. Had to repeat my entire order three times, between two different employees, to get it right. Upon arriving, they gave me another customer's order. If I didn't study the receipt on the bag, I would have left with the wrong food. The sushi is mediocre at best. Naperville residents have no clue what sushi should look, smell, or taste like, so the quality continues to decrease in favor of increasing profits. Save yourself the money -- this place isn't worth it.
(2)
Tak-seng L.
As always, I judge a sushi place first by the quality/value of the food and then by the ambiance and service. Overall, you should enjoy yourself at this place and be pleased with everything. They do have several hibachi grills and while we haven't sat at one yet, they look like they do the tradition justice. The chefs are doin' their thing, flippin' the food around and making things ignite. When it's really busy those grills really do heat up the place so don't be surprised if this happens on a busy night. The few times that I've been here I've sat at the bar and had a good time chatting with the bartenders and hangin' out. They have a Buddha drink (called the Buda...?) and you get a souvenir glass...I didn't want it and sadly, they just throw them out (boo! Recycle people!). But the drink was tasty with sake and cucumber flavor. The sake's are good and they have a nice selection. Of course, I always go by my hot sake standby. As for the food, the value is pretty good but not the greatest. However, the fish is fresh and of good quality. What tells me this is how the octopus (tako) goes down. If it's really chewy and tough...not a good sign. But you're good to go here. The portions are fair but the price is a little high in my opinion. I've had sashimi, some basic rolls and chirashi (raw fish piled on sushi rice). All of it was very good. The ambiance is definitely more trendy and they have a large circular bar in the middle, which is kinda fun. I've sat mostly here and they haven't minded me hanging out for a while as I journal. The music in the place is also a little trendy...kinda club-like and they sometimes have a dj. It definitely has a suburban bar scene feel to it with a mix of late 20's and 30's crowd. While I love places like this, the clientele don't quite give off that laid back and chill vibe you're gonna get when you hang out in the City but it's not too bad nonetheless. The reasons I didn't give this a 5 star is because of the value of the food, the layout of the place (big open spaces that have minimal divisions to it so the coziness factor takes a nose-dive) and the vibe of the clientele. Of course, the restaurant can't do much about the clientele but if you're laid back and know that City chill feel...then please become a regular like I have! If you see me there at the bar, stop on by. :)
(4)
Tonitini C.
even with the yelp deal, it was still a bit pricey especially if you don't consider the happy hour "menu". this, and like any other hibachi grill, is of course, ALWAYS good. at night, it gets really packed on both sides, hibachi and sushi lounge side. I do recommend this as a place to quickly grab drinks after work with friends. It's a local japanese fix for the people who live close to naperville and aurora and right off of 59.
(5)
Elizabeth A.
Loooooove this place ... Had a sushi roll that I can't remember the name of but it was a house specialty and was amazing ! Can't wait to go back
(5)
Kelle V.
Our chef was impressive, showing us some moves we hadn't seen before. Not much of a wait for an early Friday night, and the food was good. Definitely in the top couple of Japanese steakhouses we've been to.
(4)
Anita M.
Smokeless & odorless hibachi- what a rare and awesome find! I've always passed by and finally got the chance to give Shinto a try for my sister's birthday. The place is very spacious and fits well into the Naperville as a trendy spot for after hour drinks and dinner. Upon walking in we were greeted by friendly hosts and seated on the hibachi side right away. There's a neat circular bar that sits between the two rooms-with the left side for hibachi and the other for those who only want to order sushi and or appetizers. We decided on hibachi for dinner and choose the strip steak and scallops. Both were cooked very well and very flavorful. Our chef was very funny and entertaining too. It was a little confusing because we had 2 servers but overall the service was very good. With its big space, its a great place for larger parties and from what I could see they even have a private section which I assume you can request. Great food and drinks- I will be back to try more!
(4)
Robin G.
The food was very good. The service was very slow. They have a real scam going on. On Mondays, specialty rolls are half price. When we got our bill, a $17 roll was billed at $9 and a $15 was billed at $8. When I called it to their attention they said they ROUND UP! If they do that several times a day for several people, that's some nice extra money they're receiving. CHECK YOU'RE BILL!
(3)
Rachell E.
Not a fan of Shinto. The first time I went, I thought that maybe it was just a bad night there and that the service and sushi weren't really as bad as they were. I was wrong, tried them again and the service was equally as bad, and this time I had hibachi only. The rolls I had were mushy because the rice wasn't prepared correctly and I couldn't taste the fish or other ingredients. They hibachi was good but the sauces to dip were HORRIBLE!!! I mentioned to the chef that I should've chosen to go to my normal hibachi place and he said 'me too, I'm glad there are so many other choices in this area, More choices for you, More choices for me'. I guess he isn't to happy at Shinto either, lol. Dinner for 2, no drinks, plus tip averaged 80 dollars.
(2)
Dayna C.
Love this place...go there often with sisters/girlfriends for sushi. I highly recommend the Little Delicious...definitely my favorite sushi roll on the menu! Service is always prompt and friendly too.
(5)
Jordan T.
Awesome! Normally when people suggest hibachi I think "oh great, I'm going to spend almost $100 on just myself, to sweat over my mediocre asian stir fry." Not the case here. Shinto is an awesome dining experience. I went in with my boyfriend the night of the blizzard which gives them 5 stars to start with because they were the only thing open! They have awesome, extremely fresh food that is reasonably priced. For two people we walked out at right around $100. We had an appetizer, a bottle of wine and hibachi. The staff was super fun and friendly. They have a very nicely decorated restaurant AND they actually made a great investment in a really good ventillation system. You aren't sweating from heat the entire meal, and you don't walk out smelling like smoke. If you're in Naperville- definitely stop in! Make sure you swing by the bar for a cocktail first as well, the bartenders rock.
(5)
Kelli Ann L.
I wish there were 1/2 stars...I would go with 3.5 - but I would rather UP it than take away. It is a bit overpriced for the size of the rolls - BUT - the ADD ON option is really great! There is an awful lot of crab on the menu.....which is an issue for me - and alot of tempura or fried things - harder to find rolls with just fish, etc....and the wait staff should know what is imitation versus real crab....because I had something that was real...and they thought it was not - they should have asked. I was impressed that we did NOT smell like sushi or hibachi when we left....the environment is really cute and well kept and clean and everyone is very polite. They are a little slow with service, but we did also show up on a Friday evening at 6 pm - we were immediately seated without a reservation, and it was overall a very good experience. The best thing is - EVERYTHING was FRESH and TASTY! So - in an area with very little options for sushi - they COULD have allowed the taste to suffer...they did not. We did not have drinks - but looking around - EVERYONE seemed to really be enjoying them - so.....if I am ever back in the area - I will stop in and try one - and have a yummy roll. The miso soup was also quite tasty!!!
(4)
Janet B.
Naperville is such a big place that, even tho we are sushi lovers, we had never gone this far north. We probably never would have made it except my husband had bid on gift certificates in a charity auction. But it was worth the trip! We chose the hibachi side of this spacious restaurant but supplemented our meal with amazing sushi rolls. On the grill we had chicken, steak and scallops. All were tender & flavorful. Our waiter kept our drink glasses full which is our ultimate test of service. We plan to return for sushi happy hour!
(5)
Daniel L.
New menu, new style. Same old AWESOMENESS!
(5)
Bentlee O.
Seriously, this place was delicious! The atmosphere was very nice and upscale, the hostess was friendly and our waiter was very nice. The sushi was so good and the presentation was very beautiful! They had a full sushi menu with tons of selection, and I thoroughly enjoyed the drink menu! They also had a Monday night special were all specialty rolls were 50% off! We sat the the sushi bar where the chefs were friendly and offered us special rolls and soups as we waited for our main dish. I really loved this place and can't wait to go back!
(5)
Joe S.
NEVER AGAIN! The food at best can be called mediocre. The mediocre food could have been saved by good service, but the service was so horrible it made the experience even worse. Then the bartender rushes us to order, "dude, the kitchen closes in 5 min" - the kitchen was not closing in 5 min; we had 15min till closing time. The server just wanted to rush us out. I ordered the miso soup, "oh, I think we are out of miso - do you want me to check?" - what kind of Japanese Steak House is out of miso soup?? WTF, of course I want you to check that is why I ordered it! Next we get our food and my date didn't get a spoon for her noodle soup so she took mine. When I ask for another spoon I'm brought a Tea Spoon to eat my soup with - not a soup spoon, not a Japanese porcelain spoon, but a tea spoon. In a Japanese Steak House and I'm expected to use a metal teaspoon to eat soup??? Next, cleanliness: We sat at the bar but had to change seats because it was so dirty. The soy sauce btls that we were given were so dirty & sticky that I felt like I needed a shower after touching them. My (female) date used the restroom only to find a male employee in there cleaning - he would not leave to allow the her to use the facilities. All during the meal we could overhear the bartenders talking about the customers, about what kind of tips they were / were not leaving. After I pay with a credit card I pause while waiting for my date in the restroom before signing. Then the server returns, 'Can you sign that so we can close out the register?" And then I overhear him talking with disgust over the $3 dollar tip I left...
(1)
Marcy H.
I went with my husband during lunch last Tuesday. We ordered some half price sushi that was average. Then we ordered Hibachi. We were to early for the $12 special but to late for lunch. I ordered the steak and shrimp. The shrimp was good, maybe could have had another min on the grill but the steak was the thinnest and fattiest piece of meat. I was shocked that they would serve such a piece of meat. I remind you that I'm paying $24 for this combination meal. It had no flavor and was over cooked. I don't eat steak fat anyways! I would also like to mention that most sushi and Hibachi restaurants give you a nice side salad and soup. Shinto gives you only a salad or soup. Of course you can pay extra if you want both. With the exception of another group of people, we were the only ones in the restaurant. There are to many other really good hibachi and sushi restaurants in the area and we will not be back!
(2)
Ken D.
I had a chance/obligation to be in the area again for business, and decided to give Shinto a second go. How do I put this delicately....tuna tartare should not be akin to cat food. Enough said. If you're here for a cocktail...fine. If you're here for something nuanced, subtle and delicious, you're barking (or rather meowing) up the wrong tree.
(2)
Angela V.
My husband and I love sushi and went here on a recommendation. The food is kind of pricey, but it is worth it. We had the Bridge for Two meal which includes soup, ginger salad, nigiri, and two specialty rolls. The atmosphere was trendy and sleek. Service was excellent.
(5)
Lindsay B.
Went here on a Friday night to use a groupon- the overall experience was just what three stars says- A-Ok. First, the location was a bit strange- said it was on North Aurora Road, but you couldn't actually see the restaurant from there (more off 59). Second, the restaurant was insanely crowded at 8 pm on a Friday night, but they were able to seat us fairly quickly. If you are looking for a restaurant where you can have good conversation, this is probably not it. There was a DJ on Friday night- good music. Third, the food was quite good- we sat in the sushi section, and I thought it was quite good. We ate a Rasta Roll, Fire and Ice Roll, and the "Little" Tasty (or something like that). All were really good, and if I was in the neighborhood, I wouldn't mind stopping by for sushi again. Fourth, the service was pretty awful. We asked for water three or four times before it finally arrived. Our drinks sat empty most of the dinner, and the waiter seemed overwhelmed and in a hurry the whole time. He gave us free dessert the service was so slow. Overall, I would rate the food here four stars, and the service two- so I'm averaging out to three. Probably won't be back again unless I am really driving by.
(3)
Ms. Reviewer M.
Miao surprise, little delicious, volcano - all wonderful. The LD is my fav.
(4)
sum l.
NO THANK YOU! When the Chef at the table confirming our order, we specifically told him, we CANNOT eat too salty....so please handle our food with less salt :) As it turn out, I bet he misunderstood, perhaps he thought we love SALTY rice, SALTY steak and SALTY seafood. After one bite we had to drink the whole glass of water! We had to use water to wash all the food before eating!
If I could give Shinto more stars I would! The hibachi chicken is always tender and flavorful, the fried rice is always delicious, and the service is always excellent. The first thing that gets you when you walk in is the gorgeous decor. The thing that makes you stay is the food. Sure, it's a bit pricey, but what hibachi restaurant isn't?
(5)
Taryn H.
First of all, the food here is good quality and the ambiance is very nice. I have no issue whatsoever with the food -- and our Chef (Chris) was very good, friendly, and obviously skilled. My issue came with the service and the resulting management response to service. I was there with two girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We had a reservation for 7 PM but were not seated until closer to 7:30. We were seated at a table with a family that was also celebrating a birthday. Everyone's drinks took 20+ minutes to arrive. No one at the table received soup and salad (included in the price of every meal). The reason we never received the soup and salad was never explained. I believe our waiter said he "would look into it" at one point but nothing came of it nor were we offered the items later with our meal or to take home. I don't think it's illogical to expect that if I'm paying $40 dollars for a meal that's supposed to include soup and salad, I'd like to receive the promised food otherwise I expect consideration on the check. Our chef arrived and tried to rectify some of our issues (for instance, none of us had forks or chopsticks provided to us by the waiter and he also talked to someone at the bar about our drinks). He was a lot of fun. However, our waiter did not really acknowledge or apologize until he was directly asked by one of our fellow diners after the chef finished cooking our dinner (especially since we had two birthdays at the table). The manager did come over to apologize later and while the two birthdays had some of their food/drinks comped, my bill was not adjusted whatsoever. At this point (9:30ish) I just wanted to get out of there instead of waiting another 30-45 minutes to see if they would take some money off my bill so we departed. So I ended up paying $40+ for some shrimp, rice, and vegetables instead of a full multi-course meal. Overall: food fresh and good, chef excellent, customer service extremely poor. I don't have any desire to return.
(2)
Karla B.
Love this place. Always a good experience... Love the spider roll. Do another groupon offer please!!
(5)
Bryan S.
I had lunch at Shintos this week with other members of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. The sushi was amazing. Chef Chris made sure we had a great time. His preparation of the shrimp and scallops was amazing. It was a great time with great food!
(5)
William K.
Shinto is a pretty standard sushi deal. Nice place. Good food. Hot sake! The scene was pretty surreal on a Friday night. Shinto is pretty large, but I groaned when a 4-piece band started playing in the middle of the place. Live music during dinner... usually not good. But they start playing and the sax player in charge was absolutely amazing. Later, I went over a complimented the guy. His name is Reggie Foster, Jr. What an incredible talent. After we finished dinner, we moved to the bar so that we could listen to the music some more. We seemed to be surrounded by the cast from Glengarry Glen Ross... salesmen in their suits and large watches and pinkie rings. The guy sitting next to me bet me a hundo that Facebook's market cap after their IPO would be a trillion dollars. Snort. It was weird and fun. yow, bill
(3)
Maricris D.
Good food, entertaining chefs. You have to experience the hibachi service in order to get the full effect. Service was great, can't complain. A bit pricey, but worth the price for the food we ordered!
(4)
Subz F.
I had taken my family to Shinto for Hibachi lunch on my birthday. Our group of 6 were super-demanding & confused about what to order (as the rest 5 were having Japanese food for the first time!). Our waitress was super courteous and let us take our time without any rush and was very friendly and helped us each to understand what is what in the menu which was great (too bad I forgot her name)! Hibachi chef was awesome! I have had Hibachi meals before at Domo 77 & Hokkaido, but this Hibachi was the best experience I've had so far. Very skilled with his performance, plus, the food was AWESOME! The only reason why I'm not giving 5 stars is because the sushis were not so nice (1 sushi was broken before we even picked it up from the plate). But we were too busy to be happy & hence didn't bother for a replacement :) Overall, nice place, nice food & very good service. I am definitely going back there and recommending this for everyone!
(4)
Katie L.
Little delicious roll, and sushi happy hour. Perfection. Not the best hibachi dinner I've ever had, but I will definitely return for the sushi!
(3)
Mundo M.
A friend insisted we order take out from here for lunch and $30 bucks later we got what tasted like yesterday's sushi. The rolls we ate were too fishy. Sushi should not have a fishy smell. I'm not sure if we got left over sushi from the day before or if the fish used was just plain stinky. I should be fair and say friends I know have been there and rave about the sushi. Maybe my experience was just a one off.
(2)
Noor H.
We love this place and have been there numerous times and have never been disappointed. There are places that can be good one day and not the other but this place is always consistent. I have had both the hibachi side and the sushi side and both are good. Highly recommend.
(5)
Pamela B.
This place is AWESOME! It was my friend's birthday, and we were on the hunt for a good sushi place, so we stopped to try Shinto since they were supposed to be open till 1am, and not only 10pm like everyone else. When we walked in around 10:30pm or so, the host said they were already starting to close up for the night....however, the manager Eric came up to us and welcomed us in, told us to take our time, and enjoy ourselves. Everyone was VERY obliging and made us feel so welcome. We all sat at the bar and the bartender Nick was fantastic. He was so hospitable and friendly, and even made my friend a special birthday drink on the house. Of course, the sushi was AMAZING! We tried the Naperville Roll, Philly Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll (one of my faves because it's spicy!), and a specialty one that wasn't listed on the menu, the Filet Roll (delicious!)!! To top it all off, Eric, the extremely friendly and hospitable manager, brought my friend out an amazing dessert....Ice Cream Tempura (vanilla ice cream wrapped in think layer of pound cake, flash fried and served with a strawberry puree and chocolate sauce).....yum!! Shinto was fantastic, and we will definitely be returning very soon!
(5)
Josh M.
So I heard though the grapevine that Shinto had good deals during lunch for sushi. I decided to give it a go with my gf as usual. She had been here once before and said that it had the best spicy scallop roll she has ever had. I figured that was a good start considering we have been on a sushi kick for a while now. We ordered quite a few rolls since it was pretty much half off during happy hour. I got the wasabi pot stickers that were just OK. The calamari was the biggest turn off of the whole meal by far. I can't do the whole compressed sticks of mush thing - they are just nasty and the farthest thing from good calamari you can get. I was just hoping that the meal would get better from there but it was just average. We got the spicy scallops which were as good as she said - naturally sweet but just enough spice. On top of that we got the usual spicy tuna, philly, shrimp tempura rolls. Not that they were bad but it just wasn't the nice clean fresh taste that I separate the good sushi places from the great ones. I want to try this place again to see if they can redeem themselves for the half off happy hour. Like I said the sushi wasn't bad it just wasn't great. Try the spicy scallop if you get a chance and go for happy hour because the prices are very affordable and the menu is pretty big.
(3)
Will W.
This place rocks Tuesday has the best deal around and the drinks keep you feeling good. Jen at the bar is great. The cook we had puts on a show that everyone liked.
(5)
Elizabeth W.
I like Shinto, but it's not my favorite. The service is usually pretty good, the sushi decent and rolls large but it's not worth the price. Head over on a Monday when some of the best rolls are on special, or during happy hour 3-6! And if your server suggests any rolls that aren't on the menu ASK the price! We ended up with a roll that was mediocre and cost $18!!
(3)
Mike P.
Tried out Shinto via a Groupon offer and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is somewhat divided into 4 areas: traditional dining room, circular bar area, belly-up Sushi bar, and traditional Teppanyaki. However, the space is very open and well lit. Unlike a similar restaurant in the area (i.e., _ _ _ _ arigato mr. roboto), this place just seems a bit more upbeat and well lit. Food and drink were very good with our meal fairly priced ($23 for steak & shrimp) for the circuses offered. That said, I liked that the circuses seemed to be tailored to the tables. At one table, a birthday was being celebrated and lots of good showmanship was taking place. At our table it was just a few couples randomly assembled for dinner. So preparation was very professional tableside, but we (thank goodness) didn't get the egg toss in the chef's hat or the choo-choo flaming onion. We ordered the rather non-adventurous Chicago-Roll as a Sushi appetizer. It was well prepared, well served, but fairly tame which was OK as this was a safe bet. All-in-all, we'd go back again and probably try more interesting Sushi next time.
(4)
Andy S.
Place is nice and food are good. It is pretty expensive
(5)
Moe N.
Was there on 2-3-12 with my brother. The sushi was good but has too much mayo and sauces on them. Our appetizer came out cold. The waitress was really nice and knowledgeable.
(3)
Matt M.
Visited on a Wednesday night. The service was dreadful. This is probably the dullest waiter I've ever had at a $100+ dinner. He didn't really get anything wrong per se, but his attitude totally deflated the fun out of the evening. Food: A Atmosphere: A Hibachi Chef: A Server: D- I'd go again if I hear that they're upgrading their service staff.
(2)
Justin C.
Just had a fantastic lunch with many of my business associates. It was over the top. Fantastic. Not my first visit and certainly won't be my last.
(5)
Jasmine S.
Pretty good place! Only downside is that one time I came, the chef was accidentally almost hit my friend with his spatula....yikes. But that was just once. Every other time we've had a good experience with no flying spatulas
(4)
Andrew T.
$12 dinner specials, Tuesday wine deals and happy hour sushi and appetizers (M-F 3-6pm, Saturday 2-5pm). On top of all this, the hibachi is great, the cooks put on a great show and the food is awesome. Our waiter even gave us a round of sake bombs on the house. The service is great, and they also have drink specials M-Th. I generally go for their drink specials and a little sum'n sum'n to munch on. They have a long list of sushi and maki to order from. The prices are a little steep, but are worth it. Having worked in a Japanese restaurant before, I tend to be critical of sushi/maki and this place makes the cut. The atmosphere is dim and trendy. There are two dining areas, one for hibachi, one for dining, and a bar in the middle that is very picturesque. The bar has great drink selections, and the bartenders are always more than willing to make recommendations. The cocktails always hit the spot, and are made very well. Classy, trendy and hip.
(3)
Mary W.
Servers Kevin and Alex are great. Disappointed in cleanliness tonight. In addition, when we walked in tonight the hostess was on phone. No problem except it was a personal call and she didn't stop the conversation. We asked for a table and she didn't know where to put us!?? Only 2 chefs for a very busy night. There was a table of employees "whining" behind a curtain right next to our table. Very disappointed. Too much $ for dirty dishes and unattentive staff except for our waiter and chef Juan who tried very hard.
(2)
Tami P.
Shintos is a hidden gem. Great food, nice atmosphere & fabulous staff!! By far, the best sushi place in the burbs:) I refer ppl to go here all the time and I go on a regular basis because it's so great!
(5)
Nicole D.
I went to Shinto on Wednesday with a friend and we wanted to take advantage of the Happy Hour offerings of discounted sushi & appetizers. Once we were sat we were given a sheet to fill out with our choices. One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when a server does not educate you on portions and just lets you order away only thinking about $$$ and not about making sure we have a good experience. First the drink we were told was on special that day ended up not being on special so the server just brought us some other mixed drink and said if we wanted the other we'd have to pay full price. Now to me the right thing to do would have been to give us the drink SHE mistakenly told us was on special and then if we wanted more that would be on us to pay full price. Food started coming out in a timely manner, however I was a but disappointed that yet agian our server did not take the time to make sure we got a variety of things off our list, instead we were stuck eating all our fried options together and by the time the sushi showed up maybe 30 mins later we were totally full. LITERALLY at least 5 times throughout our time there different servers/ food runners attempted to drop off plates of food that were not ours, VERY annoying to continually be interrupted to have to stop them from putting the food down on our table. Not once did our server stop by to acknowledge this repeated issue. Overall the food was good, our server was friendly, but there were definitely some things lacking from my experience. I'm not sure that I would go back to Shinto anytime soon, I honestly thought it fell a bit flat for the expectations I had of it.
(2)
Kelli C.
I enjoyed my experience at Shinto, but I can't say it was fantastic. I went for a birthday dinner with the parents and we did the hibachi. Our servers were incredibly attentive and spot on, but our chef just did not interact with our table at all. It didn't feel like he really put on a show. He did the knives, onion volcano, egg trick and then cooked our food. That was pretty much it. I would have liked to see more, especially with the price of the food. The onion soup you get before the meal was very good and the salad was pretty tasty. While the food was very good and they do you give you a lot it, I would have liked to have had a better hibachi experience. If it is your birthday they bring you a "special dessert". The dessert was a deep fried cookie with ice cream. It was nice, but nothing to write home about. The decor is gorgeous. I didn't have a chance to try the sushi, but it looked very good. I think I would return to give the sushi a try, but not sure if I'd come back for the hibachi.
(3)
Rachel A.
Shinto has awesome sushi and hibachi! They can be pretty pricey as well. The restaurant has a good vibe and is upscale on the classiness scale.
(5)
Lindsay S.
This name should probably be changed to Sh*t h*le..... just sayin. Upon entering, it's stunning. VERY trendy, high energy, you're greeting authentically by someone who barely knows a word of English. OH it's JUST LIKE Japan! Before i get TOO long-winded i just want to say that the Japanese guy who cooked our food was beyond awesome. It was the server that sucked. The cook was young, cute, friendly and really outgoing and funny. We left HIM a hefty tip, he deserved it. Now onto the bad stuff. If you don't want to read on all i have to say is the service is crap and the portions are small. They didn't have the type of sushi we wanted, so i didn't get a chance to try it. Our meal sucked. Our server was SO busy flirting with the guys at the end of our hibachi table i think she forget we were there. Because it was my boyfriend and I, and two of my male friends (who are together), Obviously, since no one at OUR end was looking to score she turned her attention towards the cheapo metrosexual graphic-Tshirt wearing boys with frosty highlights and orange skin. The guys at the other end of the table weren't even there to eat hibachi, they were there to drink. They fooled the waitress into thinking they were going to order just to get the free miso and salad. After those dishes came they decided "they were just going to have sushi". She giggled and took their order and then brought over ANOTHER server, because apparently, she was incapable of handling all three boys by herself. Somehow i think she's done it before, though.......... She mixed up our food, didn't bring us refills, EVER. My boyfriend ordered sea urchin and she brought him eel. He said "i ordered sea urchin" and she's like yeah i know, we're out of that. He's like, "well i don't want this". So in other words, i think the restaurant attempted to pawn-off a cheaper sushi on someone assuming they wouldn't know the difference between the expensive urchin and the cheap eel. Nice try. As if this all wasn't enough, the meal ended with two of the servers doing shots with the boys at the other end of our table. Oh, drinking on the job? How becoming. In the end i decided to write a letter and just leave. However, my friend's high-strung boyfriend decided HE was going to argue with the manager who didn't speak a WORD of English. Needless to say, i never went back. If you're a guy that fits the above description, i'm sure you'll have a blast. If you're a married couple, dating or you're gay... sorry, the servers aren't interested in you.
(1)
KiKi I.
I have to start by saying...we loved the rolls we got "the Guatemalan" & "black widow"..however, it was extremely dark and hard to see anything...including the menu. The waiter had to take our sushi rolls back to see in better light what we ordered to tell us. Also, none of the drinks wowed me. Overall, good sushi but wasn't wowed to make us go back.
(3)
Brittney N.
I love Shinto The restaurant's atmosphere is very welcoming and there's usually a live band that plays on weeknights. The sushi and hibachi is probably one of the best in my book! My favorite roll is the little delicious even if it's a little pricey; I believe it's $15 for a the roll (there are days where certain rolls are 50% off)? But I've been here for birthday celebrations, dates, and/or a quick lunch with friends. The servers are always polite and attentive so overall I've only have positive experiences.
(5)
Pamela P.
I live in Naperville and frequent Shinto's about once a week. It's super nice on Tuesdays with the $12 hibachi's and 1/2 price sushi between 4-6. Victor is one of the best cooks there, so if he's there ask for him, American Chris is another really good one....the best is that they both speak fantastics english, cook well and season perfectly. They put on a good show, but good food is most important with me. The sushi is ALWAYS fresh, I LOVE the little delicious, but all the sushi is fresh and to die for. I completely agree about the service....it's mostly the young dingbat girls. Its very important that if you have an issue with service that you tell them. I have been doing this regularly and over time I'm not seeing their faces anymore. I'm so the type of person that can't stand poor service, it just ruins the general over all experience; it's just NOT ok. For those of us that remember Boston Blackies(just down the road), same deal....poor service prevailed over the fantastic food they served. Eventually, Unfortunately that will be the same demise for Shinto's if they don't revamp the quality of servers that they have working for them. I enjoy the food so much that it's kinda sorta worth the risk when I go there, but I've hung in there. Once you get to know the staff you can ask to be sat in their section. When it's super crowded it's a bit tougher to choose. If you have an issue, tell the manager, tell someone. They have another resturaunt in Strongsville, OH. Crappy service may fly there, but for here the bars a little higher.
(4)
Bryan R.
The food here is fantastic. The atmosphere is very club-like, a little intense for a Sunday evening dinner (like when we went). We've gone three times and weirdly, there has never been more than a few other people there. Their food is incredibly affordable for what you get, and on Sundays and Mondays you can get almost half of the menu for half price. A great way to try a lot or save money on what otherwise may have been a special 'treat'.
(5)
Vick C.
I like their wine bar design, very modern. I always go there for lunch, fresh sushi roll and they serve American style Japanese food. I'm not a big fan of Hibachi but I tried one time still, I don't like they flow the food to the customer since they never know how to aim it to their mouth, kind of messy!
(3)
Adrian W.
Consistency is key in sushi. My background with spices is seriously subpar. I don't handle them well at all and will casually tear up with peppers. Just for you people who may want to know how to end Adrian W... Came here for my second time last night and ordered the Guatemalan sushi which I had the previous time. I realize it has jalapenos in it but the first time I had it, no kick. Last night? SERIOUS kick. So much so I had to guzzle my water like a camel. The food here is great, no doubt. I can say that our waiter was on top of his game, the others, meh.
(3)
Erica P.
I like the place, although it never seems very busy. The first time we went, it was a Friday night and we sat at the bar...we had saki bombs and I ordered the Hawaiian Roll which was super yummy! The next few times, I planned accordingly to visit when they had special offerings. When we went on a Monday, they offer discounted specialty rolls: -Their "award winning" roll Lil Delicious $10 vs $15...I tried it, I wasn't overly impressed...then again, I don't like cream cheese in my sushi rolls. -Volcano roll $7 vs $10...I really liked this one in comparison with the Lil Delicious. -They also have the lobster roll and black widow rolls for $12 vs $17...and a couple others, too. -Monday's they also offer $5 top shelf martinis The next time I went was during their happy hour from 3pm-6pm...what a value! Half price sushi (traditional rolls) and appetizers...I tried their pan seared scallops, not so great...maybe they would be better without their specialty teriyaki sauce. The spicy tuna roll was phenomenal, the best I have had in the area.
(4)
Brian G.
If you're a sushi freshman, this place is perfect for you! Habachi backup with great service for those not interested in sushi. Knowledagble server staff with great sushi recommendations. The spicey crab role was actually spicey! Spicey roles are usually mild or not spicey at other sushi bars - Shinto delivers! Don't let the spciey crab role scare you, there are so many other wonderful sushi rolls to pick from. The Habachi chefs are very friendly. You DO NOT get that rushed feeling that you would at other Habachi "bars". We've been to this place roughly five times and find ourselves spending two hours easily relaxing over good sushi, good drinks, good service, and a great place to spend time with friends. Shinto has easily become my favorite place in DuPage. Only one problem to note and I'm certain this is more for the landlord/property owner which Shinto likely is not. Please talk to the property manager and have the lighting fixed in the parking lot.
(5)
Kyle D.
This review is only on the maki as I haven't tried the hibachi aspect to this restaurant. I have had many of the rolls on the menu both for lunch and dinner and have never been unimpressed. There is a huge influx of sushi houses lately in the Fox Valley area, but for me Shinto's freshness and creativity stands apart almost as well as Swordfish in Batavia. The decor in Shinto is very trendy and visually appealing from the blue concave ceiling over the bar to the goldfish pond in the floor. I have had great service at the bar, at the sushi tables, and at the sushi bar. Fast service with fresh ingredients make for a really fun night out. Their specials are also good for those complaining about price, which can be kinda unreasonable on some specialty rolls. I will keep coming back to this restaurant. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is one time I was in there with a D.J. and it was really loud and kinda didn't fit with the restaurant, but kinda did (if you know what i mean). It wasn't for me, but I just avoid it during those times. Recommendations: Chicago Roll, and the Little Delicious.
(4)
Sara B.
great wine selection. Great sushi. The place was empty when we were there but it made the meal really enjoyable.
(4)
K. M.
Celebrated my birthday at Shinto's last week! My only complaint is how long we had to wait. We had a 7:00 reservation for 4. We were all there on time but were told to sit at the bar while they prepare our table. We were not seated until 7:20. I am not a fan of waiting more than 10 minutes if I have a reservation and the place is not busy. Then we had to wait until 7:50 for them to bring our soup and salad. This was just ridiculous. However, after all our waiting everything else was GREAT! Our sushi was so good I could have just eaten that. The portions were large enough that we ordered 2 rolls for 2 of us and we were starting to get full. Just ask what the fresh fish is for the day. They will always tell you. The hibachi portion of dinner was great too! I always get the chicken and steak combo so I can really taste the flavors of the cook. Our cook was awesome. We eat Japanese a lot and I have never met a cook who I wanted to stay and hang out with after dinner. By the time he left the table we had all laughed so hard we were new friends with the people sitting with us. He was able to turn the dinner into an experience. I highly recommend asking for Victor or Papi. (He says everyone calls him Papi and that is what his name tag said but it is really Victor.) For the birthday portion of the night the server brought out Saki bombs for the whole table. This was a neat experience because I have never had a Saki bomb. Then they brought out a dessert big enough to feed the whole table. My favorite place for a birthday dinner. Price was high but we all enjoyed it. Highly recommend
(4)
Rob D.
Not being a Sushi fan, I was skeptical when my kids cajoled me into going to Shinto's, but I left pleasantly suprised. The night we were there we opted for the sushi menu rather than the hibachi experience. The waitress was quite nice and willing to explain things to a Sushi newbie like me. I began with a bowl of onion soup that had good flavor but a little too much salt. my combo platter contained a chef's choice of Nigiri, Sashimi and a Spicy Tuna Roll. All of the food was beuatifully presented and very fresh. The white tuna was particularly good, as was the spicy tuna roll. My son had a similar dish and was equally impressed. My wife and daughter had Udon noodles, a Philly and a Tempura Roll, all of which were pronounced delicious. The decor and atmosphere of the place is trendy and bright. My only critcism is that considering we were there at about 5PM and were one of only a handful of customers in the restaurant, we waited an inordinate amount of time for our food. Given the final product, though, i can forgive this and will be going back again.
(4)
Elora V.
First time I went to this place it was really cool.... it was a lil modern take on sushi and hibachih..It reminded me a bit of Benihana back in the day but with a Trendy atmosphere and decor... I went with my friend and we both fell in love with the place.. it can get very busy on weekends so I suggest you make reservations ahead of time..
(5)
Bill D.
Walked in Saturday evening at 5:00 and they didn't have our reservation, but eventually found it; asked the manager how to use the Yelp app $10 check-in coupon - he said he'd take care if it; sat at the bar waiting for the rest of our party and was greeted by a very pleasant bartender - very good Riesling wine; it took a little while for the action to begin at the grill- hibachi; Chris, the hibachi chef was pretty entertaining and interactive; wife loved the scallops, while my steak and chicken was good - the steak was just ok, but can be "upgraded" to NY strip for an extra cost; tue bill came - no $10 credit, which the check-girl took care of, but it took a while as she was pretty busy. Overall, we had a nice experience and dinner.
(4)
Adam S.
Great sushi and the little delicious roll is a necessity. Hibachi is extremely tasty and they put on an awesome show!!!
(5)
Jeffrey G.
Price is much higher then needed. Don't go if you are on a budget, even during happy hour. Not happy with how the groupons are being made and honored. Beware of the fine print. Overall, try it, we will never go back.
(1)
Marc B.
I avoid this place at all costs. It is a poorly run establishment with little attention paid to the details of properly trained servers, cleanliness, value, and good food. Find another place!!
(1)
Jesse W.
Ever since this place has opened, my wife and I have made many, many trips there. We've eaten a lot of sushi in the area and now consider Shinto to be the best. People are nice, always saying "hi" and talking with you...but, really, the food is excellent (we've only had the sushi). We go for their happy hour a lot of the time and get appetizers and sushi for half off. It's a good value for what I say is excellent sushi. I would say it's Trendy and upscale, but I've come in with shorts and a t-shirt and they don't mind. Nice bar with a couple of TV's. I live in Warrenville, I just wish it was closer as route 59 traffic is a problem around 4/5 in the afternoon.
(5)
Brandon B.
I regularly attend Shinto when I am back in town....and it is always a good meal, but tonight was different, it was GREAT. Juan our Habachi Chef was off the chain providing us with awesome entertainment and the most delicious Hibachi I can remember. Not to mention Tuesdays are $12 Habachi which is an unbelievable deal. Soup, Salad and a Hefty portion of steak, chicken or shrimp. Highly recommend to anyone celebrating a birthday or looking for a delicious dinner.
(5)
Erica Z.
I can't speak for the sushi, however I've never been disappointed with the hibachi. Coming from a vegetarian perspective, the veggie entree has PLENTY of food. Sometimes eating vegetarian can mean that you get the short end of the stick, but not at Shinto. Veggie entree comes with mixed veggies, tofu, soup, salad, udon noodles, and rice. The side sauces are good, and the chefs are always friendly. Tend to frequent this place after family, friends and I all purchased the maximum amount of Groupons. Would definitely suggest going for lunch - you only get the choice of soup OR salad, but it's plenty of food, and much cheaper.
(5)
Eva V.
I am a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to Sushi, but some friends wanted to try this place...and I grudgingly went. I am so glad I did--Shinto is now on our favorite Sushi restaurant list! When trying a new Sushi place, I order sashimi first. If you have good, fresh fish everything else is usually good as well. We ordered one of the sashimi combo dinners to share, and were blown away by the quality of fish! The service was a little slow, but they made up for it in friendliness. Beautiful place, beautiful fish and very good looking servers :D
(4)
G. L.
Review for Sushi Only. I went to Shinto recently to continue my hunt for good sushi in the Naperville area (quite a quest btw!) Sushi-wise, I have to say that I have had better... It was just ok... Service seemed a bit green to say the least...? The staff didn't greet me until I was already there for 15 minutes or so... And wasn't really engaged other than "what would you like" and "here it is"... Really the only positive for this place is the atmosphere... Seems like it could be a great place to hang out on a Friday/Saturday night sometime for drinks/the bar... Have to try their teppan food on the hibachi... Maybe things will be different.
(2)
Jill A.
Alright! My hubbs and I went here for our 3rd wedding anniversary. Can someone say FANTASTIC!? We did go on a wed. night - not too busy. We got dressed up and we were afraid we may have over done it, but once inside we fit right in. Very high class, modern, stylish restaurant. We ate both sushi, and hibachi, which both were amazing. We had the lobster and veggies (all cooked perfectly) and we tried a "safe" roll, and we had to try their little delicious roll. Our waiter couldn't have said it better himself when he told us we would have never tried anything like it before. It was fantastic. Our waiter was so knowledgeable about the menu, was super friendly, and accommodating, and offered us free champagne or dessert for our special night. We opted with dessert, however later in the evening when it was time, we thanked him and politely told him no thanks, we were SO stuffed! He was kind enough to let him manager know and she took an additional 10% off our check!! Wonderful service, and great food! We want to go back when we're out that way again, only next time it will be JUST for the sushi - we have to try more!
(5)
Ahmad N.
The place was nice but the specialty sushinrolls had too much mayo and sauce on them.
(3)
John S.
I can't say enough good things about Shinto. First off when you enter the door the decor is great. It feels like you just stepped into a very nice restaurant in Japan. The Dinning room is separated into two sides one side for Sushi and another Habachi side. Last night we choose to do the Habacci side. We also ordered some sushi as an appetizer. I ordered the Filet as my main course with the fried rice. Our Chef was lots of fun and really involved the kids that were sitting at the table with us. My filet was cooked perfectly and had a great taste. I also enjoyed the sushi and it was my first time trying actually sushi. After dinner we decided to have a few drinks at the bar. The bar staff was very friendly. A great experience over all I highly recommend Shinto.
(5)
Jessica G.
Came here as part of a big group for a work dinner. It's pretty standard hibachi - I have not tried the sushi though I have heard it was good. The service was a little slow, though it could have been the fact that we had a very large group of people in there. Our server was very friendly and helpful and was kind enough to bring special dressing out for two people who didn't want the standard ginger. The food is pretty usual for hibachi but I think if I ever eat there again, I will be asking for them to NOT cook my food in a load of garlic butter, which seems to be how they do it there. It's tasty but it was on the greasy side for my liking. I also never did get my rice - the other people at the table all had the fried rice and I had steamed and I think it was just forgotten in there. Drinks took a while to come from the bar but according to the other people at my table, they were good. Overall, an all-right experience.
(3)
Donna S.
Not a good experience. Seated with no place settings. Appetizers came & had to ask for forks and napkins. Server returned with 4 sets of chopsticks but only 3 forks and shrugged it off like oh well & didn't bring another fork (eventually we were brought another fork). Overheard staff talking at next table over about being out of bar glasses. It is 5:15 on a Saturday night... why aren't they prepared? Server removed drink menu with food menus - not too smart if he wanted us to pick out another drink. Dinner vegetable was supposed to be steamed broccoli & carrots but was mostly onions and some broccoli - no carrots. Had to ask three times for food boxes. Initially asked for 3 and explained what was going into each container (my friend also asked for 1). Server returned with 2. Asked for 2 more and again he returned with 1. Had to ask one more time to get my third container. While boxing up our leftovers, someone tried delivering us a place of someone else's food (as if we ordered more food at the end of our meal, yeah right). They seemed confused what table food was to go to. Only plus was server brought me a 'sip' of Saki to try to see if I liked it before ordering a glass (I'd never had Saki before). I wouldn't go back for dinner - service wasn't worth the food price - but would consider having happy hour appetizers in the bar on a Saturday afternoon.
(2)
Carmen N.
I love the sushi here. I always play it safe and choose the same sushi everytime i come here. I usually end up here after work with co-workers since it right down the street. Eventhough the traffic around this place is busy and not the easiest place to get to, its well worth it!
(4)
Minners N.
Coming from the city, I wasn't expecting the best sushi in the suburbs but was pleasantly surprised with the somewhat fresh fish and decent selection of maki. However, considering this is a more "upscale" sushi joint and it's in the burbs, I was expecting immaculate cleanliness. Epic fail. We were lured in by the happy hour deal and were warmly welcomed into the restaurant and seated against the side wall where the seats were heavily worn and in dire need of replacing. The inside pages of the menu had food residues from previous diners as did the sticky table. I ordered a cup of green tea and was quickly given a pot with a glass mug. Without even touching the mug I could see it was not clean so I asked for another cup, hoping it was just a one-time mishap. The second mug still had some leftover residues so I attempted to clean it myself with a wetnap. After one quick swipe, the wetnap was brown. The water glass, which was never filled for us, looked cleaned so I poured the tea into there. From far away everything does look clean, but being the germ-a-phob that I am, I noticed every off detail. The service was decent, though the waitress seemed to know very little about the menu and had to run back to get answers for most every question we had about the menu. This could have been our place to grab a quick sushi dinner, but i grimace just thinking of my experience there and what else was lurking in my food...
(2)
Michelle T.
This is my go-to place on a Friday or Saturday night if I want to sit at the bar, have a good cocktail and eat sushi. The decor is modern and the vibe is neat, especially for being located in a Naperville strip mall. It's not the BEST sushi or hibachi I've ever had but it's still good. Service can be a little slow at times but I'm usually not in a rush when I go there.
(4)
Kristen J.
We just went here for my mother-in-law's birthday a few weeks ago. The ambiance is really chic for Naperville and the food was very, very good. Its pricey, but sushi/hibachi places usually are. I really enjoyed the swordfish and scallops we had for dinner and the rolls we ordered for our appetizer. It was a great time and we plan to go back, you know, when we have $150 laying around. NEW*** we just went back a 2nd time for SUSHI only and it was just okay. Nothing special. And again, a bit over-priced considering it was lack-luster.
(3)
Johanna J.
After a lil rocky start the Shinto made up for it which made for an awesome time. Tried the sushi class with friends and really enjoyed myself. Gustavo was great and made some really good rolls. I would recommend the lil delicious because that it was. I know I will be back again. Next time though I might try it on their jazz night and I hear the hibachi is really good.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Shinto gets 5 stars because I am not a fan of Japanese or sushi - UNTIL I came here. Awesome food, moreover the atmophere is first class. It's not like your typical sushi house; the vibe here is upscale. My husband and I went on a night that they had live entertainment (singers). So if you visit when they have something special going on, you'll want to stay and have a good time. My husband wasn't exactly entranced by the singers that night, but I thought it was super cool. I also ended up meeting the general manager, Dana, at a networking event recently. It was further clear to me why I was so impressed w/ this restaurant.. the Shinto management is awesome!
(5)
Marc L.
Have never had a bad experience here, and are repeat customers. Sushi is awesome and the hibachi grill dishes are delicious, the steak melts in your mouth. Service is always top notch and drinks top off the meal. The kind of hard to get to location, keeps this a bit of a hidden gem.
(5)
Claudia R.
First off...Shinto is in a little strip mall next to Enterprise, so I was not setting my expectations high at all when walking in here. However, I have to say the sushi here is on par with Kiku, my other Naperville fav for Sushi. My friends and I get the Miso Surprise and just love it. The drinks at bar are great too. This place is close to my office and on my way home so I frequently stop by for drinks. I love the Sangria...so yummy and has a kick to it. It is also amusing to watch the Cougurs of Naperville out on the prowl as they flirt with the bartenders. Drinks and laughs after a long day at the office...who could ask for more?
(4)
Albert C.
Unimpressed, at least by the sushi side of things. Located out on the western edge of Naperville, the atmosphere tries very hard to be hip and kewl. Does this fit in Naperville? Not really. It wouldn't necessarily be out of place in River North or Santana Row, however. The interior is split into the teppanyaki side and the sushi lounge. My friends opted for the sushi lounge, which was comfortable enough, though pretty empty on a Thursday night. We started off with the scallop tempura, which was ok taste-wise, but had four rather pitiful looking scallops and a few vegetables. The spicy tuna roll and shrimp tempura roll were pretty standard and decent. The Shinto sushi platter looked promising with a nice variety of fish, but the fish wasn't all that fresh and some of it was decidedly tough. I know that fish just isn't that fresh out in the Midwest but this was a step below what I expected. I *might* come back at some point in the future to check out the teppanyaki side of things, but I can't say that I recommend the sushi... though if you're looking for atmosphere, Shinto has loads of it.
(2)
Ashok S.
Great food and good environment. Service is good. Sushi is decent nothing to brag about. Rolls are good.
(4)
Allison C.
Im giving 5 stars because of the server Nick. I would say the sushi is 4 stars, however, every time I go I ask for Nick because he really delivers the best customer experience. So ask for Nick if you want to complete your experience. I have gone to Shinto sooooo many times and never have I had bad sushi. Its always fresh and they have an AMAZING happy hour from 3-6 M-Sat where a ton of their sushi is half price.
(5)
Mark O.
Disappointing experience. Greeted by waiter, then never heard from him again. Thankfully, after 20 mins of just sitting with closed menus, another very polite server--Shirin--rescued the night. She apologized, smiled, made friendly suggestions on orders, and got our food quickly. Of course, our waiter never did acknowledge us again, even though he served the table right next to us. Also, some of the dishes were dirty and the soy sauce containers dripped soy sauce rather than poured.
(2)
eric s.
Bought a groupon and decided to try it out. Only my wife and I, so we decided to just head out with no reservation and eat at the bar. Checked the website for hours and it showed that they are open on Sundays. Called in advance and got no answer; figured they were busy and not answering. Drove all the way out there and they were closed. No sign. No message on their answering machine. Nothing on their website. I'll eat the groupon and wont go back.
(1)
I H.
Service and quality of the food was so-so. Went there on a Sunday afternoon therefore it was not so busy. The waitress was nice but kept disappearing and we had to ask for things that would normally be available to diners. Things like a napkin and a fork. We ordered an appetizer sampler and the chicken on a stick came out cold, was so dry and the sauce that they drizzled on it made it inedible. The atmosphere was young and hip. As soon as you walked in, you were greeted by clubby/loungy music. The prices were on the high side. It's not worth coming back.
(1)
Vanessa R.
Well to start off let me say that our chef was super nice but after that the rest of the staff falls short. Our waitress was nowhere to be found other staff had to try to pick up for her slack. We saw her 2 times during our visit. The horrible part is that because the tip was already included in the bill she walked away with 150 bucks just in tips! The food was average nothing worth the price. Your paying for the show and the fact that its a trendy place!
(2)
Sam R.
We've been to Shinto no less than two dozen times over the last couple of years. Always for sushi-cannot comment on the hibachi side of the restaurant. The sushi, and we have a solid base of experience to draw from, is above average. We went there last night and used our $50 groupon. Nice value for sure. The issue I have is with their inconsistent pricing. Bottles of wine are shown at one price on the menu and then you get the bill and the price is several dollars higher. The same thing with sushi rolls-except the increase may only be a couple dollars. Really? they don't think people see this? By the time we caught it, it was too late-we were already out the door. We ordered "large pours" of wine for a couple extra dollars and we clearly received the regular pour. The server said they would check with the bar- never followed up with us. We'll continue to come to Shinto but ONLY when we have a groupon. Would rather go down the street to Kiku or Wild Tuna.
(2)
Christina C.
The impression when I first walked into Shinto was that it was a really trendy place. It kind of looks like a bar you would in Las Vegas or something. I've been there a few times with family and friends and have had both the sushi and hibachi. The sushi is whatever to me. I got the little delicious and scorpion roll and I personally think my home made sushi taste almost the same which isn't saying much. Now the hibachi is pretty good. I shared the scallops, chicken, and steak combo with my cousin and it was yummy :) The chefs are great and definitely do a good job entertaining. Another plus is not smelling like food when you walk out. Oh, and the calamari appetizer is pretty good too. It was a tad bit soggy when we got it but the sweet sauce they use is very tasty. I have gone at least 4 or 5 times. The sushi is average but the hibachi is good. I'd rather go to Sushi Yama in Geneva for sushi. My friends and family go here a lot, so its the only reason why I go.
(3)
Mike T.
We had a coupon to go here so we decided to go on a random weeknight, close to closing time. If we didn't have a coupon, I might not have found this place. It was hard to find because I must have gotten the address wrong and you can not easily get around the busy route 59. We ordered way too much food though and I felt like exploding. The appetizer was good and the rolls' portions was huge.
(4)
Chole L.
I went there to eat bec i got a $25 certificate from restaurant.com . Food wasn't that great compared to other sushi restaurants. Service was good tho. I would recommend others to try it but i don't think i would go back there again.
(3)
Warren C.
New look for an old style restaurant. Modern style of Benihana's. Bar was nice and good service. The food is good as well. I had the yellow fin tuna on the hibachi grill. Sides are typical, like Benihana, with rice and veggies. Over all a nice place with good food.
(5)
Amy E.
My boyfriend and I are regulars here. Great vibe, LOVE the sashimi. Try the Delicious Roll if you're new to sushi- it's got a lot of flavor and tastes great on any palate.
(4)
Ming C.
Not bad. I came all the way from chicago downtown to Naperville to dine out at this place. I love the Hibachi style and the food is very good. Really wish there is one in downtown chicago.
(4)
Liz B.
Came here on a "date" with my best friend because she had a goupon. We made a reservation early (6:30), but we got a little lost because this place is very difficult to find if you're not familiar with Naperville (FYI, it's behind a gas station). The restaurant was enormous and people were everywhere. I did not expect 6:30 to be a busy restaurant time. We got our table and our waiter was very nice, but I think he was a little overwhelmed. It was really dark in there too, maybe good for a romantic setting but it was way too big with too much going on to be intimate. The food and martinis were great. If it was closer to me, I'd go again, but I wasn't blown away by it.
(4)
Paul P.
This place has a contemporery feel and decor. I sat in the bar as always. I did not had any traditonal sushi, but their specilty rolls are awsome! The service at the bar was very good, but there was no one else there at the time. The beer is better than most for a Japanese place. Drink selection is very good. Thay have an extencive cocktail menu. I would go back for the sushi anytime. The prices are steep, but they have to pay for the decor somehow. Well kept restrooms are a plus.
(4)
MeLissa H.
If I could live here, I would! Their food is to die for! I never had a bad experience in the two years of coming here and that's at least 30 times, more than enough to dent the wallet. Pricey but excellent quality food. I always have leftover hibachi and the chefs are wonderful even if "new" at their tricks.
(5)
Cb L.
Chris is the best at the bar. Makes the experience worth every penny.
(5)
David L.
I wasn't sure what to expect going in here other than that it looked like a fun, cool place from the outside. It's very spacious with plenty of seating, but is actually kind of quaint. They have a circular bar which provides for good conversation and the $5 Monday Martini special-Grey Goose a little dirty for me-came as a great surprise! Nice pour by the bartender! We had sushi and hibachi items and all were very good. I would suggest the Caterpillar roll as an appetizer and steak and scallops for dinner. The grilled scallops were tender and very, very good! The wait staff and manager were very attentive, always making sure we had everything we needed but not being pests. Last but not least, the hibachi grill chef-I doubt that's his title-was funny and entertaining.
(4)
Kathleen G.
Really awesome sushi and atmosphere. My favorite in Naperville.
(4)
Chris W.
We love sushi and hibachi, and have been here several times previously, dining both at a hibachi and at a sushi table. Last night was our most recent trip. We decided to do hibachi. The food and service were excellent! The hibachi chef was entertaining, and our waiter was very attentive - quickly whisking away empty plates, and refilling water and other beverages promptly. The alchololic drinks are a bit pricy, but we had a Groupon which made the price of the experience much more palateable. Overall, we enjoy this restaurant and will go back.
(4)
Terry P.
My first time here. First I am not a fan of restaurants in strip malls. That being said this place was nicely done. However, please loose the Ghetto Rap Dance Music. At least play some relaxing oriental music in the background. The food was good, but a bit pricey for a Benihana want-to-be. I may go back again.
(3)
J Mae S.
First of all, I am a sushi newbie. That being said, I have visited Shinto a few months ago with one group of friends and made a return today for my birthday. 3 of my friends are sushi fans and frequent other sushi joints around our area. I asked, "what makes sushi good or bad?" Their response was the fish needs to be fresh (no odors), rice sticky and not hard, and veggies fresh. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box which was pretty tasty. The fish was fresh and I finished almost the entire meal. My friends ordered the beef negimaki bento box, chicken yaki udon, steak & shrimp combination hibachi, and steak hibachi. The 3 friends were more than satisfied with their meals. We chose Shinto because we had a $25 (for $50) Groupon. They honored our Groupon without any hesitation and allowed us to order sushi and not hibachi in the hibachi area (although 2 friends did order hibachi). **I must note that the half-price sushi starts @ 2p.m. on Saturdays. We also ordered the "Little" Delicious Roll, which was very delicious, but the waitress could have pointed out that we would have received half-price on that specialty roll if we had ordered one beverage (and saved $7.50 in the process). I will return again, especially for half-price sushi with a Groupon, but even without a Groupon, the sushi is good enough for a return visit.
(4)
Kristie S.
Positives: EXCELLENT, FRESH food in an exceptional atmosphere Negatives: Poor service - The sushi wait staff doesn't know the menu. They mess up orders, and they aren't attentive.
(4)
Melanie P.
Although it's not easy to get into this restaurant if you are heading on Rt. 59 southbound, I do really like the location. The dining area is huge--hibatchi to the left, sushi to the right, and a gorgeous bar in the center. I've only tried the sushi side because it is just that damn good. I like hibatchi, too, but now I am hooked on the sushi here and am working my way through their specialty rolls. I love the twinkling table tops and the dinnerware. The miso soup is the best I have ever had and it is served in lovely green glazed ceramic bowls with matching spoons--no plastic spoons with yucky decals on them here! They have no problem accommodating someone with a gluten free/dairy free diet. The wait staff has always been friendly and never messed up an order. We like to go on Saturday afternoons when they have great specials. We never have to wait for a table. The points card, cleanliness, and super friendly staff keeps me coming back, too. No problem finding parking, which can be the case at Sushi House in downtown Naperville.
(5)
Wendy F.
We went to Shinto this past weekend - and while the food and service were as great as ever - they definitely have a problem with their A/C when the temp gets in the 90's. We were there about 6pm - and the bar and sushi area was comfortable, but as soon as you went into the hibachi grill area - it was HOT! Our poor chef was so hot and miserable - and it felt very warm to us, even just sitting still. They need to put in fans and/or boost the A/C for hot days!
(4)
Aaron G.
Amazing!!! Best Japanese steak house around. The environment is amazing and staff is great too.
(5)
Rich K.
I really enjoyed Shinto. The food quality is top notch. I think the performance by the cooks is better here than at other locations.
(3)
Janis T.
Food was just okay, but very deseptive advertising. Had a double take deal coupons for $40 which was of no use since you can't use on any specials or happy hour. Coupon does NOT state this nor did the waitress tell us when we started ordering. So what was suppose to cost us an additional $30 ended up to be $112. Manager pretty much ignored us, would not go back. Buyer Beware.
(1)
Vicki R.
I've been to Shinto twice now.. first time was okay 2nd time was terrible the waitress forgot our appetizer then she forgot 1 of our rolls when we finally got the appetizer and not till after she brought us the bill did she realize that she had forgotten half of our order.. We only visited Shinto again because it's so close to home. From now on I'd rather take the 30 minute drive and visit Kinta, Orchid, Tokyo Bay , Wild Tuna or Swordfish... They are definitely worth the drive.
(2)
Ryan R.
My wife and I were excited to try this out because it had been recommended by a friend but we ended up really disappointed. The decor was very nice and modern and it was very clean, but the food was very over priced and the service was poor. To elaborate on the food, my wife and I both ordered from the hibachi menu. She ordered chicken and I ordered steak and scallops. The steak was a poor cut of meat that turned out to be mostly fat and gristle and the scallops were over cooked to the point that they were very chewy and hard to cut. Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way is that it cost an additional $3 just to get fried rice. All in all the food was expensive, not well prepared, and I got less food at Shinto than I have at any other hibachi restaurant. Now for the service, the chef was polite and likable, but our server was missing in action. One of the other guests at the table ordered a beer as the salads were brought out and never received it because she never came back to the table. She was to busy doing sake bombs with another table. Fifteen minutes after dinner was complete and the table had been cleared I had to hunt down the manager in order to pay our bill. I don't think that we will be trying this restaurant again.
(1)
Kate D.
Update: awful first dining-in experience. Carried out lots since then but just gave them another dine-in chance this weekend. Hostess was friendly but had no idea how to judge what the wait was. The couple in front of us had been told it was 15 minutes and ordered from the bar after 45 minutes went by. We didn't chance it and ordered from the bar right away. The bartender had the most manicured eyebrows I've ever seen! Oh and he was attentive and did a good job. Our sushi was delish. There was a $5 Belvedere you-call-it special so I took advantage of that. It was a positive experience and earned them an updated review from me. It's a bit pricey and the hostesses still need some polishing but Shinto deserves a solid 3 star "a-ok."
(3)
Erin S.
Here's a letter I wrote to the GM after a horrible experience: I wanted to write because I am concerned. I give you my history because I would like for you to understand my concern from a person who has come to Shinto from the beginning and has worked for 13 years in the restaurant business, as a hostess, server, manager and event planner, at some great restaurants with outstanding service in the Western Suburbs. My mom and I came in tonight (Wednesday 8/29) around 5:00pm. There were zero people on the patio, and maybe 4 people in the bar and 2 people in the dining room. The hostess (a blonde girl I believe) was very friendly and very welcoming. We asked if we could have "Happy Hour" on the patio and she said "Of course!" We were seated on the patio and the gentleman that seated us allowed us to choose our seat, and was very nice to put up the umbrella to block out the crazy sun! :) Next, a bartender came out and delivered our water with cucumber and asked to take our drink order- he explained he wouldn't be taking our order, but he wanted us to make sure we had our drinks. He realized that we didn't have a drink menu, so he left to grab one, and less than 15 seconds later came back with a drink menu! Yay! :) Then the server came out. She brought out another drink menu, which was nice, so we each had one. HOWEVER, there were 2 pages missing in the drink menu. She asked if we needed to order drinks yet, and we didn't so she went back inside. She came back and took our drink order- A glass of Cupcake Pinot Noir and a Dragonberry Mojito (I think). At the same time, we ordered Tempura Avocado. The server was making a squinted face, and was covering up her eyes because it was bright out- but she wasn't doing this discreetly- it was like she was being blinded. We were deciding on our main order, and she came back (no drinks, no appetizers yet) and asked if we were ready to order. We weren't. And then she proceeded to sneeze a HUGE sneeze very dramatically (away from us, thank goodness) but bending over, saying "HACHOO!" very loudly and flipping her hair. Then she left. She came back 2 minutes later (still no drinks, no appetizers) and again asked if we were ready to order. (Squinting like she was being blinded, with her eyes almost closed and her arm over her eyes) We gave her the sheet we filled out as the Avocados were being placed on our table. (Still no drinks). We did not have plates, silverware, or chopsticks- so we asked for all of these things. The soy sauce cups were on the table, stacked... and one had a big chip out of it. The Tempura Avocado was sitting there, our server said she would go and get the utensils. So we sat. And sat... and sat... for at LEAST 3 minutes. I said to my mom, "I bet she's putting the order in" So I got up, went inside to the bartender (Glancing over to see our server put her order pad in her apron after entering things in the computer) and asked the bartender for napkins and utensils. Our server came hustling over saying "I got it! I got it! I was just getting your drinks to bring out with it!" (Yes, we still hadn't received our glass of wine or mojito!!!!!). --I'm sorry, I was always taught that a guest request supercedes any other item you need to do. Even further than that, you NEVER EVER put food on a table without all the instruments with which to eat it. EVER. The fact that we sat without means to eat a warm appetizer is unacceptable. The fact that our appetizer touched our table BEFORE we received our drinks is even more unacceptable-- After she brought out the utensils (fork had dried food on it that I just chipped off) we ate our appetizer- but didn't have share plates. We also would have wanted some wasabi, but we actually said to each other that we shouldn't bother asking because it would take too long to get it. We were then served our food, which was very good (Little Delicious Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Goyza and Tuna Nigiri). I had a little drama with a bee, so we moved inside and we sat at the bar. My mom's Beef dish came out, and she was very pleased with it. HOWEVER. I think my mom had one bite of beef, and I still had several pieces of sushi on my plate and our server kept asking if we wanted to order more... and when we finally said no, she said "Well, how about dessert?" I was FUMING. This was NOT a Saturday night, you didn't have a line out the door, we were sitting at the bar, there were plenty of seats. WHY is she asking about dessert when we're not even close to finished with dinner/happy hour!!!!! THEN, to top it all off... SHE BROUGHT US THE CHECK!! Are you joking?! That was the last straw for me. My mom and I left her a 15% tip on the discounted, happy hour price. I would like you to know that I fully well know that a tip should be at least 20%... and that you should tip on the PRE-discounted prices. And you know what, 99.9% of the time I do. But your server really earned that 15%. (I wrote more, but this is all I could fit)
(2)
Nikka A.
Their sushi & hibachi's really good. I only gave it 4 stars because of their service. You have to flag down the server if you need something. But definitely will be back because of the good food.
(4)
Gayle B.
Whenever I come to the Aurora mall from Hoffman Estates, we have to come here for lunch. Very reasonable for excellent quality sushi and hibachi.
(5)
Loryn R.
I've been to shinto a few times, mainly because they had certificates on restaurant.com (which later seemed to be an issue). My first experience here was not good. The food was so-so, nothing mind blowing and the service was beyond less than par (which has not improved). I hadn't gone here for some time and decided to try it again to see if they had improved any. I will admit the sushi DID get a lot better, but it's hard to balance that out with the always terrible service i receive. The order of the menu can be slightly confusing when you see sushi rolls then appetizers and then specialty rolls. They need a better order to that. Also, the ordering menu itself doesn't even have all of the rolls you can order. I'm always having to write in what I want on the side and hope they don't forget. I've waited a great deal of time for my appetizer which came after the sushi came. Apparently someone had forgot to put my order in. Our waitress almost never comes back to check if we need anything or refill our water (I don't drink pop, sorry if you're not making money off my free water). All in all, the sushi has improved and I'd really like to try the hibachi. As for the service, it's still TERRIBLE. There are much better places in Naperville for sushi. I recommend going to Yamado where you get GREAT personal service.
(2)
Ashley B.
One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Naperville!
(4)
Tanida B.
Don't waste your time here. Obnoxious staff and food to boot.
(1)
Brenda V.
Nice surprise in the burbs. Food and cocktails are delicious, service is perfect. I loved the dj spinning in the middle of the resaurant, very rock n' sushi..
(5)
Justin T.
I got to say, this is by far one of the best sushi restaurants in this end of town. The service was great, the whole staff was very friendly, especially Cami our waitress. The rolls were priced fairly average compared to the other sushi establishments in Naperviile and surrounding areas. The best rolls have to be the fire and ice roll, dragon roll, etc. If you are looking for a new sushi restaurant and are sick of the pre-made Jewel made junk. Come here!
(5)
James K.
I tried it for the 1st time and if it weren't for the happy hour specials and good sushi I probably wouldn't go back. The Hibachi Chef needed more practice on how to entertain the guests. He wasn't very skilled but the food was good. The server didn't come over much and when she did was forgetful. All in all it was ok but had better.
(3)
Agnes S.
Very bad, only the rolls were good though it is not typical, imagine a roll mixed with some ingredients fried in tempura batter. On the other hand sushi, sashimi, and beef were poor quality. For example beef had tough parts and salmon had an after taste. The lunch sashimi bento box only had six small pieces. Also service was very poor and slow. We came right as they opened for lunch, we were the only patrons. Food came in a careless order. At that point three other small groups had arrived. We asked for the bill, were seemingly ignored by the hostess, asked again this time the waiter. In total we waited 12 minutes for the bill. By that point two more parties had arrived, though larger. It took another 8 minutes after we gave the credit card for the waiter to return it so that we could leave. In that time the waiter threw away the vegetables I asked to have boxed. mzs
(1)
daniela m.
good food very slow service. plus i was charged for somenthing i didn`t order or got, and music was so loud my date and i had to leave ,wi didn`t even finished ouar drinks. a dont think wi will be back
(3)
Keir H.
Hmmm. If I had been writing this a few months ago it would have been four stars but the last few times I have been there have been disappointing and I am now taking a break... Me and the boy-toy love sushi and this place is practically across the street. First experience was great...they were not not busy and the place was a little empty. Livens up weekends and late when they have events going on. The banquet seating along the wall is too low for the tables and you will feel like your a little kid eating. But the food and friendly service more than made up for it. As well as the cute bartender who sent over a tasty libation with compliments. They have some good creative rolls, nice presentation and tasty seaweed salad. Not huge on hibachi but the few times we have done it here were good. Came here for hibachi for my friend's birthday in Feb. and the chef was hilarious and so was our waiter. Fun time. Good place to just go sit at the bar and have a drink, small bite and catch up. (for whatever reasons the acoustics of the bar allow you to hear the people across from you conversations...anyway...) Then something changed...mainly food quality wise. Fish not tasting as fresh. I made the mistake of ordering the baby octopus salad...oh my...first thought with the lighting and the sauce it looked like a bowl of bloody rabbit fetuses. Agedashi Tofu very disappointing, gave it another chance and it was worse. We'll go back and see if they are on their back on their game...in awhile.
(3)
Blanca R.
I have eaten here a couple of times, and have never been disappointed. The only problem, is that they are never very busy, which makes me worry. I loved the Mexican roll. Hibachi was quite fun too...loved the scallops. All in all, the service is great, and it's a great place to go with a group. Oh..,.by the way...definitely get the dessert! They are all good.
(4)
Mehmet C.
We just went there, this will certainly be one of our favorite sushi places; great rolls, great ambiance and service.
(4)
Simon C.
For the price they charge, I expect more. I've been there 4 times, which I found pretty amazing that I went back three times. Now I'm pretty sure they're just not on par with other higher end sushi restaurant in terms of food and service. First time there, we had hibachi. The cook was a newbie and he didn't know ANY tricks. He wasn't even very good at cooking. He forgot my egg yolk on my shrimps so he basically just put some egg yolk on the grill, cooked it a little with oil, and put that oily patch of soggy yellow slime on my plate... Not professional. Second time there for hibachi for my cousin's birthday. The waiter was barely legal and he didn't know much about beer. I order a Tsing Tao. He hesitated for a moment and said ok. Well, he brought me a "Tiger". He was also not very attentive. We constantly need to ask him to refill our glasses with water. Third time there for sushi. Service was ok this time. We ordered some rolls and sushis. I found a piece of salmon bone in our roll. It was as big as a toothpick. We complained to the waitress and we got another roll free of charge. But still, that was pretty gross. We were also lucky that we were not with little kids who could easily choke on that big piece of bone. Fourth time there, which would also be my last time, was just unacceptable. We didn't know what to eat in Naperville at 9:30pm so we would like to give Shinto another try. Upon sitting down, our waitress greeted us promptly and politely. My wife even secretly asked for a dessert for my birthday. We placed our order. Then, for the next 25 minutes, we had not seen the waitress. It was a slow Tuesday evening. It was the bartender who finally realize our drinks had been sitting at the bar for like 20 minutes and he brought us our drink and he asked if we place the order already. We told him what we ordered. He tried to find the waitress but she was nowhere to be found so the bartender brought us the soups. Another waitress brought us some sushis. As we were eating, our waitress finally showed up with another plate of sushi. She did not offer an apology. Then she disappeared again for 30 minutes. I asked another waitress for the bill and the manager. The manager came and apologize and took care of our entire bill plus a $25 gift card for future visit. Ok whatever we took that and stood up. Oh my waitress showed up again and told us she was about to bring out the cake. My wife and I was like it didn't even matter anymore. You just ruined our evening. At the end, that waitress did NOT offer any kind of apology. I don't see any more good reason of going back. Even with that $25 gift card.
(1)
Cindy P.
love the decor my bf and i went on valentines day and had bought the $50 for $25 certificate on yelp and they still accepted it even though it was valentines day the food was good and i just couldnt beat the price thanks to the coupon.
(4)
Suzanne T.
Brad and Brian rocked as the staff. Went for a birthday party!! So much fun !! Great food and presentation
(5)
Racheal R.
Short & sweet of it: Hands downs, THE best sushi, hibachi, & service in the area. Don't believe me? Read my review about S****a located at Ogden/Iriquois. This has been our favorite place for ages! Worth every cent. A bit more pricey than the AYCE places in the area, but worth the extra $$. Zero complaints, amazingly fresh and flavorable food, amazing service. Can't stress enough... we've learned our lesson, and will never stray from here on out.
(5)
Veronica T.
Everything was awesome the show the drinks the food the desert and the service! They also sang me happy birthday and gave me a free desert. Keeping them on my list!
(5)
Tonya K.
Since this review, I have been to Shinto more times than I can remember. The Sushi is amazing - still love the Captain Jack roll - I always order it. Service is always great! Friendly, quick, and attentive
(5)
Saba A.
I'm not going to read bad reviews- why do people complain when you are eating delicious Sushi! Well- I would only come on Monday's for the half price deal they have and try to come before 2 to avoid the 3 pm rush! I came in with my brotehr and sister and the service was a little show- so maybe that wasn't cooll but it was nice to get large, delicious, and wonderful presentations of sushi with a side of vegetable fried rice for 4 dollars. We passed up on the drink special but if you love Sushi - come here! Perfect, filling, sushi lunch in the middle of the afternoon! Great signature sushi's to choose from as well. Can't go wrong!
(4)
Erica B.
Come here all the time for happy hour sushi and happy hour drinks! I usually sit at the bar which seats 30 people. On each side of the bar is either dining for sushi and menu and the otherwise is hibachi!
(5)
Rhonda S.
In town visiting friends and family. My best friend insisted we go here and now I know why!! $5 martini Tuesdays We sampled a little of everything: House salad is delish love the ginger dressing. Yellowtail, white tuna and sweet shrimp nigiri Rainbow roll Gorgeous restaurant. Even the bathroom is neat!! Look at the ceiling in the bathroom, it is super cool! The circle bar is immaculate. Beautiful fish tank. Ambiance is trendy and love the upbeat music. Friendly service. Our server Maja was awesome. I ordered a Cosmo and was having a hard time drinking it because it was a little too sweet for me. She noticed and asked if she could bring me something else. She brought me an awesome lemon tini which was perfect. Definitely will be back!!!!!
(5)
Pat E.
Just an awesome experience all around. The restaurant was clean, the service was fast, and the food was AWESOME! I got every single fish they had on the menu (not really). Yellowfin Tuna cooked medium rare, a side of scallops, and the shrimp that comes with the hibachi grill special. This also includes Miso soup and a Ginger salad. This place has vents that keep you from smelling like Teriyaki sauce for seventeen days after. I cannot wait to be back here! The reason I would ever dock this place is just the prices. I CANNOT BRING MYSELF TO DO IT! Expensive? So what? You're paying for an experience! I can't wait until someone does something of substance in my life again so we can celebrate at SHINTO!
(5)
Tina D.
Great sushi. I am vegetarian so sometimes it is hard to find a sushi place with good options but Shinto always accommodates and even allows me to make my own roll with whatever veggie ingredients I like. The drinks are good too. They also have Groupon for this place which make it a great deal.
(4)
Fred C.
The food was great, it was only 2 of us they were not really busy ,so they sat us down and the chef cook for just two of us ,unlike other places where they make you wait to fill the table ,awesome experience great time and great dinner . Thanks again Chef Chris
Solid sushi and hibachi. The restaurant has a fun atmosphere and the staff is always friendly and helpful...maybe a little too helpful on this last visit though. (Felt a little rushed at the end for no apparent reason other than I think the server was trying to be super efficient). I haven't been in a sushi mood in a while so I tried the hibachi here last time. I've been several times before for the sushi and always enjoyed it. Our hibachi chef, Chris, was really cool, kept me and my husband entertained as we were the only guests at our table on this particular evening. Great steak and fried rice- and don't forget to ask for the egg sauce if you so desire. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere on the menu, so I had to speak up to get it. Yum-o. We always have a great time here, whether we're enjoying sushi, hibachi or martinis at the bar. So, I decided to upgrade my rating. 5 stars for Shinto!
(5)
Nick B.
Whenever the gf and I think of sushi. This is the place in the area we go to. Nothing can compare to it around in the burbs. Honestly the sushi and drinks have always been yummy. All i can say is make sure you get a order of the lil delicious. that is a must every time.
(5)
Lauren P.
I think this is by far my fave hibachi place... SO GLAD I BOUGHT THE DEAL FOR THIS RESTO! Everything is good ... My fave was the egg yolk - make sure you order that over your shrimp! AND THE YUM YUM SAUCE! Tuesday I want to say is half off hibachi entrees - I don't know if I would go because it might be chaos.... Besides the food the restaurant is huge and has a really nice atmosphere with their modern bar in the middle.
(5)
Angie R.
I've been to Shinto many times over the years and I have never had a bad experience. Their sushi rolls are all delicious, the ambiance is great and the cocktails are to die for. The staff is always pleasant and the food on point. Highly recommended.
Always the best hibachi! My husband and I love it so much. It's a bit pricey, but the fried rice is so worth it. The sushi is delicious as well. This place is our favorite. We recommend it to everyone.
(5)
Suzanne Z.
What a fun experience this place was! Apparently, I did it wrong though, I keep reading about how you can save with coupons and other deals... neither of which I came prepared for. The night was a little bit more than I expected, with martini's costing $10 a piece and most of the sushi rolls being around $15-17. The place has a clean and trendy atmosphere. The giant hibachi area has color- changing lights, and the sushi side has nice little tables. The clientele was a young 20s crowd, so being there definitely made me feel cool and trendy too! It was bustling when we arrived, but we were still able to be seated promptly. Our waiter came to speak with us right away as well, and was very attentive throughout the meal. We ordered the shrimp dumpling appetizer, which was savory and delicious. I thought it was much better on its own, than with the soy sauce it came with. For the entree, our helpful server recommended his favorites and popular orders to help us out. We ordered the Naper roll- shrimp tempura, crab salad on top, the Little Delicious- a fried sushi roll, and the Jekyll and Hyde roll- with mango and jalapeño, which were all fantastic. I am no sushi aficionado, but I definitely think it was the best sushi I've had. And props to the server for not making me feel like an idiot for needing those chopstick cheaters to eat with. I was going to use a fork until he showed me those! 3 rolls between two people left us extremely full and satisfied. Each roll was 8-12 pieces. Their martinis were awesome too- I had the passion martini, which had a pineapple and mango/passion fruit?? I can't quite remember, but it went down easy and was a nice treat. I would definitely go back again for sushi or to try hibachi, which I've never done. I will prepare more next time to save a few dollars though!
(4)
Ross B.
So here I am sitting at the bar for over ten minutes without being seen by either bartender. It's a circular bar. How hard is it to serve five people on a Thursday with two bartenders? Food is good but the service sucks. Update: I ended up walking out after thirty minutes without so much as a menu. Meanwhile a group of six country club types walked in and immediately got drinks and serviced across from me. Awesome.
(1)
Joey H.
Very good sushi. You can tell how fresh it is. They are a little pricey for the good rolls but I take advantage of the 1/2 price Monday's.
(3)
Joulie S.
one of my favorite Sushi spots. it's quite a drive but it sure is well worth it. They have sushi deals on Monday nights, which is awesome for all the sushi lovers! They have a great collection to choose from as well, a little of everything for everyone. It does get a bit crowded since its a great deal, so the service might be slow. Depending on how big of a complainer you are, your waiter might not come by your table as often as you like....so order all your sushi ahead of time before you starve.
(5)
Traci G.
Love this place! They have one side specifically for sushi and the other side is for habachi, in the middle is a bar. I've only eaten the sushi here plus had a few drinks. Everything is delicious! They do take out as well which is great for when I want to stop after work to pick up some delicious sushi. The only reasons for the 4 stars is one it gets pretty packed at night so come early or be prepared to wait (not sure if they take reservations) and the sushi can be a little pricey too. But on Mondays they have half off on all of their speciality rolls.....you can't use it on carry out orders though. Despite those two things I still love this place and will be going back very soon!
(4)
Eugene W.
Wonderful sushi and great service from here! The food is fresh, and the sushi selection is nice. The Miso Surprise and Dragon Roll are some of my favorites. Also, their fried cookie dessert with ice cream (forgot what it was called) is amazing! Happy hour on Mondays has half-off specialty rolls.
(5)
Jennifer B.
I like going to Shinto. It's close to home and I always feel like I roll out of there after eating so much! I've never been to the hibachi side so this review is only for sushi. The reason I gave 4 stars is it is kind of pricey. The food is pretty good but you are definitely paying for the atmosphere more than anything. The artistry for the sushi is very good, which gains a star. But, they lose a star for service because the waitstaff can be hard to flag down or find sometimes. They are pleasant though. They have specials on Monday so we like to go then.
(4)
Kimburly H.
One of my favorite places to go. Hibachi is awesome and I crave their sushi :) Awesome atmosphere too!
(5)
Voulamoula E.
Love love love the food, and the staff is amazingly polite too! I go at least once a week. 12 dollar hibachi on Tuesdays!! woot! :)
(5)
Marc F.
The sushi was excellent, and I'm pretty picky with sushi. The place is beautiful, the prices are very good. Service was good, but not exceptional... but still acceptable. We'll be back, though the traffic right in this area is horrific. Came back again, service was awesome!!!
(5)
J.W. W.
The sushi is actually very good, the hibachi not so much. If this was just for the sushi side I would give it four stars.
(3)
Cathy R.
We decided to finally check this place out after noticing the many positive reviews, but I would have to disagree. Okay, I take that last sentence back partially...the quality of the fish was good, not too fishy, which is very important. We showed up on a Monday night to find the place fairly busy due to their 50% off rolls. We were told by the hostess that it would be a 25-30 minute wait for a seat, but allowed us to sit and eat at the bar...there were a lot of seats available at the sushi bar, so I'm not sure why we weren't offered to sit there. We ordered a couple of specialty rolls that didn't really stand out (which is why I can't even remember the names) and your typical salmon, yellow tail, mackerel, sweet egg, shrimp, and eel sushi. It took 45 minutes for us to get our food after my husband had to say something to the bartender. By the time we received our food, the actual seating area was already clearing out, so B.S. on the hostess who quoted such a long wait time. Although we were sitting at the bar and didn't order alcoholic beverages, we didn't receive refills of water or iced tea, so that turned me off as well as the fact that those specialty rolls that were supposed to be 50% off were not reflected in the bill. What is 15 divided by 2? 7.50, not 8. Fine, it's a dinky 50 cent difference, but if you're going to promote 50% off, at least do the math properly. Yes, silly stuff like that bothers me. The place came off a bit pretentious to me, but I guess that's the vibe overall - customers with a ton of blond highlights in their hair, lip injections, and a wonderful orange skin glow from the natural sunshine that the Chicagoland area has enjoyed this past winter!
(3)
Joey D.
Easily the best Hibachi I've ever had! Yes my meal was $50 dollars (the Imperial Feast), but it was well worth every penny. Would HIGHLY recommend to a friend!
(5)
Jeramiah G.
My girlfriend and I have been here twice. So far, we enjoyed our time here. The food is tasty and nothing feels over done. The hibachi was excellent and the sushi is great. They event have happy hour during the week. Also this place has coupons quite a bit on groupon and living social so that's nice too.
(4)
Luis C.
Bad service from the hostess, she wants me to wait 30 min for a table when there were lots of table available
(1)
Graciela S.
Alright so the hibachi was delicious and Chris was an awesome hibachi man. The sushi was not impressive at all. And they charged, $1 for the spicy mayo tiny minature portion... That I found a hair in... The service nonexistent. I swear our server was new... Or just like previous reviews said - an airhead. If you have a couple of hours to wait and eat go for it. But if your crunched on time just run the other way. It was expensive and not worth it.
(2)
Mavis R.
We just had sushi (maybe their habachi is better?) and seaweed wrapping the rolls was partially shriveled and very difficult to chew. They sliced one roll diagonally so, while it looked pretty, it was harder to eat and each bite only had half the ingredients. The tuna in one roll looked funny so we stopped eating. The waiter came by to ask if we wanted more food but walked away while we were talking to him. He also disappeared once we had the check so we had go up front to pay. While we waited we watched 3 bus boys clean off and set a single table at a time. They gave us a "family discount" when we complained but as this was less than the cost of a single roll which I am concerned might make me sick, this was underwhelming. It was also very noisy. Their cranberry juice was good. Maybe their cocktails are also good?
(1)
Samuel C.
1/2 off specialty rolls on Mondays. Also you can't go wrong with the hibachi side of it. Good food but a but pricey. Amazing round shape bar, great ambiance, trendy and love the music they play.
(4)
Hahaha H.
The sushi here is half price on Mondays, but the only roll really worth it was the Mexican roll. Almost everything else is just trying too hard to cover up the fat that it's sushi, by giving you a lot of tempura and cream cheese and a bunch of American-ized ingredients. The Hibachi is GARBAGE. It just tastes like salt and gave my boyfriend a high blood pressure attack.
(3)
M f.
The blueberry acai tondie for. The pineapple martini so yummy. I came in 30 minutes before they close and they were hospitable
(5)
Renee R.
shinto has become a go-to spot whenever i'm craving sushi. the atmosphere is great, the drinks will flow and the food will make your belly happy. unfortunately, having lived downtown in chicago, i cant honestly rate this any higher than three stars. compared to other sushi places, this menu just doesn't live up. many of the rolls are heavily fried and there aren't a ton of unique combinations or specialty rolls. it will satisfy your sushi craving but just doesn't compare. all in all, as far as the burbs are concerned, this is a top notch sushi restaurant and worth checking out.
(3)
Brenda H.
I prefer Shinto to Benihana when it comes to hibachi. Everything about this place far exceeds what I've come to expect from Benihana. I always upgrade my steak to the chateaubriand. It's, quite honestly, delicious and I think it's better than the steak served at most steakhouses that exceed that price range. No matter what anyone says, I won't take back that statement. I've been here about a half dozen times in the past 2 years, I've never left disappointed. The sides may not be the greatest but I don't like soup.. or salad, so that's not really eaten. The veggies are better than those served at Benihana and seasoned well. The fried rice is ok, just needs a little extra soy sauce (which is available at your table). The shrimp appetizer is a nice bonus and they score major points against Benihana there. Then I feast on my chateaubriand and extra shrimp at the end. My boyfriend likes their Japanese beer and sushi. I don't like sushi and he had to beg me to try tempura shrimp--not bad! We actually really liked their tempura cookie dessert, I don't remember what it was called but it came with ice cream. I was too full to eat but somehow I kept eating this dessert till there was nothing left.
(4)
Sarah S.
The hibachi here is great! The server we had was fun & entertaining. Everything tasted great. The cocktails are really good too. We went on the hibachi special night and prices were reasonable. No reservation needed.
(5)
Laura B.
I was hesitant in giving this place 3 stars. I feel like soon it will change to 2 if things don't change. The quality and portions of their food has gone down so much since they first opened. I use to love their hibachi but have been very disappointed the last couple of times I've gone. The amount you spend here you would think you'd get to leave satisfied but nopes. Although I do love their happy hour deal. Their sushi is pretty darn yummy. I love the lil delicious. I think I'll only go here for happy hr now or only when they have specials. Having to pay full price and possibly leave dissatisfied will make me extremely unhappy. Basically this place is a hit or miss.
(3)
Maria L.
Came here on a Saturday night with a Groupon. When calling earlier, they said they didnt have any reservations open until 8 but when I called around 6, they said they could seat us, weird. Anyway, after trying a couple hibachi places in the burbs, I would say this one has probably the best combination of fresher ingredients, environment and service. The restaurant was lively, as well as the "Japanese" hibachi chef (ie Juan). Although I would not come here without a Groupon, it was pretty expensive for the burbs. We started with a pretty tasty seared white tuna appetizer. Then we had the typical broth soup, salad with ginger dressing, vegetables, and rice. Getting fried rice is an extra $3. As for the proteins, I got the steak and chicken. The regular steak is not the best steak, but you have options to upgrade. The chicken was decent. I also tried other people's tuna, scallops, and lobster and those were pretty tasty. Overall, a good hibachi place in the Nape!
(4)
Eric H.
Frinking awesome! Love this place. Great food and atmosphere. Claudia was our server. She was amazing.
(5)
Tania J.
Unfortunately the staff turnover is crazy... and slow always. There tonight and had to send my sushi back! I don't think you should ever serve the end of a fish with the chewy fascia exposed in sushi anytime, anywhere!! They should have known better. Disappointed. I'll not go back. Lot's of sushi out there... on the prowl for better.
(2)
Carrie H.
Absolutely love this place! This is a great sushi restaurant! The food is so good along with the atmosphere! Every time I've come here its been amazing!
(5)
Abbey W.
My boyfriend and I have been going to the Shinto for 4 years now. I even had my family go here for my graduation dinner and drive here from NIU. This was our favorite place until our last experience on his birthday. We are reward members and always miss out on the points for our freebies because we don't save our receipt. Back in November I had asked more details about the reward program and told the waiter how we all miss using our rewards. He was nice enough to give us a coupon for a free specialty roll ( signed by the manager that we have never meant. I have actually never meant a manager here until Tuesday the 10th when we went for my boyfriends birthday). Anyways on Tuesday we showed the coupon to the waiter before ordering. Then at the end of out hibachi meal a manager (Brandon) comes up to me asking who gave me the coupon and the manager. He said he did not recognize the signature. He asked who the manager was 7 months ago! I said I didn't even know the severs name tonight and have never meant a manager that how should I know. He asked how did we get this coupon that the coupon is only given to employees. I explained and he said he had to make more calls because at this point he cannot honor the coupon! Brandon comes back 15 minutes later when only one couple other than us was left at the table and tells us he can not honor the free speciality roll. That he and others there did not recognize the signature and that the date looks like different handwriting! He said I should know the name of the manager who signed it because they only have for managers there! Another couple at the table even stepped in saying how we showed the waiter the coupon and how ridiculous he was being. I was so livid that this guy was accusing me pretty much if either strealing this coupon or of stealing and committing fraud and for just $15! We use to rave about this place and there customer service. This was my boyfriends birthday and the manager ruined it. The receipt even said birthday and across said $0.00 ( real classy) don't add it if you are not going to say anything. Another table had a couple who had a birthday and servers came with dessert and sang. I have always tagged my self when we come and promote how great this place was. You now can forget that. I have never been so embarrassed or insulted. Shinto's service use to be great. The managers or at least Brandon need a real wake up call and training in customer service. As this was so insulting! Thank you for horrible Shinto "Experience"
(1)
Keith L.
Probably one of the best suburban sushi restaurants around. Excellent rolls, but not cheap at all. I will definitely come back if I plan on dropping a big dining tab!
(4)
A G.
I came here a few months ago for my mother in-law's birthday dinner. The waitress guided me through the items on the menu which was super helpful and when the hibachi came, I could not help but smile watching the cook flip and chop our food while tossing the knives around and lighting the onion tower on fire. It was a fun experience and I came back a few weeks ago on a weekday with the same great experience. I love their food, they have great service. I'm just not a big fan of the bill.
(5)
Claira V.
Only reviewing based on ordering sushi. I have been here a few times. The sushi quality is good and very flavorful rolls. Good customer service too. Just wish they had better happy hour specials.
(4)
Christopher K.
My friend and I stuck with the sushi and it was pretty solid. The selection was good, the presentation was good, and the service was good. It was a bit overpriced but nothing that would keep me from returning.
(4)
Nina M.
Today was the first time I've tried Shinto. I have to say, it was pretty good! My friend and I came in around 3 and it just so happened to be during their happy hour. We ordered the spicy tuna, unagi, eel roll, and crunchy roll. We thoroughly enjoyed the eels and spicy tuna. Would have enjoyed the crunchy roll more if the shrimp was properly peeled. Overall, we were satisfied and enjoyed the sushi. With the prices they offered during happy hour, the sushi was definitely worth it! Really enjoyed the unagi. Delish! P.S Mondays they offer half-price special rolls! Yum!
(5)
Aijaz H.
One of the best Sushi restaurants around. Our family favorites: Monster, Bear Down, Shrimp Tempura, Volcano, Caterpillar. Enjoy...
(5)
Christina M.
Love the sushi here!!! Have been coming for months for half off Monday specials! The sushi rolls are decent size with a huge selection ranging from crab to mixtures of spices tuna n other raw dishes! I highly recommend this sushi restaurant!!
Spent 3 hours here total. Waitress was never to be found, second time they didn't turn the grill on so the chef left and came back later. Manager was useless and didn't apologize about the service until we asked for the owner's card. They messed up our checks 3 times. Never coming back here again.
(1)
Lisa P.
Update: Ended up waiting for 3 hours. The manager was little help in resolving the issue, the waitress/manager took 3 tries to run our cards, and was visibly bad mouthing out table to the rest of the staff while running our cards. I understand some tables are harder than others but my table was polite the whole time, we never raised our voices at anyone, and all we wanted was to leave so we could continue with out night. I will NEVER be returning to Shinto nor will I ever recommend it to anyone looking for a Japanese Restaurant with Hibachi. All in all, I was extremely disappointed with the service provided and I was super excited to come here too.
(1)
Madeleine B.
This is honestly one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a sushi bar. Upon arriving I asked what was in a chirashi bowl at this location since it wasn't listed on their menu, the hostess had no idea, the bar tender didn't know, and some girl at the bar had to list it off for them. I ordered the chirashi and my boyfriend got a chicken teriyaki meal. We got everything to go and when we got home I opened my chirashi's, they had put it in two flat to go containers, and the over whelming smell of rotten fish came out and took over our kitchen. Just looking at the tuna you could see blood line as well as very thick tendons running through each shredded piece. I looked over the rest of the fish and could see slime collecting in-between each piece. It was disgusting. My boyfriend pulled out his teriyaki chicken and for 20 bucks he got what appeared to be a precooked, extremely thin chicken cutlet that they just slapped some sauce on. We've both been eating sushi for years and while we didn't expect Shinto to be top of the line, we at least expected it to be edible. Instead we got home with food that I can't eat and he doesn't feel comfortable eating any of his after seeing what they sent out as passable for mine. Overall we will never be back and I'll be calling tomorrow demanding a refund, this is absolutely ridiculous. *UPDATE* I called today and spoke with Nick, he was very friendly and refunded the order and offered to have us in to be taken care of. However, I will never return after seeing the unsafe food that was considered severable.
(1)
Aide M.
Nice location but the sushi is not the best. I found it to not have much flavor and the little that it did have was so similar to the other 5 rolls of sushi I ordered. Nothing really stood out. I also found it quite pricey as I did not see the sushi as that good of quality. There is another place (Sakamoto in Oswego) 20 minutes away that overtops this place not only in taste but also price wise.
(3)
Suze B.
This place was delicious! We went on a Tuesday night to celebrate a friend's raise. Half price appetizers and sushi from 3-6! I got the steak hibachi with fried rice. GET THE FRIED RICE! You will not regret it. A little on the pricier side but it's worth every penny. Plus it's a funny little show. Be prepared to sit with strangers if you go with a smaller group.
(5)
Kat G.
Meh. I am still trying to figure out why this place is expensive and people are willing to pay the prices they ask for. I used a Groupon at this place that knocked off $50 from the bill and still felt this place was over priced. We were seated at our table and my place setting clearly had a clump of rice and was not clean. I pointed it out to the hostess and got an "oh." So that was the first and lasting impression. We then proceeded to order appetizers and drinks. We had the scallop tempura which was decent, and I would order again. What was most disappointing was they couldn't get the little details right such as my husband's beer was warm and we asked them to get us another or cool it. By the time it was properly cooled, it was brought back towards the end of the meal. It must have been a fresh batch but it was 7pm - well into dinner service hour so I'm not sure why their beers weren't stocked earlier. I had the passion-tini. There was little passion to feel as I drank it. It tasted so artificial and I had a cough-syrupy after-taste in my mouth. Their sushi was alright. I liked the combinations and flavorings but they were way overpriced. The quality was "good" but nothing to scream about. In fact, this place charges more for lower-quality sushi than some places on Michigan Ave., Downtown Chicago. I don't mind paying a lot for sushi but when I know I'm not getting the best quality or "blow your mind sushi" for top price, I'm not going to be jumping to come back here. We enjoyed the Black Widow, Jekyll & Hyde, and The Captain Jack rolls, but we never had a "wow" moment. I did not try their hibachi and I will give this place another shot for it, but I don't think I will come back here for sushi unless it is their Monday night half off rolls special. I'll pay half of what they ask for because I think that is honestly where their sushi should be priced at. I'd rather drive to Chicago and go to Sushi Samba than pay the same price for lower quality/less enthusiastic sushi.
(3)
Rachael Z.
I have only been to Hibachi here, but vow to dine in on the other side of the restaurant sometime! Hibachi Make sure you pay attention to your chef, otherwise they won't entertain you! I learned this the hard way. Order the egg yolk sauce. It's a super cheap side so if you don't like it, it's not bad to waste, but it's incredibly less than other hibachi restaurants. Drinks Good martinis and wine prices! Bar? Confusing! While half is a Hibachi area, the bar area is filled with people who look like they belong in a club downtown. Overall I love this place and their constant advertising will also save you money!
(4)
Lucy C.
You know how you thought TGIFridays was super cool when you were 14? Shinto is kind of like that. My friends and I had a few pretty good memories here from a couple years ago but going back recently was very underwhelming. Drinks were expensive (on par with/greater than city prices), portions were small, and the place was really dead for a Friday night. The sushi was pretty good though, as was the service.
(3)
Kestutis N.
This is the problem with restaurants these days. They just don't give a dam. Service is as you would expect from a chain restaurant, now as food is concerned I would not recommend this place to anyone unless you want Chinese. ( if you go to Japanese restaurant and cooks are Chinese you might as well go to your local take out Chinese restaurant) chances are you'll get same thing cheaper. I'm talking from experience when I say this, if cooks not Japanese or Korean you will not get what you paid for. Ok, enough ranting about that... Hibachi grill: dirty with leftovers on the grill an the table, smell was atrocious from old oil that was sitting there for months ( I presume) Grill master: seemed like he was forced to work there and I'm sorry but if you care that much about the food you serve then you do not deserve to be called a cook let along a master, everything he served was bad Chinese food and the worst thing is he couldn't do that right (undercooked rice) and from the time he rolled the cart from the door to the grill it seemed like he's waking to the electric chair, not to mention the whatever was on that cart scared the living Jesus out of me. Then when finished he goes to clean a grill with a dirty rags and stuff just flies all over the places leaving the bits and chunks of leftovers on the grill. If any Japanese person would see this horrifying display of disrespect for their culture and cuisine they would commit a suicide at the doorsteps before sitting down at the table. Now the sushi: the only thing remotely decent was crispy roll but I still couldn't tell what I was eating. Any raw fish should be consumed with heavy amount of soy sauce just to make sure you don't get sick. The server was accommodating and pleasant even though she messed up a little she came back quick and corrected the issue. Me personally wouldn't come back to this place even if it was free.
(1)
Krista B.
My FAVORITE restaurant. I'm there for every special occasion. Black Widow Roll is the besg
(5)
Jessica B.
Great food and great service. Fun sushi choices that prove their cost is worth it. Loved the atmosphere - perfect spacing, different levels to their dining area, and the lighting sets a fun yet relaxed feeling. The bar is fully stocked and has yummy and sophisticated martinis! I'd recommend it to any one! Especially on Mondays - sushi is half priced. If we lived closer, I'd make it a regular spot!
(5)
Kata T.
Still haven't found a place in the suburbs that can come close to what I've had in the city. Came here recently for the first time in a few years, and was reminded why I hadn't been back (only came to meet up with friends - their choice). I should first mention that I'm vegetarian, so I am only judging the veggie rolls, which were very limited. I found them to be a bit bland and the "speciality" veggie roll was definitely way too small and way overpriced for what I got. The drinks also seemed overpriced for what you get. I won't be coming back. Good service and nice interior/atmosphere, though.
(2)
Jon C.
I'm not a sushi person. So prior to tonight, I've never been to Shinto. Being a parent to two small children also means very little opportunity for date nights. Let me tell you why, when I get the next opportunity to escape parenthood for a few hours that I will be going to Shinto. My wife and I were making dinner tonight (Tikka Masala Chicken, for whatever worth that may be) and we realized we were out of rice. Crap. Off to make like a culinary superhero and find some plain old white rice. Nearest place? Shinto. I walked in, and stumped the poor Hostess by wanting to place an order for plain white rice. Her response? She tried to just give me free food. Didn't want to charge me. Neither did the manager. I had to plead my case to at least charge me something. Fortunately for all of us, they agreed. So I added a tip. That one small crazy expression of kindness is going to earn them my business. Fortunately, I won't have to drink myself silly at the bar before manning up enough to try...ugh...sushi. They have a hibachi bar. Saved. Thank you, Shinto--for a rare kindness I wouldn't expect in any restaurant, much less a steakhouse. And I got to save the dinner by bringing home the rice. Odd.
(5)
Frances O.
I really enjoy this place for their sushi. I can't even think of a roll that I haven't liked. My favorites are the lil delicious and volcano roll. The crab rangoon appetizer and the egg rolls are very good too. They usually have good groupon deals, or coupons in the local clipper magazines. I knocked them down one star, only because their hibachi is not the best in the area, it is decent though. Mondays are the best days to go because half price specialty sushi rolls! It is a bit crowded, but worth it.
(4)
Stephanie S.
The hibachi is your standard that you'll find at Domo 77, Benihana, etc. It's pretty good if you're looking for something like that. The sushi is some of my favorite in the area. The Little Delicious and Mexican rolls are the ones I like best. This places tries hard to be trendy and upscale, but it's really not. A decent place for weeknight sushi though.
(4)
Victrix V.
I've been here 3 times and this place has more flair than Domo 77 or other sushi/hibachi restaurants; and sometimes, they have better taste too, yet their hibachi is quite salty and their sushi is over priced for it being standardly and acceptably fresh (is it above average or outstandingly fresh? No.) . Their speciality is fried rolls and if you're not digging the fried scene their other selections aren't as creative. Basically, you're paying for atmosphere and for the kitchen to make you some of it's signature fried rolls (even if you're not ordering it) Other than that, it's acceptable to eat here, but I don't feel it's worth it for many reasons. Most people will enjoy this place, but I'm simply not a fan. I'm looking for fresher sushi for these prices and better ingredient quality and cooking regarding their seasonings and hibachi options. As a healthy foodie I shake my head, but I understand how this place still makes money and attracts.
(3)
Jen K.
This place has good food, without a doubt. If you like sushi and hibachi, the food will not disappoint you. However, it's all overpriced. Truly. I would only step foot in this place for sushi again if it was during their happy hour (M-F, 3-6pm), where many of the rolls are half price. Otherwise, you can find a sushi place in Naperville that is just as good at lower prices. It's definitely a trendy type of sushi place, meaning that it's not an authentic Japanese restaurant...they go for a night-club feel. The place is open late into the night! Are they a bar or restaurant? I'm never really sure. If you want an traditional Japanese sushi place, you will not get that here. It's all trendy, American-type rolls. If you want sashimi, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. The Tuesday night hibachi special is a good deal, but BE CAREFUL: the server will ask you if you want fried rice or regular rice. Of course, you want fried rice, when given the option, But buyer beware: it costs $3 extra, and they don't tell you that until you get the bill. I know it's a few extra bucks, but I find it deceptive. Most of the 9 people at our table ordered the fried rice, and the server told none of us about the extra charge. Also, this is a fairly popular special, so be prepared to wait awhile. After you are done waiting, be prepared to be crammed at a table above the normal capacity. I had to sit on a corner, and the host didn't seem to see a problem with this. It was a very irritating way to eat my dinner. Don't get me wrong, everything tasted great (except for the avocado tempura, or fried avocado, or whatever it's called...SO overrated). But its just kind of crazy how much everything costs, in my opinion. **All of the aforementioned comments are my opinion and not facts.**
(2)
Melissa T.
Love going here for happy hours! Staff are great and food are very delicious
(4)
Jacki A.
For starters, I've been coming here for a few years now and it seems as if not much has changed. The reason I do not give five stars is because of the price. Very pricey, but that's expected since the food is good and it's in Naperville. The whole place has a nice atmosphere and the host is friendly. Our waitress was pretty nice, and I'm picky about my wait staff. (Wow, that sounds reaaaally snobby...not meant to come off like that..) Anywho, she was a tall blonde who was really friendly and didn't give me attitude when I was very indecisive! I came here with a groupon, and upon arrival we had to strategically choose which rolls we would get so we didn't go over the 50$ mark. We decided on 4 rolls of sushi, I'm forgetting with kinds exactly but I know we got an unagi roll, a rasta roll (a new one for me, I would strongly recommend it!), and another two that I can't remember the names of but I think one of them was Black Widow and it was delicious! I think the people around us probably thought we had starved the rest of the day because when we got the four rolls, the two of us ate all of it in 5 minutes...a little embarrassing... Regardless of our record eating time, all rolls were amazing and the service wasn't bad either, but not spectacular. I wish there was more groupons or I will return when there is happy hour! Good job shinto.
(4)
Samantha C.
Mediocre hibachi, mediocre sushi. This place is ok, but it's definitely not for sushi aficionados. They would most probably be disappointed. This is more of a place for people who enjoy the feel of an exotic eatery but have blander or inexperienced palates. It's worth it to go to their happy hour, that's when you get the best deal for sushi. I would recommend trying their lil' delicious roll, it seems to be very popular. The best hibachi chef at this place is known as "White Chris", request him if you want more than mediocre hibachi.
(3)
Hayde J.
Great food, amazing rolls- most artsy I've seen around this area. Decently priced. They have daily specials for drinks or food and the restaurant has a nice outdoor seating area. I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes to be seated and the service has been pleasant every time I've gone to dine in and for carry out pick ups.
(4)
Jen Z.
I keep coming back because the food is great, the service varies. Monday nights are half off specialty rolls - awesome deal. I have no complaints about the food at all. I love the volcano and lil delicious rolls. Give the hibachi a try as well. Always comes out great. I've had great service here with no problems but there are other times that makes me question coming back. For example, I went there with a party of three and we had no reservations and half the tables were empty. We were told the wait was an hour. Then my sister remembered that Shinto was on OpenTable and she made a reservation right then and there for a time that was 10 mins in the future. We went back up to the stand and told them we had an Opentable reservation and they took us right away. All those empty tables never filled up. I don't know why they told us there was an hour wait. That kind of stuff gives me a negative view.
(4)
Regina H.
Have not had a bad meal yet. Sometimes service is a little slow so don't come if you're in a time crunch. But servers are always pleasant.
(5)
Brant W.
When Shinto first opened, it was the best sushi around, but has declined ever since. The size of the rolls and quality of the fish are not as good. Service has never been great, but this has also gotten worse. Hard to get water refilled and takes to long for food. Only a good deal during happy hour & for the Lil' Delicious-still one of my favorite rolls ever.
(3)
B J.
Def had an overall great experience!! the food and presentation was amazing and we had a nice celebration for a friends birthday!!!
(4)
Tom S.
Go home Shinto...You're drunk. My wife and I frequent this place and I write this review not to warn potential customers about dinning here, but rather in hopes that ownership/management will read this and institute some basic serving training, or common sense....or at least a Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers" quality pep talk. The food: it's not Sunda, it's not Nobu, but it's always pretty darn good sushi when you consider the reasonable prices and the fact that it's in the middle of the Chicago suburbs, hundreds of miles from any fresh tuna or crab source. The details: we sat at the bar for dinner around 6:45 on a Monday night (half off speciality roll night). It was busy, but not crazy weekend busy, but still busier than usual. The service: shame, shame, shame Shinto. I consider myself a reasonably patient person and with about 13 years of bar tending/service experience between my wife and I, we know the difference between shoddy service due to a short staff on a busy night, and straight up zero F's being given by our lady bartender responsible for serving us our raw fish wrapped in rice. Last night, we had ourselves a strong case of the latter. While the food took well over an hour to come out, and we watched 3 other groups sit down after we ORDERED, yet still got their rolls before us, and the request for wasabi mayo on the side (wife is not a fan) was not fulfilled... These were not the causes of the frustration. It was the complete and utter silent treatment we received the entire time. In between flagging her down for drink refills and getting no explanation, apology, smoke signal, handshake, hug, or semblance of an empathetic acknowledgement for the extreme delay, we got to watch her text on her phone...while we longingly watched yellowtail and seaweed getting dunked in low sodium soy sauce all around us. To cap off our Monday night entertainment, we got to watch our absentee bar tender count her tips and close our her cash drawer... for 20 minutes ...after our plates had been cleared. Finally, with no plates, our glasses long emptied, and my credit card sitting on the bar for the entire time, her bar tending counterpart dude finally closed us out. As he handed me the check and semi apologized for "the long night" our 2 plus hour "Shinto Experience" ended. Miso Frustrated.
(1)
Lynn M.
Liked the atmosphere and live band, but sushi was not good. I usually get Ikura and uni sushi but the ikura at Shinto was nasty. Quality was not good at all, I wanted to spit it out. Uni is never available there. I also order the kani which is king crab, but i got imitation crab meat. Omg! I was so disappointed. Dont waste your money here. Go to Kiku Japanese restaurant in naperville. Much better sushi. Fresh and delicious. U won't b disappointed.
(1)
rose f.
Several visits and no disappointments. SERVICE is consistent and customer oriented..food is consistent quality and prep, whether hibachi or sushi AND there are SOME deals to be on the look out for. Tuesday nights Hibachi, Monday night's rolls- the groupon, cocktail appetizer deals? Food is fresh and they will adjust seasoning etc as requested. Thank you!
(3)
Scott P.
Visited with my girlfriend for our 3 year anniversary. We had heard good things from our building manager, and my girlfriends hair dresser. Unfortunately, our experience was unacceptable. I have never walked out of a restaurant before, but we were so disappointed by our experience that we had to. Essentially, we showed up. It was fairly empty, we placed our order for the chefs choice plate for 2. The waitress didn't seem to have any idea what was included in the order... its one of the bold, boxed offerings on the menu. My water was never refilled without my explicit asking, and even then took extremely long to get refilled considering the waitress had only 2 tables. The sides came, but since it was a meal for 2 we thought it would come with one soup and one salad for each of us... instead there was only one soup, and one salad... that we ended up having to split. I asked the waitress if this was a mistake, and she offered to add a second order of soup to our bill.... no thank you! The night continued, the sushi never arrived. We thought it would take about 20 minutes to make considering how empty the place was... we were wrong! After 30 minutes we flagged down the waitress who had not refilled my water, and asked when the food would arrive. She said "only a few more minutes". After 10 minutes she came over to apologize for the delay, saying 1 order had come in in front of ours, and our order involved a lot of thinly sliced pieces.... you would think thinly sliced pieces would be something a sushi place would be efficient at, and its a restaurant so having 1 order in front of ours should not impact anything. Once again we asked, how much longer. Once again "a few more minutes". Once again we waited about 10 minutes. We had now been waiting for 50 minutes. The waitress who still was not refilling our waters in a timely manner came over, we asked how much longer. She apologized and said "I would have walked out by now", we said we were at that point. She offered to give us 15% off the bill and free desert. We already had a coupon for 15% off, and the free desert was their valentines week special offered to everyone! We were not interested in the offer, we asked to talk to a manager. She said, the manager was in an interview. (Who interviews at a restaurant at 7pm on a Thursday?) We insisted. We waited(10 minutes now an hour after our order), didn't see any progress, started putting on our coats (we never talked to the manager as he was supposedly stuck in the interview.... what kind of manager can't get out of an interview for a disaster like this?). As we were about to walkout, we saw the waitress and host working on the computer. We walked over, ready to pay for the drink, soup and salad we had been provided. They did not charge us, and gave us a $20 gift card for our troubles. We left, went to Portilos, ordered food and got it in 4 minutes and finished eating in less than 15 minutes. This is going to go down as the most memorable anniversary ever, unfortunately not for good reasons. We will not be back.
(1)
Ed D.
Our second time here... first time was hibachi and this time we're trying their sushi. We usually go to Kiku but there was a coupon so decided to try this again. Place is very nicely decorated but their attention to detail is lacking. Our seats were a little dirty and we had one glass and one plate that had leftover dried food on it but no biggie since they replaced them really fast. The bathrooms were at least clean. The staff was very pleasant and food came out pretty fast. Chicken terriyaki was good. We also got shrimp tempura, caterpillar, eel and yellowtail rolls. Food tasted fresh. I still think pricing is a little high and that's probably why we don't come here more often but with a coupon its definitely worth it. Coupon came from a mailer.
(4)
Mariam A.
Food is good, the delicious roll is always my favorite. I always love coming inside because the ambiance they have put together is very modern and hip. I am giving them 2 stars b/c I came here last week with a group of friends and almost ALL of us were sick or getting sick the next day!! Either poor food handling or something.... Disappointed.
(2)
V.i.o.l.e.t.t.a. D.
This place is excellent for hibachi. I first came here for sushi the first time and I was underwhelmed for sure. The sushi was tiny compared to the other places I'd been and more expensive. I left wishing I had gotten the hibachi like everyone else I had come with so I made a mental note to come back and try the hibachi for myself. I'm glad I gave this place a second chance because my steak and chicken were great. Both times the chefs were very good at their jobs; funny, thoughtful, and excellent at preparing our meals. They were the best part of our experience for sure. Thumbs up for hiring great staff :] Helpful Tip: Expect to spend around $30 a pop when coming here not including tip. There are coupons and weekly specials you'll get in the mail which help a bit. Our bill was $75 or so for 2 people and we had a $20 off of $60+ so that was nice.
(4)
Rubrya G.
the sushi is great! hibachi is amazing!! it gets busy so sometimes the service is not as good bout most of the times its great! very fun atmosphere great for a double date night or a night out with the girls! love coming here!!! everything is perfectly season and the sushi is AMAZING! it is a bit pricey so try to go on Monday for sushi specials or 10 dollar hibachi Tuesdays!!! great choice!
(5)
Joan S.
Excellent food & service. Went this past Friday got there at 6:30 had a reservation, place was packed, got seated immediately. Laura our server went above & beyond. Cook was very entertaining and good. We all had something different, steak, shrimp, swordfish. We had a groupon and will be coming back again. Highly recommend
(5)
Kari B.
I've gone to this place since it first opened. The sushi is delicious. Any roll any time. Pay attention to specials, happy hour and coupons.
(4)
Jaye R.
I finally found a place in Naperville that has sushi worth talking about. And it only took 3 years. My friend and I ate the spicy special roll (aka the roll of the day), and it was so tasty we ordered a second round. The drinks were very, very tasty. I highly recommend the cucumber-tini. Light and smooth, but packs a punch. I can't speak to the crowds because we went for a mid-afternoon lunch. It was fairly empty, however I absolutely loved the decor. Surprisingly hip for the 'burbs. I'd say that the sushi side seemed best used for "date night" while the hibachi side seemed great for families and groups. I also cannot speak to the hibachi, but I will say that when you're on the "maki" side of the restaurant, the loud clang of the spatula against the grill when they start the hibachi show may give you a minor heart attack...but only for a second. :-) I'll definitely be back. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the wait time. For the limited number of people in the place, the length of time it took to get our drinks and food was noticeably long but not insufferably long (if that makes sense). Our bar attendant/waitress was really nice and awesome and extremely apologetic when food or drinks took a while to prepare. Way to keep us top of mind! *applause*
(4)
Lauren G.
My husband & I used a Groupon for our dinner here, and I am very happy that I didn't pay full price. I have never been up-charged for fried rice at a hibachi table! They charge $4 for fried rice instead of plain white. Our server tried selling us on the fried rice, calling it "amazing" which it was very far from. It was actually quite tasteless & not worth the calories. I had the Steak & Chicken dinner - it was good, but nothing to rave about. Same with my husbands, except he had a nice big piece of fatty gristle in his steak. The California Roll was good, but it's pretty hard to mess that up. Our server was extremely slow, and was always apologizing for something. I think she forgot every request given to her by our full hibachi table!! We will not be returning to Shinto. Domo 77 on Ogden is AMAZING and I can't wait to go back there. Their fried rice is included, and is delicious. They have offers on Groupon a lot, so take them up on their deal :)
(1)
Nadia K.
My favorite Sushi in Naperville! I live down the street so I order a lot of takeout from here, but have also eaten in on both their Hibachi side, and the sushi side. The sushi is consistently delicious, as is the hibachi. I recommend their famous Little Delicious Rolls, as well as some of their unique rolls like the Filet Roll and the Rasta Roll. Hibachi is always good too, I spend the extra $$ on upgrading my steak to the chateaubriand because it is excellent. Their hibachi chefs are very entertaining. The food is on the pricey side, but they have deals during the week that I take advantage of. Nice bar too. I always take friends here that are visiting from out of town.
(5)
Marisa S.
Had a great experience at Shinto! My boyfriend just moved into that general area of town. We had passed Shinto a couple times on 59 and thought we should try it out. Lucky enough for us Google Offers had a deal for Shinto and we snatched it right up. The sushi is fresh and the rolls are interesting (quite a few rolls with cream cheese that's a no-no for me) just ask your server for a recommendation, they seem to know their stuff. I was happy with what I ordered, but I can't say I'd try all their rolls. The hibachi lunch is a great value for what you get. I had the calamari lunch($10) which had a choice of soup or salad (both are delicious), you also get appetizer shrimp and white or fried rice (at an upgrade). While the dinner is more expensive you definitely get more food for your dollar. You could be completely content with the lunch and a roll, that's what I did and I ended up having leftovers to take home! Our server was great, very knowledgeable and friendly and our hibachi chef was amazing! He was super entertaining and really knew how to cook good food, plus he was taking to us the whole time! I would go back for lunch anytime! P.S. the dessert is to die for... literally, everything is tempura covered but the cookie with cinnamon ice cream is amazing. Hope you saved your calories to eat the cookie!
(4)
Manny S.
This place rocks when it comes to sushi . Happy hour (between 3 and 6:00 PM) Monday thru Friday,Is very nice. On Monday half of speciality rolls. Decor is nice, drinks are decent and the triple berry mojito is awesome.
(4)
Rob S.
We've been here many times and used to enjoy it. What brought us in initially (1/2 price bottles of wine on Thursdays) has disappeared under the new ownership. Sushi used to taste fresh but now has gone down hill and is often 'fishy' rather than clean tasting. Their Hibachi is still pretty good but not any better than Domo, Benihana, Adoke or any other Japanese Steakhouse. We won't be returning.
(3)
JT L.
2nd behind Kiku... fried rice and chicken, not as good. Really, pre-cooked chicken for the fried rice? More discounts and promos here though
(2)
Kelley T.
My best friend took me here for dinner for my birthday this year. I would love to give them 5 stars because the sushi we had was outstanding! We went on a Monday so everything was discounted. The service we had was HORRIBLE! Our waitress took 10 minutes to bring us drinks, and we had to wave her down to get refills. She also never put in the order for our appetizer, which we only ordered because she warned us about the wait time for rolls. I'll be back, but hopefully I don't get that same waitress!
(4)
Robert P.
Great Sushi, We sit at the sushi counter and Mike takes great care of us every time.
(4)
Emi N.
Dinner on a Wednesday night. No reservation: no problem though I would recommend a reservation. They had to wait to fill the table. I ordered the vegetarian meal which was made before any meat touched the grill, which I thought was very thoughtful. Our chef (hibachi master?) Chris was great. Very personable, quick and lots of tricks after all, you pay for the show as well as the food. No kidding, the shrimp appetizer (I got tofu) he picked up on his spatula and tossed it in everyone's mouth. My husband caught his from about 15 feet away. This guy is good. This place is better than beni Hana (I've never had beni Hana offer to make me a vegetarian fried rice, let alone grill my meal on a clean grill the meat hasn't cooked on yet. With that, I got to start eating first, bonus! I will definitely be back!
(5)
Maria C.
Yum, yum, yum. Great appetizers, great sushi, great staff, the best sushi chefs, especially Mike!!! Mike is the king of sushi.
(5)
Renee H.
Went here for lunch & had hibachi & sushi. Both VERY GOOD! I had the scallop hibachi & my husband had the steak & shrimp. Very tasty & our server, Josh, was real nice. He was fun to talk to too. We were constantly checked on which I kinda liked. Everyone who worked there was super nice. Loved the atmosphere & the restaurant is really big. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Jimma J.
My first thought honestly was "Wow, this place used to be a billiards hall." Although you wouldn't even guess that. My second thought was that I really don't like Hibachi. I typically find it greasy and everything tastes the same. With that out of the way, I was quite surprised at how good everything was. Not good enough to change my mind about liking hibachi, but I went in with low expectations and left happy. This is definitely better than Benihana and Domo 77. The look and feel of the place really started to win me over. It's not your typical, generic Asian decor. It's a little more modern and open with a high ceiling. The chefs come on and make their show as they cook your food. Nothing special, but its got entertainment value and I have to hand it to them. I appreciate what they do. At first I did want to try the sushi given my dislike for hibachi, but the price was pretty high so the wife and I opted to share a hibachi and get some sides. I imagine that the sushi can't be too good since it doesn't seem like they have a dedicated sushi chef, but I can't judge the place on it without trying it. The steak and shrimp were better than I expected. It was light and the fried rice and udon was pretty good. Not great, but satisfying. The only real annoyance was that there was a birthday song every 10 minutes. I'm not even exaggerating that there were about 8 or 9 birthday announcements and songs while we were there, and the servers scream it out so no one can miss it. With all the other noise and cooking shows going on, the birthday screams were a little much. Not to bring down anyone's birthday, but you can have your celebration and song without screaming it and interrupting the entire restaurant. In all, Shinto was a surprisingly good place to eat. I would go back, but I'm not in a rush.
(3)
Jie S.
I loved the modern decor, delicious appetizers, and great services. However, pricey mediocre sushi rolls were not too impressive. Three girls went in for a Friday lunch with a $50 Groupon on the phone. It was a nice stop before we hit the outlet. The appetizers were great. We started with White Tuna Tataki, Fire n' Ice Salad, and Scallop Motyaki. They were kind of spicy in three unique ways. White Tuna Tataki was seared tuna on the bed of spring mixed salad. The tuna slices had a strong tasty spicy rub on the surface which was totally new to me. It went very well with Tuna and the salad. Fire n' Ice Salad had the tuna cubes with Siracha sauce. It was spicy in a southern Asian way with a hint of freshness of the sliced cucumber. Scallop Motyaki was really tasty and the mild one among three appetizers. It was more like a small stir fry type of dishes. I loved all of them especially White Tuna Tataki. However Caterpillar rolls and Volcano rolls were not impressive at all. The appetizers had raised up the bar so high and the sushi rolls hardly met up our expectations. The sashimi plate with salmon, tuna, and white fish was not as fresh as I would like. It was a bit disappoint for me. Our server was really sweet and polite. The whole meal would be too expensive if we didn't have the Group on. I will wait for some kind of coupon to try hibachi or do the appetizer again.
(4)
Jason R.
This is a great Hibachi restaurant. I've been to most of the areas Hibachi restaurants and this one is the best so far! Upscale and clean! I've been here twice now and the chefs are very entertaining. I haven't tried much of their sushi yet though, but what I have had was very good! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Sejal P.
Good food, slow service. On Saturday nigh expect 1 hour or more wait. After being seated at our table, they sent wrong cart to our table. Waitress disappeared after our first round of drinks. We didn't get any water on the table until after our dinner was done when we asked for it. For a group of 6 this was extremely slow and unfriendly service. Food was good, i can't say i haven't had better Suhi, but at the same time it's good for this area.
(4)
Kat V.
OUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR SUSHI!!!! Love everything about this place.. shocked to see some bad reviews. Over the last two years we have been her probably 8-12 times and never had a bad experience ... server of food! ALSO.. a HUGE plus is it is smokeless & odorless hibachi- you don't smell like your meal the rest of the night! What a rare and awesome find.
(5)
Mac H.
Okay so after my last visit more than a year ago, I succumbed to the idea of never going there again since my friends were going here for Monday specials. On Mondays, signature sushi rolls are half priced. Keep in mind, Monday specials are not good on any (even slightly) significant Mondays. Monday specials are no-go after almost any holiday (even if the holiday doesn't fall on a Monday). So after acquiring a bit more knowledge and visiting many sushi restaurants, I will give Shinto 3 stars. For the Naperville/Aurora area, sushi is good. In a broader comparison, it is average. Service this time around was much better. Reasons for me to go here again would be both Monday specials and my friend's ultimate love of Shinto (Me? Not so much!) - both conditions must be met for my any future visit.
(3)
D B.
This place drives me crazy. The food and drinks are very good - however the service is ALWAYS terrible. I notice others have expressed the same concern. My wife and I sat at the bar and had dinner one night. Couple of issues - Bartenders seemed more into the sports game to notice my empty vodka tonic (2) times. Why do I have to keep asking for each drink? You were watching TV while working? - Ordered dessert - waited 15 minutes, then was told they ran out of the item and the kitchen "never told anybody". - Once we ordered sushi and waited 45 minutes. It was somewhat crowded. The server apologized for the wait and said he would comp a glass of wine. Guess what? The glass of wine was on the bill.
(4)
Tamara K.
I love coming in on Mondays for the sushi happy hour, but now I love it even more after getting exceptional service from Maja. I will definitely be back more often thanks to her!
(5)
MJ L.
POST THE CORRECT HOURS ON YELP!!! It clearly says Today's Hours (1/4) 11:00am-1:00am. We arrived at 11:30 to find out that this place opens at 12:00pm. This review is only for the hours posted.
(3)
Courtenay G.
I was really excited to go to Shinto. lovely atmosphere seemed promising of a great experience, but unfortunately that's not what we got. Waitress didn't get us half the things we asked for, we had to flag down another server 20mins later to get what we needed. An hour later, we still hadn't gotten our food. In fact, the habachi chef had n't even started to cook yet. No explanations, not even a quick "sorry for the delay". We finally got our food an 1.5 hours after we arrived, and within 15mins, the waitress was asking us if she could take our plates (seriously!?). In the end, we were there 2.5 hours and we still hadn't gotten our bills. We finallu spoke to a manager, and she was not helpful at all. She didn't even try to apologize for the poor service. By the time that we got our checks, they charged us 18% gratuity. We spoke to the manager and had it removed. We were so mad, we were ready to leave and not pay. We were still there at 10pm, and we got there at 730pm!!! Inexcusable! Never going there again, to say the least. Horrible and inexcusable service.
(1)
Brandy B.
I came to the restaurant around 2:30pm today and asked to be seated on the patio because it was such a beautiful day and I wanted to quietly read a book while I ate. I was promptly seated and was the only one out there. Very pleasant. My waitress came out right away to get my drink order, then brought my drink right away which was wonderful. I ordered the shrimp shumai, the sunomo cucumber salad, and a spicy tuna roll with jalepeno added, and the shumai and salad came promptly which again, was wonderful. Sadly, my good experience stopped there. Not more than two bites into my food, the door to the patio burst open and a man and his girlfriend swept out onto the patio and proceeded to sit at the table literally right next to me (with 10 tables to choose from). I immediately noticed they reeked of alcohol. They then proceeded to each light a cigarette. I was shocked to see this as it was my understanding that the Smoke-free Illinois Act was still in effect. As the two blew smoke into the air, it wafted directly onto me in the breeze. The man proceeded to then take off his stinky shoes and prop his feet up on one of the seats across from him. The couple THEN proceeded to make out right in front of me, I kid you not, WITH tongue. I am not exaggerating. At this point I took my book, my purse, and my drink and went inside the restaurant and asked the bartender to please bring my food into the building, as I refused to sit with people blowing smoke in my face and making out next to my table while I'm trying to eat. Instead of asking the couple to please put out their cigarettes or even perhaps move further away on the patio, the bartender simply brought my food in to me. Though he was kind, I really felt like all accommodations were being made for this rude and obnoxious couple and at this point I was so incensed I just told him to wrap it up 'to go'. Another waitress then brought my sushi roll over to me (not knowing yet that I was leaving), and it was the wrong roll. I asked her to fix it and she took it back. Meanwhile, the bartender brought a bag with my shumai and salad wrapped up. He was kind enough to let me know he had wrapped the salad container in saran wrap just in case the dressing leaked. I waited probably 10 minutes and the waitress brought the correct roll in a to-go container, put it in the bag, then brought me the bill. $28.00 later, I was out the door with doubts that I'd ever come back. I was relegated to eating my nice sushi meal in my hot car in a parking lot as I was nowhere near home and was sorely disappointed to discover that there were no chopsticks, no utensils, no napkins, no soy sauce, not even the leftover shumai sauce in the bag. Just the 3 tiny containers of leftover food sitting in the bottom of this gargantuan bag. When I finally took a look at the spicy tuna roll, I realized it was crazy-overstuffed with jalepeno. I mean, there was more jalepeno than tuna! It was so unbelievably hot that I had to pick most of it out. And when I unwrapped the salad container it was so full of dressing that, despite my opening it delicately, it still spilled all over my lap and car seat and I had to go next door to the car wash to have the vinegar shampoo'd out of my seat, to the tune of $20. The Smoke-free Illinois Act states: "Beginning January 1, 2008, business owners shall not permit smoking at their business, or within 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes." I wonder why, if people are not allowed to smoke within 15 feet of an entrance/exit, these two yahoos were permitted to smoke not more than three feet from the door? I wonder why, if smokers are not even allowed within 15 FEET of open windows, these two yokels were permitted to sit right on top of me and blow smoke into my food? These are questions I await answers for, as I contacted the manager via their website tonight to complain. In terms of the order screw ups, unfortunately this is nothing new in my experience at Shinto. I have visited Shinto a few times and every single time something is screwed up. I do not mean to insult anyone, but they do not seem to hire the brightest bulbs, especially their hostesses who take the carry out orders. Today was the final straw, though, and I personally won't be coming back and will be informing my friends to avoid the place. Their prices are WAY too high for them to have such low standards of customer service.
(2)
David C.
Always excellent sushi! They're re-doing their cocktail menu, so that was a bit of an issue, but the food never disappoints. Very good service. Cool vibe in the restaurant, a bit dark. Sometimes it can be slow to be seated, but we made reservations this time and it was instantaneous.
(4)
Jillian H.
I've gone a few times and the experience has been hit or miss. Shinto's is a contemporary Hibachi and Sushi bar with a circular bar the divides the two sections. The dumpling appetizers are good but the vegetable maki roll was bland. The sushi is pretty good. My favorite traditional roll is the spicy tuna roll. The Mexican Roll is decent but kind of difficult to eat. I like the caterpillar and dragon rolls better. I've only had "good" service one time the other times it was mediocre at best. The prices are what you would expect for a restaurant like this.
(3)
Melissa K.
Really tasty sushi and nigiri. Everything tasted really fresh. We also had our first saki bombs here and the waitress was kind enough to show us how to properly "do" a saki bomb. Standard sushi prices (not cheap), so I was happy to have a groupon.
(4)
Sue T.
We had a mixed group of folks, some wanted hibachi, some wanted sushi. The salmon had a nice caramelly crust and was served with good grilled vegetables. Watching the chef slice, dice, flip and season was fun. One downside -- we got to witness personally just how much oil was used, and sure enough, there was an oily sheen to the entrees. The sushi was just ok and the server insisted on filling up our soy dipping dishes like we were going to use them as finger bowls, even after we asked him to stop. We had to dump out the soy to mix the pearl of wasabi with just the amount of soy we needed. The seared scallops appetizer was the best thing we ordered. For dessert -- well, who knew deep-fried cookies were so good? This is a good place for kids or groups of friends, although the prices add up. There is better sushi to be found elsewhere.
(3)
Kevin W.
After visiting here on a few more occasions I have to say either the quality is getting better or maybe I am adapting?! Either way the rolls of sushi I have ordered seem to have gotten better and the hibachi is always really good. I do still find their prices to be higher than most although. I still say this place is worth it with the Groupon deals, Yelp deals and Living Social deals that they constantly have out there. If I were to pay full price they would lose a couple of stars for sure.
(4)
Rosie D.
I bought a travelzoo coupon for this place because it sounded yummy and was close to my boyfriend's home. We went on a Monday night and did the hibachi grill meal. The restaurant is pretty swanked out. I liked the layout. It was pretty nice for a casual dinner or a swanky date night. Let me start by saying their food was off the mickey fickey CHAIN! We both ordered the dinner combos. I had steak and scallops and my boo had steak and shrimp. We also had sushi. The sushi roll I had was the volcano and it was delicious! Fresh, yummy, fun, everything a sushi lover like myself wants in a roll. The show the chef put on was fun. He was amazingly agile and he made our steak and seafood to perfection! I can't sing the food's praises enough. Yummy!!!! Ok so onto the not so fun stuff...the service. Our waiter was a bit of a ummm ummmm.... Snot. Yes we'll go with snot. I think he was mad because we had a coupon. I'm sure he's had to deal with a lot of them lately but really that's not my problem. He was pushy, kinda rude, and forgot to bring my rice. I guess I should've upgraded to the fried rice option to get better service. But really that's the only stain on this restaurant. And from reading the reviews this place clearly has a legacy of bad service. But i would say if you can handle the snotty service then check this place out. It's worth it trust me!
(3)
Jessica D.
This is one of two favorite Japanese restaurants I have in the area. I couldn't believe how whimsical the bamboo fountain area is, particularly with an underfoot, glass-bottom boat feel as you approach the sushi bar. The sushi bar area is not only well-stocked, and expertly-staffed, it's a complete aesthetic enjoyment sitting here for sushi. The really best part for me is that they had several choices for vegetarians, which can be a tricky proposition in many sushi places. They are very well versed in adult libations, and their hibachi section brings forth not only loud hurrahs from entertained patrons, but many a smiling face. Gorgeous open space, and harmonious decor plus excellent yummies equals a great Japanese restaurant.
(4)
Tina E.
Aways the Tempura Avocado!!!! Filet rolls, Lobster Rolls, Vegatable Maki Rolls- All amazing!! Beautiful decor. You won't believe your sitting on Rt 59
(5)
Kristin J.
A+ Hibachi. B- Sushi. The hibachi chefs are always really great and the cocktail menu compliments the food well. I prefer to go when I have a $25 for $50 Groupon. A message in Groupon etiquette however - tip based upon the TOTAL bill, not the Groupon amount. People who do that are 1) being cheap and 2) ensuring that places will stop accepting Groupons.
(3)
Avni S.
It's more like what I didn't like.. nothing.. fabulous sushi and hibachi.. drinks are no exception!
(4)
Howard L.
This is a brand new hibachi place, and the largest and most modern I've seen. I don't know how they are going to keep this ballroom sized place filled. Anyway, the sushi was decent, but not great, as I had a chirashi bowl for dinner. The wife and son had shrimp and swordfish, respectively, from the hibachi and it was pretty standard hibachi fare. The hoodless hibachi was interesting, particularly with like a 20' ceiling, and we didn't walk out smelling too strongly of the place. Decor is also stylishly contemporary, so that was also a little different for us as far as hibachi restaurants. The cooks also put on more of a show than some of their competition.
Very very good sushi. Great atmosphere. We had : Mexican Roll - Amazing Little Delicious roll - Amazing (had all the toppings you could think of. Will be back !
(5)
Joanne D.
Love the place - no matter what occasion that we have gone there the staff & food are always excellent. This is definitely better than Beni Hana and the food has a amazing taste never to dry. Love the drink selection as well, but I would suggest to make sure that you set up a reservation.
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :504 N Rt 59,Ste 116
Naperville, IL, 60563
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Aide M.
Nice location but the sushi is not the best. I found it to not have much flavor and the little that it did have was so similar to the other 5 rolls of sushi I ordered. Nothing really stood out. I also found it quite pricey as I did not see the sushi as that good of quality. There is another place (Sakamoto in Oswego) 20 minutes away that overtops this place not only in taste but also price wise.
(3)Jessica B.
Great food and great service. Fun sushi choices that prove their cost is worth it. Loved the atmosphere - perfect spacing, different levels to their dining area, and the lighting sets a fun yet relaxed feeling. The bar is fully stocked and has yummy and sophisticated martinis! I'd recommend it to any one! Especially on Mondays - sushi is half priced. If we lived closer, I'd make it a regular spot!
(5)Kata T.
Still haven't found a place in the suburbs that can come close to what I've had in the city. Came here recently for the first time in a few years, and was reminded why I hadn't been back (only came to meet up with friends - their choice). I should first mention that I'm vegetarian, so I am only judging the veggie rolls, which were very limited. I found them to be a bit bland and the "speciality" veggie roll was definitely way too small and way overpriced for what I got. The drinks also seemed overpriced for what you get. I won't be coming back. Good service and nice interior/atmosphere, though.
(2)Krista B.
My FAVORITE restaurant. I'm there for every special occasion. Black Widow Roll is the besg
(5)Suze B.
This place was delicious! We went on a Tuesday night to celebrate a friend's raise. Half price appetizers and sushi from 3-6! I got the steak hibachi with fried rice. GET THE FRIED RICE! You will not regret it. A little on the pricier side but it's worth every penny. Plus it's a funny little show. Be prepared to sit with strangers if you go with a smaller group.
(5)Lucy C.
You know how you thought TGIFridays was super cool when you were 14? Shinto is kind of like that. My friends and I had a few pretty good memories here from a couple years ago but going back recently was very underwhelming. Drinks were expensive (on par with/greater than city prices), portions were small, and the place was really dead for a Friday night. The sushi was pretty good though, as was the service.
(3)Jon C.
I'm not a sushi person. So prior to tonight, I've never been to Shinto. Being a parent to two small children also means very little opportunity for date nights. Let me tell you why, when I get the next opportunity to escape parenthood for a few hours that I will be going to Shinto. My wife and I were making dinner tonight (Tikka Masala Chicken, for whatever worth that may be) and we realized we were out of rice. Crap. Off to make like a culinary superhero and find some plain old white rice. Nearest place? Shinto. I walked in, and stumped the poor Hostess by wanting to place an order for plain white rice. Her response? She tried to just give me free food. Didn't want to charge me. Neither did the manager. I had to plead my case to at least charge me something. Fortunately for all of us, they agreed. So I added a tip. That one small crazy expression of kindness is going to earn them my business. Fortunately, I won't have to drink myself silly at the bar before manning up enough to try...ugh...sushi. They have a hibachi bar. Saved. Thank you, Shinto--for a rare kindness I wouldn't expect in any restaurant, much less a steakhouse. And I got to save the dinner by bringing home the rice. Odd.
(5)Frances O.
I really enjoy this place for their sushi. I can't even think of a roll that I haven't liked. My favorites are the lil delicious and volcano roll. The crab rangoon appetizer and the egg rolls are very good too. They usually have good groupon deals, or coupons in the local clipper magazines. I knocked them down one star, only because their hibachi is not the best in the area, it is decent though. Mondays are the best days to go because half price specialty sushi rolls! It is a bit crowded, but worth it.
(4)Stephanie S.
The hibachi is your standard that you'll find at Domo 77, Benihana, etc. It's pretty good if you're looking for something like that. The sushi is some of my favorite in the area. The Little Delicious and Mexican rolls are the ones I like best. This places tries hard to be trendy and upscale, but it's really not. A decent place for weeknight sushi though.
(4)Victrix V.
I've been here 3 times and this place has more flair than Domo 77 or other sushi/hibachi restaurants; and sometimes, they have better taste too, yet their hibachi is quite salty and their sushi is over priced for it being standardly and acceptably fresh (is it above average or outstandingly fresh? No.) . Their speciality is fried rolls and if you're not digging the fried scene their other selections aren't as creative. Basically, you're paying for atmosphere and for the kitchen to make you some of it's signature fried rolls (even if you're not ordering it) Other than that, it's acceptable to eat here, but I don't feel it's worth it for many reasons. Most people will enjoy this place, but I'm simply not a fan. I'm looking for fresher sushi for these prices and better ingredient quality and cooking regarding their seasonings and hibachi options. As a healthy foodie I shake my head, but I understand how this place still makes money and attracts.
(3)Jen K.
This place has good food, without a doubt. If you like sushi and hibachi, the food will not disappoint you. However, it's all overpriced. Truly. I would only step foot in this place for sushi again if it was during their happy hour (M-F, 3-6pm), where many of the rolls are half price. Otherwise, you can find a sushi place in Naperville that is just as good at lower prices. It's definitely a trendy type of sushi place, meaning that it's not an authentic Japanese restaurant...they go for a night-club feel. The place is open late into the night! Are they a bar or restaurant? I'm never really sure. If you want an traditional Japanese sushi place, you will not get that here. It's all trendy, American-type rolls. If you want sashimi, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. The Tuesday night hibachi special is a good deal, but BE CAREFUL: the server will ask you if you want fried rice or regular rice. Of course, you want fried rice, when given the option, But buyer beware: it costs $3 extra, and they don't tell you that until you get the bill. I know it's a few extra bucks, but I find it deceptive. Most of the 9 people at our table ordered the fried rice, and the server told none of us about the extra charge. Also, this is a fairly popular special, so be prepared to wait awhile. After you are done waiting, be prepared to be crammed at a table above the normal capacity. I had to sit on a corner, and the host didn't seem to see a problem with this. It was a very irritating way to eat my dinner. Don't get me wrong, everything tasted great (except for the avocado tempura, or fried avocado, or whatever it's called...SO overrated). But its just kind of crazy how much everything costs, in my opinion. **All of the aforementioned comments are my opinion and not facts.**
(2)Melissa T.
Love going here for happy hours! Staff are great and food are very delicious
(4)Jacki A.
For starters, I've been coming here for a few years now and it seems as if not much has changed. The reason I do not give five stars is because of the price. Very pricey, but that's expected since the food is good and it's in Naperville. The whole place has a nice atmosphere and the host is friendly. Our waitress was pretty nice, and I'm picky about my wait staff. (Wow, that sounds reaaaally snobby...not meant to come off like that..) Anywho, she was a tall blonde who was really friendly and didn't give me attitude when I was very indecisive! I came here with a groupon, and upon arrival we had to strategically choose which rolls we would get so we didn't go over the 50$ mark. We decided on 4 rolls of sushi, I'm forgetting with kinds exactly but I know we got an unagi roll, a rasta roll (a new one for me, I would strongly recommend it!), and another two that I can't remember the names of but I think one of them was Black Widow and it was delicious! I think the people around us probably thought we had starved the rest of the day because when we got the four rolls, the two of us ate all of it in 5 minutes...a little embarrassing... Regardless of our record eating time, all rolls were amazing and the service wasn't bad either, but not spectacular. I wish there was more groupons or I will return when there is happy hour! Good job shinto.
(4)Samantha C.
Mediocre hibachi, mediocre sushi. This place is ok, but it's definitely not for sushi aficionados. They would most probably be disappointed. This is more of a place for people who enjoy the feel of an exotic eatery but have blander or inexperienced palates. It's worth it to go to their happy hour, that's when you get the best deal for sushi. I would recommend trying their lil' delicious roll, it seems to be very popular. The best hibachi chef at this place is known as "White Chris", request him if you want more than mediocre hibachi.
(3)Hayde J.
Great food, amazing rolls- most artsy I've seen around this area. Decently priced. They have daily specials for drinks or food and the restaurant has a nice outdoor seating area. I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes to be seated and the service has been pleasant every time I've gone to dine in and for carry out pick ups.
(4)Jen Z.
I keep coming back because the food is great, the service varies. Monday nights are half off specialty rolls - awesome deal. I have no complaints about the food at all. I love the volcano and lil delicious rolls. Give the hibachi a try as well. Always comes out great. I've had great service here with no problems but there are other times that makes me question coming back. For example, I went there with a party of three and we had no reservations and half the tables were empty. We were told the wait was an hour. Then my sister remembered that Shinto was on OpenTable and she made a reservation right then and there for a time that was 10 mins in the future. We went back up to the stand and told them we had an Opentable reservation and they took us right away. All those empty tables never filled up. I don't know why they told us there was an hour wait. That kind of stuff gives me a negative view.
(4)Tom S.
Go home Shinto...You're drunk. My wife and I frequent this place and I write this review not to warn potential customers about dinning here, but rather in hopes that ownership/management will read this and institute some basic serving training, or common sense....or at least a Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers" quality pep talk. The food: it's not Sunda, it's not Nobu, but it's always pretty darn good sushi when you consider the reasonable prices and the fact that it's in the middle of the Chicago suburbs, hundreds of miles from any fresh tuna or crab source. The details: we sat at the bar for dinner around 6:45 on a Monday night (half off speciality roll night). It was busy, but not crazy weekend busy, but still busier than usual. The service: shame, shame, shame Shinto. I consider myself a reasonably patient person and with about 13 years of bar tending/service experience between my wife and I, we know the difference between shoddy service due to a short staff on a busy night, and straight up zero F's being given by our lady bartender responsible for serving us our raw fish wrapped in rice. Last night, we had ourselves a strong case of the latter. While the food took well over an hour to come out, and we watched 3 other groups sit down after we ORDERED, yet still got their rolls before us, and the request for wasabi mayo on the side (wife is not a fan) was not fulfilled... These were not the causes of the frustration. It was the complete and utter silent treatment we received the entire time. In between flagging her down for drink refills and getting no explanation, apology, smoke signal, handshake, hug, or semblance of an empathetic acknowledgement for the extreme delay, we got to watch her text on her phone...while we longingly watched yellowtail and seaweed getting dunked in low sodium soy sauce all around us. To cap off our Monday night entertainment, we got to watch our absentee bar tender count her tips and close our her cash drawer... for 20 minutes ...after our plates had been cleared. Finally, with no plates, our glasses long emptied, and my credit card sitting on the bar for the entire time, her bar tending counterpart dude finally closed us out. As he handed me the check and semi apologized for "the long night" our 2 plus hour "Shinto Experience" ended. Miso Frustrated.
(1)Lynn M.
Liked the atmosphere and live band, but sushi was not good. I usually get Ikura and uni sushi but the ikura at Shinto was nasty. Quality was not good at all, I wanted to spit it out. Uni is never available there. I also order the kani which is king crab, but i got imitation crab meat. Omg! I was so disappointed. Dont waste your money here. Go to Kiku Japanese restaurant in naperville. Much better sushi. Fresh and delicious. U won't b disappointed.
(1)Regina H.
Have not had a bad meal yet. Sometimes service is a little slow so don't come if you're in a time crunch. But servers are always pleasant.
(5)Brant W.
When Shinto first opened, it was the best sushi around, but has declined ever since. The size of the rolls and quality of the fish are not as good. Service has never been great, but this has also gotten worse. Hard to get water refilled and takes to long for food. Only a good deal during happy hour & for the Lil' Delicious-still one of my favorite rolls ever.
(3)Scott P.
Visited with my girlfriend for our 3 year anniversary. We had heard good things from our building manager, and my girlfriends hair dresser. Unfortunately, our experience was unacceptable. I have never walked out of a restaurant before, but we were so disappointed by our experience that we had to. Essentially, we showed up. It was fairly empty, we placed our order for the chefs choice plate for 2. The waitress didn't seem to have any idea what was included in the order... its one of the bold, boxed offerings on the menu. My water was never refilled without my explicit asking, and even then took extremely long to get refilled considering the waitress had only 2 tables. The sides came, but since it was a meal for 2 we thought it would come with one soup and one salad for each of us... instead there was only one soup, and one salad... that we ended up having to split. I asked the waitress if this was a mistake, and she offered to add a second order of soup to our bill.... no thank you! The night continued, the sushi never arrived. We thought it would take about 20 minutes to make considering how empty the place was... we were wrong! After 30 minutes we flagged down the waitress who had not refilled my water, and asked when the food would arrive. She said "only a few more minutes". After 10 minutes she came over to apologize for the delay, saying 1 order had come in in front of ours, and our order involved a lot of thinly sliced pieces.... you would think thinly sliced pieces would be something a sushi place would be efficient at, and its a restaurant so having 1 order in front of ours should not impact anything. Once again we asked, how much longer. Once again "a few more minutes". Once again we waited about 10 minutes. We had now been waiting for 50 minutes. The waitress who still was not refilling our waters in a timely manner came over, we asked how much longer. She apologized and said "I would have walked out by now", we said we were at that point. She offered to give us 15% off the bill and free desert. We already had a coupon for 15% off, and the free desert was their valentines week special offered to everyone! We were not interested in the offer, we asked to talk to a manager. She said, the manager was in an interview. (Who interviews at a restaurant at 7pm on a Thursday?) We insisted. We waited(10 minutes now an hour after our order), didn't see any progress, started putting on our coats (we never talked to the manager as he was supposedly stuck in the interview.... what kind of manager can't get out of an interview for a disaster like this?). As we were about to walkout, we saw the waitress and host working on the computer. We walked over, ready to pay for the drink, soup and salad we had been provided. They did not charge us, and gave us a $20 gift card for our troubles. We left, went to Portilos, ordered food and got it in 4 minutes and finished eating in less than 15 minutes. This is going to go down as the most memorable anniversary ever, unfortunately not for good reasons. We will not be back.
(1)Ed D.
Our second time here... first time was hibachi and this time we're trying their sushi. We usually go to Kiku but there was a coupon so decided to try this again. Place is very nicely decorated but their attention to detail is lacking. Our seats were a little dirty and we had one glass and one plate that had leftover dried food on it but no biggie since they replaced them really fast. The bathrooms were at least clean. The staff was very pleasant and food came out pretty fast. Chicken terriyaki was good. We also got shrimp tempura, caterpillar, eel and yellowtail rolls. Food tasted fresh. I still think pricing is a little high and that's probably why we don't come here more often but with a coupon its definitely worth it. Coupon came from a mailer.
(4)Mariam A.
Food is good, the delicious roll is always my favorite. I always love coming inside because the ambiance they have put together is very modern and hip. I am giving them 2 stars b/c I came here last week with a group of friends and almost ALL of us were sick or getting sick the next day!! Either poor food handling or something.... Disappointed.
(2)V.i.o.l.e.t.t.a. D.
This place is excellent for hibachi. I first came here for sushi the first time and I was underwhelmed for sure. The sushi was tiny compared to the other places I'd been and more expensive. I left wishing I had gotten the hibachi like everyone else I had come with so I made a mental note to come back and try the hibachi for myself. I'm glad I gave this place a second chance because my steak and chicken were great. Both times the chefs were very good at their jobs; funny, thoughtful, and excellent at preparing our meals. They were the best part of our experience for sure. Thumbs up for hiring great staff :] Helpful Tip: Expect to spend around $30 a pop when coming here not including tip. There are coupons and weekly specials you'll get in the mail which help a bit. Our bill was $75 or so for 2 people and we had a $20 off of $60+ so that was nice.
(4)Rubrya G.
the sushi is great! hibachi is amazing!! it gets busy so sometimes the service is not as good bout most of the times its great! very fun atmosphere great for a double date night or a night out with the girls! love coming here!!! everything is perfectly season and the sushi is AMAZING! it is a bit pricey so try to go on Monday for sushi specials or 10 dollar hibachi Tuesdays!!! great choice!
(5)Joan S.
Excellent food & service. Went this past Friday got there at 6:30 had a reservation, place was packed, got seated immediately. Laura our server went above & beyond. Cook was very entertaining and good. We all had something different, steak, shrimp, swordfish. We had a groupon and will be coming back again. Highly recommend
(5)Kari B.
I've gone to this place since it first opened. The sushi is delicious. Any roll any time. Pay attention to specials, happy hour and coupons.
(4)B J.
Def had an overall great experience!! the food and presentation was amazing and we had a nice celebration for a friends birthday!!!
(4)rose f.
Several visits and no disappointments. SERVICE is consistent and customer oriented..food is consistent quality and prep, whether hibachi or sushi AND there are SOME deals to be on the look out for. Tuesday nights Hibachi, Monday night's rolls- the groupon, cocktail appetizer deals? Food is fresh and they will adjust seasoning etc as requested. Thank you!
(3)Jaye R.
I finally found a place in Naperville that has sushi worth talking about. And it only took 3 years. My friend and I ate the spicy special roll (aka the roll of the day), and it was so tasty we ordered a second round. The drinks were very, very tasty. I highly recommend the cucumber-tini. Light and smooth, but packs a punch. I can't speak to the crowds because we went for a mid-afternoon lunch. It was fairly empty, however I absolutely loved the decor. Surprisingly hip for the 'burbs. I'd say that the sushi side seemed best used for "date night" while the hibachi side seemed great for families and groups. I also cannot speak to the hibachi, but I will say that when you're on the "maki" side of the restaurant, the loud clang of the spatula against the grill when they start the hibachi show may give you a minor heart attack...but only for a second. :-) I'll definitely be back. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the wait time. For the limited number of people in the place, the length of time it took to get our drinks and food was noticeably long but not insufferably long (if that makes sense). Our bar attendant/waitress was really nice and awesome and extremely apologetic when food or drinks took a while to prepare. Way to keep us top of mind! *applause*
(4)Lauren G.
My husband & I used a Groupon for our dinner here, and I am very happy that I didn't pay full price. I have never been up-charged for fried rice at a hibachi table! They charge $4 for fried rice instead of plain white. Our server tried selling us on the fried rice, calling it "amazing" which it was very far from. It was actually quite tasteless & not worth the calories. I had the Steak & Chicken dinner - it was good, but nothing to rave about. Same with my husbands, except he had a nice big piece of fatty gristle in his steak. The California Roll was good, but it's pretty hard to mess that up. Our server was extremely slow, and was always apologizing for something. I think she forgot every request given to her by our full hibachi table!! We will not be returning to Shinto. Domo 77 on Ogden is AMAZING and I can't wait to go back there. Their fried rice is included, and is delicious. They have offers on Groupon a lot, so take them up on their deal :)
(1)Nadia K.
My favorite Sushi in Naperville! I live down the street so I order a lot of takeout from here, but have also eaten in on both their Hibachi side, and the sushi side. The sushi is consistently delicious, as is the hibachi. I recommend their famous Little Delicious Rolls, as well as some of their unique rolls like the Filet Roll and the Rasta Roll. Hibachi is always good too, I spend the extra $$ on upgrading my steak to the chateaubriand because it is excellent. Their hibachi chefs are very entertaining. The food is on the pricey side, but they have deals during the week that I take advantage of. Nice bar too. I always take friends here that are visiting from out of town.
(5)Marisa S.
Had a great experience at Shinto! My boyfriend just moved into that general area of town. We had passed Shinto a couple times on 59 and thought we should try it out. Lucky enough for us Google Offers had a deal for Shinto and we snatched it right up. The sushi is fresh and the rolls are interesting (quite a few rolls with cream cheese that's a no-no for me) just ask your server for a recommendation, they seem to know their stuff. I was happy with what I ordered, but I can't say I'd try all their rolls. The hibachi lunch is a great value for what you get. I had the calamari lunch($10) which had a choice of soup or salad (both are delicious), you also get appetizer shrimp and white or fried rice (at an upgrade). While the dinner is more expensive you definitely get more food for your dollar. You could be completely content with the lunch and a roll, that's what I did and I ended up having leftovers to take home! Our server was great, very knowledgeable and friendly and our hibachi chef was amazing! He was super entertaining and really knew how to cook good food, plus he was taking to us the whole time! I would go back for lunch anytime! P.S. the dessert is to die for... literally, everything is tempura covered but the cookie with cinnamon ice cream is amazing. Hope you saved your calories to eat the cookie!
(4)Manny S.
This place rocks when it comes to sushi . Happy hour (between 3 and 6:00 PM) Monday thru Friday,Is very nice. On Monday half of speciality rolls. Decor is nice, drinks are decent and the triple berry mojito is awesome.
(4)Rob S.
We've been here many times and used to enjoy it. What brought us in initially (1/2 price bottles of wine on Thursdays) has disappeared under the new ownership. Sushi used to taste fresh but now has gone down hill and is often 'fishy' rather than clean tasting. Their Hibachi is still pretty good but not any better than Domo, Benihana, Adoke or any other Japanese Steakhouse. We won't be returning.
(3)JT L.
2nd behind Kiku... fried rice and chicken, not as good. Really, pre-cooked chicken for the fried rice? More discounts and promos here though
(2)Kelley T.
My best friend took me here for dinner for my birthday this year. I would love to give them 5 stars because the sushi we had was outstanding! We went on a Monday so everything was discounted. The service we had was HORRIBLE! Our waitress took 10 minutes to bring us drinks, and we had to wave her down to get refills. She also never put in the order for our appetizer, which we only ordered because she warned us about the wait time for rolls. I'll be back, but hopefully I don't get that same waitress!
(4)Robert P.
Great Sushi, We sit at the sushi counter and Mike takes great care of us every time.
(4)Emi N.
Dinner on a Wednesday night. No reservation: no problem though I would recommend a reservation. They had to wait to fill the table. I ordered the vegetarian meal which was made before any meat touched the grill, which I thought was very thoughtful. Our chef (hibachi master?) Chris was great. Very personable, quick and lots of tricks after all, you pay for the show as well as the food. No kidding, the shrimp appetizer (I got tofu) he picked up on his spatula and tossed it in everyone's mouth. My husband caught his from about 15 feet away. This guy is good. This place is better than beni Hana (I've never had beni Hana offer to make me a vegetarian fried rice, let alone grill my meal on a clean grill the meat hasn't cooked on yet. With that, I got to start eating first, bonus! I will definitely be back!
(5)Maria C.
Yum, yum, yum. Great appetizers, great sushi, great staff, the best sushi chefs, especially Mike!!! Mike is the king of sushi.
(5)Renee H.
Went here for lunch & had hibachi & sushi. Both VERY GOOD! I had the scallop hibachi & my husband had the steak & shrimp. Very tasty & our server, Josh, was real nice. He was fun to talk to too. We were constantly checked on which I kinda liked. Everyone who worked there was super nice. Loved the atmosphere & the restaurant is really big. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)Jason R.
This is a great Hibachi restaurant. I've been to most of the areas Hibachi restaurants and this one is the best so far! Upscale and clean! I've been here twice now and the chefs are very entertaining. I haven't tried much of their sushi yet though, but what I have had was very good! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Sejal P.
Good food, slow service. On Saturday nigh expect 1 hour or more wait. After being seated at our table, they sent wrong cart to our table. Waitress disappeared after our first round of drinks. We didn't get any water on the table until after our dinner was done when we asked for it. For a group of 6 this was extremely slow and unfriendly service. Food was good, i can't say i haven't had better Suhi, but at the same time it's good for this area.
(4)Jimma J.
My first thought honestly was "Wow, this place used to be a billiards hall." Although you wouldn't even guess that. My second thought was that I really don't like Hibachi. I typically find it greasy and everything tastes the same. With that out of the way, I was quite surprised at how good everything was. Not good enough to change my mind about liking hibachi, but I went in with low expectations and left happy. This is definitely better than Benihana and Domo 77. The look and feel of the place really started to win me over. It's not your typical, generic Asian decor. It's a little more modern and open with a high ceiling. The chefs come on and make their show as they cook your food. Nothing special, but its got entertainment value and I have to hand it to them. I appreciate what they do. At first I did want to try the sushi given my dislike for hibachi, but the price was pretty high so the wife and I opted to share a hibachi and get some sides. I imagine that the sushi can't be too good since it doesn't seem like they have a dedicated sushi chef, but I can't judge the place on it without trying it. The steak and shrimp were better than I expected. It was light and the fried rice and udon was pretty good. Not great, but satisfying. The only real annoyance was that there was a birthday song every 10 minutes. I'm not even exaggerating that there were about 8 or 9 birthday announcements and songs while we were there, and the servers scream it out so no one can miss it. With all the other noise and cooking shows going on, the birthday screams were a little much. Not to bring down anyone's birthday, but you can have your celebration and song without screaming it and interrupting the entire restaurant. In all, Shinto was a surprisingly good place to eat. I would go back, but I'm not in a rush.
(3)Jie S.
I loved the modern decor, delicious appetizers, and great services. However, pricey mediocre sushi rolls were not too impressive. Three girls went in for a Friday lunch with a $50 Groupon on the phone. It was a nice stop before we hit the outlet. The appetizers were great. We started with White Tuna Tataki, Fire n' Ice Salad, and Scallop Motyaki. They were kind of spicy in three unique ways. White Tuna Tataki was seared tuna on the bed of spring mixed salad. The tuna slices had a strong tasty spicy rub on the surface which was totally new to me. It went very well with Tuna and the salad. Fire n' Ice Salad had the tuna cubes with Siracha sauce. It was spicy in a southern Asian way with a hint of freshness of the sliced cucumber. Scallop Motyaki was really tasty and the mild one among three appetizers. It was more like a small stir fry type of dishes. I loved all of them especially White Tuna Tataki. However Caterpillar rolls and Volcano rolls were not impressive at all. The appetizers had raised up the bar so high and the sushi rolls hardly met up our expectations. The sashimi plate with salmon, tuna, and white fish was not as fresh as I would like. It was a bit disappoint for me. Our server was really sweet and polite. The whole meal would be too expensive if we didn't have the Group on. I will wait for some kind of coupon to try hibachi or do the appetizer again.
(4)Kat V.
OUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR SUSHI!!!! Love everything about this place.. shocked to see some bad reviews. Over the last two years we have been her probably 8-12 times and never had a bad experience ... server of food! ALSO.. a HUGE plus is it is smokeless & odorless hibachi- you don't smell like your meal the rest of the night! What a rare and awesome find.
(5)Mac H.
Okay so after my last visit more than a year ago, I succumbed to the idea of never going there again since my friends were going here for Monday specials. On Mondays, signature sushi rolls are half priced. Keep in mind, Monday specials are not good on any (even slightly) significant Mondays. Monday specials are no-go after almost any holiday (even if the holiday doesn't fall on a Monday). So after acquiring a bit more knowledge and visiting many sushi restaurants, I will give Shinto 3 stars. For the Naperville/Aurora area, sushi is good. In a broader comparison, it is average. Service this time around was much better. Reasons for me to go here again would be both Monday specials and my friend's ultimate love of Shinto (Me? Not so much!) - both conditions must be met for my any future visit.
(3)D B.
This place drives me crazy. The food and drinks are very good - however the service is ALWAYS terrible. I notice others have expressed the same concern. My wife and I sat at the bar and had dinner one night. Couple of issues - Bartenders seemed more into the sports game to notice my empty vodka tonic (2) times. Why do I have to keep asking for each drink? You were watching TV while working? - Ordered dessert - waited 15 minutes, then was told they ran out of the item and the kitchen "never told anybody". - Once we ordered sushi and waited 45 minutes. It was somewhat crowded. The server apologized for the wait and said he would comp a glass of wine. Guess what? The glass of wine was on the bill.
(4)Tamara K.
I love coming in on Mondays for the sushi happy hour, but now I love it even more after getting exceptional service from Maja. I will definitely be back more often thanks to her!
(5)MJ L.
POST THE CORRECT HOURS ON YELP!!! It clearly says Today's Hours (1/4) 11:00am-1:00am. We arrived at 11:30 to find out that this place opens at 12:00pm. This review is only for the hours posted.
(3)Kristin J.
A+ Hibachi. B- Sushi. The hibachi chefs are always really great and the cocktail menu compliments the food well. I prefer to go when I have a $25 for $50 Groupon. A message in Groupon etiquette however - tip based upon the TOTAL bill, not the Groupon amount. People who do that are 1) being cheap and 2) ensuring that places will stop accepting Groupons.
(3)Avni S.
It's more like what I didn't like.. nothing.. fabulous sushi and hibachi.. drinks are no exception!
(4)Courtenay G.
I was really excited to go to Shinto. lovely atmosphere seemed promising of a great experience, but unfortunately that's not what we got. Waitress didn't get us half the things we asked for, we had to flag down another server 20mins later to get what we needed. An hour later, we still hadn't gotten our food. In fact, the habachi chef had n't even started to cook yet. No explanations, not even a quick "sorry for the delay". We finally got our food an 1.5 hours after we arrived, and within 15mins, the waitress was asking us if she could take our plates (seriously!?). In the end, we were there 2.5 hours and we still hadn't gotten our bills. We finallu spoke to a manager, and she was not helpful at all. She didn't even try to apologize for the poor service. By the time that we got our checks, they charged us 18% gratuity. We spoke to the manager and had it removed. We were so mad, we were ready to leave and not pay. We were still there at 10pm, and we got there at 730pm!!! Inexcusable! Never going there again, to say the least. Horrible and inexcusable service.
(1)Brandy B.
I came to the restaurant around 2:30pm today and asked to be seated on the patio because it was such a beautiful day and I wanted to quietly read a book while I ate. I was promptly seated and was the only one out there. Very pleasant. My waitress came out right away to get my drink order, then brought my drink right away which was wonderful. I ordered the shrimp shumai, the sunomo cucumber salad, and a spicy tuna roll with jalepeno added, and the shumai and salad came promptly which again, was wonderful. Sadly, my good experience stopped there. Not more than two bites into my food, the door to the patio burst open and a man and his girlfriend swept out onto the patio and proceeded to sit at the table literally right next to me (with 10 tables to choose from). I immediately noticed they reeked of alcohol. They then proceeded to each light a cigarette. I was shocked to see this as it was my understanding that the Smoke-free Illinois Act was still in effect. As the two blew smoke into the air, it wafted directly onto me in the breeze. The man proceeded to then take off his stinky shoes and prop his feet up on one of the seats across from him. The couple THEN proceeded to make out right in front of me, I kid you not, WITH tongue. I am not exaggerating. At this point I took my book, my purse, and my drink and went inside the restaurant and asked the bartender to please bring my food into the building, as I refused to sit with people blowing smoke in my face and making out next to my table while I'm trying to eat. Instead of asking the couple to please put out their cigarettes or even perhaps move further away on the patio, the bartender simply brought my food in to me. Though he was kind, I really felt like all accommodations were being made for this rude and obnoxious couple and at this point I was so incensed I just told him to wrap it up 'to go'. Another waitress then brought my sushi roll over to me (not knowing yet that I was leaving), and it was the wrong roll. I asked her to fix it and she took it back. Meanwhile, the bartender brought a bag with my shumai and salad wrapped up. He was kind enough to let me know he had wrapped the salad container in saran wrap just in case the dressing leaked. I waited probably 10 minutes and the waitress brought the correct roll in a to-go container, put it in the bag, then brought me the bill. $28.00 later, I was out the door with doubts that I'd ever come back. I was relegated to eating my nice sushi meal in my hot car in a parking lot as I was nowhere near home and was sorely disappointed to discover that there were no chopsticks, no utensils, no napkins, no soy sauce, not even the leftover shumai sauce in the bag. Just the 3 tiny containers of leftover food sitting in the bottom of this gargantuan bag. When I finally took a look at the spicy tuna roll, I realized it was crazy-overstuffed with jalepeno. I mean, there was more jalepeno than tuna! It was so unbelievably hot that I had to pick most of it out. And when I unwrapped the salad container it was so full of dressing that, despite my opening it delicately, it still spilled all over my lap and car seat and I had to go next door to the car wash to have the vinegar shampoo'd out of my seat, to the tune of $20. The Smoke-free Illinois Act states: "Beginning January 1, 2008, business owners shall not permit smoking at their business, or within 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes." I wonder why, if people are not allowed to smoke within 15 feet of an entrance/exit, these two yahoos were permitted to smoke not more than three feet from the door? I wonder why, if smokers are not even allowed within 15 FEET of open windows, these two yokels were permitted to sit right on top of me and blow smoke into my food? These are questions I await answers for, as I contacted the manager via their website tonight to complain. In terms of the order screw ups, unfortunately this is nothing new in my experience at Shinto. I have visited Shinto a few times and every single time something is screwed up. I do not mean to insult anyone, but they do not seem to hire the brightest bulbs, especially their hostesses who take the carry out orders. Today was the final straw, though, and I personally won't be coming back and will be informing my friends to avoid the place. Their prices are WAY too high for them to have such low standards of customer service.
(2)David C.
Always excellent sushi! They're re-doing their cocktail menu, so that was a bit of an issue, but the food never disappoints. Very good service. Cool vibe in the restaurant, a bit dark. Sometimes it can be slow to be seated, but we made reservations this time and it was instantaneous.
(4)Jillian H.
I've gone a few times and the experience has been hit or miss. Shinto's is a contemporary Hibachi and Sushi bar with a circular bar the divides the two sections. The dumpling appetizers are good but the vegetable maki roll was bland. The sushi is pretty good. My favorite traditional roll is the spicy tuna roll. The Mexican Roll is decent but kind of difficult to eat. I like the caterpillar and dragon rolls better. I've only had "good" service one time the other times it was mediocre at best. The prices are what you would expect for a restaurant like this.
(3)Melissa K.
Really tasty sushi and nigiri. Everything tasted really fresh. We also had our first saki bombs here and the waitress was kind enough to show us how to properly "do" a saki bomb. Standard sushi prices (not cheap), so I was happy to have a groupon.
(4)Kevin W.
After visiting here on a few more occasions I have to say either the quality is getting better or maybe I am adapting?! Either way the rolls of sushi I have ordered seem to have gotten better and the hibachi is always really good. I do still find their prices to be higher than most although. I still say this place is worth it with the Groupon deals, Yelp deals and Living Social deals that they constantly have out there. If I were to pay full price they would lose a couple of stars for sure.
(4)Sue T.
We had a mixed group of folks, some wanted hibachi, some wanted sushi. The salmon had a nice caramelly crust and was served with good grilled vegetables. Watching the chef slice, dice, flip and season was fun. One downside -- we got to witness personally just how much oil was used, and sure enough, there was an oily sheen to the entrees. The sushi was just ok and the server insisted on filling up our soy dipping dishes like we were going to use them as finger bowls, even after we asked him to stop. We had to dump out the soy to mix the pearl of wasabi with just the amount of soy we needed. The seared scallops appetizer was the best thing we ordered. For dessert -- well, who knew deep-fried cookies were so good? This is a good place for kids or groups of friends, although the prices add up. There is better sushi to be found elsewhere.
(3)Rosie D.
I bought a travelzoo coupon for this place because it sounded yummy and was close to my boyfriend's home. We went on a Monday night and did the hibachi grill meal. The restaurant is pretty swanked out. I liked the layout. It was pretty nice for a casual dinner or a swanky date night. Let me start by saying their food was off the mickey fickey CHAIN! We both ordered the dinner combos. I had steak and scallops and my boo had steak and shrimp. We also had sushi. The sushi roll I had was the volcano and it was delicious! Fresh, yummy, fun, everything a sushi lover like myself wants in a roll. The show the chef put on was fun. He was amazingly agile and he made our steak and seafood to perfection! I can't sing the food's praises enough. Yummy!!!! Ok so onto the not so fun stuff...the service. Our waiter was a bit of a ummm ummmm.... Snot. Yes we'll go with snot. I think he was mad because we had a coupon. I'm sure he's had to deal with a lot of them lately but really that's not my problem. He was pushy, kinda rude, and forgot to bring my rice. I guess I should've upgraded to the fried rice option to get better service. But really that's the only stain on this restaurant. And from reading the reviews this place clearly has a legacy of bad service. But i would say if you can handle the snotty service then check this place out. It's worth it trust me!
(3)Jessica D.
This is one of two favorite Japanese restaurants I have in the area. I couldn't believe how whimsical the bamboo fountain area is, particularly with an underfoot, glass-bottom boat feel as you approach the sushi bar. The sushi bar area is not only well-stocked, and expertly-staffed, it's a complete aesthetic enjoyment sitting here for sushi. The really best part for me is that they had several choices for vegetarians, which can be a tricky proposition in many sushi places. They are very well versed in adult libations, and their hibachi section brings forth not only loud hurrahs from entertained patrons, but many a smiling face. Gorgeous open space, and harmonious decor plus excellent yummies equals a great Japanese restaurant.
(4)Tina E.
Aways the Tempura Avocado!!!! Filet rolls, Lobster Rolls, Vegatable Maki Rolls- All amazing!! Beautiful decor. You won't believe your sitting on Rt 59
(5)Howard L.
This is a brand new hibachi place, and the largest and most modern I've seen. I don't know how they are going to keep this ballroom sized place filled. Anyway, the sushi was decent, but not great, as I had a chirashi bowl for dinner. The wife and son had shrimp and swordfish, respectively, from the hibachi and it was pretty standard hibachi fare. The hoodless hibachi was interesting, particularly with like a 20' ceiling, and we didn't walk out smelling too strongly of the place. Decor is also stylishly contemporary, so that was also a little different for us as far as hibachi restaurants. The cooks also put on more of a show than some of their competition.
(3)Michelle M.
I have mixed feelings about Shinto. I ate here a few weeks ago with my fiancé and a friend, and our rolls were tasty, but that's about it. The atmosphere is ok, but I feel like they're trying to be trendier and hipper than they are really capable of. The bar with the color-changing lights is kind of neat, but I'm not sure how the gigantic, tacky hot air balloon advertisement in the parking lot fits in with the upscale sushi lounge atmosphere they seem to be aiming for. The service is certainly atmosphere-appropriate, with rude, hipper-than-thou servers who take their sweet time delivering your food and providing refills, and the prices are up there as well. Their menu leans toward heavy, deep-fried and cream cheesey rolls. I wasn't terribly impressed with the giant, battered Little Delicious, but the Miso Surprise was really yummy. I will probably be back again for one of their happy hour specials, which seems like a pretty decent deal.
(2)Vodka Sauce C.
Very very good sushi. Great atmosphere. We had : Mexican Roll - Amazing Little Delicious roll - Amazing (had all the toppings you could think of. Will be back !
(5)Joanne D.
Love the place - no matter what occasion that we have gone there the staff & food are always excellent. This is definitely better than Beni Hana and the food has a amazing taste never to dry. Love the drink selection as well, but I would suggest to make sure that you set up a reservation.
(5)Bentlee O.
Seriously, this place was delicious! The atmosphere was very nice and upscale, the hostess was friendly and our waiter was very nice. The sushi was so good and the presentation was very beautiful! They had a full sushi menu with tons of selection, and I thoroughly enjoyed the drink menu! They also had a Monday night special were all specialty rolls were 50% off! We sat the the sushi bar where the chefs were friendly and offered us special rolls and soups as we waited for our main dish. I really loved this place and can't wait to go back!
(5)Joe S.
NEVER AGAIN! The food at best can be called mediocre. The mediocre food could have been saved by good service, but the service was so horrible it made the experience even worse. Then the bartender rushes us to order, "dude, the kitchen closes in 5 min" - the kitchen was not closing in 5 min; we had 15min till closing time. The server just wanted to rush us out. I ordered the miso soup, "oh, I think we are out of miso - do you want me to check?" - what kind of Japanese Steak House is out of miso soup?? WTF, of course I want you to check that is why I ordered it! Next we get our food and my date didn't get a spoon for her noodle soup so she took mine. When I ask for another spoon I'm brought a Tea Spoon to eat my soup with - not a soup spoon, not a Japanese porcelain spoon, but a tea spoon. In a Japanese Steak House and I'm expected to use a metal teaspoon to eat soup??? Next, cleanliness: We sat at the bar but had to change seats because it was so dirty. The soy sauce btls that we were given were so dirty & sticky that I felt like I needed a shower after touching them. My (female) date used the restroom only to find a male employee in there cleaning - he would not leave to allow the her to use the facilities. All during the meal we could overhear the bartenders talking about the customers, about what kind of tips they were / were not leaving. After I pay with a credit card I pause while waiting for my date in the restroom before signing. Then the server returns, 'Can you sign that so we can close out the register?" And then I overhear him talking with disgust over the $3 dollar tip I left...
(1)Marcy H.
I went with my husband during lunch last Tuesday. We ordered some half price sushi that was average. Then we ordered Hibachi. We were to early for the $12 special but to late for lunch. I ordered the steak and shrimp. The shrimp was good, maybe could have had another min on the grill but the steak was the thinnest and fattiest piece of meat. I was shocked that they would serve such a piece of meat. I remind you that I'm paying $24 for this combination meal. It had no flavor and was over cooked. I don't eat steak fat anyways! I would also like to mention that most sushi and Hibachi restaurants give you a nice side salad and soup. Shinto gives you only a salad or soup. Of course you can pay extra if you want both. With the exception of another group of people, we were the only ones in the restaurant. There are to many other really good hibachi and sushi restaurants in the area and we will not be back!
(2)Ken D.
I had a chance/obligation to be in the area again for business, and decided to give Shinto a second go. How do I put this delicately....tuna tartare should not be akin to cat food. Enough said. If you're here for a cocktail...fine. If you're here for something nuanced, subtle and delicious, you're barking (or rather meowing) up the wrong tree.
(2)Angela V.
My husband and I love sushi and went here on a recommendation. The food is kind of pricey, but it is worth it. We had the Bridge for Two meal which includes soup, ginger salad, nigiri, and two specialty rolls. The atmosphere was trendy and sleek. Service was excellent.
(5)Lindsay B.
Went here on a Friday night to use a groupon- the overall experience was just what three stars says- A-Ok. First, the location was a bit strange- said it was on North Aurora Road, but you couldn't actually see the restaurant from there (more off 59). Second, the restaurant was insanely crowded at 8 pm on a Friday night, but they were able to seat us fairly quickly. If you are looking for a restaurant where you can have good conversation, this is probably not it. There was a DJ on Friday night- good music. Third, the food was quite good- we sat in the sushi section, and I thought it was quite good. We ate a Rasta Roll, Fire and Ice Roll, and the "Little" Tasty (or something like that). All were really good, and if I was in the neighborhood, I wouldn't mind stopping by for sushi again. Fourth, the service was pretty awful. We asked for water three or four times before it finally arrived. Our drinks sat empty most of the dinner, and the waiter seemed overwhelmed and in a hurry the whole time. He gave us free dessert the service was so slow. Overall, I would rate the food here four stars, and the service two- so I'm averaging out to three. Probably won't be back again unless I am really driving by.
(3)Ms. Reviewer M.
Miao surprise, little delicious, volcano - all wonderful. The LD is my fav.
(4)sum l.
NO THANK YOU! When the Chef at the table confirming our order, we specifically told him, we CANNOT eat too salty....so please handle our food with less salt :) As it turn out, I bet he misunderstood, perhaps he thought we love SALTY rice, SALTY steak and SALTY seafood. After one bite we had to drink the whole glass of water! We had to use water to wash all the food before eating!
(1)Tizzy F.
Service was terrible sushi was ok. I ordered tuna nigiri and the edges if the tuna were dry as if it was sitting out for a while. Other diners in my party order hot meals in which the soup came after thy delivered the entrée. On top of that we had a gift card that was not excepted because they are under "new management". We also saw a promo in the restaurant to text a number for free appetizer. We did so, showed the waitress. She accepted yet after we paid we realized still charged for the appetizer. We will not be going back!
(1)Arne G.
Best...sushi.....in town
(5)Stacey W.
If I could give Shinto more stars I would! The hibachi chicken is always tender and flavorful, the fried rice is always delicious, and the service is always excellent. The first thing that gets you when you walk in is the gorgeous decor. The thing that makes you stay is the food. Sure, it's a bit pricey, but what hibachi restaurant isn't?
(5)Taryn H.
First of all, the food here is good quality and the ambiance is very nice. I have no issue whatsoever with the food -- and our Chef (Chris) was very good, friendly, and obviously skilled. My issue came with the service and the resulting management response to service. I was there with two girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We had a reservation for 7 PM but were not seated until closer to 7:30. We were seated at a table with a family that was also celebrating a birthday. Everyone's drinks took 20+ minutes to arrive. No one at the table received soup and salad (included in the price of every meal). The reason we never received the soup and salad was never explained. I believe our waiter said he "would look into it" at one point but nothing came of it nor were we offered the items later with our meal or to take home. I don't think it's illogical to expect that if I'm paying $40 dollars for a meal that's supposed to include soup and salad, I'd like to receive the promised food otherwise I expect consideration on the check. Our chef arrived and tried to rectify some of our issues (for instance, none of us had forks or chopsticks provided to us by the waiter and he also talked to someone at the bar about our drinks). He was a lot of fun. However, our waiter did not really acknowledge or apologize until he was directly asked by one of our fellow diners after the chef finished cooking our dinner (especially since we had two birthdays at the table). The manager did come over to apologize later and while the two birthdays had some of their food/drinks comped, my bill was not adjusted whatsoever. At this point (9:30ish) I just wanted to get out of there instead of waiting another 30-45 minutes to see if they would take some money off my bill so we departed. So I ended up paying $40+ for some shrimp, rice, and vegetables instead of a full multi-course meal. Overall: food fresh and good, chef excellent, customer service extremely poor. I don't have any desire to return.
(2)Karla B.
Love this place. Always a good experience... Love the spider roll. Do another groupon offer please!!
(5)Bryan S.
I had lunch at Shintos this week with other members of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. The sushi was amazing. Chef Chris made sure we had a great time. His preparation of the shrimp and scallops was amazing. It was a great time with great food!
(5)William K.
Shinto is a pretty standard sushi deal. Nice place. Good food. Hot sake! The scene was pretty surreal on a Friday night. Shinto is pretty large, but I groaned when a 4-piece band started playing in the middle of the place. Live music during dinner... usually not good. But they start playing and the sax player in charge was absolutely amazing. Later, I went over a complimented the guy. His name is Reggie Foster, Jr. What an incredible talent. After we finished dinner, we moved to the bar so that we could listen to the music some more. We seemed to be surrounded by the cast from Glengarry Glen Ross... salesmen in their suits and large watches and pinkie rings. The guy sitting next to me bet me a hundo that Facebook's market cap after their IPO would be a trillion dollars. Snort. It was weird and fun. yow, bill
(3)Maricris D.
Good food, entertaining chefs. You have to experience the hibachi service in order to get the full effect. Service was great, can't complain. A bit pricey, but worth the price for the food we ordered!
(4)Subz F.
I had taken my family to Shinto for Hibachi lunch on my birthday. Our group of 6 were super-demanding & confused about what to order (as the rest 5 were having Japanese food for the first time!). Our waitress was super courteous and let us take our time without any rush and was very friendly and helped us each to understand what is what in the menu which was great (too bad I forgot her name)! Hibachi chef was awesome! I have had Hibachi meals before at Domo 77 & Hokkaido, but this Hibachi was the best experience I've had so far. Very skilled with his performance, plus, the food was AWESOME! The only reason why I'm not giving 5 stars is because the sushis were not so nice (1 sushi was broken before we even picked it up from the plate). But we were too busy to be happy & hence didn't bother for a replacement :) Overall, nice place, nice food & very good service. I am definitely going back there and recommending this for everyone!
(4)Katie L.
Little delicious roll, and sushi happy hour. Perfection. Not the best hibachi dinner I've ever had, but I will definitely return for the sushi!
(3)Mundo M.
A friend insisted we order take out from here for lunch and $30 bucks later we got what tasted like yesterday's sushi. The rolls we ate were too fishy. Sushi should not have a fishy smell. I'm not sure if we got left over sushi from the day before or if the fish used was just plain stinky. I should be fair and say friends I know have been there and rave about the sushi. Maybe my experience was just a one off.
(2)Noor H.
We love this place and have been there numerous times and have never been disappointed. There are places that can be good one day and not the other but this place is always consistent. I have had both the hibachi side and the sushi side and both are good. Highly recommend.
(5)Pamela B.
This place is AWESOME! It was my friend's birthday, and we were on the hunt for a good sushi place, so we stopped to try Shinto since they were supposed to be open till 1am, and not only 10pm like everyone else. When we walked in around 10:30pm or so, the host said they were already starting to close up for the night....however, the manager Eric came up to us and welcomed us in, told us to take our time, and enjoy ourselves. Everyone was VERY obliging and made us feel so welcome. We all sat at the bar and the bartender Nick was fantastic. He was so hospitable and friendly, and even made my friend a special birthday drink on the house. Of course, the sushi was AMAZING! We tried the Naperville Roll, Philly Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll (one of my faves because it's spicy!), and a specialty one that wasn't listed on the menu, the Filet Roll (delicious!)!! To top it all off, Eric, the extremely friendly and hospitable manager, brought my friend out an amazing dessert....Ice Cream Tempura (vanilla ice cream wrapped in think layer of pound cake, flash fried and served with a strawberry puree and chocolate sauce).....yum!! Shinto was fantastic, and we will definitely be returning very soon!
(5)Josh M.
So I heard though the grapevine that Shinto had good deals during lunch for sushi. I decided to give it a go with my gf as usual. She had been here once before and said that it had the best spicy scallop roll she has ever had. I figured that was a good start considering we have been on a sushi kick for a while now. We ordered quite a few rolls since it was pretty much half off during happy hour. I got the wasabi pot stickers that were just OK. The calamari was the biggest turn off of the whole meal by far. I can't do the whole compressed sticks of mush thing - they are just nasty and the farthest thing from good calamari you can get. I was just hoping that the meal would get better from there but it was just average. We got the spicy scallops which were as good as she said - naturally sweet but just enough spice. On top of that we got the usual spicy tuna, philly, shrimp tempura rolls. Not that they were bad but it just wasn't the nice clean fresh taste that I separate the good sushi places from the great ones. I want to try this place again to see if they can redeem themselves for the half off happy hour. Like I said the sushi wasn't bad it just wasn't great. Try the spicy scallop if you get a chance and go for happy hour because the prices are very affordable and the menu is pretty big.
(3)Will W.
This place rocks Tuesday has the best deal around and the drinks keep you feeling good. Jen at the bar is great. The cook we had puts on a show that everyone liked.
(5)Elizabeth W.
I like Shinto, but it's not my favorite. The service is usually pretty good, the sushi decent and rolls large but it's not worth the price. Head over on a Monday when some of the best rolls are on special, or during happy hour 3-6! And if your server suggests any rolls that aren't on the menu ASK the price! We ended up with a roll that was mediocre and cost $18!!
(3)Mike P.
Tried out Shinto via a Groupon offer and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is somewhat divided into 4 areas: traditional dining room, circular bar area, belly-up Sushi bar, and traditional Teppanyaki. However, the space is very open and well lit. Unlike a similar restaurant in the area (i.e., _ _ _ _ arigato mr. roboto), this place just seems a bit more upbeat and well lit. Food and drink were very good with our meal fairly priced ($23 for steak & shrimp) for the circuses offered. That said, I liked that the circuses seemed to be tailored to the tables. At one table, a birthday was being celebrated and lots of good showmanship was taking place. At our table it was just a few couples randomly assembled for dinner. So preparation was very professional tableside, but we (thank goodness) didn't get the egg toss in the chef's hat or the choo-choo flaming onion. We ordered the rather non-adventurous Chicago-Roll as a Sushi appetizer. It was well prepared, well served, but fairly tame which was OK as this was a safe bet. All-in-all, we'd go back again and probably try more interesting Sushi next time.
(4)Andy S.
Place is nice and food are good. It is pretty expensive
(5)Moe N.
Was there on 2-3-12 with my brother. The sushi was good but has too much mayo and sauces on them. Our appetizer came out cold. The waitress was really nice and knowledgeable.
(3)Matt M.
Visited on a Wednesday night. The service was dreadful. This is probably the dullest waiter I've ever had at a $100+ dinner. He didn't really get anything wrong per se, but his attitude totally deflated the fun out of the evening. Food: A Atmosphere: A Hibachi Chef: A Server: D- I'd go again if I hear that they're upgrading their service staff.
(2)Justin C.
Just had a fantastic lunch with many of my business associates. It was over the top. Fantastic. Not my first visit and certainly won't be my last.
(5)Jasmine S.
Pretty good place! Only downside is that one time I came, the chef was accidentally almost hit my friend with his spatula....yikes. But that was just once. Every other time we've had a good experience with no flying spatulas
(4)Racheal R.
Short & sweet of it: Hands downs, THE best sushi, hibachi, & service in the area. Don't believe me? Read my review about S****a located at Ogden/Iriquois. This has been our favorite place for ages! Worth every cent. A bit more pricey than the AYCE places in the area, but worth the extra $$. Zero complaints, amazingly fresh and flavorable food, amazing service. Can't stress enough... we've learned our lesson, and will never stray from here on out.
(5)Veronica T.
Everything was awesome the show the drinks the food the desert and the service! They also sang me happy birthday and gave me a free desert. Keeping them on my list!
(5)Suzanne Z.
What a fun experience this place was! Apparently, I did it wrong though, I keep reading about how you can save with coupons and other deals... neither of which I came prepared for. The night was a little bit more than I expected, with martini's costing $10 a piece and most of the sushi rolls being around $15-17. The place has a clean and trendy atmosphere. The giant hibachi area has color- changing lights, and the sushi side has nice little tables. The clientele was a young 20s crowd, so being there definitely made me feel cool and trendy too! It was bustling when we arrived, but we were still able to be seated promptly. Our waiter came to speak with us right away as well, and was very attentive throughout the meal. We ordered the shrimp dumpling appetizer, which was savory and delicious. I thought it was much better on its own, than with the soy sauce it came with. For the entree, our helpful server recommended his favorites and popular orders to help us out. We ordered the Naper roll- shrimp tempura, crab salad on top, the Little Delicious- a fried sushi roll, and the Jekyll and Hyde roll- with mango and jalapeño, which were all fantastic. I am no sushi aficionado, but I definitely think it was the best sushi I've had. And props to the server for not making me feel like an idiot for needing those chopstick cheaters to eat with. I was going to use a fork until he showed me those! 3 rolls between two people left us extremely full and satisfied. Each roll was 8-12 pieces. Their martinis were awesome too- I had the passion martini, which had a pineapple and mango/passion fruit?? I can't quite remember, but it went down easy and was a nice treat. I would definitely go back again for sushi or to try hibachi, which I've never done. I will prepare more next time to save a few dollars though!
(4)Tonya K.
Since this review, I have been to Shinto more times than I can remember. The Sushi is amazing - still love the Captain Jack roll - I always order it. Service is always great! Friendly, quick, and attentive
(5)Ross B.
So here I am sitting at the bar for over ten minutes without being seen by either bartender. It's a circular bar. How hard is it to serve five people on a Thursday with two bartenders? Food is good but the service sucks. Update: I ended up walking out after thirty minutes without so much as a menu. Meanwhile a group of six country club types walked in and immediately got drinks and serviced across from me. Awesome.
(1)Saba A.
I'm not going to read bad reviews- why do people complain when you are eating delicious Sushi! Well- I would only come on Monday's for the half price deal they have and try to come before 2 to avoid the 3 pm rush! I came in with my brotehr and sister and the service was a little show- so maybe that wasn't cooll but it was nice to get large, delicious, and wonderful presentations of sushi with a side of vegetable fried rice for 4 dollars. We passed up on the drink special but if you love Sushi - come here! Perfect, filling, sushi lunch in the middle of the afternoon! Great signature sushi's to choose from as well. Can't go wrong!
(4)Joey H.
Very good sushi. You can tell how fresh it is. They are a little pricey for the good rolls but I take advantage of the 1/2 price Monday's.
(3)Erica B.
Come here all the time for happy hour sushi and happy hour drinks! I usually sit at the bar which seats 30 people. On each side of the bar is either dining for sushi and menu and the otherwise is hibachi!
(5)Rhonda S.
In town visiting friends and family. My best friend insisted we go here and now I know why!! $5 martini Tuesdays We sampled a little of everything: House salad is delish love the ginger dressing. Yellowtail, white tuna and sweet shrimp nigiri Rainbow roll Gorgeous restaurant. Even the bathroom is neat!! Look at the ceiling in the bathroom, it is super cool! The circle bar is immaculate. Beautiful fish tank. Ambiance is trendy and love the upbeat music. Friendly service. Our server Maja was awesome. I ordered a Cosmo and was having a hard time drinking it because it was a little too sweet for me. She noticed and asked if she could bring me something else. She brought me an awesome lemon tini which was perfect. Definitely will be back!!!!!
(5)Joulie S.
one of my favorite Sushi spots. it's quite a drive but it sure is well worth it. They have sushi deals on Monday nights, which is awesome for all the sushi lovers! They have a great collection to choose from as well, a little of everything for everyone. It does get a bit crowded since its a great deal, so the service might be slow. Depending on how big of a complainer you are, your waiter might not come by your table as often as you like....so order all your sushi ahead of time before you starve.
(5)Pat E.
Just an awesome experience all around. The restaurant was clean, the service was fast, and the food was AWESOME! I got every single fish they had on the menu (not really). Yellowfin Tuna cooked medium rare, a side of scallops, and the shrimp that comes with the hibachi grill special. This also includes Miso soup and a Ginger salad. This place has vents that keep you from smelling like Teriyaki sauce for seventeen days after. I cannot wait to be back here! The reason I would ever dock this place is just the prices. I CANNOT BRING MYSELF TO DO IT! Expensive? So what? You're paying for an experience! I can't wait until someone does something of substance in my life again so we can celebrate at SHINTO!
(5)Tina D.
Great sushi. I am vegetarian so sometimes it is hard to find a sushi place with good options but Shinto always accommodates and even allows me to make my own roll with whatever veggie ingredients I like. The drinks are good too. They also have Groupon for this place which make it a great deal.
(4)Traci G.
Love this place! They have one side specifically for sushi and the other side is for habachi, in the middle is a bar. I've only eaten the sushi here plus had a few drinks. Everything is delicious! They do take out as well which is great for when I want to stop after work to pick up some delicious sushi. The only reasons for the 4 stars is one it gets pretty packed at night so come early or be prepared to wait (not sure if they take reservations) and the sushi can be a little pricey too. But on Mondays they have half off on all of their speciality rolls.....you can't use it on carry out orders though. Despite those two things I still love this place and will be going back very soon!
(4)Fred C.
The food was great, it was only 2 of us they were not really busy ,so they sat us down and the chef cook for just two of us ,unlike other places where they make you wait to fill the table ,awesome experience great time and great dinner . Thanks again Chef Chris
(5)Joe E.
One of my best friends was coming into town and wanted to go out for dinner. Being the Elite Yelper that I am, I didn't want to let her down with the restaurant choice. We decided to meet somewhere in the Aurora/Naperville area, and along with my brother, we decided on hibachi at Shinto! We arrived at the restaurant at 7:25 for our 7:30 reservation. The hibachi side of the restaurant had a few parties, but our group of 5 was seated at our own table. Everyone decided to have hibachi, and actually, four of us ordered the steak and chicken entrée, while my brother had yellowfin tuna and scallops. Each meal came with house onion soup, a ginger salad, shrimp flambe (2), sautéed vegetables, and white rice (upcharge for chicken fried/brown). Everyone was extremely satisfied with their meals. My steak was cooked medium rare, and it melted like butter in my mouth! There was nothing bad about the entire meal. I can't wait to return. It was the best hibachi experience I've ever had (haven't had too many but in the entire Asian cuisine spectrum, near the top). Highly recommend for any special occasion!
(5)Eugene W.
Wonderful sushi and great service from here! The food is fresh, and the sushi selection is nice. The Miso Surprise and Dragon Roll are some of my favorites. Also, their fried cookie dessert with ice cream (forgot what it was called) is amazing! Happy hour on Mondays has half-off specialty rolls.
(5)Amy H.
Solid sushi and hibachi. The restaurant has a fun atmosphere and the staff is always friendly and helpful...maybe a little too helpful on this last visit though. (Felt a little rushed at the end for no apparent reason other than I think the server was trying to be super efficient). I haven't been in a sushi mood in a while so I tried the hibachi here last time. I've been several times before for the sushi and always enjoyed it. Our hibachi chef, Chris, was really cool, kept me and my husband entertained as we were the only guests at our table on this particular evening. Great steak and fried rice- and don't forget to ask for the egg sauce if you so desire. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere on the menu, so I had to speak up to get it. Yum-o. We always have a great time here, whether we're enjoying sushi, hibachi or martinis at the bar. So, I decided to upgrade my rating. 5 stars for Shinto!
(5)Jennifer B.
I like going to Shinto. It's close to home and I always feel like I roll out of there after eating so much! I've never been to the hibachi side so this review is only for sushi. The reason I gave 4 stars is it is kind of pricey. The food is pretty good but you are definitely paying for the atmosphere more than anything. The artistry for the sushi is very good, which gains a star. But, they lose a star for service because the waitstaff can be hard to flag down or find sometimes. They are pleasant though. They have specials on Monday so we like to go then.
(4)Nick B.
Whenever the gf and I think of sushi. This is the place in the area we go to. Nothing can compare to it around in the burbs. Honestly the sushi and drinks have always been yummy. All i can say is make sure you get a order of the lil delicious. that is a must every time.
(5)Lauren P.
I think this is by far my fave hibachi place... SO GLAD I BOUGHT THE DEAL FOR THIS RESTO! Everything is good ... My fave was the egg yolk - make sure you order that over your shrimp! AND THE YUM YUM SAUCE! Tuesday I want to say is half off hibachi entrees - I don't know if I would go because it might be chaos.... Besides the food the restaurant is huge and has a really nice atmosphere with their modern bar in the middle.
(5)Kimburly H.
One of my favorite places to go. Hibachi is awesome and I crave their sushi :) Awesome atmosphere too!
(5)Angie R.
I've been to Shinto many times over the years and I have never had a bad experience. Their sushi rolls are all delicious, the ambiance is great and the cocktails are to die for. The staff is always pleasant and the food on point. Highly recommended.
(4)Tamara M.
Ok ok I am finding out that I have a new found love of sushi and this place seriously was trying to ruin it for me!!! Now this was my first time inside of Shinto and we went there for lunch and upon walking in I was greeted by the hostess who turned around and became our waitress which if fine, sometimes we all have to wear more than one hats. She was very friendly but kind of of air head and that's ok. whatever I don't care. So we had our choice of sitting in the sushi area or by the hibachi, we sat down by the hibachi area because I wanted to try it out but we still ordered sushi. But upon walking in there was a weird smell of I don't really know what it was but it kind of had the smell of dirty mop water, my boyfriend said it was the smell of the grease from the hibachi but I don't know about all of that. We were placed at a table all by ourselves (YAAAAHHH) but the first thing that I noticed was the table was greasy and it had crumbs on it. YUCK. This is kind of weird because when we walked thru the door it had an air of snootiness to it like it was better then all other restaurants but it wasn't. Anyway the waitress came back to explain things so kudos to her because she knew her stuff and her menu, but she was a complete air head. I ordered the shrimp flambé hibachi and it came with a soup or salad, I ordered the salad but she brought me the soup. DUH!! Then I looked at her like what is this? and she and I quote said "OMG you ordered the salad didn't you!!" ummmm yeah I did. lol... well she let me keep the soup which tasted like the Beef flavored Ramen Noodles while she went and got my salad which I didn't bother eating because it looked gross. I have it to my boyfriend and normally he would eat anything but I guess couldn't stomach this one because he passed. So then the hibachi grill master guy came out or whatever you called them and proceeded to make my food. Very nice guy. He did his job but the only thing he knew how to grill was my shrimp. My rice was undercooked but my shrimp and my vegetables were great. So yeah you can make that call for yourself. Now on to the sushi, I'm not sure how fresh that stuff was but I was not impressed by it at all. I had the Crispy Spicy Tuna roll which wasn't bad; it was cooked so they couldn't mess it up. Now as far as the raw sushi, my boyfriend ordered Ika (Squid), Unagi (Eel) and some more stuff that I didn't try because it looked grossed so I left that to him and his guts. Anyway I never had squid before and I found it to be rubbery and hard, I am not sure if that's how its suppose to be but my instincts say no so I don't know and the eel was not bad at all. As far as the other sushi items, my boyfriend was not pleased so I guess it wasn't good. Anyway I wasn't impressed with this place and I don't think I would be back just because the non cleanliness especially if it specializes in raw foods I need you to be clean. Side note: Clean your hibachi grills, the pit where you were dumping the scraps had black stuff (which I assume is oil and filth) all along the sides of it and when I chef got done cooking my meal there were still crumps on it which is gross. Now as I am writing this I am grossed out at the thought of what was on it before I placed my order.
(1)Voulamoula E.
Love love love the food, and the staff is amazingly polite too! I go at least once a week. 12 dollar hibachi on Tuesdays!! woot! :)
(5)Audrey W.
Always the best hibachi! My husband and I love it so much. It's a bit pricey, but the fried rice is so worth it. The sushi is delicious as well. This place is our favorite. We recommend it to everyone.
(5)Marc F.
The sushi was excellent, and I'm pretty picky with sushi. The place is beautiful, the prices are very good. Service was good, but not exceptional... but still acceptable. We'll be back, though the traffic right in this area is horrific. Came back again, service was awesome!!!
(5)J.W. W.
The sushi is actually very good, the hibachi not so much. If this was just for the sushi side I would give it four stars.
(3)Cathy R.
We decided to finally check this place out after noticing the many positive reviews, but I would have to disagree. Okay, I take that last sentence back partially...the quality of the fish was good, not too fishy, which is very important. We showed up on a Monday night to find the place fairly busy due to their 50% off rolls. We were told by the hostess that it would be a 25-30 minute wait for a seat, but allowed us to sit and eat at the bar...there were a lot of seats available at the sushi bar, so I'm not sure why we weren't offered to sit there. We ordered a couple of specialty rolls that didn't really stand out (which is why I can't even remember the names) and your typical salmon, yellow tail, mackerel, sweet egg, shrimp, and eel sushi. It took 45 minutes for us to get our food after my husband had to say something to the bartender. By the time we received our food, the actual seating area was already clearing out, so B.S. on the hostess who quoted such a long wait time. Although we were sitting at the bar and didn't order alcoholic beverages, we didn't receive refills of water or iced tea, so that turned me off as well as the fact that those specialty rolls that were supposed to be 50% off were not reflected in the bill. What is 15 divided by 2? 7.50, not 8. Fine, it's a dinky 50 cent difference, but if you're going to promote 50% off, at least do the math properly. Yes, silly stuff like that bothers me. The place came off a bit pretentious to me, but I guess that's the vibe overall - customers with a ton of blond highlights in their hair, lip injections, and a wonderful orange skin glow from the natural sunshine that the Chicagoland area has enjoyed this past winter!
(3)Joey D.
Easily the best Hibachi I've ever had! Yes my meal was $50 dollars (the Imperial Feast), but it was well worth every penny. Would HIGHLY recommend to a friend!
(5)Jeramiah G.
My girlfriend and I have been here twice. So far, we enjoyed our time here. The food is tasty and nothing feels over done. The hibachi was excellent and the sushi is great. They event have happy hour during the week. Also this place has coupons quite a bit on groupon and living social so that's nice too.
(4)Luis C.
Bad service from the hostess, she wants me to wait 30 min for a table when there were lots of table available
(1)Graciela S.
Alright so the hibachi was delicious and Chris was an awesome hibachi man. The sushi was not impressive at all. And they charged, $1 for the spicy mayo tiny minature portion... That I found a hair in... The service nonexistent. I swear our server was new... Or just like previous reviews said - an airhead. If you have a couple of hours to wait and eat go for it. But if your crunched on time just run the other way. It was expensive and not worth it.
(2)Mavis R.
We just had sushi (maybe their habachi is better?) and seaweed wrapping the rolls was partially shriveled and very difficult to chew. They sliced one roll diagonally so, while it looked pretty, it was harder to eat and each bite only had half the ingredients. The tuna in one roll looked funny so we stopped eating. The waiter came by to ask if we wanted more food but walked away while we were talking to him. He also disappeared once we had the check so we had go up front to pay. While we waited we watched 3 bus boys clean off and set a single table at a time. They gave us a "family discount" when we complained but as this was less than the cost of a single roll which I am concerned might make me sick, this was underwhelming. It was also very noisy. Their cranberry juice was good. Maybe their cocktails are also good?
(1)Samuel C.
1/2 off specialty rolls on Mondays. Also you can't go wrong with the hibachi side of it. Good food but a but pricey. Amazing round shape bar, great ambiance, trendy and love the music they play.
(4)Hahaha H.
The sushi here is half price on Mondays, but the only roll really worth it was the Mexican roll. Almost everything else is just trying too hard to cover up the fat that it's sushi, by giving you a lot of tempura and cream cheese and a bunch of American-ized ingredients. The Hibachi is GARBAGE. It just tastes like salt and gave my boyfriend a high blood pressure attack.
(3)M f.
The blueberry acai tondie for. The pineapple martini so yummy. I came in 30 minutes before they close and they were hospitable
(5)Renee R.
shinto has become a go-to spot whenever i'm craving sushi. the atmosphere is great, the drinks will flow and the food will make your belly happy. unfortunately, having lived downtown in chicago, i cant honestly rate this any higher than three stars. compared to other sushi places, this menu just doesn't live up. many of the rolls are heavily fried and there aren't a ton of unique combinations or specialty rolls. it will satisfy your sushi craving but just doesn't compare. all in all, as far as the burbs are concerned, this is a top notch sushi restaurant and worth checking out.
(3)Brenda H.
I prefer Shinto to Benihana when it comes to hibachi. Everything about this place far exceeds what I've come to expect from Benihana. I always upgrade my steak to the chateaubriand. It's, quite honestly, delicious and I think it's better than the steak served at most steakhouses that exceed that price range. No matter what anyone says, I won't take back that statement. I've been here about a half dozen times in the past 2 years, I've never left disappointed. The sides may not be the greatest but I don't like soup.. or salad, so that's not really eaten. The veggies are better than those served at Benihana and seasoned well. The fried rice is ok, just needs a little extra soy sauce (which is available at your table). The shrimp appetizer is a nice bonus and they score major points against Benihana there. Then I feast on my chateaubriand and extra shrimp at the end. My boyfriend likes their Japanese beer and sushi. I don't like sushi and he had to beg me to try tempura shrimp--not bad! We actually really liked their tempura cookie dessert, I don't remember what it was called but it came with ice cream. I was too full to eat but somehow I kept eating this dessert till there was nothing left.
(4)Sarah S.
The hibachi here is great! The server we had was fun & entertaining. Everything tasted great. The cocktails are really good too. We went on the hibachi special night and prices were reasonable. No reservation needed.
(5)Laura B.
I was hesitant in giving this place 3 stars. I feel like soon it will change to 2 if things don't change. The quality and portions of their food has gone down so much since they first opened. I use to love their hibachi but have been very disappointed the last couple of times I've gone. The amount you spend here you would think you'd get to leave satisfied but nopes. Although I do love their happy hour deal. Their sushi is pretty darn yummy. I love the lil delicious. I think I'll only go here for happy hr now or only when they have specials. Having to pay full price and possibly leave dissatisfied will make me extremely unhappy. Basically this place is a hit or miss.
(3)Maria L.
Came here on a Saturday night with a Groupon. When calling earlier, they said they didnt have any reservations open until 8 but when I called around 6, they said they could seat us, weird. Anyway, after trying a couple hibachi places in the burbs, I would say this one has probably the best combination of fresher ingredients, environment and service. The restaurant was lively, as well as the "Japanese" hibachi chef (ie Juan). Although I would not come here without a Groupon, it was pretty expensive for the burbs. We started with a pretty tasty seared white tuna appetizer. Then we had the typical broth soup, salad with ginger dressing, vegetables, and rice. Getting fried rice is an extra $3. As for the proteins, I got the steak and chicken. The regular steak is not the best steak, but you have options to upgrade. The chicken was decent. I also tried other people's tuna, scallops, and lobster and those were pretty tasty. Overall, a good hibachi place in the Nape!
(4)Eric H.
Frinking awesome! Love this place. Great food and atmosphere. Claudia was our server. She was amazing.
(5)Tania J.
Unfortunately the staff turnover is crazy... and slow always. There tonight and had to send my sushi back! I don't think you should ever serve the end of a fish with the chewy fascia exposed in sushi anytime, anywhere!! They should have known better. Disappointed. I'll not go back. Lot's of sushi out there... on the prowl for better.
(2)Carrie H.
Absolutely love this place! This is a great sushi restaurant! The food is so good along with the atmosphere! Every time I've come here its been amazing!
(5)Abbey W.
My boyfriend and I have been going to the Shinto for 4 years now. I even had my family go here for my graduation dinner and drive here from NIU. This was our favorite place until our last experience on his birthday. We are reward members and always miss out on the points for our freebies because we don't save our receipt. Back in November I had asked more details about the reward program and told the waiter how we all miss using our rewards. He was nice enough to give us a coupon for a free specialty roll ( signed by the manager that we have never meant. I have actually never meant a manager here until Tuesday the 10th when we went for my boyfriends birthday). Anyways on Tuesday we showed the coupon to the waiter before ordering. Then at the end of out hibachi meal a manager (Brandon) comes up to me asking who gave me the coupon and the manager. He said he did not recognize the signature. He asked who the manager was 7 months ago! I said I didn't even know the severs name tonight and have never meant a manager that how should I know. He asked how did we get this coupon that the coupon is only given to employees. I explained and he said he had to make more calls because at this point he cannot honor the coupon! Brandon comes back 15 minutes later when only one couple other than us was left at the table and tells us he can not honor the free speciality roll. That he and others there did not recognize the signature and that the date looks like different handwriting! He said I should know the name of the manager who signed it because they only have for managers there! Another couple at the table even stepped in saying how we showed the waiter the coupon and how ridiculous he was being. I was so livid that this guy was accusing me pretty much if either strealing this coupon or of stealing and committing fraud and for just $15! We use to rave about this place and there customer service. This was my boyfriends birthday and the manager ruined it. The receipt even said birthday and across said $0.00 ( real classy) don't add it if you are not going to say anything. Another table had a couple who had a birthday and servers came with dessert and sang. I have always tagged my self when we come and promote how great this place was. You now can forget that. I have never been so embarrassed or insulted. Shinto's service use to be great. The managers or at least Brandon need a real wake up call and training in customer service. As this was so insulting! Thank you for horrible Shinto "Experience"
(1)Keith L.
Probably one of the best suburban sushi restaurants around. Excellent rolls, but not cheap at all. I will definitely come back if I plan on dropping a big dining tab!
(4)A G.
I came here a few months ago for my mother in-law's birthday dinner. The waitress guided me through the items on the menu which was super helpful and when the hibachi came, I could not help but smile watching the cook flip and chop our food while tossing the knives around and lighting the onion tower on fire. It was a fun experience and I came back a few weeks ago on a weekday with the same great experience. I love their food, they have great service. I'm just not a big fan of the bill.
(5)Claira V.
Only reviewing based on ordering sushi. I have been here a few times. The sushi quality is good and very flavorful rolls. Good customer service too. Just wish they had better happy hour specials.
(4)Christopher K.
My friend and I stuck with the sushi and it was pretty solid. The selection was good, the presentation was good, and the service was good. It was a bit overpriced but nothing that would keep me from returning.
(4)Nina M.
Today was the first time I've tried Shinto. I have to say, it was pretty good! My friend and I came in around 3 and it just so happened to be during their happy hour. We ordered the spicy tuna, unagi, eel roll, and crunchy roll. We thoroughly enjoyed the eels and spicy tuna. Would have enjoyed the crunchy roll more if the shrimp was properly peeled. Overall, we were satisfied and enjoyed the sushi. With the prices they offered during happy hour, the sushi was definitely worth it! Really enjoyed the unagi. Delish! P.S Mondays they offer half-price special rolls! Yum!
(5)Aijaz H.
One of the best Sushi restaurants around. Our family favorites: Monster, Bear Down, Shrimp Tempura, Volcano, Caterpillar. Enjoy...
(5)Christina M.
Love the sushi here!!! Have been coming for months for half off Monday specials! The sushi rolls are decent size with a huge selection ranging from crab to mixtures of spices tuna n other raw dishes! I highly recommend this sushi restaurant!!
(5)Dan M.
Went here for valentines day dinner with my fiancé. Definitely a classy place and I would recommend coming her for a fun date night or a night out with friends. Our Hibachi cook was top notch and gave us plenty of food. Wait staff was on too of their game too. Only thing I would say is that my steak was nothing special. Next time I come I will probably stick to chicken and shrimp.
(4)Angie C.
Spent 3 hours here total. Waitress was never to be found, second time they didn't turn the grill on so the chef left and came back later. Manager was useless and didn't apologize about the service until we asked for the owner's card. They messed up our checks 3 times. Never coming back here again.
(1)Lisa P.
Update: Ended up waiting for 3 hours. The manager was little help in resolving the issue, the waitress/manager took 3 tries to run our cards, and was visibly bad mouthing out table to the rest of the staff while running our cards. I understand some tables are harder than others but my table was polite the whole time, we never raised our voices at anyone, and all we wanted was to leave so we could continue with out night. I will NEVER be returning to Shinto nor will I ever recommend it to anyone looking for a Japanese Restaurant with Hibachi. All in all, I was extremely disappointed with the service provided and I was super excited to come here too.
(1)Madeleine B.
This is honestly one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a sushi bar. Upon arriving I asked what was in a chirashi bowl at this location since it wasn't listed on their menu, the hostess had no idea, the bar tender didn't know, and some girl at the bar had to list it off for them. I ordered the chirashi and my boyfriend got a chicken teriyaki meal. We got everything to go and when we got home I opened my chirashi's, they had put it in two flat to go containers, and the over whelming smell of rotten fish came out and took over our kitchen. Just looking at the tuna you could see blood line as well as very thick tendons running through each shredded piece. I looked over the rest of the fish and could see slime collecting in-between each piece. It was disgusting. My boyfriend pulled out his teriyaki chicken and for 20 bucks he got what appeared to be a precooked, extremely thin chicken cutlet that they just slapped some sauce on. We've both been eating sushi for years and while we didn't expect Shinto to be top of the line, we at least expected it to be edible. Instead we got home with food that I can't eat and he doesn't feel comfortable eating any of his after seeing what they sent out as passable for mine. Overall we will never be back and I'll be calling tomorrow demanding a refund, this is absolutely ridiculous. *UPDATE* I called today and spoke with Nick, he was very friendly and refunded the order and offered to have us in to be taken care of. However, I will never return after seeing the unsafe food that was considered severable.
(1)eric s.
Bought a groupon and decided to try it out. Only my wife and I, so we decided to just head out with no reservation and eat at the bar. Checked the website for hours and it showed that they are open on Sundays. Called in advance and got no answer; figured they were busy and not answering. Drove all the way out there and they were closed. No sign. No message on their answering machine. Nothing on their website. I'll eat the groupon and wont go back.
(1)I H.
Service and quality of the food was so-so. Went there on a Sunday afternoon therefore it was not so busy. The waitress was nice but kept disappearing and we had to ask for things that would normally be available to diners. Things like a napkin and a fork. We ordered an appetizer sampler and the chicken on a stick came out cold, was so dry and the sauce that they drizzled on it made it inedible. The atmosphere was young and hip. As soon as you walked in, you were greeted by clubby/loungy music. The prices were on the high side. It's not worth coming back.
(1)Kat G.
Meh. I am still trying to figure out why this place is expensive and people are willing to pay the prices they ask for. I used a Groupon at this place that knocked off $50 from the bill and still felt this place was over priced. We were seated at our table and my place setting clearly had a clump of rice and was not clean. I pointed it out to the hostess and got an "oh." So that was the first and lasting impression. We then proceeded to order appetizers and drinks. We had the scallop tempura which was decent, and I would order again. What was most disappointing was they couldn't get the little details right such as my husband's beer was warm and we asked them to get us another or cool it. By the time it was properly cooled, it was brought back towards the end of the meal. It must have been a fresh batch but it was 7pm - well into dinner service hour so I'm not sure why their beers weren't stocked earlier. I had the passion-tini. There was little passion to feel as I drank it. It tasted so artificial and I had a cough-syrupy after-taste in my mouth. Their sushi was alright. I liked the combinations and flavorings but they were way overpriced. The quality was "good" but nothing to scream about. In fact, this place charges more for lower-quality sushi than some places on Michigan Ave., Downtown Chicago. I don't mind paying a lot for sushi but when I know I'm not getting the best quality or "blow your mind sushi" for top price, I'm not going to be jumping to come back here. We enjoyed the Black Widow, Jekyll & Hyde, and The Captain Jack rolls, but we never had a "wow" moment. I did not try their hibachi and I will give this place another shot for it, but I don't think I will come back here for sushi unless it is their Monday night half off rolls special. I'll pay half of what they ask for because I think that is honestly where their sushi should be priced at. I'd rather drive to Chicago and go to Sushi Samba than pay the same price for lower quality/less enthusiastic sushi.
(3)Rachael Z.
I have only been to Hibachi here, but vow to dine in on the other side of the restaurant sometime! Hibachi Make sure you pay attention to your chef, otherwise they won't entertain you! I learned this the hard way. Order the egg yolk sauce. It's a super cheap side so if you don't like it, it's not bad to waste, but it's incredibly less than other hibachi restaurants. Drinks Good martinis and wine prices! Bar? Confusing! While half is a Hibachi area, the bar area is filled with people who look like they belong in a club downtown. Overall I love this place and their constant advertising will also save you money!
(4)Carmen N.
I love the sushi here. I always play it safe and choose the same sushi everytime i come here. I usually end up here after work with co-workers since it right down the street. Eventhough the traffic around this place is busy and not the easiest place to get to, its well worth it!
(4)Kestutis N.
This is the problem with restaurants these days. They just don't give a dam. Service is as you would expect from a chain restaurant, now as food is concerned I would not recommend this place to anyone unless you want Chinese. ( if you go to Japanese restaurant and cooks are Chinese you might as well go to your local take out Chinese restaurant) chances are you'll get same thing cheaper. I'm talking from experience when I say this, if cooks not Japanese or Korean you will not get what you paid for. Ok, enough ranting about that... Hibachi grill: dirty with leftovers on the grill an the table, smell was atrocious from old oil that was sitting there for months ( I presume) Grill master: seemed like he was forced to work there and I'm sorry but if you care that much about the food you serve then you do not deserve to be called a cook let along a master, everything he served was bad Chinese food and the worst thing is he couldn't do that right (undercooked rice) and from the time he rolled the cart from the door to the grill it seemed like he's waking to the electric chair, not to mention the whatever was on that cart scared the living Jesus out of me. Then when finished he goes to clean a grill with a dirty rags and stuff just flies all over the places leaving the bits and chunks of leftovers on the grill. If any Japanese person would see this horrifying display of disrespect for their culture and cuisine they would commit a suicide at the doorsteps before sitting down at the table. Now the sushi: the only thing remotely decent was crispy roll but I still couldn't tell what I was eating. Any raw fish should be consumed with heavy amount of soy sauce just to make sure you don't get sick. The server was accommodating and pleasant even though she messed up a little she came back quick and corrected the issue. Me personally wouldn't come back to this place even if it was free.
(1)Rachel A.
Shinto has awesome sushi and hibachi! They can be pretty pricey as well. The restaurant has a good vibe and is upscale on the classiness scale.
(5)KiKi I.
I have to start by saying...we loved the rolls we got "the Guatemalan" & "black widow"..however, it was extremely dark and hard to see anything...including the menu. The waiter had to take our sushi rolls back to see in better light what we ordered to tell us. Also, none of the drinks wowed me. Overall, good sushi but wasn't wowed to make us go back.
(3)Brittney N.
I love Shinto The restaurant's atmosphere is very welcoming and there's usually a live band that plays on weeknights. The sushi and hibachi is probably one of the best in my book! My favorite roll is the little delicious even if it's a little pricey; I believe it's $15 for a the roll (there are days where certain rolls are 50% off)? But I've been here for birthday celebrations, dates, and/or a quick lunch with friends. The servers are always polite and attentive so overall I've only have positive experiences.
(5)Lindsay S.
This name should probably be changed to Sh*t h*le..... just sayin. Upon entering, it's stunning. VERY trendy, high energy, you're greeting authentically by someone who barely knows a word of English. OH it's JUST LIKE Japan! Before i get TOO long-winded i just want to say that the Japanese guy who cooked our food was beyond awesome. It was the server that sucked. The cook was young, cute, friendly and really outgoing and funny. We left HIM a hefty tip, he deserved it. Now onto the bad stuff. If you don't want to read on all i have to say is the service is crap and the portions are small. They didn't have the type of sushi we wanted, so i didn't get a chance to try it. Our meal sucked. Our server was SO busy flirting with the guys at the end of our hibachi table i think she forget we were there. Because it was my boyfriend and I, and two of my male friends (who are together), Obviously, since no one at OUR end was looking to score she turned her attention towards the cheapo metrosexual graphic-Tshirt wearing boys with frosty highlights and orange skin. The guys at the other end of the table weren't even there to eat hibachi, they were there to drink. They fooled the waitress into thinking they were going to order just to get the free miso and salad. After those dishes came they decided "they were just going to have sushi". She giggled and took their order and then brought over ANOTHER server, because apparently, she was incapable of handling all three boys by herself. Somehow i think she's done it before, though.......... She mixed up our food, didn't bring us refills, EVER. My boyfriend ordered sea urchin and she brought him eel. He said "i ordered sea urchin" and she's like yeah i know, we're out of that. He's like, "well i don't want this". So in other words, i think the restaurant attempted to pawn-off a cheaper sushi on someone assuming they wouldn't know the difference between the expensive urchin and the cheap eel. Nice try. As if this all wasn't enough, the meal ended with two of the servers doing shots with the boys at the other end of our table. Oh, drinking on the job? How becoming. In the end i decided to write a letter and just leave. However, my friend's high-strung boyfriend decided HE was going to argue with the manager who didn't speak a WORD of English. Needless to say, i never went back. If you're a guy that fits the above description, i'm sure you'll have a blast. If you're a married couple, dating or you're gay... sorry, the servers aren't interested in you.
(1)Allison C.
Im giving 5 stars because of the server Nick. I would say the sushi is 4 stars, however, every time I go I ask for Nick because he really delivers the best customer experience. So ask for Nick if you want to complete your experience. I have gone to Shinto sooooo many times and never have I had bad sushi. Its always fresh and they have an AMAZING happy hour from 3-6 M-Sat where a ton of their sushi is half price.
(5)Mark O.
Disappointing experience. Greeted by waiter, then never heard from him again. Thankfully, after 20 mins of just sitting with closed menus, another very polite server--Shirin--rescued the night. She apologized, smiled, made friendly suggestions on orders, and got our food quickly. Of course, our waiter never did acknowledge us again, even though he served the table right next to us. Also, some of the dishes were dirty and the soy sauce containers dripped soy sauce rather than poured.
(2)Pamela P.
I live in Naperville and frequent Shinto's about once a week. It's super nice on Tuesdays with the $12 hibachi's and 1/2 price sushi between 4-6. Victor is one of the best cooks there, so if he's there ask for him, American Chris is another really good one....the best is that they both speak fantastics english, cook well and season perfectly. They put on a good show, but good food is most important with me. The sushi is ALWAYS fresh, I LOVE the little delicious, but all the sushi is fresh and to die for. I completely agree about the service....it's mostly the young dingbat girls. Its very important that if you have an issue with service that you tell them. I have been doing this regularly and over time I'm not seeing their faces anymore. I'm so the type of person that can't stand poor service, it just ruins the general over all experience; it's just NOT ok. For those of us that remember Boston Blackies(just down the road), same deal....poor service prevailed over the fantastic food they served. Eventually, Unfortunately that will be the same demise for Shinto's if they don't revamp the quality of servers that they have working for them. I enjoy the food so much that it's kinda sorta worth the risk when I go there, but I've hung in there. Once you get to know the staff you can ask to be sat in their section. When it's super crowded it's a bit tougher to choose. If you have an issue, tell the manager, tell someone. They have another resturaunt in Strongsville, OH. Crappy service may fly there, but for here the bars a little higher.
(4)Bryan R.
The food here is fantastic. The atmosphere is very club-like, a little intense for a Sunday evening dinner (like when we went). We've gone three times and weirdly, there has never been more than a few other people there. Their food is incredibly affordable for what you get, and on Sundays and Mondays you can get almost half of the menu for half price. A great way to try a lot or save money on what otherwise may have been a special 'treat'.
(5)Vick C.
I like their wine bar design, very modern. I always go there for lunch, fresh sushi roll and they serve American style Japanese food. I'm not a big fan of Hibachi but I tried one time still, I don't like they flow the food to the customer since they never know how to aim it to their mouth, kind of messy!
(3)Adrian W.
Consistency is key in sushi. My background with spices is seriously subpar. I don't handle them well at all and will casually tear up with peppers. Just for you people who may want to know how to end Adrian W... Came here for my second time last night and ordered the Guatemalan sushi which I had the previous time. I realize it has jalapenos in it but the first time I had it, no kick. Last night? SERIOUS kick. So much so I had to guzzle my water like a camel. The food here is great, no doubt. I can say that our waiter was on top of his game, the others, meh.
(3)Erica P.
I like the place, although it never seems very busy. The first time we went, it was a Friday night and we sat at the bar...we had saki bombs and I ordered the Hawaiian Roll which was super yummy! The next few times, I planned accordingly to visit when they had special offerings. When we went on a Monday, they offer discounted specialty rolls: -Their "award winning" roll Lil Delicious $10 vs $15...I tried it, I wasn't overly impressed...then again, I don't like cream cheese in my sushi rolls. -Volcano roll $7 vs $10...I really liked this one in comparison with the Lil Delicious. -They also have the lobster roll and black widow rolls for $12 vs $17...and a couple others, too. -Monday's they also offer $5 top shelf martinis The next time I went was during their happy hour from 3pm-6pm...what a value! Half price sushi (traditional rolls) and appetizers...I tried their pan seared scallops, not so great...maybe they would be better without their specialty teriyaki sauce. The spicy tuna roll was phenomenal, the best I have had in the area.
(4)Brian G.
If you're a sushi freshman, this place is perfect for you! Habachi backup with great service for those not interested in sushi. Knowledagble server staff with great sushi recommendations. The spicey crab role was actually spicey! Spicey roles are usually mild or not spicey at other sushi bars - Shinto delivers! Don't let the spciey crab role scare you, there are so many other wonderful sushi rolls to pick from. The Habachi chefs are very friendly. You DO NOT get that rushed feeling that you would at other Habachi "bars". We've been to this place roughly five times and find ourselves spending two hours easily relaxing over good sushi, good drinks, good service, and a great place to spend time with friends. Shinto has easily become my favorite place in DuPage. Only one problem to note and I'm certain this is more for the landlord/property owner which Shinto likely is not. Please talk to the property manager and have the lighting fixed in the parking lot.
(5)Kyle D.
This review is only on the maki as I haven't tried the hibachi aspect to this restaurant. I have had many of the rolls on the menu both for lunch and dinner and have never been unimpressed. There is a huge influx of sushi houses lately in the Fox Valley area, but for me Shinto's freshness and creativity stands apart almost as well as Swordfish in Batavia. The decor in Shinto is very trendy and visually appealing from the blue concave ceiling over the bar to the goldfish pond in the floor. I have had great service at the bar, at the sushi tables, and at the sushi bar. Fast service with fresh ingredients make for a really fun night out. Their specials are also good for those complaining about price, which can be kinda unreasonable on some specialty rolls. I will keep coming back to this restaurant. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is one time I was in there with a D.J. and it was really loud and kinda didn't fit with the restaurant, but kinda did (if you know what i mean). It wasn't for me, but I just avoid it during those times. Recommendations: Chicago Roll, and the Little Delicious.
(4)Sara B.
great wine selection. Great sushi. The place was empty when we were there but it made the meal really enjoyable.
(4)K. M.
Celebrated my birthday at Shinto's last week! My only complaint is how long we had to wait. We had a 7:00 reservation for 4. We were all there on time but were told to sit at the bar while they prepare our table. We were not seated until 7:20. I am not a fan of waiting more than 10 minutes if I have a reservation and the place is not busy. Then we had to wait until 7:50 for them to bring our soup and salad. This was just ridiculous. However, after all our waiting everything else was GREAT! Our sushi was so good I could have just eaten that. The portions were large enough that we ordered 2 rolls for 2 of us and we were starting to get full. Just ask what the fresh fish is for the day. They will always tell you. The hibachi portion of dinner was great too! I always get the chicken and steak combo so I can really taste the flavors of the cook. Our cook was awesome. We eat Japanese a lot and I have never met a cook who I wanted to stay and hang out with after dinner. By the time he left the table we had all laughed so hard we were new friends with the people sitting with us. He was able to turn the dinner into an experience. I highly recommend asking for Victor or Papi. (He says everyone calls him Papi and that is what his name tag said but it is really Victor.) For the birthday portion of the night the server brought out Saki bombs for the whole table. This was a neat experience because I have never had a Saki bomb. Then they brought out a dessert big enough to feed the whole table. My favorite place for a birthday dinner. Price was high but we all enjoyed it. Highly recommend
(4)Rob D.
Not being a Sushi fan, I was skeptical when my kids cajoled me into going to Shinto's, but I left pleasantly suprised. The night we were there we opted for the sushi menu rather than the hibachi experience. The waitress was quite nice and willing to explain things to a Sushi newbie like me. I began with a bowl of onion soup that had good flavor but a little too much salt. my combo platter contained a chef's choice of Nigiri, Sashimi and a Spicy Tuna Roll. All of the food was beuatifully presented and very fresh. The white tuna was particularly good, as was the spicy tuna roll. My son had a similar dish and was equally impressed. My wife and daughter had Udon noodles, a Philly and a Tempura Roll, all of which were pronounced delicious. The decor and atmosphere of the place is trendy and bright. My only critcism is that considering we were there at about 5PM and were one of only a handful of customers in the restaurant, we waited an inordinate amount of time for our food. Given the final product, though, i can forgive this and will be going back again.
(4)Elora V.
First time I went to this place it was really cool.... it was a lil modern take on sushi and hibachih..It reminded me a bit of Benihana back in the day but with a Trendy atmosphere and decor... I went with my friend and we both fell in love with the place.. it can get very busy on weekends so I suggest you make reservations ahead of time..
(5)Bill D.
Walked in Saturday evening at 5:00 and they didn't have our reservation, but eventually found it; asked the manager how to use the Yelp app $10 check-in coupon - he said he'd take care if it; sat at the bar waiting for the rest of our party and was greeted by a very pleasant bartender - very good Riesling wine; it took a little while for the action to begin at the grill- hibachi; Chris, the hibachi chef was pretty entertaining and interactive; wife loved the scallops, while my steak and chicken was good - the steak was just ok, but can be "upgraded" to NY strip for an extra cost; tue bill came - no $10 credit, which the check-girl took care of, but it took a while as she was pretty busy. Overall, we had a nice experience and dinner.
(4)Adam S.
Great sushi and the little delicious roll is a necessity. Hibachi is extremely tasty and they put on an awesome show!!!
(5)Jeffrey G.
Price is much higher then needed. Don't go if you are on a budget, even during happy hour. Not happy with how the groupons are being made and honored. Beware of the fine print. Overall, try it, we will never go back.
(1)Marc B.
I avoid this place at all costs. It is a poorly run establishment with little attention paid to the details of properly trained servers, cleanliness, value, and good food. Find another place!!
(1)Jesse W.
Ever since this place has opened, my wife and I have made many, many trips there. We've eaten a lot of sushi in the area and now consider Shinto to be the best. People are nice, always saying "hi" and talking with you...but, really, the food is excellent (we've only had the sushi). We go for their happy hour a lot of the time and get appetizers and sushi for half off. It's a good value for what I say is excellent sushi. I would say it's Trendy and upscale, but I've come in with shorts and a t-shirt and they don't mind. Nice bar with a couple of TV's. I live in Warrenville, I just wish it was closer as route 59 traffic is a problem around 4/5 in the afternoon.
(5)Brandon B.
I regularly attend Shinto when I am back in town....and it is always a good meal, but tonight was different, it was GREAT. Juan our Habachi Chef was off the chain providing us with awesome entertainment and the most delicious Hibachi I can remember. Not to mention Tuesdays are $12 Habachi which is an unbelievable deal. Soup, Salad and a Hefty portion of steak, chicken or shrimp. Highly recommend to anyone celebrating a birthday or looking for a delicious dinner.
(5)Erica Z.
I can't speak for the sushi, however I've never been disappointed with the hibachi. Coming from a vegetarian perspective, the veggie entree has PLENTY of food. Sometimes eating vegetarian can mean that you get the short end of the stick, but not at Shinto. Veggie entree comes with mixed veggies, tofu, soup, salad, udon noodles, and rice. The side sauces are good, and the chefs are always friendly. Tend to frequent this place after family, friends and I all purchased the maximum amount of Groupons. Would definitely suggest going for lunch - you only get the choice of soup OR salad, but it's plenty of food, and much cheaper.
(5)Eva V.
I am a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to Sushi, but some friends wanted to try this place...and I grudgingly went. I am so glad I did--Shinto is now on our favorite Sushi restaurant list! When trying a new Sushi place, I order sashimi first. If you have good, fresh fish everything else is usually good as well. We ordered one of the sashimi combo dinners to share, and were blown away by the quality of fish! The service was a little slow, but they made up for it in friendliness. Beautiful place, beautiful fish and very good looking servers :D
(4)G. L.
Review for Sushi Only. I went to Shinto recently to continue my hunt for good sushi in the Naperville area (quite a quest btw!) Sushi-wise, I have to say that I have had better... It was just ok... Service seemed a bit green to say the least...? The staff didn't greet me until I was already there for 15 minutes or so... And wasn't really engaged other than "what would you like" and "here it is"... Really the only positive for this place is the atmosphere... Seems like it could be a great place to hang out on a Friday/Saturday night sometime for drinks/the bar... Have to try their teppan food on the hibachi... Maybe things will be different.
(2)Jill A.
Alright! My hubbs and I went here for our 3rd wedding anniversary. Can someone say FANTASTIC!? We did go on a wed. night - not too busy. We got dressed up and we were afraid we may have over done it, but once inside we fit right in. Very high class, modern, stylish restaurant. We ate both sushi, and hibachi, which both were amazing. We had the lobster and veggies (all cooked perfectly) and we tried a "safe" roll, and we had to try their little delicious roll. Our waiter couldn't have said it better himself when he told us we would have never tried anything like it before. It was fantastic. Our waiter was so knowledgeable about the menu, was super friendly, and accommodating, and offered us free champagne or dessert for our special night. We opted with dessert, however later in the evening when it was time, we thanked him and politely told him no thanks, we were SO stuffed! He was kind enough to let him manager know and she took an additional 10% off our check!! Wonderful service, and great food! We want to go back when we're out that way again, only next time it will be JUST for the sushi - we have to try more!
(5)Ahmad N.
The place was nice but the specialty sushinrolls had too much mayo and sauce on them.
(3)John S.
I can't say enough good things about Shinto. First off when you enter the door the decor is great. It feels like you just stepped into a very nice restaurant in Japan. The Dinning room is separated into two sides one side for Sushi and another Habachi side. Last night we choose to do the Habacci side. We also ordered some sushi as an appetizer. I ordered the Filet as my main course with the fried rice. Our Chef was lots of fun and really involved the kids that were sitting at the table with us. My filet was cooked perfectly and had a great taste. I also enjoyed the sushi and it was my first time trying actually sushi. After dinner we decided to have a few drinks at the bar. The bar staff was very friendly. A great experience over all I highly recommend Shinto.
(5)Jessica G.
Came here as part of a big group for a work dinner. It's pretty standard hibachi - I have not tried the sushi though I have heard it was good. The service was a little slow, though it could have been the fact that we had a very large group of people in there. Our server was very friendly and helpful and was kind enough to bring special dressing out for two people who didn't want the standard ginger. The food is pretty usual for hibachi but I think if I ever eat there again, I will be asking for them to NOT cook my food in a load of garlic butter, which seems to be how they do it there. It's tasty but it was on the greasy side for my liking. I also never did get my rice - the other people at the table all had the fried rice and I had steamed and I think it was just forgotten in there. Drinks took a while to come from the bar but according to the other people at my table, they were good. Overall, an all-right experience.
(3)Donna S.
Not a good experience. Seated with no place settings. Appetizers came & had to ask for forks and napkins. Server returned with 4 sets of chopsticks but only 3 forks and shrugged it off like oh well & didn't bring another fork (eventually we were brought another fork). Overheard staff talking at next table over about being out of bar glasses. It is 5:15 on a Saturday night... why aren't they prepared? Server removed drink menu with food menus - not too smart if he wanted us to pick out another drink. Dinner vegetable was supposed to be steamed broccoli & carrots but was mostly onions and some broccoli - no carrots. Had to ask three times for food boxes. Initially asked for 3 and explained what was going into each container (my friend also asked for 1). Server returned with 2. Asked for 2 more and again he returned with 1. Had to ask one more time to get my third container. While boxing up our leftovers, someone tried delivering us a place of someone else's food (as if we ordered more food at the end of our meal, yeah right). They seemed confused what table food was to go to. Only plus was server brought me a 'sip' of Saki to try to see if I liked it before ordering a glass (I'd never had Saki before). I wouldn't go back for dinner - service wasn't worth the food price - but would consider having happy hour appetizers in the bar on a Saturday afternoon.
(2)Minners N.
Coming from the city, I wasn't expecting the best sushi in the suburbs but was pleasantly surprised with the somewhat fresh fish and decent selection of maki. However, considering this is a more "upscale" sushi joint and it's in the burbs, I was expecting immaculate cleanliness. Epic fail. We were lured in by the happy hour deal and were warmly welcomed into the restaurant and seated against the side wall where the seats were heavily worn and in dire need of replacing. The inside pages of the menu had food residues from previous diners as did the sticky table. I ordered a cup of green tea and was quickly given a pot with a glass mug. Without even touching the mug I could see it was not clean so I asked for another cup, hoping it was just a one-time mishap. The second mug still had some leftover residues so I attempted to clean it myself with a wetnap. After one quick swipe, the wetnap was brown. The water glass, which was never filled for us, looked cleaned so I poured the tea into there. From far away everything does look clean, but being the germ-a-phob that I am, I noticed every off detail. The service was decent, though the waitress seemed to know very little about the menu and had to run back to get answers for most every question we had about the menu. This could have been our place to grab a quick sushi dinner, but i grimace just thinking of my experience there and what else was lurking in my food...
(2)Michelle T.
This is my go-to place on a Friday or Saturday night if I want to sit at the bar, have a good cocktail and eat sushi. The decor is modern and the vibe is neat, especially for being located in a Naperville strip mall. It's not the BEST sushi or hibachi I've ever had but it's still good. Service can be a little slow at times but I'm usually not in a rush when I go there.
(4)Kristen J.
We just went here for my mother-in-law's birthday a few weeks ago. The ambiance is really chic for Naperville and the food was very, very good. Its pricey, but sushi/hibachi places usually are. I really enjoyed the swordfish and scallops we had for dinner and the rolls we ordered for our appetizer. It was a great time and we plan to go back, you know, when we have $150 laying around. NEW*** we just went back a 2nd time for SUSHI only and it was just okay. Nothing special. And again, a bit over-priced considering it was lack-luster.
(3)Johanna J.
After a lil rocky start the Shinto made up for it which made for an awesome time. Tried the sushi class with friends and really enjoyed myself. Gustavo was great and made some really good rolls. I would recommend the lil delicious because that it was. I know I will be back again. Next time though I might try it on their jazz night and I hear the hibachi is really good.
(4)Jennifer M.
Shinto gets 5 stars because I am not a fan of Japanese or sushi - UNTIL I came here. Awesome food, moreover the atmophere is first class. It's not like your typical sushi house; the vibe here is upscale. My husband and I went on a night that they had live entertainment (singers). So if you visit when they have something special going on, you'll want to stay and have a good time. My husband wasn't exactly entranced by the singers that night, but I thought it was super cool. I also ended up meeting the general manager, Dana, at a networking event recently. It was further clear to me why I was so impressed w/ this restaurant.. the Shinto management is awesome!
(5)Marc L.
Have never had a bad experience here, and are repeat customers. Sushi is awesome and the hibachi grill dishes are delicious, the steak melts in your mouth. Service is always top notch and drinks top off the meal. The kind of hard to get to location, keeps this a bit of a hidden gem.
(5)Claudia R.
First off...Shinto is in a little strip mall next to Enterprise, so I was not setting my expectations high at all when walking in here. However, I have to say the sushi here is on par with Kiku, my other Naperville fav for Sushi. My friends and I get the Miso Surprise and just love it. The drinks at bar are great too. This place is close to my office and on my way home so I frequently stop by for drinks. I love the Sangria...so yummy and has a kick to it. It is also amusing to watch the Cougurs of Naperville out on the prowl as they flirt with the bartenders. Drinks and laughs after a long day at the office...who could ask for more?
(4)Albert C.
Unimpressed, at least by the sushi side of things. Located out on the western edge of Naperville, the atmosphere tries very hard to be hip and kewl. Does this fit in Naperville? Not really. It wouldn't necessarily be out of place in River North or Santana Row, however. The interior is split into the teppanyaki side and the sushi lounge. My friends opted for the sushi lounge, which was comfortable enough, though pretty empty on a Thursday night. We started off with the scallop tempura, which was ok taste-wise, but had four rather pitiful looking scallops and a few vegetables. The spicy tuna roll and shrimp tempura roll were pretty standard and decent. The Shinto sushi platter looked promising with a nice variety of fish, but the fish wasn't all that fresh and some of it was decidedly tough. I know that fish just isn't that fresh out in the Midwest but this was a step below what I expected. I *might* come back at some point in the future to check out the teppanyaki side of things, but I can't say that I recommend the sushi... though if you're looking for atmosphere, Shinto has loads of it.
(2)Ashok S.
Great food and good environment. Service is good. Sushi is decent nothing to brag about. Rolls are good.
(4)Vanessa R.
Well to start off let me say that our chef was super nice but after that the rest of the staff falls short. Our waitress was nowhere to be found other staff had to try to pick up for her slack. We saw her 2 times during our visit. The horrible part is that because the tip was already included in the bill she walked away with 150 bucks just in tips! The food was average nothing worth the price. Your paying for the show and the fact that its a trendy place!
(2)Sam R.
We've been to Shinto no less than two dozen times over the last couple of years. Always for sushi-cannot comment on the hibachi side of the restaurant. The sushi, and we have a solid base of experience to draw from, is above average. We went there last night and used our $50 groupon. Nice value for sure. The issue I have is with their inconsistent pricing. Bottles of wine are shown at one price on the menu and then you get the bill and the price is several dollars higher. The same thing with sushi rolls-except the increase may only be a couple dollars. Really? they don't think people see this? By the time we caught it, it was too late-we were already out the door. We ordered "large pours" of wine for a couple extra dollars and we clearly received the regular pour. The server said they would check with the bar- never followed up with us. We'll continue to come to Shinto but ONLY when we have a groupon. Would rather go down the street to Kiku or Wild Tuna.
(2)Christina C.
The impression when I first walked into Shinto was that it was a really trendy place. It kind of looks like a bar you would in Las Vegas or something. I've been there a few times with family and friends and have had both the sushi and hibachi. The sushi is whatever to me. I got the little delicious and scorpion roll and I personally think my home made sushi taste almost the same which isn't saying much. Now the hibachi is pretty good. I shared the scallops, chicken, and steak combo with my cousin and it was yummy :) The chefs are great and definitely do a good job entertaining. Another plus is not smelling like food when you walk out. Oh, and the calamari appetizer is pretty good too. It was a tad bit soggy when we got it but the sweet sauce they use is very tasty. I have gone at least 4 or 5 times. The sushi is average but the hibachi is good. I'd rather go to Sushi Yama in Geneva for sushi. My friends and family go here a lot, so its the only reason why I go.
(3)Mike T.
We had a coupon to go here so we decided to go on a random weeknight, close to closing time. If we didn't have a coupon, I might not have found this place. It was hard to find because I must have gotten the address wrong and you can not easily get around the busy route 59. We ordered way too much food though and I felt like exploding. The appetizer was good and the rolls' portions was huge.
(4)Chole L.
I went there to eat bec i got a $25 certificate from restaurant.com . Food wasn't that great compared to other sushi restaurants. Service was good tho. I would recommend others to try it but i don't think i would go back there again.
(3)Warren C.
New look for an old style restaurant. Modern style of Benihana's. Bar was nice and good service. The food is good as well. I had the yellow fin tuna on the hibachi grill. Sides are typical, like Benihana, with rice and veggies. Over all a nice place with good food.
(5)Amy E.
My boyfriend and I are regulars here. Great vibe, LOVE the sashimi. Try the Delicious Roll if you're new to sushi- it's got a lot of flavor and tastes great on any palate.
(4)Ming C.
Not bad. I came all the way from chicago downtown to Naperville to dine out at this place. I love the Hibachi style and the food is very good. Really wish there is one in downtown chicago.
(4)Liz B.
Came here on a "date" with my best friend because she had a goupon. We made a reservation early (6:30), but we got a little lost because this place is very difficult to find if you're not familiar with Naperville (FYI, it's behind a gas station). The restaurant was enormous and people were everywhere. I did not expect 6:30 to be a busy restaurant time. We got our table and our waiter was very nice, but I think he was a little overwhelmed. It was really dark in there too, maybe good for a romantic setting but it was way too big with too much going on to be intimate. The food and martinis were great. If it was closer to me, I'd go again, but I wasn't blown away by it.
(4)Paul P.
This place has a contemporery feel and decor. I sat in the bar as always. I did not had any traditonal sushi, but their specilty rolls are awsome! The service at the bar was very good, but there was no one else there at the time. The beer is better than most for a Japanese place. Drink selection is very good. Thay have an extencive cocktail menu. I would go back for the sushi anytime. The prices are steep, but they have to pay for the decor somehow. Well kept restrooms are a plus.
(4)MeLissa H.
If I could live here, I would! Their food is to die for! I never had a bad experience in the two years of coming here and that's at least 30 times, more than enough to dent the wallet. Pricey but excellent quality food. I always have leftover hibachi and the chefs are wonderful even if "new" at their tricks.
(5)Cb L.
Chris is the best at the bar. Makes the experience worth every penny.
(5)David L.
I wasn't sure what to expect going in here other than that it looked like a fun, cool place from the outside. It's very spacious with plenty of seating, but is actually kind of quaint. They have a circular bar which provides for good conversation and the $5 Monday Martini special-Grey Goose a little dirty for me-came as a great surprise! Nice pour by the bartender! We had sushi and hibachi items and all were very good. I would suggest the Caterpillar roll as an appetizer and steak and scallops for dinner. The grilled scallops were tender and very, very good! The wait staff and manager were very attentive, always making sure we had everything we needed but not being pests. Last but not least, the hibachi grill chef-I doubt that's his title-was funny and entertaining.
(4)Kathleen G.
Really awesome sushi and atmosphere. My favorite in Naperville.
(4)Chris W.
We love sushi and hibachi, and have been here several times previously, dining both at a hibachi and at a sushi table. Last night was our most recent trip. We decided to do hibachi. The food and service were excellent! The hibachi chef was entertaining, and our waiter was very attentive - quickly whisking away empty plates, and refilling water and other beverages promptly. The alchololic drinks are a bit pricy, but we had a Groupon which made the price of the experience much more palateable. Overall, we enjoy this restaurant and will go back.
(4)Terry P.
My first time here. First I am not a fan of restaurants in strip malls. That being said this place was nicely done. However, please loose the Ghetto Rap Dance Music. At least play some relaxing oriental music in the background. The food was good, but a bit pricey for a Benihana want-to-be. I may go back again.
(3)J Mae S.
First of all, I am a sushi newbie. That being said, I have visited Shinto a few months ago with one group of friends and made a return today for my birthday. 3 of my friends are sushi fans and frequent other sushi joints around our area. I asked, "what makes sushi good or bad?" Their response was the fish needs to be fresh (no odors), rice sticky and not hard, and veggies fresh. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box which was pretty tasty. The fish was fresh and I finished almost the entire meal. My friends ordered the beef negimaki bento box, chicken yaki udon, steak & shrimp combination hibachi, and steak hibachi. The 3 friends were more than satisfied with their meals. We chose Shinto because we had a $25 (for $50) Groupon. They honored our Groupon without any hesitation and allowed us to order sushi and not hibachi in the hibachi area (although 2 friends did order hibachi). **I must note that the half-price sushi starts @ 2p.m. on Saturdays. We also ordered the "Little" Delicious Roll, which was very delicious, but the waitress could have pointed out that we would have received half-price on that specialty roll if we had ordered one beverage (and saved $7.50 in the process). I will return again, especially for half-price sushi with a Groupon, but even without a Groupon, the sushi is good enough for a return visit.
(4)Melanie P.
Although it's not easy to get into this restaurant if you are heading on Rt. 59 southbound, I do really like the location. The dining area is huge--hibatchi to the left, sushi to the right, and a gorgeous bar in the center. I've only tried the sushi side because it is just that damn good. I like hibatchi, too, but now I am hooked on the sushi here and am working my way through their specialty rolls. I love the twinkling table tops and the dinnerware. The miso soup is the best I have ever had and it is served in lovely green glazed ceramic bowls with matching spoons--no plastic spoons with yucky decals on them here! They have no problem accommodating someone with a gluten free/dairy free diet. The wait staff has always been friendly and never messed up an order. We like to go on Saturday afternoons when they have great specials. We never have to wait for a table. The points card, cleanliness, and super friendly staff keeps me coming back, too. No problem finding parking, which can be the case at Sushi House in downtown Naperville.
(5)Wendy F.
We went to Shinto this past weekend - and while the food and service were as great as ever - they definitely have a problem with their A/C when the temp gets in the 90's. We were there about 6pm - and the bar and sushi area was comfortable, but as soon as you went into the hibachi grill area - it was HOT! Our poor chef was so hot and miserable - and it felt very warm to us, even just sitting still. They need to put in fans and/or boost the A/C for hot days!
(4)Aaron G.
Amazing!!! Best Japanese steak house around. The environment is amazing and staff is great too.
(5)Rich K.
I really enjoyed Shinto. The food quality is top notch. I think the performance by the cooks is better here than at other locations.
(3)Janis T.
Food was just okay, but very deseptive advertising. Had a double take deal coupons for $40 which was of no use since you can't use on any specials or happy hour. Coupon does NOT state this nor did the waitress tell us when we started ordering. So what was suppose to cost us an additional $30 ended up to be $112. Manager pretty much ignored us, would not go back. Buyer Beware.
(1)Vicki R.
I've been to Shinto twice now.. first time was okay 2nd time was terrible the waitress forgot our appetizer then she forgot 1 of our rolls when we finally got the appetizer and not till after she brought us the bill did she realize that she had forgotten half of our order.. We only visited Shinto again because it's so close to home. From now on I'd rather take the 30 minute drive and visit Kinta, Orchid, Tokyo Bay , Wild Tuna or Swordfish... They are definitely worth the drive.
(2)Ryan R.
My wife and I were excited to try this out because it had been recommended by a friend but we ended up really disappointed. The decor was very nice and modern and it was very clean, but the food was very over priced and the service was poor. To elaborate on the food, my wife and I both ordered from the hibachi menu. She ordered chicken and I ordered steak and scallops. The steak was a poor cut of meat that turned out to be mostly fat and gristle and the scallops were over cooked to the point that they were very chewy and hard to cut. Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way is that it cost an additional $3 just to get fried rice. All in all the food was expensive, not well prepared, and I got less food at Shinto than I have at any other hibachi restaurant. Now for the service, the chef was polite and likable, but our server was missing in action. One of the other guests at the table ordered a beer as the salads were brought out and never received it because she never came back to the table. She was to busy doing sake bombs with another table. Fifteen minutes after dinner was complete and the table had been cleared I had to hunt down the manager in order to pay our bill. I don't think that we will be trying this restaurant again.
(1)Kate D.
Update: awful first dining-in experience. Carried out lots since then but just gave them another dine-in chance this weekend. Hostess was friendly but had no idea how to judge what the wait was. The couple in front of us had been told it was 15 minutes and ordered from the bar after 45 minutes went by. We didn't chance it and ordered from the bar right away. The bartender had the most manicured eyebrows I've ever seen! Oh and he was attentive and did a good job. Our sushi was delish. There was a $5 Belvedere you-call-it special so I took advantage of that. It was a positive experience and earned them an updated review from me. It's a bit pricey and the hostesses still need some polishing but Shinto deserves a solid 3 star "a-ok."
(3)Erin S.
Here's a letter I wrote to the GM after a horrible experience: I wanted to write because I am concerned. I give you my history because I would like for you to understand my concern from a person who has come to Shinto from the beginning and has worked for 13 years in the restaurant business, as a hostess, server, manager and event planner, at some great restaurants with outstanding service in the Western Suburbs. My mom and I came in tonight (Wednesday 8/29) around 5:00pm. There were zero people on the patio, and maybe 4 people in the bar and 2 people in the dining room. The hostess (a blonde girl I believe) was very friendly and very welcoming. We asked if we could have "Happy Hour" on the patio and she said "Of course!" We were seated on the patio and the gentleman that seated us allowed us to choose our seat, and was very nice to put up the umbrella to block out the crazy sun! :) Next, a bartender came out and delivered our water with cucumber and asked to take our drink order- he explained he wouldn't be taking our order, but he wanted us to make sure we had our drinks. He realized that we didn't have a drink menu, so he left to grab one, and less than 15 seconds later came back with a drink menu! Yay! :) Then the server came out. She brought out another drink menu, which was nice, so we each had one. HOWEVER, there were 2 pages missing in the drink menu. She asked if we needed to order drinks yet, and we didn't so she went back inside. She came back and took our drink order- A glass of Cupcake Pinot Noir and a Dragonberry Mojito (I think). At the same time, we ordered Tempura Avocado. The server was making a squinted face, and was covering up her eyes because it was bright out- but she wasn't doing this discreetly- it was like she was being blinded. We were deciding on our main order, and she came back (no drinks, no appetizers yet) and asked if we were ready to order. We weren't. And then she proceeded to sneeze a HUGE sneeze very dramatically (away from us, thank goodness) but bending over, saying "HACHOO!" very loudly and flipping her hair. Then she left. She came back 2 minutes later (still no drinks, no appetizers) and again asked if we were ready to order. (Squinting like she was being blinded, with her eyes almost closed and her arm over her eyes) We gave her the sheet we filled out as the Avocados were being placed on our table. (Still no drinks). We did not have plates, silverware, or chopsticks- so we asked for all of these things. The soy sauce cups were on the table, stacked... and one had a big chip out of it. The Tempura Avocado was sitting there, our server said she would go and get the utensils. So we sat. And sat... and sat... for at LEAST 3 minutes. I said to my mom, "I bet she's putting the order in" So I got up, went inside to the bartender (Glancing over to see our server put her order pad in her apron after entering things in the computer) and asked the bartender for napkins and utensils. Our server came hustling over saying "I got it! I got it! I was just getting your drinks to bring out with it!" (Yes, we still hadn't received our glass of wine or mojito!!!!!). --I'm sorry, I was always taught that a guest request supercedes any other item you need to do. Even further than that, you NEVER EVER put food on a table without all the instruments with which to eat it. EVER. The fact that we sat without means to eat a warm appetizer is unacceptable. The fact that our appetizer touched our table BEFORE we received our drinks is even more unacceptable-- After she brought out the utensils (fork had dried food on it that I just chipped off) we ate our appetizer- but didn't have share plates. We also would have wanted some wasabi, but we actually said to each other that we shouldn't bother asking because it would take too long to get it. We were then served our food, which was very good (Little Delicious Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Goyza and Tuna Nigiri). I had a little drama with a bee, so we moved inside and we sat at the bar. My mom's Beef dish came out, and she was very pleased with it. HOWEVER. I think my mom had one bite of beef, and I still had several pieces of sushi on my plate and our server kept asking if we wanted to order more... and when we finally said no, she said "Well, how about dessert?" I was FUMING. This was NOT a Saturday night, you didn't have a line out the door, we were sitting at the bar, there were plenty of seats. WHY is she asking about dessert when we're not even close to finished with dinner/happy hour!!!!! THEN, to top it all off... SHE BROUGHT US THE CHECK!! Are you joking?! That was the last straw for me. My mom and I left her a 15% tip on the discounted, happy hour price. I would like you to know that I fully well know that a tip should be at least 20%... and that you should tip on the PRE-discounted prices. And you know what, 99.9% of the time I do. But your server really earned that 15%. (I wrote more, but this is all I could fit)
(2)Blanca R.
I have eaten here a couple of times, and have never been disappointed. The only problem, is that they are never very busy, which makes me worry. I loved the Mexican roll. Hibachi was quite fun too...loved the scallops. All in all, the service is great, and it's a great place to go with a group. Oh..,.by the way...definitely get the dessert! They are all good.
(4)Mehmet C.
We just went there, this will certainly be one of our favorite sushi places; great rolls, great ambiance and service.
(4)Kristie S.
Positives: EXCELLENT, FRESH food in an exceptional atmosphere Negatives: Poor service - The sushi wait staff doesn't know the menu. They mess up orders, and they aren't attentive.
(4)Loryn R.
I've been to shinto a few times, mainly because they had certificates on restaurant.com (which later seemed to be an issue). My first experience here was not good. The food was so-so, nothing mind blowing and the service was beyond less than par (which has not improved). I hadn't gone here for some time and decided to try it again to see if they had improved any. I will admit the sushi DID get a lot better, but it's hard to balance that out with the always terrible service i receive. The order of the menu can be slightly confusing when you see sushi rolls then appetizers and then specialty rolls. They need a better order to that. Also, the ordering menu itself doesn't even have all of the rolls you can order. I'm always having to write in what I want on the side and hope they don't forget. I've waited a great deal of time for my appetizer which came after the sushi came. Apparently someone had forgot to put my order in. Our waitress almost never comes back to check if we need anything or refill our water (I don't drink pop, sorry if you're not making money off my free water). All in all, the sushi has improved and I'd really like to try the hibachi. As for the service, it's still TERRIBLE. There are much better places in Naperville for sushi. I recommend going to Yamado where you get GREAT personal service.
(2)Ashley B.
One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Naperville!
(4)Tanida B.
Don't waste your time here. Obnoxious staff and food to boot.
(1)Brenda V.
Nice surprise in the burbs. Food and cocktails are delicious, service is perfect. I loved the dj spinning in the middle of the resaurant, very rock n' sushi..
(5)Justin T.
I got to say, this is by far one of the best sushi restaurants in this end of town. The service was great, the whole staff was very friendly, especially Cami our waitress. The rolls were priced fairly average compared to the other sushi establishments in Naperviile and surrounding areas. The best rolls have to be the fire and ice roll, dragon roll, etc. If you are looking for a new sushi restaurant and are sick of the pre-made Jewel made junk. Come here!
(5)James K.
I tried it for the 1st time and if it weren't for the happy hour specials and good sushi I probably wouldn't go back. The Hibachi Chef needed more practice on how to entertain the guests. He wasn't very skilled but the food was good. The server didn't come over much and when she did was forgetful. All in all it was ok but had better.
(3)Agnes S.
Very bad, only the rolls were good though it is not typical, imagine a roll mixed with some ingredients fried in tempura batter. On the other hand sushi, sashimi, and beef were poor quality. For example beef had tough parts and salmon had an after taste. The lunch sashimi bento box only had six small pieces. Also service was very poor and slow. We came right as they opened for lunch, we were the only patrons. Food came in a careless order. At that point three other small groups had arrived. We asked for the bill, were seemingly ignored by the hostess, asked again this time the waiter. In total we waited 12 minutes for the bill. By that point two more parties had arrived, though larger. It took another 8 minutes after we gave the credit card for the waiter to return it so that we could leave. In that time the waiter threw away the vegetables I asked to have boxed. mzs
(1)daniela m.
good food very slow service. plus i was charged for somenthing i didn`t order or got, and music was so loud my date and i had to leave ,wi didn`t even finished ouar drinks. a dont think wi will be back
(3)Keir H.
Hmmm. If I had been writing this a few months ago it would have been four stars but the last few times I have been there have been disappointing and I am now taking a break... Me and the boy-toy love sushi and this place is practically across the street. First experience was great...they were not not busy and the place was a little empty. Livens up weekends and late when they have events going on. The banquet seating along the wall is too low for the tables and you will feel like your a little kid eating. But the food and friendly service more than made up for it. As well as the cute bartender who sent over a tasty libation with compliments. They have some good creative rolls, nice presentation and tasty seaweed salad. Not huge on hibachi but the few times we have done it here were good. Came here for hibachi for my friend's birthday in Feb. and the chef was hilarious and so was our waiter. Fun time. Good place to just go sit at the bar and have a drink, small bite and catch up. (for whatever reasons the acoustics of the bar allow you to hear the people across from you conversations...anyway...) Then something changed...mainly food quality wise. Fish not tasting as fresh. I made the mistake of ordering the baby octopus salad...oh my...first thought with the lighting and the sauce it looked like a bowl of bloody rabbit fetuses. Agedashi Tofu very disappointing, gave it another chance and it was worse. We'll go back and see if they are on their back on their game...in awhile.
(3)Simon C.
For the price they charge, I expect more. I've been there 4 times, which I found pretty amazing that I went back three times. Now I'm pretty sure they're just not on par with other higher end sushi restaurant in terms of food and service. First time there, we had hibachi. The cook was a newbie and he didn't know ANY tricks. He wasn't even very good at cooking. He forgot my egg yolk on my shrimps so he basically just put some egg yolk on the grill, cooked it a little with oil, and put that oily patch of soggy yellow slime on my plate... Not professional. Second time there for hibachi for my cousin's birthday. The waiter was barely legal and he didn't know much about beer. I order a Tsing Tao. He hesitated for a moment and said ok. Well, he brought me a "Tiger". He was also not very attentive. We constantly need to ask him to refill our glasses with water. Third time there for sushi. Service was ok this time. We ordered some rolls and sushis. I found a piece of salmon bone in our roll. It was as big as a toothpick. We complained to the waitress and we got another roll free of charge. But still, that was pretty gross. We were also lucky that we were not with little kids who could easily choke on that big piece of bone. Fourth time there, which would also be my last time, was just unacceptable. We didn't know what to eat in Naperville at 9:30pm so we would like to give Shinto another try. Upon sitting down, our waitress greeted us promptly and politely. My wife even secretly asked for a dessert for my birthday. We placed our order. Then, for the next 25 minutes, we had not seen the waitress. It was a slow Tuesday evening. It was the bartender who finally realize our drinks had been sitting at the bar for like 20 minutes and he brought us our drink and he asked if we place the order already. We told him what we ordered. He tried to find the waitress but she was nowhere to be found so the bartender brought us the soups. Another waitress brought us some sushis. As we were eating, our waitress finally showed up with another plate of sushi. She did not offer an apology. Then she disappeared again for 30 minutes. I asked another waitress for the bill and the manager. The manager came and apologize and took care of our entire bill plus a $25 gift card for future visit. Ok whatever we took that and stood up. Oh my waitress showed up again and told us she was about to bring out the cake. My wife and I was like it didn't even matter anymore. You just ruined our evening. At the end, that waitress did NOT offer any kind of apology. I don't see any more good reason of going back. Even with that $25 gift card.
(1)Cindy P.
love the decor my bf and i went on valentines day and had bought the $50 for $25 certificate on yelp and they still accepted it even though it was valentines day the food was good and i just couldnt beat the price thanks to the coupon.
(4)Suzanne T.
Brad and Brian rocked as the staff. Went for a birthday party!! So much fun !! Great food and presentation
(5)Joedel G.
I got a deal from Groupon thats why we came to this place. We've seen this place before but never visited. As soon as we entered we were greeted right away and given an option for a hibachi or sushi, we've choosen sushi since I have always a craving for this. Our server came and gave us some menu options since our first time on that place. His name is Kevin and he even asked me if we have groupon. Very pleasant and attentive server. We ordered a couple of drinks, the sake was good, not overwhelming, of course my wife had a moscato d' asti her favorite. We ordered a teriyaki glazed calamari which is very tender and sweet, I liked it. Kevin recommended the Geisha sushi platter and I upgraded it with some red and white tuna sashimi, yumm..really the white tuna melts in my mouth, very fresh and tasty. The Geisha is very good, i like the salmon mixed it with some crispy shrimp and lightly covered with creamy ingredients, the texture is phenominal. The vegetable tempura is just okay. Kevin is so good that he even poured my Sapporo nicely to the glass, very smooth and perfect for the sushi. This place is spacious and not crowded, parking is easy, price is not so bad, $ 100 a dinner for two. Recommended and I will come back.
(4)James H.
Took my family there in October 2011, two of us got food poisoning from steak. We called to inform them and did not receive a call back. A friend went last week and got food poisoning after eating sushi. Will never go back here again.
(1)Tina P.
Expensive menu items in a crowded, club-like atmosphere. A little to trendy for my taste, with the dance music blaring louder than the conversation. In all honestly there are better Japanese Steakhouses for your money. The food is comparable to other Hibachi places in the area-maybe even a little better-but it did not make up for the long wait and poor service. We made reservations for 8pm and were not seated until 8:30. The Hibachi chef did not show up for another 40 minutes after that. When he did show up, he was not playful or funny like a typical Hibachi chef. There was no smiling and no throwing of shrimp, etc. The sushi was very tasty, but extremely overpriced at $15 per roll. When the meal was finally finished, we were there two and a half hours, with no apology from the waitstaff or management. I would definitely recommend other popular Hibachi restaurants in the Fox Valley area over this one.
(2)Cecille A.
I've been to this place twice since they opened. It's a very nice and spacious place compared to other sushi places I've been to in the area. It has a very trendy and contemporary vibe, like you're at a nightclub in the city. The circular bar area is cool and I like the bamboo decor I went, when it wasn't very busy... maybe 3 or 4 other guests, but it was the middle of the afternoon. The sushi that we ordered was very good. I like that there is a huge selection on their menu. Overall, it was a good experience and I'd come back again.
(4)Vladimir D.
first Let me state that I'm a pretty laid back, easy to please person. I called on Friday night to make a reservation for the next weds at 8pm, and told the woman on the phone that we wanted to do hibachi, but were not sure if it would be possible since i have an allergy to shellfish, and cant have anything even PREPPED on the same table as shellfish, she assured me this wouldn't be a problem. i also asked if our party of three was enough for hibachi, as some places are anywhere from 6-12 per table. she swore up and down it was fine, and we would have a table reserved. i told her on the phone that i did not want to have to wait for more than 5 minutes for a table as it was my girlfriends GOLDEN birthday (28). again, she swears up and down it wont be a problem. i figure OK great. we show up at 7:45pm (a bit early), but we both got done with our earlier plans. I was a bit taken back by the fact they were blasting techno dance music in there. as if the bar and restaurant were some trendy upscale night club (news flash, YOU'RE NOT). i wanted to leave and go to the Palmer house, where i could have gotten my usual table, but she really wanted sushi and heard great things about Shinto. so the two of us went in (her best friend had a sick kid, so 1 less in our party). i was told by the hostess that they were waiting for the table to clear and it would be about 15mins before we were seated. OK since we were early. but 8:05 comes around and no seating. i take a quick gander in the hibachi section, and not only are there open tables/grills, but NO TABLE is done eating or being cleaned. wtf?? i asked how long it would be, and she said again, 10 minutes. i was ready to leave but since my gf had her heart set on Shinto, and its her birthday we stayed around. we were not seated until 8:35pm (i was checking my watch the whole time). two other couples who had made reservations were seated with us, and had been waiting almost as long. why this was necessary was never explained to me, as they had plenty of open grills and tables. we were brought some water and told our waiter would be by shortly. 25mins later, a hostess came by and took our drink orders cause the waiter never came by. we waited 18minutes before our drinks came, and even then there was no soda of any kind cause they had no Co2. wtf kind of place has this issue at 8:30 on a weds night? finally at 9:04pm she came back and took our orders. again my gf mentioned my shellfish allergy and we were told no problem. our chef came out with everything ready to go, only to find the grill hadn't been turned on. i mean seriously now, WTF!!!! i flat out said out loud "we should have went to the Palmer house" i was quite loud and i know everyone in hibachi heard me. i was (and still am) quite pissed about this. i realize its not the chefs fault but seriously who runs this place, a chimp?? so after our brief show, we were served our food (which was really good, i will commend the chef on that. When we were given plates, i noticed that there was something or other on my girlfriends (and also on 2 other plates at the table) and it took 5 minutes for them to bring clean dishes to us. i mean who wants to eat on dirty dishes in a supposedly upscale restaurant? i can not forgive the horrible service that night. the manager on duty came by and took off all the drinks for the whole table (which was separate checks) which i was also quick to point out to him we never got more than one drink. seriously she had A BEER and i had A MARTINI. never offered another drink, refill, anything of the such. not even another water..and i had asked for one 2 times. so he also gave us a complimentary sushi roll. which would have been fine except for 1 important detail which he neglected to mention when asked, there is SHELLFISH IN THE SUSHI ROLLS. so after a shit-tastic night costing me 59.00, i had to go to the emergency room because of either 1) ignorance, or 2) laziness, and almost died. thank you Shinto for ruining my girlfriends golden birthday and damn near killing me in the process.
(1)Laura T.
I absolutely love Shinto! Their sushi and hibachi are always delicious, the service outstanding, and the ambiance very relaxing ... especially after a long day at work. You would never know such a nice restaurant was located in an unflattering strip mall off of a busy intersection on Rt 59. I'd say that's it's only downfall. I've gone there after work with my husband and friends for dinner and drinks, and I've also brought my family, including small children who absolutely loved watching the very entertaining and talented hibachi chefs, and my father who doesn't like anything but homemade italian food ... Everyone was pleased! I also always find coupon deals on restaurant.com which really helps with the cost. Unfortunately, most good sushi is on the pricey side, so that helps.
(4)Niki M.
uhh I feel sick. We just ate there tonight and let me tell you... not so good. The sushi in one word gross. Either way to much cream cheese or no flavor at all. We also had hibachi grill...horrible. The fried rice was flavorless and i had garlic shrimp, basically i do not recommend that, i cant even explain the flavor. We normally eat at Kiku (view my other review) and kiku is way way way better. Not only is the food gross but it is way overpriced 190 for 4 of us. Seriously skip shinto an try kiku.
(1)Dee E.
I went to Shinto for the first time tonight and I really enjoyed it! I like Kiku, but I think I prefer Shinto. Sushi rolls are original and high quality. The cocktails are killer. I recommend and will definitely be back.
(4)Yvonne M.
Went here on Tuesday which is $12 hibachi day!! The food was wonderful, the service was good and the overall atmosphere was fantastic! We had a really good time and I'd like to go back soon!
(5)G L.
We had lunch at Shinto and unfortunately we were really disappointed--there is much better sushi in Naperville and I would drive the extra mile to find it. The waitress and staff were very friendly which actually saved the place; however, the fish was, well, just bad. When you pay $17 for a roll, I expect not only really great, high quality fish, I also expect to get a fair amount of it. (As an aside, $17 for a roll is crazy expensive--even Japonais doesn't step on the price that much! . . .lol Unfortunately, the sushi chefs that prepared the rolls the day we were there were very, very light on the fish. In defense of Shinto, it seems like it may be a fun place to grab drinks at the huge bar and we did not dine in the Hibachi room--so the cooked food may be better. If I were to go back, (albeit not likely) I would go that route and avoid the sushi all together.
(2)Mark P.
I signed up to Yelp just to comment on this restaurant. We have visited several Japanese restaurants as it is our favorite fare and I must say, this is the worst we have been to. Our favorite is "Ron of Japan" and we frequent "Tairyo" as we know the manager and the food is good. The sushi here was decent, but there was fish eggs on the california roll and our kids would not eat it. Never saw that before. The cook was arrogant and not very helpful. Not a very good cook either. The fried rice was flavorless, except for the fact that there was way too much salt. $11.00 for a small sake? Crazy! It was over $200 for two adults and two kids under twelve. My wife ordered a Lobster tail and they brought two tiny tails. They charged us $48 for "Twin Lobster tails". The Chicken was drowned in sauce. They didn't even have Katsup, which my 8-year old likes with her chicken. It was really just a bad experience. The waitress was decent enough. Definitely not worth the Money and the portions are small. Will not return. Sorry. There are much, much better places.
(1)Fozzy B.
I was put off by how the "greeter" asked if we had a reservation. We said no, she says nothing and makes a dumbfounded expression. Then she and her two associates decide to speak after several seconds of silence. They say you can sit at the sushi bar "it's cramped but it's open there". We pass and say we want an actual table. They ask "sushi or other". We say both. They are dumbfounded and begin to ask us the same question three times. I guess it's too hard to get a table for two and be served sushi and beef at the same time. I understand the concept of hibachi, but that's not the point here. Then after getting through to them, they say a wait time of 20 min. We say that's fine and stand there. Since the "greeters" did not even try to say "go ahead and have a drink at the bar and I will come over to let you know when the table is ready", we go ahead ourselves. Bartender was excellent and nice. "Greeter" says "table ready" and heads us over to hibachi grill. Uh ok. We just wanted a freakin table for two. WTF. Server was excellent though. But sushi was ok (hit or miss). Meat was standard. Price was high for a joint sandwiched between the gas station and rental car. Do a favor to yourself and check out Zaidi's Sushi & Steak further south on 59 rt. They are what Shinto is striving to be. Shinto ownership must realize the importance of a welcoming atmosphere BEFORE getting seated. This is fine in the city, but when half the clientele is over 50 in a Eddie Bauer parka, they should recognize what they're doing behind that gas station over there. Enough said.
(2)Kush D.
Pretty sub par when it comes to Teppanyaki. Felt rushed...how many times have your gone to a Teppanyaki joint, and finished in a 35 minutes? Food was very bland. The ginger sauce left much to be desired. If you're coming from the city or north, head to Tsukasa or Ron of Japan instead.
(2)Chris R.
Love this place!!! They offer an extensive menu and everything we ordered was delicious. The decor is very modern and there is separate seating areas for dining options. Only complaint- the lights are very dim. If you like sushi this is the place in Naperville!
(5)Stephanie C.
I made a reservation at Shinto for my friends bachelorette party for 7 people. They asked if I wanted them to decorate for me before I got there so I agreed, and they did an awesome job! They put out balloons, confetti and cute favors for everybody, and they didn't even charge me for it! The waiter was fantastic, and I really wish I remember his name. He was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu, including the massive list of delicious drinks, and made great recommendations. We ordered the party platter of sushi, which included chef's choice of nigiri and sashimi, plus you were able to choose 5 rolls to add - a luxury that's not afforded at most sushi restaurants. All the food was great and the presentation was perfect - also, all for $90!! For serving 5-6 people at a sushi restaurant, the price can't be beat. The inside is very trendy and made for a fun atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anybody and will definitely be going back. Thanks Shinto!!
(5)Dwayne H.
I concur with previous reviews that this is pretty standard stuff. The only problem I had was that the service was really off that night...mostly the sequencing of dishes. The restaurant has a great open feeling to it though I'm not a fan of the fake bamboo--that stuff grows like a weed, so why not the real thing?! The bar area looked neat--big, circular bar with good lighting. Our waiter, Frankie, was very nice, but we got the feeling that he was rather new. He couldn't answer many questions about the dishes and what was included. We were a table of three. We ordered appetizers. Two of us ordered one of the sushi-sashimi combination dinners and the other had the terriyaki salmon. The menu indicated the sushi-sashimi platter was for two people with miso soup and salad included. Frankie told us later that it was either or after having brought us the soup (onion vice the miso which was awful--tasted like salted beef broth). Soup and edamame came out first followed by the main courses and then the other appetizer. The salmon terriyaki was rather flavorless. Everything seemed to arrive within about a 10 minute span of time. I'd recommend ordering as you want to be served to prevent this from happening. The highlight of the evening though was that they offered 1/2 price wine on Thursday nights and the selection/prices were very reasonable. Skip the Japanese tempura-style ice cream desserts. It comes out as an oil-soaked, soggy casing over rather bland vanilla ice cream.
(2)Mike U.
My second time here, went just to the Sushi bar. Some pretty interesting rolls available, but the more basic stuff like the sashimi and nigiri itself were kind of average. Last time I was here we had the Habachi which was pretty good, a couple of notches above a Benihana, but I'm still on the look out for a knockout sushi place in the west burbs.
(3)a n.
This place has amazing Hibachi and Sushi. Great place to go to for happy hours right after work and before 7pm, and their Sunday & Monday sushi specials is a great value. Glad we found it in it's semi hidden location.
(4)Andi B.
Bought the groupon for Shinto despite all the negative reviews. I thought this place was great! We went late on a Sunday afternoon and the service was excellent and fast. The prices seemed a bit pricey but probably about the same as other sushi places in Naperville. The nigiri was perfect. The seaweed salad was yummy. We tried the Little Delicious Roll, which was awesome with a little kick. The only negative was the spicy tuna roll. My boyfriend gets the spicy tuna roll every sushi place we go and he said theirs was a bit too spicy. He loves spicy food, but thought it was too spicy for sushi. Wish we bought more groupons, but will definitely go back - they have plenty of special rolls to try. The decor was stylish and modern, but there was a fountain that was a bit too loud. Overall if you are concerned with having a fast dinner, try going at an off-peak time. Delicious sushi - we even saw a sign that they offer sushi making classes that we will look into doing sometime too!
(4)Ashley G.
The sushi and hibachi are great. the smokless tables don't leave you clothes and hair smelling like oil and smoke. they have a huge cocktail and wine list as well, so there is something for everyone. Great place to go with a group of people.
(5)Andrew T.
$12 dinner specials, Tuesday wine deals and happy hour sushi and appetizers (M-F 3-6pm, Saturday 2-5pm). On top of all this, the hibachi is great, the cooks put on a great show and the food is awesome. Our waiter even gave us a round of sake bombs on the house. The service is great, and they also have drink specials M-Th. I generally go for their drink specials and a little sum'n sum'n to munch on. They have a long list of sushi and maki to order from. The prices are a little steep, but are worth it. Having worked in a Japanese restaurant before, I tend to be critical of sushi/maki and this place makes the cut. The atmosphere is dim and trendy. There are two dining areas, one for hibachi, one for dining, and a bar in the middle that is very picturesque. The bar has great drink selections, and the bartenders are always more than willing to make recommendations. The cocktails always hit the spot, and are made very well. Classy, trendy and hip.
(3)Mary W.
Servers Kevin and Alex are great. Disappointed in cleanliness tonight. In addition, when we walked in tonight the hostess was on phone. No problem except it was a personal call and she didn't stop the conversation. We asked for a table and she didn't know where to put us!?? Only 2 chefs for a very busy night. There was a table of employees "whining" behind a curtain right next to our table. Very disappointed. Too much $ for dirty dishes and unattentive staff except for our waiter and chef Juan who tried very hard.
(2)Tami P.
Shintos is a hidden gem. Great food, nice atmosphere & fabulous staff!! By far, the best sushi place in the burbs:) I refer ppl to go here all the time and I go on a regular basis because it's so great!
(5)Hayley H.
Although expensive, this trendy spot was a great! The design is stunning, the waiters, friendly and fun. Ask for a saki bomb and watch the fun ensue. The chef's were entertaining and worth every penny. Great place to celebrate any occasion, I went for my birthday and got a special treat at the end.
(4)Nicole D.
I went to Shinto on Wednesday with a friend and we wanted to take advantage of the Happy Hour offerings of discounted sushi & appetizers. Once we were sat we were given a sheet to fill out with our choices. One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when a server does not educate you on portions and just lets you order away only thinking about $$$ and not about making sure we have a good experience. First the drink we were told was on special that day ended up not being on special so the server just brought us some other mixed drink and said if we wanted the other we'd have to pay full price. Now to me the right thing to do would have been to give us the drink SHE mistakenly told us was on special and then if we wanted more that would be on us to pay full price. Food started coming out in a timely manner, however I was a but disappointed that yet agian our server did not take the time to make sure we got a variety of things off our list, instead we were stuck eating all our fried options together and by the time the sushi showed up maybe 30 mins later we were totally full. LITERALLY at least 5 times throughout our time there different servers/ food runners attempted to drop off plates of food that were not ours, VERY annoying to continually be interrupted to have to stop them from putting the food down on our table. Not once did our server stop by to acknowledge this repeated issue. Overall the food was good, our server was friendly, but there were definitely some things lacking from my experience. I'm not sure that I would go back to Shinto anytime soon, I honestly thought it fell a bit flat for the expectations I had of it.
(2)Kelli C.
I enjoyed my experience at Shinto, but I can't say it was fantastic. I went for a birthday dinner with the parents and we did the hibachi. Our servers were incredibly attentive and spot on, but our chef just did not interact with our table at all. It didn't feel like he really put on a show. He did the knives, onion volcano, egg trick and then cooked our food. That was pretty much it. I would have liked to see more, especially with the price of the food. The onion soup you get before the meal was very good and the salad was pretty tasty. While the food was very good and they do you give you a lot it, I would have liked to have had a better hibachi experience. If it is your birthday they bring you a "special dessert". The dessert was a deep fried cookie with ice cream. It was nice, but nothing to write home about. The decor is gorgeous. I didn't have a chance to try the sushi, but it looked very good. I think I would return to give the sushi a try, but not sure if I'd come back for the hibachi.
(3)Scott F.
Good service, great food, dishonest marketing practices and management. My first visit there I overheard someone being denied the ability to use a coupon (or groupon?) because they did not have a reservation. Seemed a little petty, but I assumed it was probably in the fine print and the customer didn't read it. Then my second visit I took my family with a $25 off $50 or more coupon that we received in a welcome packet after recently moving to a new neighborhood. The only fine print is that the coupon is not good on specials, and tip is not included. No problem. We enjoyed a very nice meal and ordered a few extra items than we normally would have since we had a free $25 to use. When I got the bill and gave the waiter the coupon, he informed me it was a holiday and they are not accepting coupons on holidays. I re read the fine print (no mention of not being valid on holidays), and asked if that policy was posted somewhere that I maybe didn't notice. Nope, not posted anywhere. I then asked the waiter to double check with the manager, which he gladly did. To no avail, the manager decided to enforce a policy that is not otherwise published or mentioned. And I was stick with a bill $25 larger than I expected when we chose to go to that restaurant. It's a shame as the food and service is really good. But I can't support a business that is not honest with their customers and doesn't honor their own promotions. During our meal, my wife and I were informally planning to return with a group of 8 friends in the next few weeks, but we will plan on somewhere else instead. Bottom line, don't expect any promotions or coupons to be honored. The food and service is great, but I wonder what else management won't do for their customers, for example if there is a problem with an order or a special request. For the high price you pay for a meal here, you should expect to leave completely satisfied. If that is your expectation as well, you might want to consider an alternative.
(2)Nikka A.
Their sushi & hibachi's really good. I only gave it 4 stars because of their service. You have to flag down the server if you need something. But definitely will be back because of the good food.
(4)Gayle B.
Whenever I come to the Aurora mall from Hoffman Estates, we have to come here for lunch. Very reasonable for excellent quality sushi and hibachi.
(5)James M.
So, every Monday is half price rolls. That was why we went in. My favorite roll is the spicy tuna. When we got in, I found that was not on the half price list, but they did still have a happy hour going, and it was on that list. The happy hour prices are ridiculous. My spicy tuna rolls were only $2.5. I have never seen them that cheap before. There was a nice ambiance and wasn't too loud. Some tables' lighting could have been better, but we had one that was well lit. Definitely going to go back.
(4)Alan L.
9/8 9pm - Sat at the bar, bartender was clearly stressed out he had an assistant that should never be allowed to be serve the public, attitude was obvious that he did not want to be there, slamming bottles, throwing things around the bar, etc. He was miffed that after 10 mins looking at the menu we asked to order he gave us the impression he was doing us a favor. Overall service was very slow, if you sat anywhere but the bar you got better service.. Seemed like the bar customers were a second thought and a bother. Ordered several appetizers, Terraki Calamari were very good, so good we ordered another order which came soggy and cold, they were sent back and the kitchen re fried them instead of making a new order, which resulted in them being burned and un edible, such a let down!! Admit your mistakes and correct them don't try hiding them because you will loose a customer for the cost of an order of Calamari !! That does not make any business sense.
(1)Erik H.
I'll add a corollary to my previous review. After writing my last review I was contacted by the manager, Kurtis, who apologized and offered a free meal. That was definitely appreciated. So my girlfriend, friend and I returned on a Saturday for lunch and we were greeted with some pretty good service and some pretty good food. I'm not naive about this whole situation but I thought I'd judge them on the quality of their food this time, and thanks to our server Shirin and chef Chris we had a great time. And the food didn't disappoint! While not entirely dissimilar to places such as Benihana and Japan 77, Shinto's main strengths lie in its breaking out of the mold of these other hibachi places. From the Jekyll & Hyde sushi roll with mango and jalapenos to the brownie fried in tempura batter, their creations have paid off in terms of flavor and presentation. I wouldn't recommend having a big event here, but come with a few friends for the lunch specials, the creative food or the live music and I think you'll be satisfied.
(3)Marissa B.
I love Shinto!! My sister and I originally started coming here because we LOVE their spider rolls and especially their crunchy spicy tuna rolls. Add on a side of edamame and a house salad with the ginger dressing, it is a great meal. I finally talked my boyfriend into eating here, and he loves it, too. Mondays are half priced rolls during happy hour, so if you can make it, that is the best night to come in! Service has never been an issue for me.
(5)Min C.
Solid food but overpriced booze for where (and what) it is. I still drink there--- every time.
(4)Ashray L.
Being a vegetarian, I was a bit circumspect of Japanese Cuisine. However, ever since my first visit to Shinto, I have almost become a regular. Try the Agedashi Tofu as an appetizer. It is amazing. There aren't many vegetarian entree options in Sushi (Cucumber and Avocados) and Hibachi (Unique Vegetarian Dinner). However, both the options are really very tasty and filling. The Hibachi quantity is huge as well (even after being a veggie hibachi) If you tell the Hibachi chef that you are vegetarian he would make the vegetarian dinner first before any meat touches the grill. All in all, this is one of the best Japanese places that I have been to and would definitely recommend it.
(4)Stefan K.
Tip #1, do not go until after the sun is down. The building faces west and the sun was blinding. Service was extremely slow all around. A huge pet peeve of mine is bad service. First the server took my drink order, then disappeared for 10 mins, only to return to inform me that they "Don't carry that". Not a HUGE deal, even though they should know what they stock. Order something else and wait another 10 mins. The bottle that I was given was room temp. Now either the bottle was JUST stocked and pulled to serve or sat and waited for a little too long in the sun before it made it's way to me. The food was nothing special at all. The place was nothing special at all. Not worth the effort.
(1)Amanda T.
I found myself in Naperville on a Thursday night not too long ago. Two ladyfriends and myself decided to stop in for some late-ish night sushi and drinks. We checked their website for the hours to make sure it was open and it said: "Afterhours Bar & Lounge: Open until 1am Thursday - Saturday Full Service Kitchen Dinners & Sushi Menu til 12:30 am Thursday - Saturday." [this was copied/pasted from Shinto's website] We got there around 9:30, sat at the bar, and ordered drink and only a few rolls, since we figured the kitchen was still open till 12:30. Sooo can someone please tell me why the kitchen closed at 10:15 and last call was at like 10:45?? It didn't look like that on the website, unless my eyes are fooling me-but I think not! And I have two other sets of eyes to back me up as well. I should have checked the hours on Yelp-it seems more accurate. Besides being completely blindsided by false advertising, the drinks are strong. This could be both a good or bad thing. And the rolls, well they're just sushi rolls. Nothing too spectacular about them. Just the average run of the mill sushi place.
(2)Christi F.
This place is wonderful. Our chef, Brad, was very entertaining and a great conversationalist! Wow can he cook! The fried rice was the best I've ever had. Also would recommend the calamari appetizer. So much fun, food was great and an overall great time. Also, love the decor!
(5)marc p.
Went to Shinto for New Years Eve this year. Made reservations for 2 the night before. We arrived a bit early and had a drink at the bar - a martini and a Sapporo - $22.00. Not complaining, it was a big beer and martini's are expensive. Got seated and ordered a sushi roll and our meals. The sushi roll arrived fifteen minutes later and within 5 minutes our soup AND salad was delivered. I don't know what the soup and salad came simultaneously, but it did and that was kind of annoying since we didn't want them at the same time and we definitely didn't want them 5 minutes after receiving our huge sushi roll. The roll was good though and the soup and salad were average. Chef came out and prepared our meals - the usual fair and games insued. Nothing different, nothing special. Food was good. Found it strange that they charge you an extra few dollars for fried rice on top of the $25.00 for chicken and steak combo dinner. Really? You can't just include fried rice?? Kiku does (another hibachi restaurant around the corner). On top of it, they filled the bowls of rice about 2/3, not even full. Moved over to the bar area for the celebration at midnight. The band was not good, at all. The tv's showed the countdown occurring and the dj came on the mic and said the tv's were wrong. umm, ok. People didn't hear him and counted down with the tv's anyway...some of the balloons dropped. After that, dj came on and started counting down, we all counted down again, more balloons dropped and it was the new year. Interesting, kind of a cluster. The bartenders proceeded to spray champaign from behind the bar all over the people around the bar. Some liked it, most didn't. It turned their floors into ice rinks. Nobody could walk on them without almost falling, including me and I wasn't drunk. We shuffled our way around and made our way out by 12:15. I definitely prefer Kiku. Been to Shinto before and it was ok, went back because they have a larger bar area and I wanted that for NYE. Probably won't be going back. Prefer the larger portions of Kiku, fried rice included, and just overall hibachi experience is a little nicer.
(2)Andrew T.
To me this is kind of standard Japanese steakhouse fare, albeit with a few distinguishing characteristics. Went here recently with some friends, and did the hibachi side of the restaurant. Menu is decent, although a tad spendy, I think. They do have some different items - the standard steak/chicken/tuna/scallops are there, but also white tuna, swordfish, and Kobe beef. The meal includes the rice and the veggies and also either shrimp flambe or a mushroom appetizer. By the way, if you pay the $60 price for Kobe beef only to have it assaulted by a crazy spatula slinging comedy chef - you're a fool. It's a bit nickel and dimey - fried rice is $3 more...and egg yolk topping (which looks kind of revolting) is $5 more. I definitely wanted fried rice, and so did everyone else at our table...that must be a real profit center for these guys. Standard stuff from the chef. Flipping knives and spatulas, spinning the egg around, the onion volcano, so on, so forth. This place did like to do a lot of flipping food in to people's mouths...which...is kind of annoying, if you ask me. Someone at a nearby table managed to miss the food with his mouth, bounce it off his face, and hit one of my friends. Hmm. There was also heavy emphasis on Sake bombs, which we discovered was because they were on special that night. The...um..."classy" (for lack of a better word) other folks at our table enjoyed them - we were even offered one, on the house, by our waiter (who did two himself at our table alone), which we all politely declined. The food was fine. Swordfish was a nice change, and it tasted good, but I'm not sure it was exceptional. Sides/veggies/rice/etc were all normal. All in all...totally decent, just nothing really different or exceptional. They do have a bar, which was rapidly turning in to the frattiest place in Naperville, outside of maybe Jimmy's in downtown. Lots of wifebeaters...I expected to see a lot of flowing Heineken. I assume they were subbing Sake bombs instead of Jaeger bombs. They were also setting up a DJ - I really can't comment on what that was like, as we left before it really got started. OK - whew. Basically, not a bad Japanese steakhouse, if you like that sort of thing. A tad pricey, but oh well. I'll have to try the sushi side next time - someone at our table did have an *incredible* looking roll, but based on the prices from that side of the menu, I bet it was a solid $20.
(3)Vanessa S.
I have to disagree with the former review - Go directly to Shinto, pass Kiku! Shinto made this ex city girl feel right at home. Great big bar, snotty staff, and loud dance music. Our bartender was great, and the martinis - go on Monday - all top shelf are only $5, were delicious! We had a variety of sushi rolls, there was nothing uber inventive, but the fish was fresh, and I really had no complaints about the food. Great place to go for drinks and sushi, it was pretty sparse, maybe because it is still so new. But it is way cheaper than Kiku, and it's nice to have a place with a pulse in the burbs.
(4)Joanne W.
Some very dear friends of mine took me here for a belated birthday dinner. My bff had heard good things and after a sushi hiatus, decided she was ready to give it another go. Yesss! I love me some sushi and and am happy to report that this cuisine is back on our list of dining options when going to grab a bite together. We had a pretty good experience at Shinto. We went on a Sunday and took advantage of some of their specials which included the Volcano roll and the Spicy Shinto roll. We also ordered the spicy tuna combo platter and a catepillar roll for good measure. Oh and we started with soup, seaweed salad and wasabi shumai. All of the rolls were quite tasty. I was partial to the Volcano roll while my bff favored the Catepillar roll. A couple different pieces of sashimi were served with the combo platter - they were OK, not great. We all enjoyed our soup - I had the onion soup with bits of fried onion and mushroom while my friends had the miso. The shumai was good also but I thought the wasabi dumpling was a bit too soggy. Shinto is kid friendly - don't let the modern and sleek decor fool you. We saw other patrons there with small children on the hibachi side of the restaurant. The bar area is pretty cool but I'm not sure how I felt about the gigantic bamboo fence. The service was adequate and the food came out speedily. Our total bill for all the food we ordered plus a glass of wine & a beer? A whopping $77 (without tip). Seriously, that is like $25 per person! We all agreed this this was a great value for the amount of food we received and were quite happy. We polished off everything and left with bellies full of Nemo. It was a glorious thing. I would definitely give Shinto another go and take advantage of their daily specials!
(4)Maggie C.
Did the Hibachi style and the chef had an awesome personality, but it made up for his lack of entertaining skills like some other chefs. The food was delicious and I did love the Sushi. However I was not happy about the service. The new guy in training was nicer (even though he accidentally spilled his tray of drinks). They were slow on replacing the napkins and the plates that was spilled on. Also, they weren't quick and didn't have a good eye on watching how we needed soy sauce w/our sushi, drinks to be refilled, take away empty dishes, or just overall checking in with how things are going throughout the meal. At the end, the waitress was putting everybody's food in take home boxes and forgot my friend with all this leftover sushi. Then, as we left there was a bunch workers and hostess chatting up and didn't say "Thank You, have a nice day." I would of expected those small warming touches at these nice restaurants, especially a Japanese restaurant. If they don't fix their service, then I'd rather go to Domo 77 w/ better service.
(2)Fran F.
Best sushi around! Great hibachi food, too! Happy hour specials are the best. A bit pricey but excellent!
(5)Denise M.
I got a coupon for this place from Goupon, and as a big fan of hibachi was looking forward to it. I ended up pretty disappointed, actually. We went on a Friday evening so it was pretty busy. We were told it'd be a 30 minute wait, so we sat at the bar... for about 45 minutes until I went up to the hostess stand to ask how much longer the wait was. They clearly forgot about us, because they told us we could be seated right away. The first hibachi table they brought us to turned out to be full, so we had to move again. We ordered an appetizer which never came; again, totally forgot about us. We asked the waitress about it after our main meal was finished cooking and she put the order in then. Finally at the end of the night, we got our check, and the coupon that I gave to the waitress after we were seated wasn't applied; I had to ask about and they ran my card twice; definitely going to make sure I don't get double charged. Despite this, the chef was good and the food was excellent. I got the white tuna and my bf got the swordfish steak, and both were delicious. The food wasn't enough to fix a bad first impression in service though.
(2)Devonie M.
Standard hibachi, which was good. I have visited several times and tried different sushi and sashimi and have never been impressed. The prices also are high. The decor and ambience of the restaurant is very cool, however. Also they have $5 martinis on Monday - an absolute win.
(2)Andrew B.
Happy hour makes for very high quality- low cost rolls... But you have to order a beverage. I just wanted water, but was required to order a beverage. It was wasteful and just didn't seem right.
(3)Todd H.
My fiancee and I came here for dinner on a Wed. We sat in the Hibachi area in hopes that we've found a new place to fill the void of our old fav of JMK Nippon in Rockford. I had the beef sashimi appetizer, which was good, but it advertised a Ginger wasabi dipping sauce that had no evidence of wasabi. I love spicy food and sauces so this was a huge disappointment (sauce wise. The beef was amazing). The mushroom soup was good, but my fiancee couldn't have it because it contained beef stock and she is vegetarian. The ginger dressing on the salad was tasty as well. Unfortunately, these were the best two things we had this night. With my fiancee being vegetarian, they tried their hardest to accommodate her, which was appreciated, but neglected to add her mushroom app in place of shrimp, and the amount of food in her "dinner" in no way equaled $17. I had the steak hibachi, which was ok. The steak wasn't very tender and wasn't seasoned well. Again, it wasn't worth the $24 charge. The dipping sauces we were given for our meal lacked character and flavor. One was a glorified applesauce, the other a mix of mayo and ketchup. I asked if there was a spicier sauce, and received sriacha. No cocktails, no dessert, 1/2 price app and our bill was $55. Not going back. Our chef was very personable and a lot of fun. Although, we felt we were being hurried out by our server, Heather.
(2)Lauren W.
I can't believe that this only has three stars (as of 7/22/11 at least)! First things first...if you want to try it out..definitely go on Tuesdays for dinner ($12 special) or during happy hour when sushi is half price (M-F 3-6 and Saturday 2-5..I think). I do this whenever I want sushi and I get a few different rolls and everything it's super cheap. Definitely try the Little Delicious. I think for the price it is great! I have been there four times so far, just got a Groupon to go back. I think I'm going next week..but yea, I loveee it :) I don't remember the service every time, but I do remember 2 of the times were exceptional. We had an AMAZING waitress our first time we went there (she helped us out with the perk card and stuff so we could get the best deals and told us about happy hour so we'd know when to come back) and a really nice guy another time. I don't really remember the service the other two times (not stellar and not bad, just average..I'm guessing).
(5)Ben B.
Excellent service. Good quality sushi!! Management was super!! Make sure your groupon is valid. We had a little trouble, although it was groupon's fault. Management fixed the everything!!! Great customer service!!!!
(5)Sara L.
Came here for my birthday dinner with my sisters not knowing it is hibachi place. At first I was thinking ..great I'm going to smell like food all night...sexyy!! Nope, we left the place not reeking of food! They have a smokeless hibachi grill system, which is pretty cool. The food was amazing! The sushi was fresh and tasted wonderful. I was surprised to see they do have caipirinhas....all I can say is yummster!! The service was great and the waiter was very attentive, I think we had two..who knows I was enjoying the food, drinks, and company too much!! I recommend this place and hopefully will be going back soon!!
(4)Emma W.
Oh Hibachi how I love you! I've been to all this chains and they left me wanting more..... Sure they can all make an onion train and flip shrimp tails into hats, but hows the food? Shinto was excellent! I had the steak and chicken with fried rice and veggies. Flavorful, tender and tasty! Huge perk, the drinks! I had a mouth watering chocolate martini and for those trying to stay health conscious while boozing there is a skinny drink menu. They also offer sushi rolling classes so if you feel like becoming a sushi ninja this would make an interesting outing.
(5)Mark T.
Called to place a pick-up order. Had to repeat my entire order three times, between two different employees, to get it right. Upon arriving, they gave me another customer's order. If I didn't study the receipt on the bag, I would have left with the wrong food. The sushi is mediocre at best. Naperville residents have no clue what sushi should look, smell, or taste like, so the quality continues to decrease in favor of increasing profits. Save yourself the money -- this place isn't worth it.
(2)Tak-seng L.
As always, I judge a sushi place first by the quality/value of the food and then by the ambiance and service. Overall, you should enjoy yourself at this place and be pleased with everything. They do have several hibachi grills and while we haven't sat at one yet, they look like they do the tradition justice. The chefs are doin' their thing, flippin' the food around and making things ignite. When it's really busy those grills really do heat up the place so don't be surprised if this happens on a busy night. The few times that I've been here I've sat at the bar and had a good time chatting with the bartenders and hangin' out. They have a Buddha drink (called the Buda...?) and you get a souvenir glass...I didn't want it and sadly, they just throw them out (boo! Recycle people!). But the drink was tasty with sake and cucumber flavor. The sake's are good and they have a nice selection. Of course, I always go by my hot sake standby. As for the food, the value is pretty good but not the greatest. However, the fish is fresh and of good quality. What tells me this is how the octopus (tako) goes down. If it's really chewy and tough...not a good sign. But you're good to go here. The portions are fair but the price is a little high in my opinion. I've had sashimi, some basic rolls and chirashi (raw fish piled on sushi rice). All of it was very good. The ambiance is definitely more trendy and they have a large circular bar in the middle, which is kinda fun. I've sat mostly here and they haven't minded me hanging out for a while as I journal. The music in the place is also a little trendy...kinda club-like and they sometimes have a dj. It definitely has a suburban bar scene feel to it with a mix of late 20's and 30's crowd. While I love places like this, the clientele don't quite give off that laid back and chill vibe you're gonna get when you hang out in the City but it's not too bad nonetheless. The reasons I didn't give this a 5 star is because of the value of the food, the layout of the place (big open spaces that have minimal divisions to it so the coziness factor takes a nose-dive) and the vibe of the clientele. Of course, the restaurant can't do much about the clientele but if you're laid back and know that City chill feel...then please become a regular like I have! If you see me there at the bar, stop on by. :)
(4)Tonitini C.
even with the yelp deal, it was still a bit pricey especially if you don't consider the happy hour "menu". this, and like any other hibachi grill, is of course, ALWAYS good. at night, it gets really packed on both sides, hibachi and sushi lounge side. I do recommend this as a place to quickly grab drinks after work with friends. It's a local japanese fix for the people who live close to naperville and aurora and right off of 59.
(5)Elizabeth A.
Loooooove this place ... Had a sushi roll that I can't remember the name of but it was a house specialty and was amazing ! Can't wait to go back
(5)Kelle V.
Our chef was impressive, showing us some moves we hadn't seen before. Not much of a wait for an early Friday night, and the food was good. Definitely in the top couple of Japanese steakhouses we've been to.
(4)Anita M.
Smokeless & odorless hibachi- what a rare and awesome find! I've always passed by and finally got the chance to give Shinto a try for my sister's birthday. The place is very spacious and fits well into the Naperville as a trendy spot for after hour drinks and dinner. Upon walking in we were greeted by friendly hosts and seated on the hibachi side right away. There's a neat circular bar that sits between the two rooms-with the left side for hibachi and the other for those who only want to order sushi and or appetizers. We decided on hibachi for dinner and choose the strip steak and scallops. Both were cooked very well and very flavorful. Our chef was very funny and entertaining too. It was a little confusing because we had 2 servers but overall the service was very good. With its big space, its a great place for larger parties and from what I could see they even have a private section which I assume you can request. Great food and drinks- I will be back to try more!
(4)Robin G.
The food was very good. The service was very slow. They have a real scam going on. On Mondays, specialty rolls are half price. When we got our bill, a $17 roll was billed at $9 and a $15 was billed at $8. When I called it to their attention they said they ROUND UP! If they do that several times a day for several people, that's some nice extra money they're receiving. CHECK YOU'RE BILL!
(3)Rachell E.
Not a fan of Shinto. The first time I went, I thought that maybe it was just a bad night there and that the service and sushi weren't really as bad as they were. I was wrong, tried them again and the service was equally as bad, and this time I had hibachi only. The rolls I had were mushy because the rice wasn't prepared correctly and I couldn't taste the fish or other ingredients. They hibachi was good but the sauces to dip were HORRIBLE!!! I mentioned to the chef that I should've chosen to go to my normal hibachi place and he said 'me too, I'm glad there are so many other choices in this area, More choices for you, More choices for me'. I guess he isn't to happy at Shinto either, lol. Dinner for 2, no drinks, plus tip averaged 80 dollars.
(2)Dayna C.
Love this place...go there often with sisters/girlfriends for sushi. I highly recommend the Little Delicious...definitely my favorite sushi roll on the menu! Service is always prompt and friendly too.
(5)Jordan T.
Awesome! Normally when people suggest hibachi I think "oh great, I'm going to spend almost $100 on just myself, to sweat over my mediocre asian stir fry." Not the case here. Shinto is an awesome dining experience. I went in with my boyfriend the night of the blizzard which gives them 5 stars to start with because they were the only thing open! They have awesome, extremely fresh food that is reasonably priced. For two people we walked out at right around $100. We had an appetizer, a bottle of wine and hibachi. The staff was super fun and friendly. They have a very nicely decorated restaurant AND they actually made a great investment in a really good ventillation system. You aren't sweating from heat the entire meal, and you don't walk out smelling like smoke. If you're in Naperville- definitely stop in! Make sure you swing by the bar for a cocktail first as well, the bartenders rock.
(5)Kelli Ann L.
I wish there were 1/2 stars...I would go with 3.5 - but I would rather UP it than take away. It is a bit overpriced for the size of the rolls - BUT - the ADD ON option is really great! There is an awful lot of crab on the menu.....which is an issue for me - and alot of tempura or fried things - harder to find rolls with just fish, etc....and the wait staff should know what is imitation versus real crab....because I had something that was real...and they thought it was not - they should have asked. I was impressed that we did NOT smell like sushi or hibachi when we left....the environment is really cute and well kept and clean and everyone is very polite. They are a little slow with service, but we did also show up on a Friday evening at 6 pm - we were immediately seated without a reservation, and it was overall a very good experience. The best thing is - EVERYTHING was FRESH and TASTY! So - in an area with very little options for sushi - they COULD have allowed the taste to suffer...they did not. We did not have drinks - but looking around - EVERYONE seemed to really be enjoying them - so.....if I am ever back in the area - I will stop in and try one - and have a yummy roll. The miso soup was also quite tasty!!!
(4)Janet B.
Naperville is such a big place that, even tho we are sushi lovers, we had never gone this far north. We probably never would have made it except my husband had bid on gift certificates in a charity auction. But it was worth the trip! We chose the hibachi side of this spacious restaurant but supplemented our meal with amazing sushi rolls. On the grill we had chicken, steak and scallops. All were tender & flavorful. Our waiter kept our drink glasses full which is our ultimate test of service. We plan to return for sushi happy hour!
(5)Daniel L.
New menu, new style. Same old AWESOMENESS!
(5)Joedel G.
I got a deal from Groupon thats why we came to this place. We've seen this place before but never visited. As soon as we entered we were greeted right away and given an option for a hibachi or sushi, we've choosen sushi since I have always a craving for this. Our server came and gave us some menu options since our first time on that place. His name is Kevin and he even asked me if we have groupon. Very pleasant and attentive server. We ordered a couple of drinks, the sake was good, not overwhelming, of course my wife had a moscato d' asti her favorite. We ordered a teriyaki glazed calamari which is very tender and sweet, I liked it. Kevin recommended the Geisha sushi platter and I upgraded it with some red and white tuna sashimi, yumm..really the white tuna melts in my mouth, very fresh and tasty. The Geisha is very good, i like the salmon mixed it with some crispy shrimp and lightly covered with creamy ingredients, the texture is phenominal. The vegetable tempura is just okay. Kevin is so good that he even poured my Sapporo nicely to the glass, very smooth and perfect for the sushi. This place is spacious and not crowded, parking is easy, price is not so bad, $ 100 a dinner for two. Recommended and I will come back.
(4)James H.
Took my family there in October 2011, two of us got food poisoning from steak. We called to inform them and did not receive a call back. A friend went last week and got food poisoning after eating sushi. Will never go back here again.
(1)Tina P.
Expensive menu items in a crowded, club-like atmosphere. A little to trendy for my taste, with the dance music blaring louder than the conversation. In all honestly there are better Japanese Steakhouses for your money. The food is comparable to other Hibachi places in the area-maybe even a little better-but it did not make up for the long wait and poor service. We made reservations for 8pm and were not seated until 8:30. The Hibachi chef did not show up for another 40 minutes after that. When he did show up, he was not playful or funny like a typical Hibachi chef. There was no smiling and no throwing of shrimp, etc. The sushi was very tasty, but extremely overpriced at $15 per roll. When the meal was finally finished, we were there two and a half hours, with no apology from the waitstaff or management. I would definitely recommend other popular Hibachi restaurants in the Fox Valley area over this one.
(2)Cecille A.
I've been to this place twice since they opened. It's a very nice and spacious place compared to other sushi places I've been to in the area. It has a very trendy and contemporary vibe, like you're at a nightclub in the city. The circular bar area is cool and I like the bamboo decor I went, when it wasn't very busy... maybe 3 or 4 other guests, but it was the middle of the afternoon. The sushi that we ordered was very good. I like that there is a huge selection on their menu. Overall, it was a good experience and I'd come back again.
(4)Vladimir D.
first Let me state that I'm a pretty laid back, easy to please person. I called on Friday night to make a reservation for the next weds at 8pm, and told the woman on the phone that we wanted to do hibachi, but were not sure if it would be possible since i have an allergy to shellfish, and cant have anything even PREPPED on the same table as shellfish, she assured me this wouldn't be a problem. i also asked if our party of three was enough for hibachi, as some places are anywhere from 6-12 per table. she swore up and down it was fine, and we would have a table reserved. i told her on the phone that i did not want to have to wait for more than 5 minutes for a table as it was my girlfriends GOLDEN birthday (28). again, she swears up and down it wont be a problem. i figure OK great. we show up at 7:45pm (a bit early), but we both got done with our earlier plans. I was a bit taken back by the fact they were blasting techno dance music in there. as if the bar and restaurant were some trendy upscale night club (news flash, YOU'RE NOT). i wanted to leave and go to the Palmer house, where i could have gotten my usual table, but she really wanted sushi and heard great things about Shinto. so the two of us went in (her best friend had a sick kid, so 1 less in our party). i was told by the hostess that they were waiting for the table to clear and it would be about 15mins before we were seated. OK since we were early. but 8:05 comes around and no seating. i take a quick gander in the hibachi section, and not only are there open tables/grills, but NO TABLE is done eating or being cleaned. wtf?? i asked how long it would be, and she said again, 10 minutes. i was ready to leave but since my gf had her heart set on Shinto, and its her birthday we stayed around. we were not seated until 8:35pm (i was checking my watch the whole time). two other couples who had made reservations were seated with us, and had been waiting almost as long. why this was necessary was never explained to me, as they had plenty of open grills and tables. we were brought some water and told our waiter would be by shortly. 25mins later, a hostess came by and took our drink orders cause the waiter never came by. we waited 18minutes before our drinks came, and even then there was no soda of any kind cause they had no Co2. wtf kind of place has this issue at 8:30 on a weds night? finally at 9:04pm she came back and took our orders. again my gf mentioned my shellfish allergy and we were told no problem. our chef came out with everything ready to go, only to find the grill hadn't been turned on. i mean seriously now, WTF!!!! i flat out said out loud "we should have went to the Palmer house" i was quite loud and i know everyone in hibachi heard me. i was (and still am) quite pissed about this. i realize its not the chefs fault but seriously who runs this place, a chimp?? so after our brief show, we were served our food (which was really good, i will commend the chef on that. When we were given plates, i noticed that there was something or other on my girlfriends (and also on 2 other plates at the table) and it took 5 minutes for them to bring clean dishes to us. i mean who wants to eat on dirty dishes in a supposedly upscale restaurant? i can not forgive the horrible service that night. the manager on duty came by and took off all the drinks for the whole table (which was separate checks) which i was also quick to point out to him we never got more than one drink. seriously she had A BEER and i had A MARTINI. never offered another drink, refill, anything of the such. not even another water..and i had asked for one 2 times. so he also gave us a complimentary sushi roll. which would have been fine except for 1 important detail which he neglected to mention when asked, there is SHELLFISH IN THE SUSHI ROLLS. so after a shit-tastic night costing me 59.00, i had to go to the emergency room because of either 1) ignorance, or 2) laziness, and almost died. thank you Shinto for ruining my girlfriends golden birthday and damn near killing me in the process.
(1)Laura T.
I absolutely love Shinto! Their sushi and hibachi are always delicious, the service outstanding, and the ambiance very relaxing ... especially after a long day at work. You would never know such a nice restaurant was located in an unflattering strip mall off of a busy intersection on Rt 59. I'd say that's it's only downfall. I've gone there after work with my husband and friends for dinner and drinks, and I've also brought my family, including small children who absolutely loved watching the very entertaining and talented hibachi chefs, and my father who doesn't like anything but homemade italian food ... Everyone was pleased! I also always find coupon deals on restaurant.com which really helps with the cost. Unfortunately, most good sushi is on the pricey side, so that helps.
(4)Niki M.
uhh I feel sick. We just ate there tonight and let me tell you... not so good. The sushi in one word gross. Either way to much cream cheese or no flavor at all. We also had hibachi grill...horrible. The fried rice was flavorless and i had garlic shrimp, basically i do not recommend that, i cant even explain the flavor. We normally eat at Kiku (view my other review) and kiku is way way way better. Not only is the food gross but it is way overpriced 190 for 4 of us. Seriously skip shinto an try kiku.
(1)Dee E.
I went to Shinto for the first time tonight and I really enjoyed it! I like Kiku, but I think I prefer Shinto. Sushi rolls are original and high quality. The cocktails are killer. I recommend and will definitely be back.
(4)Yvonne M.
Went here on Tuesday which is $12 hibachi day!! The food was wonderful, the service was good and the overall atmosphere was fantastic! We had a really good time and I'd like to go back soon!
(5)G L.
We had lunch at Shinto and unfortunately we were really disappointed--there is much better sushi in Naperville and I would drive the extra mile to find it. The waitress and staff were very friendly which actually saved the place; however, the fish was, well, just bad. When you pay $17 for a roll, I expect not only really great, high quality fish, I also expect to get a fair amount of it. (As an aside, $17 for a roll is crazy expensive--even Japonais doesn't step on the price that much! . . .lol Unfortunately, the sushi chefs that prepared the rolls the day we were there were very, very light on the fish. In defense of Shinto, it seems like it may be a fun place to grab drinks at the huge bar and we did not dine in the Hibachi room--so the cooked food may be better. If I were to go back, (albeit not likely) I would go that route and avoid the sushi all together.
(2)Mark P.
I signed up to Yelp just to comment on this restaurant. We have visited several Japanese restaurants as it is our favorite fare and I must say, this is the worst we have been to. Our favorite is "Ron of Japan" and we frequent "Tairyo" as we know the manager and the food is good. The sushi here was decent, but there was fish eggs on the california roll and our kids would not eat it. Never saw that before. The cook was arrogant and not very helpful. Not a very good cook either. The fried rice was flavorless, except for the fact that there was way too much salt. $11.00 for a small sake? Crazy! It was over $200 for two adults and two kids under twelve. My wife ordered a Lobster tail and they brought two tiny tails. They charged us $48 for "Twin Lobster tails". The Chicken was drowned in sauce. They didn't even have Katsup, which my 8-year old likes with her chicken. It was really just a bad experience. The waitress was decent enough. Definitely not worth the Money and the portions are small. Will not return. Sorry. There are much, much better places.
(1)Fozzy B.
I was put off by how the "greeter" asked if we had a reservation. We said no, she says nothing and makes a dumbfounded expression. Then she and her two associates decide to speak after several seconds of silence. They say you can sit at the sushi bar "it's cramped but it's open there". We pass and say we want an actual table. They ask "sushi or other". We say both. They are dumbfounded and begin to ask us the same question three times. I guess it's too hard to get a table for two and be served sushi and beef at the same time. I understand the concept of hibachi, but that's not the point here. Then after getting through to them, they say a wait time of 20 min. We say that's fine and stand there. Since the "greeters" did not even try to say "go ahead and have a drink at the bar and I will come over to let you know when the table is ready", we go ahead ourselves. Bartender was excellent and nice. "Greeter" says "table ready" and heads us over to hibachi grill. Uh ok. We just wanted a freakin table for two. WTF. Server was excellent though. But sushi was ok (hit or miss). Meat was standard. Price was high for a joint sandwiched between the gas station and rental car. Do a favor to yourself and check out Zaidi's Sushi & Steak further south on 59 rt. They are what Shinto is striving to be. Shinto ownership must realize the importance of a welcoming atmosphere BEFORE getting seated. This is fine in the city, but when half the clientele is over 50 in a Eddie Bauer parka, they should recognize what they're doing behind that gas station over there. Enough said.
(2)Kush D.
Pretty sub par when it comes to Teppanyaki. Felt rushed...how many times have your gone to a Teppanyaki joint, and finished in a 35 minutes? Food was very bland. The ginger sauce left much to be desired. If you're coming from the city or north, head to Tsukasa or Ron of Japan instead.
(2)Chris R.
Love this place!!! They offer an extensive menu and everything we ordered was delicious. The decor is very modern and there is separate seating areas for dining options. Only complaint- the lights are very dim. If you like sushi this is the place in Naperville!
(5)Stephanie C.
I made a reservation at Shinto for my friends bachelorette party for 7 people. They asked if I wanted them to decorate for me before I got there so I agreed, and they did an awesome job! They put out balloons, confetti and cute favors for everybody, and they didn't even charge me for it! The waiter was fantastic, and I really wish I remember his name. He was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu, including the massive list of delicious drinks, and made great recommendations. We ordered the party platter of sushi, which included chef's choice of nigiri and sashimi, plus you were able to choose 5 rolls to add - a luxury that's not afforded at most sushi restaurants. All the food was great and the presentation was perfect - also, all for $90!! For serving 5-6 people at a sushi restaurant, the price can't be beat. The inside is very trendy and made for a fun atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anybody and will definitely be going back. Thanks Shinto!!
(5)Dwayne H.
I concur with previous reviews that this is pretty standard stuff. The only problem I had was that the service was really off that night...mostly the sequencing of dishes. The restaurant has a great open feeling to it though I'm not a fan of the fake bamboo--that stuff grows like a weed, so why not the real thing?! The bar area looked neat--big, circular bar with good lighting. Our waiter, Frankie, was very nice, but we got the feeling that he was rather new. He couldn't answer many questions about the dishes and what was included. We were a table of three. We ordered appetizers. Two of us ordered one of the sushi-sashimi combination dinners and the other had the terriyaki salmon. The menu indicated the sushi-sashimi platter was for two people with miso soup and salad included. Frankie told us later that it was either or after having brought us the soup (onion vice the miso which was awful--tasted like salted beef broth). Soup and edamame came out first followed by the main courses and then the other appetizer. The salmon terriyaki was rather flavorless. Everything seemed to arrive within about a 10 minute span of time. I'd recommend ordering as you want to be served to prevent this from happening. The highlight of the evening though was that they offered 1/2 price wine on Thursday nights and the selection/prices were very reasonable. Skip the Japanese tempura-style ice cream desserts. It comes out as an oil-soaked, soggy casing over rather bland vanilla ice cream.
(2)Mike U.
My second time here, went just to the Sushi bar. Some pretty interesting rolls available, but the more basic stuff like the sashimi and nigiri itself were kind of average. Last time I was here we had the Habachi which was pretty good, a couple of notches above a Benihana, but I'm still on the look out for a knockout sushi place in the west burbs.
(3)a n.
This place has amazing Hibachi and Sushi. Great place to go to for happy hours right after work and before 7pm, and their Sunday & Monday sushi specials is a great value. Glad we found it in it's semi hidden location.
(4)Andi B.
Bought the groupon for Shinto despite all the negative reviews. I thought this place was great! We went late on a Sunday afternoon and the service was excellent and fast. The prices seemed a bit pricey but probably about the same as other sushi places in Naperville. The nigiri was perfect. The seaweed salad was yummy. We tried the Little Delicious Roll, which was awesome with a little kick. The only negative was the spicy tuna roll. My boyfriend gets the spicy tuna roll every sushi place we go and he said theirs was a bit too spicy. He loves spicy food, but thought it was too spicy for sushi. Wish we bought more groupons, but will definitely go back - they have plenty of special rolls to try. The decor was stylish and modern, but there was a fountain that was a bit too loud. Overall if you are concerned with having a fast dinner, try going at an off-peak time. Delicious sushi - we even saw a sign that they offer sushi making classes that we will look into doing sometime too!
(4)Ashley G.
The sushi and hibachi are great. the smokless tables don't leave you clothes and hair smelling like oil and smoke. they have a huge cocktail and wine list as well, so there is something for everyone. Great place to go with a group of people.
(5)Scott F.
Good service, great food, dishonest marketing practices and management. My first visit there I overheard someone being denied the ability to use a coupon (or groupon?) because they did not have a reservation. Seemed a little petty, but I assumed it was probably in the fine print and the customer didn't read it. Then my second visit I took my family with a $25 off $50 or more coupon that we received in a welcome packet after recently moving to a new neighborhood. The only fine print is that the coupon is not good on specials, and tip is not included. No problem. We enjoyed a very nice meal and ordered a few extra items than we normally would have since we had a free $25 to use. When I got the bill and gave the waiter the coupon, he informed me it was a holiday and they are not accepting coupons on holidays. I re read the fine print (no mention of not being valid on holidays), and asked if that policy was posted somewhere that I maybe didn't notice. Nope, not posted anywhere. I then asked the waiter to double check with the manager, which he gladly did. To no avail, the manager decided to enforce a policy that is not otherwise published or mentioned. And I was stick with a bill $25 larger than I expected when we chose to go to that restaurant. It's a shame as the food and service is really good. But I can't support a business that is not honest with their customers and doesn't honor their own promotions. During our meal, my wife and I were informally planning to return with a group of 8 friends in the next few weeks, but we will plan on somewhere else instead. Bottom line, don't expect any promotions or coupons to be honored. The food and service is great, but I wonder what else management won't do for their customers, for example if there is a problem with an order or a special request. For the high price you pay for a meal here, you should expect to leave completely satisfied. If that is your expectation as well, you might want to consider an alternative.
(2)Alan L.
9/8 9pm - Sat at the bar, bartender was clearly stressed out he had an assistant that should never be allowed to be serve the public, attitude was obvious that he did not want to be there, slamming bottles, throwing things around the bar, etc. He was miffed that after 10 mins looking at the menu we asked to order he gave us the impression he was doing us a favor. Overall service was very slow, if you sat anywhere but the bar you got better service.. Seemed like the bar customers were a second thought and a bother. Ordered several appetizers, Terraki Calamari were very good, so good we ordered another order which came soggy and cold, they were sent back and the kitchen re fried them instead of making a new order, which resulted in them being burned and un edible, such a let down!! Admit your mistakes and correct them don't try hiding them because you will loose a customer for the cost of an order of Calamari !! That does not make any business sense.
(1)Erik H.
I'll add a corollary to my previous review. After writing my last review I was contacted by the manager, Kurtis, who apologized and offered a free meal. That was definitely appreciated. So my girlfriend, friend and I returned on a Saturday for lunch and we were greeted with some pretty good service and some pretty good food. I'm not naive about this whole situation but I thought I'd judge them on the quality of their food this time, and thanks to our server Shirin and chef Chris we had a great time. And the food didn't disappoint! While not entirely dissimilar to places such as Benihana and Japan 77, Shinto's main strengths lie in its breaking out of the mold of these other hibachi places. From the Jekyll & Hyde sushi roll with mango and jalapenos to the brownie fried in tempura batter, their creations have paid off in terms of flavor and presentation. I wouldn't recommend having a big event here, but come with a few friends for the lunch specials, the creative food or the live music and I think you'll be satisfied.
(3)Marissa B.
I love Shinto!! My sister and I originally started coming here because we LOVE their spider rolls and especially their crunchy spicy tuna rolls. Add on a side of edamame and a house salad with the ginger dressing, it is a great meal. I finally talked my boyfriend into eating here, and he loves it, too. Mondays are half priced rolls during happy hour, so if you can make it, that is the best night to come in! Service has never been an issue for me.
(5)Min C.
Solid food but overpriced booze for where (and what) it is. I still drink there--- every time.
(4)Ashray L.
Being a vegetarian, I was a bit circumspect of Japanese Cuisine. However, ever since my first visit to Shinto, I have almost become a regular. Try the Agedashi Tofu as an appetizer. It is amazing. There aren't many vegetarian entree options in Sushi (Cucumber and Avocados) and Hibachi (Unique Vegetarian Dinner). However, both the options are really very tasty and filling. The Hibachi quantity is huge as well (even after being a veggie hibachi) If you tell the Hibachi chef that you are vegetarian he would make the vegetarian dinner first before any meat touches the grill. All in all, this is one of the best Japanese places that I have been to and would definitely recommend it.
(4)Stefan K.
Tip #1, do not go until after the sun is down. The building faces west and the sun was blinding. Service was extremely slow all around. A huge pet peeve of mine is bad service. First the server took my drink order, then disappeared for 10 mins, only to return to inform me that they "Don't carry that". Not a HUGE deal, even though they should know what they stock. Order something else and wait another 10 mins. The bottle that I was given was room temp. Now either the bottle was JUST stocked and pulled to serve or sat and waited for a little too long in the sun before it made it's way to me. The food was nothing special at all. The place was nothing special at all. Not worth the effort.
(1)Amanda T.
I found myself in Naperville on a Thursday night not too long ago. Two ladyfriends and myself decided to stop in for some late-ish night sushi and drinks. We checked their website for the hours to make sure it was open and it said: "Afterhours Bar & Lounge: Open until 1am Thursday - Saturday Full Service Kitchen Dinners & Sushi Menu til 12:30 am Thursday - Saturday." [this was copied/pasted from Shinto's website] We got there around 9:30, sat at the bar, and ordered drink and only a few rolls, since we figured the kitchen was still open till 12:30. Sooo can someone please tell me why the kitchen closed at 10:15 and last call was at like 10:45?? It didn't look like that on the website, unless my eyes are fooling me-but I think not! And I have two other sets of eyes to back me up as well. I should have checked the hours on Yelp-it seems more accurate. Besides being completely blindsided by false advertising, the drinks are strong. This could be both a good or bad thing. And the rolls, well they're just sushi rolls. Nothing too spectacular about them. Just the average run of the mill sushi place.
(2)Christi F.
This place is wonderful. Our chef, Brad, was very entertaining and a great conversationalist! Wow can he cook! The fried rice was the best I've ever had. Also would recommend the calamari appetizer. So much fun, food was great and an overall great time. Also, love the decor!
(5)marc p.
Went to Shinto for New Years Eve this year. Made reservations for 2 the night before. We arrived a bit early and had a drink at the bar - a martini and a Sapporo - $22.00. Not complaining, it was a big beer and martini's are expensive. Got seated and ordered a sushi roll and our meals. The sushi roll arrived fifteen minutes later and within 5 minutes our soup AND salad was delivered. I don't know what the soup and salad came simultaneously, but it did and that was kind of annoying since we didn't want them at the same time and we definitely didn't want them 5 minutes after receiving our huge sushi roll. The roll was good though and the soup and salad were average. Chef came out and prepared our meals - the usual fair and games insued. Nothing different, nothing special. Food was good. Found it strange that they charge you an extra few dollars for fried rice on top of the $25.00 for chicken and steak combo dinner. Really? You can't just include fried rice?? Kiku does (another hibachi restaurant around the corner). On top of it, they filled the bowls of rice about 2/3, not even full. Moved over to the bar area for the celebration at midnight. The band was not good, at all. The tv's showed the countdown occurring and the dj came on the mic and said the tv's were wrong. umm, ok. People didn't hear him and counted down with the tv's anyway...some of the balloons dropped. After that, dj came on and started counting down, we all counted down again, more balloons dropped and it was the new year. Interesting, kind of a cluster. The bartenders proceeded to spray champaign from behind the bar all over the people around the bar. Some liked it, most didn't. It turned their floors into ice rinks. Nobody could walk on them without almost falling, including me and I wasn't drunk. We shuffled our way around and made our way out by 12:15. I definitely prefer Kiku. Been to Shinto before and it was ok, went back because they have a larger bar area and I wanted that for NYE. Probably won't be going back. Prefer the larger portions of Kiku, fried rice included, and just overall hibachi experience is a little nicer.
(2)James M.
So, every Monday is half price rolls. That was why we went in. My favorite roll is the spicy tuna. When we got in, I found that was not on the half price list, but they did still have a happy hour going, and it was on that list. The happy hour prices are ridiculous. My spicy tuna rolls were only $2.5. I have never seen them that cheap before. There was a nice ambiance and wasn't too loud. Some tables' lighting could have been better, but we had one that was well lit. Definitely going to go back.
(4)Hayley H.
Although expensive, this trendy spot was a great! The design is stunning, the waiters, friendly and fun. Ask for a saki bomb and watch the fun ensue. The chef's were entertaining and worth every penny. Great place to celebrate any occasion, I went for my birthday and got a special treat at the end.
(4)Andrew T.
To me this is kind of standard Japanese steakhouse fare, albeit with a few distinguishing characteristics. Went here recently with some friends, and did the hibachi side of the restaurant. Menu is decent, although a tad spendy, I think. They do have some different items - the standard steak/chicken/tuna/scallops are there, but also white tuna, swordfish, and Kobe beef. The meal includes the rice and the veggies and also either shrimp flambe or a mushroom appetizer. By the way, if you pay the $60 price for Kobe beef only to have it assaulted by a crazy spatula slinging comedy chef - you're a fool. It's a bit nickel and dimey - fried rice is $3 more...and egg yolk topping (which looks kind of revolting) is $5 more. I definitely wanted fried rice, and so did everyone else at our table...that must be a real profit center for these guys. Standard stuff from the chef. Flipping knives and spatulas, spinning the egg around, the onion volcano, so on, so forth. This place did like to do a lot of flipping food in to people's mouths...which...is kind of annoying, if you ask me. Someone at a nearby table managed to miss the food with his mouth, bounce it off his face, and hit one of my friends. Hmm. There was also heavy emphasis on Sake bombs, which we discovered was because they were on special that night. The...um..."classy" (for lack of a better word) other folks at our table enjoyed them - we were even offered one, on the house, by our waiter (who did two himself at our table alone), which we all politely declined. The food was fine. Swordfish was a nice change, and it tasted good, but I'm not sure it was exceptional. Sides/veggies/rice/etc were all normal. All in all...totally decent, just nothing really different or exceptional. They do have a bar, which was rapidly turning in to the frattiest place in Naperville, outside of maybe Jimmy's in downtown. Lots of wifebeaters...I expected to see a lot of flowing Heineken. I assume they were subbing Sake bombs instead of Jaeger bombs. They were also setting up a DJ - I really can't comment on what that was like, as we left before it really got started. OK - whew. Basically, not a bad Japanese steakhouse, if you like that sort of thing. A tad pricey, but oh well. I'll have to try the sushi side next time - someone at our table did have an *incredible* looking roll, but based on the prices from that side of the menu, I bet it was a solid $20.
(3)Vanessa S.
I have to disagree with the former review - Go directly to Shinto, pass Kiku! Shinto made this ex city girl feel right at home. Great big bar, snotty staff, and loud dance music. Our bartender was great, and the martinis - go on Monday - all top shelf are only $5, were delicious! We had a variety of sushi rolls, there was nothing uber inventive, but the fish was fresh, and I really had no complaints about the food. Great place to go for drinks and sushi, it was pretty sparse, maybe because it is still so new. But it is way cheaper than Kiku, and it's nice to have a place with a pulse in the burbs.
(4)Joanne W.
Some very dear friends of mine took me here for a belated birthday dinner. My bff had heard good things and after a sushi hiatus, decided she was ready to give it another go. Yesss! I love me some sushi and and am happy to report that this cuisine is back on our list of dining options when going to grab a bite together. We had a pretty good experience at Shinto. We went on a Sunday and took advantage of some of their specials which included the Volcano roll and the Spicy Shinto roll. We also ordered the spicy tuna combo platter and a catepillar roll for good measure. Oh and we started with soup, seaweed salad and wasabi shumai. All of the rolls were quite tasty. I was partial to the Volcano roll while my bff favored the Catepillar roll. A couple different pieces of sashimi were served with the combo platter - they were OK, not great. We all enjoyed our soup - I had the onion soup with bits of fried onion and mushroom while my friends had the miso. The shumai was good also but I thought the wasabi dumpling was a bit too soggy. Shinto is kid friendly - don't let the modern and sleek decor fool you. We saw other patrons there with small children on the hibachi side of the restaurant. The bar area is pretty cool but I'm not sure how I felt about the gigantic bamboo fence. The service was adequate and the food came out speedily. Our total bill for all the food we ordered plus a glass of wine & a beer? A whopping $77 (without tip). Seriously, that is like $25 per person! We all agreed this this was a great value for the amount of food we received and were quite happy. We polished off everything and left with bellies full of Nemo. It was a glorious thing. I would definitely give Shinto another go and take advantage of their daily specials!
(4)Maggie C.
Did the Hibachi style and the chef had an awesome personality, but it made up for his lack of entertaining skills like some other chefs. The food was delicious and I did love the Sushi. However I was not happy about the service. The new guy in training was nicer (even though he accidentally spilled his tray of drinks). They were slow on replacing the napkins and the plates that was spilled on. Also, they weren't quick and didn't have a good eye on watching how we needed soy sauce w/our sushi, drinks to be refilled, take away empty dishes, or just overall checking in with how things are going throughout the meal. At the end, the waitress was putting everybody's food in take home boxes and forgot my friend with all this leftover sushi. Then, as we left there was a bunch workers and hostess chatting up and didn't say "Thank You, have a nice day." I would of expected those small warming touches at these nice restaurants, especially a Japanese restaurant. If they don't fix their service, then I'd rather go to Domo 77 w/ better service.
(2)Fran F.
Best sushi around! Great hibachi food, too! Happy hour specials are the best. A bit pricey but excellent!
(5)Denise M.
I got a coupon for this place from Goupon, and as a big fan of hibachi was looking forward to it. I ended up pretty disappointed, actually. We went on a Friday evening so it was pretty busy. We were told it'd be a 30 minute wait, so we sat at the bar... for about 45 minutes until I went up to the hostess stand to ask how much longer the wait was. They clearly forgot about us, because they told us we could be seated right away. The first hibachi table they brought us to turned out to be full, so we had to move again. We ordered an appetizer which never came; again, totally forgot about us. We asked the waitress about it after our main meal was finished cooking and she put the order in then. Finally at the end of the night, we got our check, and the coupon that I gave to the waitress after we were seated wasn't applied; I had to ask about and they ran my card twice; definitely going to make sure I don't get double charged. Despite this, the chef was good and the food was excellent. I got the white tuna and my bf got the swordfish steak, and both were delicious. The food wasn't enough to fix a bad first impression in service though.
(2)Devonie M.
Standard hibachi, which was good. I have visited several times and tried different sushi and sashimi and have never been impressed. The prices also are high. The decor and ambience of the restaurant is very cool, however. Also they have $5 martinis on Monday - an absolute win.
(2)Andrew B.
Happy hour makes for very high quality- low cost rolls... But you have to order a beverage. I just wanted water, but was required to order a beverage. It was wasteful and just didn't seem right.
(3)Todd H.
My fiancee and I came here for dinner on a Wed. We sat in the Hibachi area in hopes that we've found a new place to fill the void of our old fav of JMK Nippon in Rockford. I had the beef sashimi appetizer, which was good, but it advertised a Ginger wasabi dipping sauce that had no evidence of wasabi. I love spicy food and sauces so this was a huge disappointment (sauce wise. The beef was amazing). The mushroom soup was good, but my fiancee couldn't have it because it contained beef stock and she is vegetarian. The ginger dressing on the salad was tasty as well. Unfortunately, these were the best two things we had this night. With my fiancee being vegetarian, they tried their hardest to accommodate her, which was appreciated, but neglected to add her mushroom app in place of shrimp, and the amount of food in her "dinner" in no way equaled $17. I had the steak hibachi, which was ok. The steak wasn't very tender and wasn't seasoned well. Again, it wasn't worth the $24 charge. The dipping sauces we were given for our meal lacked character and flavor. One was a glorified applesauce, the other a mix of mayo and ketchup. I asked if there was a spicier sauce, and received sriacha. No cocktails, no dessert, 1/2 price app and our bill was $55. Not going back. Our chef was very personable and a lot of fun. Although, we felt we were being hurried out by our server, Heather.
(2)Lauren W.
I can't believe that this only has three stars (as of 7/22/11 at least)! First things first...if you want to try it out..definitely go on Tuesdays for dinner ($12 special) or during happy hour when sushi is half price (M-F 3-6 and Saturday 2-5..I think). I do this whenever I want sushi and I get a few different rolls and everything it's super cheap. Definitely try the Little Delicious. I think for the price it is great! I have been there four times so far, just got a Groupon to go back. I think I'm going next week..but yea, I loveee it :) I don't remember the service every time, but I do remember 2 of the times were exceptional. We had an AMAZING waitress our first time we went there (she helped us out with the perk card and stuff so we could get the best deals and told us about happy hour so we'd know when to come back) and a really nice guy another time. I don't really remember the service the other two times (not stellar and not bad, just average..I'm guessing).
(5)Ben B.
Excellent service. Good quality sushi!! Management was super!! Make sure your groupon is valid. We had a little trouble, although it was groupon's fault. Management fixed the everything!!! Great customer service!!!!
(5)Sara L.
Came here for my birthday dinner with my sisters not knowing it is hibachi place. At first I was thinking ..great I'm going to smell like food all night...sexyy!! Nope, we left the place not reeking of food! They have a smokeless hibachi grill system, which is pretty cool. The food was amazing! The sushi was fresh and tasted wonderful. I was surprised to see they do have caipirinhas....all I can say is yummster!! The service was great and the waiter was very attentive, I think we had two..who knows I was enjoying the food, drinks, and company too much!! I recommend this place and hopefully will be going back soon!!
(4)Emma W.
Oh Hibachi how I love you! I've been to all this chains and they left me wanting more..... Sure they can all make an onion train and flip shrimp tails into hats, but hows the food? Shinto was excellent! I had the steak and chicken with fried rice and veggies. Flavorful, tender and tasty! Huge perk, the drinks! I had a mouth watering chocolate martini and for those trying to stay health conscious while boozing there is a skinny drink menu. They also offer sushi rolling classes so if you feel like becoming a sushi ninja this would make an interesting outing.
(5)Mark T.
Called to place a pick-up order. Had to repeat my entire order three times, between two different employees, to get it right. Upon arriving, they gave me another customer's order. If I didn't study the receipt on the bag, I would have left with the wrong food. The sushi is mediocre at best. Naperville residents have no clue what sushi should look, smell, or taste like, so the quality continues to decrease in favor of increasing profits. Save yourself the money -- this place isn't worth it.
(2)Tak-seng L.
As always, I judge a sushi place first by the quality/value of the food and then by the ambiance and service. Overall, you should enjoy yourself at this place and be pleased with everything. They do have several hibachi grills and while we haven't sat at one yet, they look like they do the tradition justice. The chefs are doin' their thing, flippin' the food around and making things ignite. When it's really busy those grills really do heat up the place so don't be surprised if this happens on a busy night. The few times that I've been here I've sat at the bar and had a good time chatting with the bartenders and hangin' out. They have a Buddha drink (called the Buda...?) and you get a souvenir glass...I didn't want it and sadly, they just throw them out (boo! Recycle people!). But the drink was tasty with sake and cucumber flavor. The sake's are good and they have a nice selection. Of course, I always go by my hot sake standby. As for the food, the value is pretty good but not the greatest. However, the fish is fresh and of good quality. What tells me this is how the octopus (tako) goes down. If it's really chewy and tough...not a good sign. But you're good to go here. The portions are fair but the price is a little high in my opinion. I've had sashimi, some basic rolls and chirashi (raw fish piled on sushi rice). All of it was very good. The ambiance is definitely more trendy and they have a large circular bar in the middle, which is kinda fun. I've sat mostly here and they haven't minded me hanging out for a while as I journal. The music in the place is also a little trendy...kinda club-like and they sometimes have a dj. It definitely has a suburban bar scene feel to it with a mix of late 20's and 30's crowd. While I love places like this, the clientele don't quite give off that laid back and chill vibe you're gonna get when you hang out in the City but it's not too bad nonetheless. The reasons I didn't give this a 5 star is because of the value of the food, the layout of the place (big open spaces that have minimal divisions to it so the coziness factor takes a nose-dive) and the vibe of the clientele. Of course, the restaurant can't do much about the clientele but if you're laid back and know that City chill feel...then please become a regular like I have! If you see me there at the bar, stop on by. :)
(4)Tonitini C.
even with the yelp deal, it was still a bit pricey especially if you don't consider the happy hour "menu". this, and like any other hibachi grill, is of course, ALWAYS good. at night, it gets really packed on both sides, hibachi and sushi lounge side. I do recommend this as a place to quickly grab drinks after work with friends. It's a local japanese fix for the people who live close to naperville and aurora and right off of 59.
(5)Elizabeth A.
Loooooove this place ... Had a sushi roll that I can't remember the name of but it was a house specialty and was amazing ! Can't wait to go back
(5)Kelle V.
Our chef was impressive, showing us some moves we hadn't seen before. Not much of a wait for an early Friday night, and the food was good. Definitely in the top couple of Japanese steakhouses we've been to.
(4)Anita M.
Smokeless & odorless hibachi- what a rare and awesome find! I've always passed by and finally got the chance to give Shinto a try for my sister's birthday. The place is very spacious and fits well into the Naperville as a trendy spot for after hour drinks and dinner. Upon walking in we were greeted by friendly hosts and seated on the hibachi side right away. There's a neat circular bar that sits between the two rooms-with the left side for hibachi and the other for those who only want to order sushi and or appetizers. We decided on hibachi for dinner and choose the strip steak and scallops. Both were cooked very well and very flavorful. Our chef was very funny and entertaining too. It was a little confusing because we had 2 servers but overall the service was very good. With its big space, its a great place for larger parties and from what I could see they even have a private section which I assume you can request. Great food and drinks- I will be back to try more!
(4)Robin G.
The food was very good. The service was very slow. They have a real scam going on. On Mondays, specialty rolls are half price. When we got our bill, a $17 roll was billed at $9 and a $15 was billed at $8. When I called it to their attention they said they ROUND UP! If they do that several times a day for several people, that's some nice extra money they're receiving. CHECK YOU'RE BILL!
(3)Rachell E.
Not a fan of Shinto. The first time I went, I thought that maybe it was just a bad night there and that the service and sushi weren't really as bad as they were. I was wrong, tried them again and the service was equally as bad, and this time I had hibachi only. The rolls I had were mushy because the rice wasn't prepared correctly and I couldn't taste the fish or other ingredients. They hibachi was good but the sauces to dip were HORRIBLE!!! I mentioned to the chef that I should've chosen to go to my normal hibachi place and he said 'me too, I'm glad there are so many other choices in this area, More choices for you, More choices for me'. I guess he isn't to happy at Shinto either, lol. Dinner for 2, no drinks, plus tip averaged 80 dollars.
(2)Dayna C.
Love this place...go there often with sisters/girlfriends for sushi. I highly recommend the Little Delicious...definitely my favorite sushi roll on the menu! Service is always prompt and friendly too.
(5)Jordan T.
Awesome! Normally when people suggest hibachi I think "oh great, I'm going to spend almost $100 on just myself, to sweat over my mediocre asian stir fry." Not the case here. Shinto is an awesome dining experience. I went in with my boyfriend the night of the blizzard which gives them 5 stars to start with because they were the only thing open! They have awesome, extremely fresh food that is reasonably priced. For two people we walked out at right around $100. We had an appetizer, a bottle of wine and hibachi. The staff was super fun and friendly. They have a very nicely decorated restaurant AND they actually made a great investment in a really good ventillation system. You aren't sweating from heat the entire meal, and you don't walk out smelling like smoke. If you're in Naperville- definitely stop in! Make sure you swing by the bar for a cocktail first as well, the bartenders rock.
(5)Kelli Ann L.
I wish there were 1/2 stars...I would go with 3.5 - but I would rather UP it than take away. It is a bit overpriced for the size of the rolls - BUT - the ADD ON option is really great! There is an awful lot of crab on the menu.....which is an issue for me - and alot of tempura or fried things - harder to find rolls with just fish, etc....and the wait staff should know what is imitation versus real crab....because I had something that was real...and they thought it was not - they should have asked. I was impressed that we did NOT smell like sushi or hibachi when we left....the environment is really cute and well kept and clean and everyone is very polite. They are a little slow with service, but we did also show up on a Friday evening at 6 pm - we were immediately seated without a reservation, and it was overall a very good experience. The best thing is - EVERYTHING was FRESH and TASTY! So - in an area with very little options for sushi - they COULD have allowed the taste to suffer...they did not. We did not have drinks - but looking around - EVERYONE seemed to really be enjoying them - so.....if I am ever back in the area - I will stop in and try one - and have a yummy roll. The miso soup was also quite tasty!!!
(4)Janet B.
Naperville is such a big place that, even tho we are sushi lovers, we had never gone this far north. We probably never would have made it except my husband had bid on gift certificates in a charity auction. But it was worth the trip! We chose the hibachi side of this spacious restaurant but supplemented our meal with amazing sushi rolls. On the grill we had chicken, steak and scallops. All were tender & flavorful. Our waiter kept our drink glasses full which is our ultimate test of service. We plan to return for sushi happy hour!
(5)Daniel L.
New menu, new style. Same old AWESOMENESS!
(5)Bentlee O.
Seriously, this place was delicious! The atmosphere was very nice and upscale, the hostess was friendly and our waiter was very nice. The sushi was so good and the presentation was very beautiful! They had a full sushi menu with tons of selection, and I thoroughly enjoyed the drink menu! They also had a Monday night special were all specialty rolls were 50% off! We sat the the sushi bar where the chefs were friendly and offered us special rolls and soups as we waited for our main dish. I really loved this place and can't wait to go back!
(5)Joe S.
NEVER AGAIN! The food at best can be called mediocre. The mediocre food could have been saved by good service, but the service was so horrible it made the experience even worse. Then the bartender rushes us to order, "dude, the kitchen closes in 5 min" - the kitchen was not closing in 5 min; we had 15min till closing time. The server just wanted to rush us out. I ordered the miso soup, "oh, I think we are out of miso - do you want me to check?" - what kind of Japanese Steak House is out of miso soup?? WTF, of course I want you to check that is why I ordered it! Next we get our food and my date didn't get a spoon for her noodle soup so she took mine. When I ask for another spoon I'm brought a Tea Spoon to eat my soup with - not a soup spoon, not a Japanese porcelain spoon, but a tea spoon. In a Japanese Steak House and I'm expected to use a metal teaspoon to eat soup??? Next, cleanliness: We sat at the bar but had to change seats because it was so dirty. The soy sauce btls that we were given were so dirty & sticky that I felt like I needed a shower after touching them. My (female) date used the restroom only to find a male employee in there cleaning - he would not leave to allow the her to use the facilities. All during the meal we could overhear the bartenders talking about the customers, about what kind of tips they were / were not leaving. After I pay with a credit card I pause while waiting for my date in the restroom before signing. Then the server returns, 'Can you sign that so we can close out the register?" And then I overhear him talking with disgust over the $3 dollar tip I left...
(1)Marcy H.
I went with my husband during lunch last Tuesday. We ordered some half price sushi that was average. Then we ordered Hibachi. We were to early for the $12 special but to late for lunch. I ordered the steak and shrimp. The shrimp was good, maybe could have had another min on the grill but the steak was the thinnest and fattiest piece of meat. I was shocked that they would serve such a piece of meat. I remind you that I'm paying $24 for this combination meal. It had no flavor and was over cooked. I don't eat steak fat anyways! I would also like to mention that most sushi and Hibachi restaurants give you a nice side salad and soup. Shinto gives you only a salad or soup. Of course you can pay extra if you want both. With the exception of another group of people, we were the only ones in the restaurant. There are to many other really good hibachi and sushi restaurants in the area and we will not be back!
(2)Ken D.
I had a chance/obligation to be in the area again for business, and decided to give Shinto a second go. How do I put this delicately....tuna tartare should not be akin to cat food. Enough said. If you're here for a cocktail...fine. If you're here for something nuanced, subtle and delicious, you're barking (or rather meowing) up the wrong tree.
(2)Angela V.
My husband and I love sushi and went here on a recommendation. The food is kind of pricey, but it is worth it. We had the Bridge for Two meal which includes soup, ginger salad, nigiri, and two specialty rolls. The atmosphere was trendy and sleek. Service was excellent.
(5)Lindsay B.
Went here on a Friday night to use a groupon- the overall experience was just what three stars says- A-Ok. First, the location was a bit strange- said it was on North Aurora Road, but you couldn't actually see the restaurant from there (more off 59). Second, the restaurant was insanely crowded at 8 pm on a Friday night, but they were able to seat us fairly quickly. If you are looking for a restaurant where you can have good conversation, this is probably not it. There was a DJ on Friday night- good music. Third, the food was quite good- we sat in the sushi section, and I thought it was quite good. We ate a Rasta Roll, Fire and Ice Roll, and the "Little" Tasty (or something like that). All were really good, and if I was in the neighborhood, I wouldn't mind stopping by for sushi again. Fourth, the service was pretty awful. We asked for water three or four times before it finally arrived. Our drinks sat empty most of the dinner, and the waiter seemed overwhelmed and in a hurry the whole time. He gave us free dessert the service was so slow. Overall, I would rate the food here four stars, and the service two- so I'm averaging out to three. Probably won't be back again unless I am really driving by.
(3)Ms. Reviewer M.
Miao surprise, little delicious, volcano - all wonderful. The LD is my fav.
(4)sum l.
NO THANK YOU! When the Chef at the table confirming our order, we specifically told him, we CANNOT eat too salty....so please handle our food with less salt :) As it turn out, I bet he misunderstood, perhaps he thought we love SALTY rice, SALTY steak and SALTY seafood. After one bite we had to drink the whole glass of water! We had to use water to wash all the food before eating!
(1)Tizzy F.
Service was terrible sushi was ok. I ordered tuna nigiri and the edges if the tuna were dry as if it was sitting out for a while. Other diners in my party order hot meals in which the soup came after thy delivered the entrée. On top of that we had a gift card that was not excepted because they are under "new management". We also saw a promo in the restaurant to text a number for free appetizer. We did so, showed the waitress. She accepted yet after we paid we realized still charged for the appetizer. We will not be going back!
(1)Arne G.
Best...sushi.....in town
(5)Stacey W.
If I could give Shinto more stars I would! The hibachi chicken is always tender and flavorful, the fried rice is always delicious, and the service is always excellent. The first thing that gets you when you walk in is the gorgeous decor. The thing that makes you stay is the food. Sure, it's a bit pricey, but what hibachi restaurant isn't?
(5)Taryn H.
First of all, the food here is good quality and the ambiance is very nice. I have no issue whatsoever with the food -- and our Chef (Chris) was very good, friendly, and obviously skilled. My issue came with the service and the resulting management response to service. I was there with two girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We had a reservation for 7 PM but were not seated until closer to 7:30. We were seated at a table with a family that was also celebrating a birthday. Everyone's drinks took 20+ minutes to arrive. No one at the table received soup and salad (included in the price of every meal). The reason we never received the soup and salad was never explained. I believe our waiter said he "would look into it" at one point but nothing came of it nor were we offered the items later with our meal or to take home. I don't think it's illogical to expect that if I'm paying $40 dollars for a meal that's supposed to include soup and salad, I'd like to receive the promised food otherwise I expect consideration on the check. Our chef arrived and tried to rectify some of our issues (for instance, none of us had forks or chopsticks provided to us by the waiter and he also talked to someone at the bar about our drinks). He was a lot of fun. However, our waiter did not really acknowledge or apologize until he was directly asked by one of our fellow diners after the chef finished cooking our dinner (especially since we had two birthdays at the table). The manager did come over to apologize later and while the two birthdays had some of their food/drinks comped, my bill was not adjusted whatsoever. At this point (9:30ish) I just wanted to get out of there instead of waiting another 30-45 minutes to see if they would take some money off my bill so we departed. So I ended up paying $40+ for some shrimp, rice, and vegetables instead of a full multi-course meal. Overall: food fresh and good, chef excellent, customer service extremely poor. I don't have any desire to return.
(2)Karla B.
Love this place. Always a good experience... Love the spider roll. Do another groupon offer please!!
(5)Bryan S.
I had lunch at Shintos this week with other members of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. The sushi was amazing. Chef Chris made sure we had a great time. His preparation of the shrimp and scallops was amazing. It was a great time with great food!
(5)William K.
Shinto is a pretty standard sushi deal. Nice place. Good food. Hot sake! The scene was pretty surreal on a Friday night. Shinto is pretty large, but I groaned when a 4-piece band started playing in the middle of the place. Live music during dinner... usually not good. But they start playing and the sax player in charge was absolutely amazing. Later, I went over a complimented the guy. His name is Reggie Foster, Jr. What an incredible talent. After we finished dinner, we moved to the bar so that we could listen to the music some more. We seemed to be surrounded by the cast from Glengarry Glen Ross... salesmen in their suits and large watches and pinkie rings. The guy sitting next to me bet me a hundo that Facebook's market cap after their IPO would be a trillion dollars. Snort. It was weird and fun. yow, bill
(3)Maricris D.
Good food, entertaining chefs. You have to experience the hibachi service in order to get the full effect. Service was great, can't complain. A bit pricey, but worth the price for the food we ordered!
(4)Subz F.
I had taken my family to Shinto for Hibachi lunch on my birthday. Our group of 6 were super-demanding & confused about what to order (as the rest 5 were having Japanese food for the first time!). Our waitress was super courteous and let us take our time without any rush and was very friendly and helped us each to understand what is what in the menu which was great (too bad I forgot her name)! Hibachi chef was awesome! I have had Hibachi meals before at Domo 77 & Hokkaido, but this Hibachi was the best experience I've had so far. Very skilled with his performance, plus, the food was AWESOME! The only reason why I'm not giving 5 stars is because the sushis were not so nice (1 sushi was broken before we even picked it up from the plate). But we were too busy to be happy & hence didn't bother for a replacement :) Overall, nice place, nice food & very good service. I am definitely going back there and recommending this for everyone!
(4)Katie L.
Little delicious roll, and sushi happy hour. Perfection. Not the best hibachi dinner I've ever had, but I will definitely return for the sushi!
(3)Mundo M.
A friend insisted we order take out from here for lunch and $30 bucks later we got what tasted like yesterday's sushi. The rolls we ate were too fishy. Sushi should not have a fishy smell. I'm not sure if we got left over sushi from the day before or if the fish used was just plain stinky. I should be fair and say friends I know have been there and rave about the sushi. Maybe my experience was just a one off.
(2)Noor H.
We love this place and have been there numerous times and have never been disappointed. There are places that can be good one day and not the other but this place is always consistent. I have had both the hibachi side and the sushi side and both are good. Highly recommend.
(5)Pamela B.
This place is AWESOME! It was my friend's birthday, and we were on the hunt for a good sushi place, so we stopped to try Shinto since they were supposed to be open till 1am, and not only 10pm like everyone else. When we walked in around 10:30pm or so, the host said they were already starting to close up for the night....however, the manager Eric came up to us and welcomed us in, told us to take our time, and enjoy ourselves. Everyone was VERY obliging and made us feel so welcome. We all sat at the bar and the bartender Nick was fantastic. He was so hospitable and friendly, and even made my friend a special birthday drink on the house. Of course, the sushi was AMAZING! We tried the Naperville Roll, Philly Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll (one of my faves because it's spicy!), and a specialty one that wasn't listed on the menu, the Filet Roll (delicious!)!! To top it all off, Eric, the extremely friendly and hospitable manager, brought my friend out an amazing dessert....Ice Cream Tempura (vanilla ice cream wrapped in think layer of pound cake, flash fried and served with a strawberry puree and chocolate sauce).....yum!! Shinto was fantastic, and we will definitely be returning very soon!
(5)Josh M.
So I heard though the grapevine that Shinto had good deals during lunch for sushi. I decided to give it a go with my gf as usual. She had been here once before and said that it had the best spicy scallop roll she has ever had. I figured that was a good start considering we have been on a sushi kick for a while now. We ordered quite a few rolls since it was pretty much half off during happy hour. I got the wasabi pot stickers that were just OK. The calamari was the biggest turn off of the whole meal by far. I can't do the whole compressed sticks of mush thing - they are just nasty and the farthest thing from good calamari you can get. I was just hoping that the meal would get better from there but it was just average. We got the spicy scallops which were as good as she said - naturally sweet but just enough spice. On top of that we got the usual spicy tuna, philly, shrimp tempura rolls. Not that they were bad but it just wasn't the nice clean fresh taste that I separate the good sushi places from the great ones. I want to try this place again to see if they can redeem themselves for the half off happy hour. Like I said the sushi wasn't bad it just wasn't great. Try the spicy scallop if you get a chance and go for happy hour because the prices are very affordable and the menu is pretty big.
(3)Will W.
This place rocks Tuesday has the best deal around and the drinks keep you feeling good. Jen at the bar is great. The cook we had puts on a show that everyone liked.
(5)Elizabeth W.
I like Shinto, but it's not my favorite. The service is usually pretty good, the sushi decent and rolls large but it's not worth the price. Head over on a Monday when some of the best rolls are on special, or during happy hour 3-6! And if your server suggests any rolls that aren't on the menu ASK the price! We ended up with a roll that was mediocre and cost $18!!
(3)Mike P.
Tried out Shinto via a Groupon offer and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is somewhat divided into 4 areas: traditional dining room, circular bar area, belly-up Sushi bar, and traditional Teppanyaki. However, the space is very open and well lit. Unlike a similar restaurant in the area (i.e., _ _ _ _ arigato mr. roboto), this place just seems a bit more upbeat and well lit. Food and drink were very good with our meal fairly priced ($23 for steak & shrimp) for the circuses offered. That said, I liked that the circuses seemed to be tailored to the tables. At one table, a birthday was being celebrated and lots of good showmanship was taking place. At our table it was just a few couples randomly assembled for dinner. So preparation was very professional tableside, but we (thank goodness) didn't get the egg toss in the chef's hat or the choo-choo flaming onion. We ordered the rather non-adventurous Chicago-Roll as a Sushi appetizer. It was well prepared, well served, but fairly tame which was OK as this was a safe bet. All-in-all, we'd go back again and probably try more interesting Sushi next time.
(4)Andy S.
Place is nice and food are good. It is pretty expensive
(5)Moe N.
Was there on 2-3-12 with my brother. The sushi was good but has too much mayo and sauces on them. Our appetizer came out cold. The waitress was really nice and knowledgeable.
(3)Matt M.
Visited on a Wednesday night. The service was dreadful. This is probably the dullest waiter I've ever had at a $100+ dinner. He didn't really get anything wrong per se, but his attitude totally deflated the fun out of the evening. Food: A Atmosphere: A Hibachi Chef: A Server: D- I'd go again if I hear that they're upgrading their service staff.
(2)Justin C.
Just had a fantastic lunch with many of my business associates. It was over the top. Fantastic. Not my first visit and certainly won't be my last.
(5)Jasmine S.
Pretty good place! Only downside is that one time I came, the chef was accidentally almost hit my friend with his spatula....yikes. But that was just once. Every other time we've had a good experience with no flying spatulas
(4)Andrew T.
$12 dinner specials, Tuesday wine deals and happy hour sushi and appetizers (M-F 3-6pm, Saturday 2-5pm). On top of all this, the hibachi is great, the cooks put on a great show and the food is awesome. Our waiter even gave us a round of sake bombs on the house. The service is great, and they also have drink specials M-Th. I generally go for their drink specials and a little sum'n sum'n to munch on. They have a long list of sushi and maki to order from. The prices are a little steep, but are worth it. Having worked in a Japanese restaurant before, I tend to be critical of sushi/maki and this place makes the cut. The atmosphere is dim and trendy. There are two dining areas, one for hibachi, one for dining, and a bar in the middle that is very picturesque. The bar has great drink selections, and the bartenders are always more than willing to make recommendations. The cocktails always hit the spot, and are made very well. Classy, trendy and hip.
(3)Mary W.
Servers Kevin and Alex are great. Disappointed in cleanliness tonight. In addition, when we walked in tonight the hostess was on phone. No problem except it was a personal call and she didn't stop the conversation. We asked for a table and she didn't know where to put us!?? Only 2 chefs for a very busy night. There was a table of employees "whining" behind a curtain right next to our table. Very disappointed. Too much $ for dirty dishes and unattentive staff except for our waiter and chef Juan who tried very hard.
(2)Tami P.
Shintos is a hidden gem. Great food, nice atmosphere & fabulous staff!! By far, the best sushi place in the burbs:) I refer ppl to go here all the time and I go on a regular basis because it's so great!
(5)Nicole D.
I went to Shinto on Wednesday with a friend and we wanted to take advantage of the Happy Hour offerings of discounted sushi & appetizers. Once we were sat we were given a sheet to fill out with our choices. One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when a server does not educate you on portions and just lets you order away only thinking about $$$ and not about making sure we have a good experience. First the drink we were told was on special that day ended up not being on special so the server just brought us some other mixed drink and said if we wanted the other we'd have to pay full price. Now to me the right thing to do would have been to give us the drink SHE mistakenly told us was on special and then if we wanted more that would be on us to pay full price. Food started coming out in a timely manner, however I was a but disappointed that yet agian our server did not take the time to make sure we got a variety of things off our list, instead we were stuck eating all our fried options together and by the time the sushi showed up maybe 30 mins later we were totally full. LITERALLY at least 5 times throughout our time there different servers/ food runners attempted to drop off plates of food that were not ours, VERY annoying to continually be interrupted to have to stop them from putting the food down on our table. Not once did our server stop by to acknowledge this repeated issue. Overall the food was good, our server was friendly, but there were definitely some things lacking from my experience. I'm not sure that I would go back to Shinto anytime soon, I honestly thought it fell a bit flat for the expectations I had of it.
(2)Kelli C.
I enjoyed my experience at Shinto, but I can't say it was fantastic. I went for a birthday dinner with the parents and we did the hibachi. Our servers were incredibly attentive and spot on, but our chef just did not interact with our table at all. It didn't feel like he really put on a show. He did the knives, onion volcano, egg trick and then cooked our food. That was pretty much it. I would have liked to see more, especially with the price of the food. The onion soup you get before the meal was very good and the salad was pretty tasty. While the food was very good and they do you give you a lot it, I would have liked to have had a better hibachi experience. If it is your birthday they bring you a "special dessert". The dessert was a deep fried cookie with ice cream. It was nice, but nothing to write home about. The decor is gorgeous. I didn't have a chance to try the sushi, but it looked very good. I think I would return to give the sushi a try, but not sure if I'd come back for the hibachi.
(3)Rachel A.
Shinto has awesome sushi and hibachi! They can be pretty pricey as well. The restaurant has a good vibe and is upscale on the classiness scale.
(5)Lindsay S.
This name should probably be changed to Sh*t h*le..... just sayin. Upon entering, it's stunning. VERY trendy, high energy, you're greeting authentically by someone who barely knows a word of English. OH it's JUST LIKE Japan! Before i get TOO long-winded i just want to say that the Japanese guy who cooked our food was beyond awesome. It was the server that sucked. The cook was young, cute, friendly and really outgoing and funny. We left HIM a hefty tip, he deserved it. Now onto the bad stuff. If you don't want to read on all i have to say is the service is crap and the portions are small. They didn't have the type of sushi we wanted, so i didn't get a chance to try it. Our meal sucked. Our server was SO busy flirting with the guys at the end of our hibachi table i think she forget we were there. Because it was my boyfriend and I, and two of my male friends (who are together), Obviously, since no one at OUR end was looking to score she turned her attention towards the cheapo metrosexual graphic-Tshirt wearing boys with frosty highlights and orange skin. The guys at the other end of the table weren't even there to eat hibachi, they were there to drink. They fooled the waitress into thinking they were going to order just to get the free miso and salad. After those dishes came they decided "they were just going to have sushi". She giggled and took their order and then brought over ANOTHER server, because apparently, she was incapable of handling all three boys by herself. Somehow i think she's done it before, though.......... She mixed up our food, didn't bring us refills, EVER. My boyfriend ordered sea urchin and she brought him eel. He said "i ordered sea urchin" and she's like yeah i know, we're out of that. He's like, "well i don't want this". So in other words, i think the restaurant attempted to pawn-off a cheaper sushi on someone assuming they wouldn't know the difference between the expensive urchin and the cheap eel. Nice try. As if this all wasn't enough, the meal ended with two of the servers doing shots with the boys at the other end of our table. Oh, drinking on the job? How becoming. In the end i decided to write a letter and just leave. However, my friend's high-strung boyfriend decided HE was going to argue with the manager who didn't speak a WORD of English. Needless to say, i never went back. If you're a guy that fits the above description, i'm sure you'll have a blast. If you're a married couple, dating or you're gay... sorry, the servers aren't interested in you.
(1)KiKi I.
I have to start by saying...we loved the rolls we got "the Guatemalan" & "black widow"..however, it was extremely dark and hard to see anything...including the menu. The waiter had to take our sushi rolls back to see in better light what we ordered to tell us. Also, none of the drinks wowed me. Overall, good sushi but wasn't wowed to make us go back.
(3)Brittney N.
I love Shinto The restaurant's atmosphere is very welcoming and there's usually a live band that plays on weeknights. The sushi and hibachi is probably one of the best in my book! My favorite roll is the little delicious even if it's a little pricey; I believe it's $15 for a the roll (there are days where certain rolls are 50% off)? But I've been here for birthday celebrations, dates, and/or a quick lunch with friends. The servers are always polite and attentive so overall I've only have positive experiences.
(5)Pamela P.
I live in Naperville and frequent Shinto's about once a week. It's super nice on Tuesdays with the $12 hibachi's and 1/2 price sushi between 4-6. Victor is one of the best cooks there, so if he's there ask for him, American Chris is another really good one....the best is that they both speak fantastics english, cook well and season perfectly. They put on a good show, but good food is most important with me. The sushi is ALWAYS fresh, I LOVE the little delicious, but all the sushi is fresh and to die for. I completely agree about the service....it's mostly the young dingbat girls. Its very important that if you have an issue with service that you tell them. I have been doing this regularly and over time I'm not seeing their faces anymore. I'm so the type of person that can't stand poor service, it just ruins the general over all experience; it's just NOT ok. For those of us that remember Boston Blackies(just down the road), same deal....poor service prevailed over the fantastic food they served. Eventually, Unfortunately that will be the same demise for Shinto's if they don't revamp the quality of servers that they have working for them. I enjoy the food so much that it's kinda sorta worth the risk when I go there, but I've hung in there. Once you get to know the staff you can ask to be sat in their section. When it's super crowded it's a bit tougher to choose. If you have an issue, tell the manager, tell someone. They have another resturaunt in Strongsville, OH. Crappy service may fly there, but for here the bars a little higher.
(4)Bryan R.
The food here is fantastic. The atmosphere is very club-like, a little intense for a Sunday evening dinner (like when we went). We've gone three times and weirdly, there has never been more than a few other people there. Their food is incredibly affordable for what you get, and on Sundays and Mondays you can get almost half of the menu for half price. A great way to try a lot or save money on what otherwise may have been a special 'treat'.
(5)Vick C.
I like their wine bar design, very modern. I always go there for lunch, fresh sushi roll and they serve American style Japanese food. I'm not a big fan of Hibachi but I tried one time still, I don't like they flow the food to the customer since they never know how to aim it to their mouth, kind of messy!
(3)Adrian W.
Consistency is key in sushi. My background with spices is seriously subpar. I don't handle them well at all and will casually tear up with peppers. Just for you people who may want to know how to end Adrian W... Came here for my second time last night and ordered the Guatemalan sushi which I had the previous time. I realize it has jalapenos in it but the first time I had it, no kick. Last night? SERIOUS kick. So much so I had to guzzle my water like a camel. The food here is great, no doubt. I can say that our waiter was on top of his game, the others, meh.
(3)Erica P.
I like the place, although it never seems very busy. The first time we went, it was a Friday night and we sat at the bar...we had saki bombs and I ordered the Hawaiian Roll which was super yummy! The next few times, I planned accordingly to visit when they had special offerings. When we went on a Monday, they offer discounted specialty rolls: -Their "award winning" roll Lil Delicious $10 vs $15...I tried it, I wasn't overly impressed...then again, I don't like cream cheese in my sushi rolls. -Volcano roll $7 vs $10...I really liked this one in comparison with the Lil Delicious. -They also have the lobster roll and black widow rolls for $12 vs $17...and a couple others, too. -Monday's they also offer $5 top shelf martinis The next time I went was during their happy hour from 3pm-6pm...what a value! Half price sushi (traditional rolls) and appetizers...I tried their pan seared scallops, not so great...maybe they would be better without their specialty teriyaki sauce. The spicy tuna roll was phenomenal, the best I have had in the area.
(4)Brian G.
If you're a sushi freshman, this place is perfect for you! Habachi backup with great service for those not interested in sushi. Knowledagble server staff with great sushi recommendations. The spicey crab role was actually spicey! Spicey roles are usually mild or not spicey at other sushi bars - Shinto delivers! Don't let the spciey crab role scare you, there are so many other wonderful sushi rolls to pick from. The Habachi chefs are very friendly. You DO NOT get that rushed feeling that you would at other Habachi "bars". We've been to this place roughly five times and find ourselves spending two hours easily relaxing over good sushi, good drinks, good service, and a great place to spend time with friends. Shinto has easily become my favorite place in DuPage. Only one problem to note and I'm certain this is more for the landlord/property owner which Shinto likely is not. Please talk to the property manager and have the lighting fixed in the parking lot.
(5)Kyle D.
This review is only on the maki as I haven't tried the hibachi aspect to this restaurant. I have had many of the rolls on the menu both for lunch and dinner and have never been unimpressed. There is a huge influx of sushi houses lately in the Fox Valley area, but for me Shinto's freshness and creativity stands apart almost as well as Swordfish in Batavia. The decor in Shinto is very trendy and visually appealing from the blue concave ceiling over the bar to the goldfish pond in the floor. I have had great service at the bar, at the sushi tables, and at the sushi bar. Fast service with fresh ingredients make for a really fun night out. Their specials are also good for those complaining about price, which can be kinda unreasonable on some specialty rolls. I will keep coming back to this restaurant. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is one time I was in there with a D.J. and it was really loud and kinda didn't fit with the restaurant, but kinda did (if you know what i mean). It wasn't for me, but I just avoid it during those times. Recommendations: Chicago Roll, and the Little Delicious.
(4)Sara B.
great wine selection. Great sushi. The place was empty when we were there but it made the meal really enjoyable.
(4)K. M.
Celebrated my birthday at Shinto's last week! My only complaint is how long we had to wait. We had a 7:00 reservation for 4. We were all there on time but were told to sit at the bar while they prepare our table. We were not seated until 7:20. I am not a fan of waiting more than 10 minutes if I have a reservation and the place is not busy. Then we had to wait until 7:50 for them to bring our soup and salad. This was just ridiculous. However, after all our waiting everything else was GREAT! Our sushi was so good I could have just eaten that. The portions were large enough that we ordered 2 rolls for 2 of us and we were starting to get full. Just ask what the fresh fish is for the day. They will always tell you. The hibachi portion of dinner was great too! I always get the chicken and steak combo so I can really taste the flavors of the cook. Our cook was awesome. We eat Japanese a lot and I have never met a cook who I wanted to stay and hang out with after dinner. By the time he left the table we had all laughed so hard we were new friends with the people sitting with us. He was able to turn the dinner into an experience. I highly recommend asking for Victor or Papi. (He says everyone calls him Papi and that is what his name tag said but it is really Victor.) For the birthday portion of the night the server brought out Saki bombs for the whole table. This was a neat experience because I have never had a Saki bomb. Then they brought out a dessert big enough to feed the whole table. My favorite place for a birthday dinner. Price was high but we all enjoyed it. Highly recommend
(4)Rob D.
Not being a Sushi fan, I was skeptical when my kids cajoled me into going to Shinto's, but I left pleasantly suprised. The night we were there we opted for the sushi menu rather than the hibachi experience. The waitress was quite nice and willing to explain things to a Sushi newbie like me. I began with a bowl of onion soup that had good flavor but a little too much salt. my combo platter contained a chef's choice of Nigiri, Sashimi and a Spicy Tuna Roll. All of the food was beuatifully presented and very fresh. The white tuna was particularly good, as was the spicy tuna roll. My son had a similar dish and was equally impressed. My wife and daughter had Udon noodles, a Philly and a Tempura Roll, all of which were pronounced delicious. The decor and atmosphere of the place is trendy and bright. My only critcism is that considering we were there at about 5PM and were one of only a handful of customers in the restaurant, we waited an inordinate amount of time for our food. Given the final product, though, i can forgive this and will be going back again.
(4)Elora V.
First time I went to this place it was really cool.... it was a lil modern take on sushi and hibachih..It reminded me a bit of Benihana back in the day but with a Trendy atmosphere and decor... I went with my friend and we both fell in love with the place.. it can get very busy on weekends so I suggest you make reservations ahead of time..
(5)Bill D.
Walked in Saturday evening at 5:00 and they didn't have our reservation, but eventually found it; asked the manager how to use the Yelp app $10 check-in coupon - he said he'd take care if it; sat at the bar waiting for the rest of our party and was greeted by a very pleasant bartender - very good Riesling wine; it took a little while for the action to begin at the grill- hibachi; Chris, the hibachi chef was pretty entertaining and interactive; wife loved the scallops, while my steak and chicken was good - the steak was just ok, but can be "upgraded" to NY strip for an extra cost; tue bill came - no $10 credit, which the check-girl took care of, but it took a while as she was pretty busy. Overall, we had a nice experience and dinner.
(4)Adam S.
Great sushi and the little delicious roll is a necessity. Hibachi is extremely tasty and they put on an awesome show!!!
(5)Jeffrey G.
Price is much higher then needed. Don't go if you are on a budget, even during happy hour. Not happy with how the groupons are being made and honored. Beware of the fine print. Overall, try it, we will never go back.
(1)Marc B.
I avoid this place at all costs. It is a poorly run establishment with little attention paid to the details of properly trained servers, cleanliness, value, and good food. Find another place!!
(1)Jesse W.
Ever since this place has opened, my wife and I have made many, many trips there. We've eaten a lot of sushi in the area and now consider Shinto to be the best. People are nice, always saying "hi" and talking with you...but, really, the food is excellent (we've only had the sushi). We go for their happy hour a lot of the time and get appetizers and sushi for half off. It's a good value for what I say is excellent sushi. I would say it's Trendy and upscale, but I've come in with shorts and a t-shirt and they don't mind. Nice bar with a couple of TV's. I live in Warrenville, I just wish it was closer as route 59 traffic is a problem around 4/5 in the afternoon.
(5)Brandon B.
I regularly attend Shinto when I am back in town....and it is always a good meal, but tonight was different, it was GREAT. Juan our Habachi Chef was off the chain providing us with awesome entertainment and the most delicious Hibachi I can remember. Not to mention Tuesdays are $12 Habachi which is an unbelievable deal. Soup, Salad and a Hefty portion of steak, chicken or shrimp. Highly recommend to anyone celebrating a birthday or looking for a delicious dinner.
(5)Erica Z.
I can't speak for the sushi, however I've never been disappointed with the hibachi. Coming from a vegetarian perspective, the veggie entree has PLENTY of food. Sometimes eating vegetarian can mean that you get the short end of the stick, but not at Shinto. Veggie entree comes with mixed veggies, tofu, soup, salad, udon noodles, and rice. The side sauces are good, and the chefs are always friendly. Tend to frequent this place after family, friends and I all purchased the maximum amount of Groupons. Would definitely suggest going for lunch - you only get the choice of soup OR salad, but it's plenty of food, and much cheaper.
(5)Eva V.
I am a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to Sushi, but some friends wanted to try this place...and I grudgingly went. I am so glad I did--Shinto is now on our favorite Sushi restaurant list! When trying a new Sushi place, I order sashimi first. If you have good, fresh fish everything else is usually good as well. We ordered one of the sashimi combo dinners to share, and were blown away by the quality of fish! The service was a little slow, but they made up for it in friendliness. Beautiful place, beautiful fish and very good looking servers :D
(4)G. L.
Review for Sushi Only. I went to Shinto recently to continue my hunt for good sushi in the Naperville area (quite a quest btw!) Sushi-wise, I have to say that I have had better... It was just ok... Service seemed a bit green to say the least...? The staff didn't greet me until I was already there for 15 minutes or so... And wasn't really engaged other than "what would you like" and "here it is"... Really the only positive for this place is the atmosphere... Seems like it could be a great place to hang out on a Friday/Saturday night sometime for drinks/the bar... Have to try their teppan food on the hibachi... Maybe things will be different.
(2)Jill A.
Alright! My hubbs and I went here for our 3rd wedding anniversary. Can someone say FANTASTIC!? We did go on a wed. night - not too busy. We got dressed up and we were afraid we may have over done it, but once inside we fit right in. Very high class, modern, stylish restaurant. We ate both sushi, and hibachi, which both were amazing. We had the lobster and veggies (all cooked perfectly) and we tried a "safe" roll, and we had to try their little delicious roll. Our waiter couldn't have said it better himself when he told us we would have never tried anything like it before. It was fantastic. Our waiter was so knowledgeable about the menu, was super friendly, and accommodating, and offered us free champagne or dessert for our special night. We opted with dessert, however later in the evening when it was time, we thanked him and politely told him no thanks, we were SO stuffed! He was kind enough to let him manager know and she took an additional 10% off our check!! Wonderful service, and great food! We want to go back when we're out that way again, only next time it will be JUST for the sushi - we have to try more!
(5)Ahmad N.
The place was nice but the specialty sushinrolls had too much mayo and sauce on them.
(3)John S.
I can't say enough good things about Shinto. First off when you enter the door the decor is great. It feels like you just stepped into a very nice restaurant in Japan. The Dinning room is separated into two sides one side for Sushi and another Habachi side. Last night we choose to do the Habacci side. We also ordered some sushi as an appetizer. I ordered the Filet as my main course with the fried rice. Our Chef was lots of fun and really involved the kids that were sitting at the table with us. My filet was cooked perfectly and had a great taste. I also enjoyed the sushi and it was my first time trying actually sushi. After dinner we decided to have a few drinks at the bar. The bar staff was very friendly. A great experience over all I highly recommend Shinto.
(5)Jessica G.
Came here as part of a big group for a work dinner. It's pretty standard hibachi - I have not tried the sushi though I have heard it was good. The service was a little slow, though it could have been the fact that we had a very large group of people in there. Our server was very friendly and helpful and was kind enough to bring special dressing out for two people who didn't want the standard ginger. The food is pretty usual for hibachi but I think if I ever eat there again, I will be asking for them to NOT cook my food in a load of garlic butter, which seems to be how they do it there. It's tasty but it was on the greasy side for my liking. I also never did get my rice - the other people at the table all had the fried rice and I had steamed and I think it was just forgotten in there. Drinks took a while to come from the bar but according to the other people at my table, they were good. Overall, an all-right experience.
(3)Donna S.
Not a good experience. Seated with no place settings. Appetizers came & had to ask for forks and napkins. Server returned with 4 sets of chopsticks but only 3 forks and shrugged it off like oh well & didn't bring another fork (eventually we were brought another fork). Overheard staff talking at next table over about being out of bar glasses. It is 5:15 on a Saturday night... why aren't they prepared? Server removed drink menu with food menus - not too smart if he wanted us to pick out another drink. Dinner vegetable was supposed to be steamed broccoli & carrots but was mostly onions and some broccoli - no carrots. Had to ask three times for food boxes. Initially asked for 3 and explained what was going into each container (my friend also asked for 1). Server returned with 2. Asked for 2 more and again he returned with 1. Had to ask one more time to get my third container. While boxing up our leftovers, someone tried delivering us a place of someone else's food (as if we ordered more food at the end of our meal, yeah right). They seemed confused what table food was to go to. Only plus was server brought me a 'sip' of Saki to try to see if I liked it before ordering a glass (I'd never had Saki before). I wouldn't go back for dinner - service wasn't worth the food price - but would consider having happy hour appetizers in the bar on a Saturday afternoon.
(2)Carmen N.
I love the sushi here. I always play it safe and choose the same sushi everytime i come here. I usually end up here after work with co-workers since it right down the street. Eventhough the traffic around this place is busy and not the easiest place to get to, its well worth it!
(4)Minners N.
Coming from the city, I wasn't expecting the best sushi in the suburbs but was pleasantly surprised with the somewhat fresh fish and decent selection of maki. However, considering this is a more "upscale" sushi joint and it's in the burbs, I was expecting immaculate cleanliness. Epic fail. We were lured in by the happy hour deal and were warmly welcomed into the restaurant and seated against the side wall where the seats were heavily worn and in dire need of replacing. The inside pages of the menu had food residues from previous diners as did the sticky table. I ordered a cup of green tea and was quickly given a pot with a glass mug. Without even touching the mug I could see it was not clean so I asked for another cup, hoping it was just a one-time mishap. The second mug still had some leftover residues so I attempted to clean it myself with a wetnap. After one quick swipe, the wetnap was brown. The water glass, which was never filled for us, looked cleaned so I poured the tea into there. From far away everything does look clean, but being the germ-a-phob that I am, I noticed every off detail. The service was decent, though the waitress seemed to know very little about the menu and had to run back to get answers for most every question we had about the menu. This could have been our place to grab a quick sushi dinner, but i grimace just thinking of my experience there and what else was lurking in my food...
(2)Michelle T.
This is my go-to place on a Friday or Saturday night if I want to sit at the bar, have a good cocktail and eat sushi. The decor is modern and the vibe is neat, especially for being located in a Naperville strip mall. It's not the BEST sushi or hibachi I've ever had but it's still good. Service can be a little slow at times but I'm usually not in a rush when I go there.
(4)Kristen J.
We just went here for my mother-in-law's birthday a few weeks ago. The ambiance is really chic for Naperville and the food was very, very good. Its pricey, but sushi/hibachi places usually are. I really enjoyed the swordfish and scallops we had for dinner and the rolls we ordered for our appetizer. It was a great time and we plan to go back, you know, when we have $150 laying around. NEW*** we just went back a 2nd time for SUSHI only and it was just okay. Nothing special. And again, a bit over-priced considering it was lack-luster.
(3)Johanna J.
After a lil rocky start the Shinto made up for it which made for an awesome time. Tried the sushi class with friends and really enjoyed myself. Gustavo was great and made some really good rolls. I would recommend the lil delicious because that it was. I know I will be back again. Next time though I might try it on their jazz night and I hear the hibachi is really good.
(4)Jennifer M.
Shinto gets 5 stars because I am not a fan of Japanese or sushi - UNTIL I came here. Awesome food, moreover the atmophere is first class. It's not like your typical sushi house; the vibe here is upscale. My husband and I went on a night that they had live entertainment (singers). So if you visit when they have something special going on, you'll want to stay and have a good time. My husband wasn't exactly entranced by the singers that night, but I thought it was super cool. I also ended up meeting the general manager, Dana, at a networking event recently. It was further clear to me why I was so impressed w/ this restaurant.. the Shinto management is awesome!
(5)Marc L.
Have never had a bad experience here, and are repeat customers. Sushi is awesome and the hibachi grill dishes are delicious, the steak melts in your mouth. Service is always top notch and drinks top off the meal. The kind of hard to get to location, keeps this a bit of a hidden gem.
(5)Claudia R.
First off...Shinto is in a little strip mall next to Enterprise, so I was not setting my expectations high at all when walking in here. However, I have to say the sushi here is on par with Kiku, my other Naperville fav for Sushi. My friends and I get the Miso Surprise and just love it. The drinks at bar are great too. This place is close to my office and on my way home so I frequently stop by for drinks. I love the Sangria...so yummy and has a kick to it. It is also amusing to watch the Cougurs of Naperville out on the prowl as they flirt with the bartenders. Drinks and laughs after a long day at the office...who could ask for more?
(4)Albert C.
Unimpressed, at least by the sushi side of things. Located out on the western edge of Naperville, the atmosphere tries very hard to be hip and kewl. Does this fit in Naperville? Not really. It wouldn't necessarily be out of place in River North or Santana Row, however. The interior is split into the teppanyaki side and the sushi lounge. My friends opted for the sushi lounge, which was comfortable enough, though pretty empty on a Thursday night. We started off with the scallop tempura, which was ok taste-wise, but had four rather pitiful looking scallops and a few vegetables. The spicy tuna roll and shrimp tempura roll were pretty standard and decent. The Shinto sushi platter looked promising with a nice variety of fish, but the fish wasn't all that fresh and some of it was decidedly tough. I know that fish just isn't that fresh out in the Midwest but this was a step below what I expected. I *might* come back at some point in the future to check out the teppanyaki side of things, but I can't say that I recommend the sushi... though if you're looking for atmosphere, Shinto has loads of it.
(2)Ashok S.
Great food and good environment. Service is good. Sushi is decent nothing to brag about. Rolls are good.
(4)Allison C.
Im giving 5 stars because of the server Nick. I would say the sushi is 4 stars, however, every time I go I ask for Nick because he really delivers the best customer experience. So ask for Nick if you want to complete your experience. I have gone to Shinto sooooo many times and never have I had bad sushi. Its always fresh and they have an AMAZING happy hour from 3-6 M-Sat where a ton of their sushi is half price.
(5)Mark O.
Disappointing experience. Greeted by waiter, then never heard from him again. Thankfully, after 20 mins of just sitting with closed menus, another very polite server--Shirin--rescued the night. She apologized, smiled, made friendly suggestions on orders, and got our food quickly. Of course, our waiter never did acknowledge us again, even though he served the table right next to us. Also, some of the dishes were dirty and the soy sauce containers dripped soy sauce rather than poured.
(2)eric s.
Bought a groupon and decided to try it out. Only my wife and I, so we decided to just head out with no reservation and eat at the bar. Checked the website for hours and it showed that they are open on Sundays. Called in advance and got no answer; figured they were busy and not answering. Drove all the way out there and they were closed. No sign. No message on their answering machine. Nothing on their website. I'll eat the groupon and wont go back.
(1)I H.
Service and quality of the food was so-so. Went there on a Sunday afternoon therefore it was not so busy. The waitress was nice but kept disappearing and we had to ask for things that would normally be available to diners. Things like a napkin and a fork. We ordered an appetizer sampler and the chicken on a stick came out cold, was so dry and the sauce that they drizzled on it made it inedible. The atmosphere was young and hip. As soon as you walked in, you were greeted by clubby/loungy music. The prices were on the high side. It's not worth coming back.
(1)Vanessa R.
Well to start off let me say that our chef was super nice but after that the rest of the staff falls short. Our waitress was nowhere to be found other staff had to try to pick up for her slack. We saw her 2 times during our visit. The horrible part is that because the tip was already included in the bill she walked away with 150 bucks just in tips! The food was average nothing worth the price. Your paying for the show and the fact that its a trendy place!
(2)Sam R.
We've been to Shinto no less than two dozen times over the last couple of years. Always for sushi-cannot comment on the hibachi side of the restaurant. The sushi, and we have a solid base of experience to draw from, is above average. We went there last night and used our $50 groupon. Nice value for sure. The issue I have is with their inconsistent pricing. Bottles of wine are shown at one price on the menu and then you get the bill and the price is several dollars higher. The same thing with sushi rolls-except the increase may only be a couple dollars. Really? they don't think people see this? By the time we caught it, it was too late-we were already out the door. We ordered "large pours" of wine for a couple extra dollars and we clearly received the regular pour. The server said they would check with the bar- never followed up with us. We'll continue to come to Shinto but ONLY when we have a groupon. Would rather go down the street to Kiku or Wild Tuna.
(2)Christina C.
The impression when I first walked into Shinto was that it was a really trendy place. It kind of looks like a bar you would in Las Vegas or something. I've been there a few times with family and friends and have had both the sushi and hibachi. The sushi is whatever to me. I got the little delicious and scorpion roll and I personally think my home made sushi taste almost the same which isn't saying much. Now the hibachi is pretty good. I shared the scallops, chicken, and steak combo with my cousin and it was yummy :) The chefs are great and definitely do a good job entertaining. Another plus is not smelling like food when you walk out. Oh, and the calamari appetizer is pretty good too. It was a tad bit soggy when we got it but the sweet sauce they use is very tasty. I have gone at least 4 or 5 times. The sushi is average but the hibachi is good. I'd rather go to Sushi Yama in Geneva for sushi. My friends and family go here a lot, so its the only reason why I go.
(3)Mike T.
We had a coupon to go here so we decided to go on a random weeknight, close to closing time. If we didn't have a coupon, I might not have found this place. It was hard to find because I must have gotten the address wrong and you can not easily get around the busy route 59. We ordered way too much food though and I felt like exploding. The appetizer was good and the rolls' portions was huge.
(4)Chole L.
I went there to eat bec i got a $25 certificate from restaurant.com . Food wasn't that great compared to other sushi restaurants. Service was good tho. I would recommend others to try it but i don't think i would go back there again.
(3)Warren C.
New look for an old style restaurant. Modern style of Benihana's. Bar was nice and good service. The food is good as well. I had the yellow fin tuna on the hibachi grill. Sides are typical, like Benihana, with rice and veggies. Over all a nice place with good food.
(5)Amy E.
My boyfriend and I are regulars here. Great vibe, LOVE the sashimi. Try the Delicious Roll if you're new to sushi- it's got a lot of flavor and tastes great on any palate.
(4)Ming C.
Not bad. I came all the way from chicago downtown to Naperville to dine out at this place. I love the Hibachi style and the food is very good. Really wish there is one in downtown chicago.
(4)Liz B.
Came here on a "date" with my best friend because she had a goupon. We made a reservation early (6:30), but we got a little lost because this place is very difficult to find if you're not familiar with Naperville (FYI, it's behind a gas station). The restaurant was enormous and people were everywhere. I did not expect 6:30 to be a busy restaurant time. We got our table and our waiter was very nice, but I think he was a little overwhelmed. It was really dark in there too, maybe good for a romantic setting but it was way too big with too much going on to be intimate. The food and martinis were great. If it was closer to me, I'd go again, but I wasn't blown away by it.
(4)Paul P.
This place has a contemporery feel and decor. I sat in the bar as always. I did not had any traditonal sushi, but their specilty rolls are awsome! The service at the bar was very good, but there was no one else there at the time. The beer is better than most for a Japanese place. Drink selection is very good. Thay have an extencive cocktail menu. I would go back for the sushi anytime. The prices are steep, but they have to pay for the decor somehow. Well kept restrooms are a plus.
(4)MeLissa H.
If I could live here, I would! Their food is to die for! I never had a bad experience in the two years of coming here and that's at least 30 times, more than enough to dent the wallet. Pricey but excellent quality food. I always have leftover hibachi and the chefs are wonderful even if "new" at their tricks.
(5)Cb L.
Chris is the best at the bar. Makes the experience worth every penny.
(5)David L.
I wasn't sure what to expect going in here other than that it looked like a fun, cool place from the outside. It's very spacious with plenty of seating, but is actually kind of quaint. They have a circular bar which provides for good conversation and the $5 Monday Martini special-Grey Goose a little dirty for me-came as a great surprise! Nice pour by the bartender! We had sushi and hibachi items and all were very good. I would suggest the Caterpillar roll as an appetizer and steak and scallops for dinner. The grilled scallops were tender and very, very good! The wait staff and manager were very attentive, always making sure we had everything we needed but not being pests. Last but not least, the hibachi grill chef-I doubt that's his title-was funny and entertaining.
(4)Kathleen G.
Really awesome sushi and atmosphere. My favorite in Naperville.
(4)Chris W.
We love sushi and hibachi, and have been here several times previously, dining both at a hibachi and at a sushi table. Last night was our most recent trip. We decided to do hibachi. The food and service were excellent! The hibachi chef was entertaining, and our waiter was very attentive - quickly whisking away empty plates, and refilling water and other beverages promptly. The alchololic drinks are a bit pricy, but we had a Groupon which made the price of the experience much more palateable. Overall, we enjoy this restaurant and will go back.
(4)Terry P.
My first time here. First I am not a fan of restaurants in strip malls. That being said this place was nicely done. However, please loose the Ghetto Rap Dance Music. At least play some relaxing oriental music in the background. The food was good, but a bit pricey for a Benihana want-to-be. I may go back again.
(3)J Mae S.
First of all, I am a sushi newbie. That being said, I have visited Shinto a few months ago with one group of friends and made a return today for my birthday. 3 of my friends are sushi fans and frequent other sushi joints around our area. I asked, "what makes sushi good or bad?" Their response was the fish needs to be fresh (no odors), rice sticky and not hard, and veggies fresh. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box which was pretty tasty. The fish was fresh and I finished almost the entire meal. My friends ordered the beef negimaki bento box, chicken yaki udon, steak & shrimp combination hibachi, and steak hibachi. The 3 friends were more than satisfied with their meals. We chose Shinto because we had a $25 (for $50) Groupon. They honored our Groupon without any hesitation and allowed us to order sushi and not hibachi in the hibachi area (although 2 friends did order hibachi). **I must note that the half-price sushi starts @ 2p.m. on Saturdays. We also ordered the "Little" Delicious Roll, which was very delicious, but the waitress could have pointed out that we would have received half-price on that specialty roll if we had ordered one beverage (and saved $7.50 in the process). I will return again, especially for half-price sushi with a Groupon, but even without a Groupon, the sushi is good enough for a return visit.
(4)Kristie S.
Positives: EXCELLENT, FRESH food in an exceptional atmosphere Negatives: Poor service - The sushi wait staff doesn't know the menu. They mess up orders, and they aren't attentive.
(4)Melanie P.
Although it's not easy to get into this restaurant if you are heading on Rt. 59 southbound, I do really like the location. The dining area is huge--hibatchi to the left, sushi to the right, and a gorgeous bar in the center. I've only tried the sushi side because it is just that damn good. I like hibatchi, too, but now I am hooked on the sushi here and am working my way through their specialty rolls. I love the twinkling table tops and the dinnerware. The miso soup is the best I have ever had and it is served in lovely green glazed ceramic bowls with matching spoons--no plastic spoons with yucky decals on them here! They have no problem accommodating someone with a gluten free/dairy free diet. The wait staff has always been friendly and never messed up an order. We like to go on Saturday afternoons when they have great specials. We never have to wait for a table. The points card, cleanliness, and super friendly staff keeps me coming back, too. No problem finding parking, which can be the case at Sushi House in downtown Naperville.
(5)Wendy F.
We went to Shinto this past weekend - and while the food and service were as great as ever - they definitely have a problem with their A/C when the temp gets in the 90's. We were there about 6pm - and the bar and sushi area was comfortable, but as soon as you went into the hibachi grill area - it was HOT! Our poor chef was so hot and miserable - and it felt very warm to us, even just sitting still. They need to put in fans and/or boost the A/C for hot days!
(4)Aaron G.
Amazing!!! Best Japanese steak house around. The environment is amazing and staff is great too.
(5)Rich K.
I really enjoyed Shinto. The food quality is top notch. I think the performance by the cooks is better here than at other locations.
(3)Janis T.
Food was just okay, but very deseptive advertising. Had a double take deal coupons for $40 which was of no use since you can't use on any specials or happy hour. Coupon does NOT state this nor did the waitress tell us when we started ordering. So what was suppose to cost us an additional $30 ended up to be $112. Manager pretty much ignored us, would not go back. Buyer Beware.
(1)Vicki R.
I've been to Shinto twice now.. first time was okay 2nd time was terrible the waitress forgot our appetizer then she forgot 1 of our rolls when we finally got the appetizer and not till after she brought us the bill did she realize that she had forgotten half of our order.. We only visited Shinto again because it's so close to home. From now on I'd rather take the 30 minute drive and visit Kinta, Orchid, Tokyo Bay , Wild Tuna or Swordfish... They are definitely worth the drive.
(2)Ryan R.
My wife and I were excited to try this out because it had been recommended by a friend but we ended up really disappointed. The decor was very nice and modern and it was very clean, but the food was very over priced and the service was poor. To elaborate on the food, my wife and I both ordered from the hibachi menu. She ordered chicken and I ordered steak and scallops. The steak was a poor cut of meat that turned out to be mostly fat and gristle and the scallops were over cooked to the point that they were very chewy and hard to cut. Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way is that it cost an additional $3 just to get fried rice. All in all the food was expensive, not well prepared, and I got less food at Shinto than I have at any other hibachi restaurant. Now for the service, the chef was polite and likable, but our server was missing in action. One of the other guests at the table ordered a beer as the salads were brought out and never received it because she never came back to the table. She was to busy doing sake bombs with another table. Fifteen minutes after dinner was complete and the table had been cleared I had to hunt down the manager in order to pay our bill. I don't think that we will be trying this restaurant again.
(1)Kate D.
Update: awful first dining-in experience. Carried out lots since then but just gave them another dine-in chance this weekend. Hostess was friendly but had no idea how to judge what the wait was. The couple in front of us had been told it was 15 minutes and ordered from the bar after 45 minutes went by. We didn't chance it and ordered from the bar right away. The bartender had the most manicured eyebrows I've ever seen! Oh and he was attentive and did a good job. Our sushi was delish. There was a $5 Belvedere you-call-it special so I took advantage of that. It was a positive experience and earned them an updated review from me. It's a bit pricey and the hostesses still need some polishing but Shinto deserves a solid 3 star "a-ok."
(3)Erin S.
Here's a letter I wrote to the GM after a horrible experience: I wanted to write because I am concerned. I give you my history because I would like for you to understand my concern from a person who has come to Shinto from the beginning and has worked for 13 years in the restaurant business, as a hostess, server, manager and event planner, at some great restaurants with outstanding service in the Western Suburbs. My mom and I came in tonight (Wednesday 8/29) around 5:00pm. There were zero people on the patio, and maybe 4 people in the bar and 2 people in the dining room. The hostess (a blonde girl I believe) was very friendly and very welcoming. We asked if we could have "Happy Hour" on the patio and she said "Of course!" We were seated on the patio and the gentleman that seated us allowed us to choose our seat, and was very nice to put up the umbrella to block out the crazy sun! :) Next, a bartender came out and delivered our water with cucumber and asked to take our drink order- he explained he wouldn't be taking our order, but he wanted us to make sure we had our drinks. He realized that we didn't have a drink menu, so he left to grab one, and less than 15 seconds later came back with a drink menu! Yay! :) Then the server came out. She brought out another drink menu, which was nice, so we each had one. HOWEVER, there were 2 pages missing in the drink menu. She asked if we needed to order drinks yet, and we didn't so she went back inside. She came back and took our drink order- A glass of Cupcake Pinot Noir and a Dragonberry Mojito (I think). At the same time, we ordered Tempura Avocado. The server was making a squinted face, and was covering up her eyes because it was bright out- but she wasn't doing this discreetly- it was like she was being blinded. We were deciding on our main order, and she came back (no drinks, no appetizers yet) and asked if we were ready to order. We weren't. And then she proceeded to sneeze a HUGE sneeze very dramatically (away from us, thank goodness) but bending over, saying "HACHOO!" very loudly and flipping her hair. Then she left. She came back 2 minutes later (still no drinks, no appetizers) and again asked if we were ready to order. (Squinting like she was being blinded, with her eyes almost closed and her arm over her eyes) We gave her the sheet we filled out as the Avocados were being placed on our table. (Still no drinks). We did not have plates, silverware, or chopsticks- so we asked for all of these things. The soy sauce cups were on the table, stacked... and one had a big chip out of it. The Tempura Avocado was sitting there, our server said she would go and get the utensils. So we sat. And sat... and sat... for at LEAST 3 minutes. I said to my mom, "I bet she's putting the order in" So I got up, went inside to the bartender (Glancing over to see our server put her order pad in her apron after entering things in the computer) and asked the bartender for napkins and utensils. Our server came hustling over saying "I got it! I got it! I was just getting your drinks to bring out with it!" (Yes, we still hadn't received our glass of wine or mojito!!!!!). --I'm sorry, I was always taught that a guest request supercedes any other item you need to do. Even further than that, you NEVER EVER put food on a table without all the instruments with which to eat it. EVER. The fact that we sat without means to eat a warm appetizer is unacceptable. The fact that our appetizer touched our table BEFORE we received our drinks is even more unacceptable-- After she brought out the utensils (fork had dried food on it that I just chipped off) we ate our appetizer- but didn't have share plates. We also would have wanted some wasabi, but we actually said to each other that we shouldn't bother asking because it would take too long to get it. We were then served our food, which was very good (Little Delicious Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Goyza and Tuna Nigiri). I had a little drama with a bee, so we moved inside and we sat at the bar. My mom's Beef dish came out, and she was very pleased with it. HOWEVER. I think my mom had one bite of beef, and I still had several pieces of sushi on my plate and our server kept asking if we wanted to order more... and when we finally said no, she said "Well, how about dessert?" I was FUMING. This was NOT a Saturday night, you didn't have a line out the door, we were sitting at the bar, there were plenty of seats. WHY is she asking about dessert when we're not even close to finished with dinner/happy hour!!!!! THEN, to top it all off... SHE BROUGHT US THE CHECK!! Are you joking?! That was the last straw for me. My mom and I left her a 15% tip on the discounted, happy hour price. I would like you to know that I fully well know that a tip should be at least 20%... and that you should tip on the PRE-discounted prices. And you know what, 99.9% of the time I do. But your server really earned that 15%. (I wrote more, but this is all I could fit)
(2)Nikka A.
Their sushi & hibachi's really good. I only gave it 4 stars because of their service. You have to flag down the server if you need something. But definitely will be back because of the good food.
(4)Gayle B.
Whenever I come to the Aurora mall from Hoffman Estates, we have to come here for lunch. Very reasonable for excellent quality sushi and hibachi.
(5)Loryn R.
I've been to shinto a few times, mainly because they had certificates on restaurant.com (which later seemed to be an issue). My first experience here was not good. The food was so-so, nothing mind blowing and the service was beyond less than par (which has not improved). I hadn't gone here for some time and decided to try it again to see if they had improved any. I will admit the sushi DID get a lot better, but it's hard to balance that out with the always terrible service i receive. The order of the menu can be slightly confusing when you see sushi rolls then appetizers and then specialty rolls. They need a better order to that. Also, the ordering menu itself doesn't even have all of the rolls you can order. I'm always having to write in what I want on the side and hope they don't forget. I've waited a great deal of time for my appetizer which came after the sushi came. Apparently someone had forgot to put my order in. Our waitress almost never comes back to check if we need anything or refill our water (I don't drink pop, sorry if you're not making money off my free water). All in all, the sushi has improved and I'd really like to try the hibachi. As for the service, it's still TERRIBLE. There are much better places in Naperville for sushi. I recommend going to Yamado where you get GREAT personal service.
(2)Ashley B.
One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Naperville!
(4)Tanida B.
Don't waste your time here. Obnoxious staff and food to boot.
(1)Brenda V.
Nice surprise in the burbs. Food and cocktails are delicious, service is perfect. I loved the dj spinning in the middle of the resaurant, very rock n' sushi..
(5)Justin T.
I got to say, this is by far one of the best sushi restaurants in this end of town. The service was great, the whole staff was very friendly, especially Cami our waitress. The rolls were priced fairly average compared to the other sushi establishments in Naperviile and surrounding areas. The best rolls have to be the fire and ice roll, dragon roll, etc. If you are looking for a new sushi restaurant and are sick of the pre-made Jewel made junk. Come here!
(5)James K.
I tried it for the 1st time and if it weren't for the happy hour specials and good sushi I probably wouldn't go back. The Hibachi Chef needed more practice on how to entertain the guests. He wasn't very skilled but the food was good. The server didn't come over much and when she did was forgetful. All in all it was ok but had better.
(3)Agnes S.
Very bad, only the rolls were good though it is not typical, imagine a roll mixed with some ingredients fried in tempura batter. On the other hand sushi, sashimi, and beef were poor quality. For example beef had tough parts and salmon had an after taste. The lunch sashimi bento box only had six small pieces. Also service was very poor and slow. We came right as they opened for lunch, we were the only patrons. Food came in a careless order. At that point three other small groups had arrived. We asked for the bill, were seemingly ignored by the hostess, asked again this time the waiter. In total we waited 12 minutes for the bill. By that point two more parties had arrived, though larger. It took another 8 minutes after we gave the credit card for the waiter to return it so that we could leave. In that time the waiter threw away the vegetables I asked to have boxed. mzs
(1)daniela m.
good food very slow service. plus i was charged for somenthing i didn`t order or got, and music was so loud my date and i had to leave ,wi didn`t even finished ouar drinks. a dont think wi will be back
(3)Keir H.
Hmmm. If I had been writing this a few months ago it would have been four stars but the last few times I have been there have been disappointing and I am now taking a break... Me and the boy-toy love sushi and this place is practically across the street. First experience was great...they were not not busy and the place was a little empty. Livens up weekends and late when they have events going on. The banquet seating along the wall is too low for the tables and you will feel like your a little kid eating. But the food and friendly service more than made up for it. As well as the cute bartender who sent over a tasty libation with compliments. They have some good creative rolls, nice presentation and tasty seaweed salad. Not huge on hibachi but the few times we have done it here were good. Came here for hibachi for my friend's birthday in Feb. and the chef was hilarious and so was our waiter. Fun time. Good place to just go sit at the bar and have a drink, small bite and catch up. (for whatever reasons the acoustics of the bar allow you to hear the people across from you conversations...anyway...) Then something changed...mainly food quality wise. Fish not tasting as fresh. I made the mistake of ordering the baby octopus salad...oh my...first thought with the lighting and the sauce it looked like a bowl of bloody rabbit fetuses. Agedashi Tofu very disappointing, gave it another chance and it was worse. We'll go back and see if they are on their back on their game...in awhile.
(3)Blanca R.
I have eaten here a couple of times, and have never been disappointed. The only problem, is that they are never very busy, which makes me worry. I loved the Mexican roll. Hibachi was quite fun too...loved the scallops. All in all, the service is great, and it's a great place to go with a group. Oh..,.by the way...definitely get the dessert! They are all good.
(4)Mehmet C.
We just went there, this will certainly be one of our favorite sushi places; great rolls, great ambiance and service.
(4)Simon C.
For the price they charge, I expect more. I've been there 4 times, which I found pretty amazing that I went back three times. Now I'm pretty sure they're just not on par with other higher end sushi restaurant in terms of food and service. First time there, we had hibachi. The cook was a newbie and he didn't know ANY tricks. He wasn't even very good at cooking. He forgot my egg yolk on my shrimps so he basically just put some egg yolk on the grill, cooked it a little with oil, and put that oily patch of soggy yellow slime on my plate... Not professional. Second time there for hibachi for my cousin's birthday. The waiter was barely legal and he didn't know much about beer. I order a Tsing Tao. He hesitated for a moment and said ok. Well, he brought me a "Tiger". He was also not very attentive. We constantly need to ask him to refill our glasses with water. Third time there for sushi. Service was ok this time. We ordered some rolls and sushis. I found a piece of salmon bone in our roll. It was as big as a toothpick. We complained to the waitress and we got another roll free of charge. But still, that was pretty gross. We were also lucky that we were not with little kids who could easily choke on that big piece of bone. Fourth time there, which would also be my last time, was just unacceptable. We didn't know what to eat in Naperville at 9:30pm so we would like to give Shinto another try. Upon sitting down, our waitress greeted us promptly and politely. My wife even secretly asked for a dessert for my birthday. We placed our order. Then, for the next 25 minutes, we had not seen the waitress. It was a slow Tuesday evening. It was the bartender who finally realize our drinks had been sitting at the bar for like 20 minutes and he brought us our drink and he asked if we place the order already. We told him what we ordered. He tried to find the waitress but she was nowhere to be found so the bartender brought us the soups. Another waitress brought us some sushis. As we were eating, our waitress finally showed up with another plate of sushi. She did not offer an apology. Then she disappeared again for 30 minutes. I asked another waitress for the bill and the manager. The manager came and apologize and took care of our entire bill plus a $25 gift card for future visit. Ok whatever we took that and stood up. Oh my waitress showed up again and told us she was about to bring out the cake. My wife and I was like it didn't even matter anymore. You just ruined our evening. At the end, that waitress did NOT offer any kind of apology. I don't see any more good reason of going back. Even with that $25 gift card.
(1)Cindy P.
love the decor my bf and i went on valentines day and had bought the $50 for $25 certificate on yelp and they still accepted it even though it was valentines day the food was good and i just couldnt beat the price thanks to the coupon.
(4)Suzanne T.
Brad and Brian rocked as the staff. Went for a birthday party!! So much fun !! Great food and presentation
(5)Racheal R.
Short & sweet of it: Hands downs, THE best sushi, hibachi, & service in the area. Don't believe me? Read my review about S****a located at Ogden/Iriquois. This has been our favorite place for ages! Worth every cent. A bit more pricey than the AYCE places in the area, but worth the extra $$. Zero complaints, amazingly fresh and flavorable food, amazing service. Can't stress enough... we've learned our lesson, and will never stray from here on out.
(5)Veronica T.
Everything was awesome the show the drinks the food the desert and the service! They also sang me happy birthday and gave me a free desert. Keeping them on my list!
(5)Tonya K.
Since this review, I have been to Shinto more times than I can remember. The Sushi is amazing - still love the Captain Jack roll - I always order it. Service is always great! Friendly, quick, and attentive
(5)Saba A.
I'm not going to read bad reviews- why do people complain when you are eating delicious Sushi! Well- I would only come on Monday's for the half price deal they have and try to come before 2 to avoid the 3 pm rush! I came in with my brotehr and sister and the service was a little show- so maybe that wasn't cooll but it was nice to get large, delicious, and wonderful presentations of sushi with a side of vegetable fried rice for 4 dollars. We passed up on the drink special but if you love Sushi - come here! Perfect, filling, sushi lunch in the middle of the afternoon! Great signature sushi's to choose from as well. Can't go wrong!
(4)Erica B.
Come here all the time for happy hour sushi and happy hour drinks! I usually sit at the bar which seats 30 people. On each side of the bar is either dining for sushi and menu and the otherwise is hibachi!
(5)Rhonda S.
In town visiting friends and family. My best friend insisted we go here and now I know why!! $5 martini Tuesdays We sampled a little of everything: House salad is delish love the ginger dressing. Yellowtail, white tuna and sweet shrimp nigiri Rainbow roll Gorgeous restaurant. Even the bathroom is neat!! Look at the ceiling in the bathroom, it is super cool! The circle bar is immaculate. Beautiful fish tank. Ambiance is trendy and love the upbeat music. Friendly service. Our server Maja was awesome. I ordered a Cosmo and was having a hard time drinking it because it was a little too sweet for me. She noticed and asked if she could bring me something else. She brought me an awesome lemon tini which was perfect. Definitely will be back!!!!!
(5)Pat E.
Just an awesome experience all around. The restaurant was clean, the service was fast, and the food was AWESOME! I got every single fish they had on the menu (not really). Yellowfin Tuna cooked medium rare, a side of scallops, and the shrimp that comes with the hibachi grill special. This also includes Miso soup and a Ginger salad. This place has vents that keep you from smelling like Teriyaki sauce for seventeen days after. I cannot wait to be back here! The reason I would ever dock this place is just the prices. I CANNOT BRING MYSELF TO DO IT! Expensive? So what? You're paying for an experience! I can't wait until someone does something of substance in my life again so we can celebrate at SHINTO!
(5)Tina D.
Great sushi. I am vegetarian so sometimes it is hard to find a sushi place with good options but Shinto always accommodates and even allows me to make my own roll with whatever veggie ingredients I like. The drinks are good too. They also have Groupon for this place which make it a great deal.
(4)Fred C.
The food was great, it was only 2 of us they were not really busy ,so they sat us down and the chef cook for just two of us ,unlike other places where they make you wait to fill the table ,awesome experience great time and great dinner . Thanks again Chef Chris
(5)Joe E.
One of my best friends was coming into town and wanted to go out for dinner. Being the Elite Yelper that I am, I didn't want to let her down with the restaurant choice. We decided to meet somewhere in the Aurora/Naperville area, and along with my brother, we decided on hibachi at Shinto! We arrived at the restaurant at 7:25 for our 7:30 reservation. The hibachi side of the restaurant had a few parties, but our group of 5 was seated at our own table. Everyone decided to have hibachi, and actually, four of us ordered the steak and chicken entrée, while my brother had yellowfin tuna and scallops. Each meal came with house onion soup, a ginger salad, shrimp flambe (2), sautéed vegetables, and white rice (upcharge for chicken fried/brown). Everyone was extremely satisfied with their meals. My steak was cooked medium rare, and it melted like butter in my mouth! There was nothing bad about the entire meal. I can't wait to return. It was the best hibachi experience I've ever had (haven't had too many but in the entire Asian cuisine spectrum, near the top). Highly recommend for any special occasion!
(5)Amy H.
Solid sushi and hibachi. The restaurant has a fun atmosphere and the staff is always friendly and helpful...maybe a little too helpful on this last visit though. (Felt a little rushed at the end for no apparent reason other than I think the server was trying to be super efficient). I haven't been in a sushi mood in a while so I tried the hibachi here last time. I've been several times before for the sushi and always enjoyed it. Our hibachi chef, Chris, was really cool, kept me and my husband entertained as we were the only guests at our table on this particular evening. Great steak and fried rice- and don't forget to ask for the egg sauce if you so desire. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere on the menu, so I had to speak up to get it. Yum-o. We always have a great time here, whether we're enjoying sushi, hibachi or martinis at the bar. So, I decided to upgrade my rating. 5 stars for Shinto!
(5)Nick B.
Whenever the gf and I think of sushi. This is the place in the area we go to. Nothing can compare to it around in the burbs. Honestly the sushi and drinks have always been yummy. All i can say is make sure you get a order of the lil delicious. that is a must every time.
(5)Lauren P.
I think this is by far my fave hibachi place... SO GLAD I BOUGHT THE DEAL FOR THIS RESTO! Everything is good ... My fave was the egg yolk - make sure you order that over your shrimp! AND THE YUM YUM SAUCE! Tuesday I want to say is half off hibachi entrees - I don't know if I would go because it might be chaos.... Besides the food the restaurant is huge and has a really nice atmosphere with their modern bar in the middle.
(5)Angie R.
I've been to Shinto many times over the years and I have never had a bad experience. Their sushi rolls are all delicious, the ambiance is great and the cocktails are to die for. The staff is always pleasant and the food on point. Highly recommended.
(4)Tamara M.
Ok ok I am finding out that I have a new found love of sushi and this place seriously was trying to ruin it for me!!! Now this was my first time inside of Shinto and we went there for lunch and upon walking in I was greeted by the hostess who turned around and became our waitress which if fine, sometimes we all have to wear more than one hats. She was very friendly but kind of of air head and that's ok. whatever I don't care. So we had our choice of sitting in the sushi area or by the hibachi, we sat down by the hibachi area because I wanted to try it out but we still ordered sushi. But upon walking in there was a weird smell of I don't really know what it was but it kind of had the smell of dirty mop water, my boyfriend said it was the smell of the grease from the hibachi but I don't know about all of that. We were placed at a table all by ourselves (YAAAAHHH) but the first thing that I noticed was the table was greasy and it had crumbs on it. YUCK. This is kind of weird because when we walked thru the door it had an air of snootiness to it like it was better then all other restaurants but it wasn't. Anyway the waitress came back to explain things so kudos to her because she knew her stuff and her menu, but she was a complete air head. I ordered the shrimp flambé hibachi and it came with a soup or salad, I ordered the salad but she brought me the soup. DUH!! Then I looked at her like what is this? and she and I quote said "OMG you ordered the salad didn't you!!" ummmm yeah I did. lol... well she let me keep the soup which tasted like the Beef flavored Ramen Noodles while she went and got my salad which I didn't bother eating because it looked gross. I have it to my boyfriend and normally he would eat anything but I guess couldn't stomach this one because he passed. So then the hibachi grill master guy came out or whatever you called them and proceeded to make my food. Very nice guy. He did his job but the only thing he knew how to grill was my shrimp. My rice was undercooked but my shrimp and my vegetables were great. So yeah you can make that call for yourself. Now on to the sushi, I'm not sure how fresh that stuff was but I was not impressed by it at all. I had the Crispy Spicy Tuna roll which wasn't bad; it was cooked so they couldn't mess it up. Now as far as the raw sushi, my boyfriend ordered Ika (Squid), Unagi (Eel) and some more stuff that I didn't try because it looked grossed so I left that to him and his guts. Anyway I never had squid before and I found it to be rubbery and hard, I am not sure if that's how its suppose to be but my instincts say no so I don't know and the eel was not bad at all. As far as the other sushi items, my boyfriend was not pleased so I guess it wasn't good. Anyway I wasn't impressed with this place and I don't think I would be back just because the non cleanliness especially if it specializes in raw foods I need you to be clean. Side note: Clean your hibachi grills, the pit where you were dumping the scraps had black stuff (which I assume is oil and filth) all along the sides of it and when I chef got done cooking my meal there were still crumps on it which is gross. Now as I am writing this I am grossed out at the thought of what was on it before I placed my order.
(1)Audrey W.
Always the best hibachi! My husband and I love it so much. It's a bit pricey, but the fried rice is so worth it. The sushi is delicious as well. This place is our favorite. We recommend it to everyone.
(5)Suzanne Z.
What a fun experience this place was! Apparently, I did it wrong though, I keep reading about how you can save with coupons and other deals... neither of which I came prepared for. The night was a little bit more than I expected, with martini's costing $10 a piece and most of the sushi rolls being around $15-17. The place has a clean and trendy atmosphere. The giant hibachi area has color- changing lights, and the sushi side has nice little tables. The clientele was a young 20s crowd, so being there definitely made me feel cool and trendy too! It was bustling when we arrived, but we were still able to be seated promptly. Our waiter came to speak with us right away as well, and was very attentive throughout the meal. We ordered the shrimp dumpling appetizer, which was savory and delicious. I thought it was much better on its own, than with the soy sauce it came with. For the entree, our helpful server recommended his favorites and popular orders to help us out. We ordered the Naper roll- shrimp tempura, crab salad on top, the Little Delicious- a fried sushi roll, and the Jekyll and Hyde roll- with mango and jalapeño, which were all fantastic. I am no sushi aficionado, but I definitely think it was the best sushi I've had. And props to the server for not making me feel like an idiot for needing those chopstick cheaters to eat with. I was going to use a fork until he showed me those! 3 rolls between two people left us extremely full and satisfied. Each roll was 8-12 pieces. Their martinis were awesome too- I had the passion martini, which had a pineapple and mango/passion fruit?? I can't quite remember, but it went down easy and was a nice treat. I would definitely go back again for sushi or to try hibachi, which I've never done. I will prepare more next time to save a few dollars though!
(4)Ross B.
So here I am sitting at the bar for over ten minutes without being seen by either bartender. It's a circular bar. How hard is it to serve five people on a Thursday with two bartenders? Food is good but the service sucks. Update: I ended up walking out after thirty minutes without so much as a menu. Meanwhile a group of six country club types walked in and immediately got drinks and serviced across from me. Awesome.
(1)Joey H.
Very good sushi. You can tell how fresh it is. They are a little pricey for the good rolls but I take advantage of the 1/2 price Monday's.
(3)Joulie S.
one of my favorite Sushi spots. it's quite a drive but it sure is well worth it. They have sushi deals on Monday nights, which is awesome for all the sushi lovers! They have a great collection to choose from as well, a little of everything for everyone. It does get a bit crowded since its a great deal, so the service might be slow. Depending on how big of a complainer you are, your waiter might not come by your table as often as you like....so order all your sushi ahead of time before you starve.
(5)Traci G.
Love this place! They have one side specifically for sushi and the other side is for habachi, in the middle is a bar. I've only eaten the sushi here plus had a few drinks. Everything is delicious! They do take out as well which is great for when I want to stop after work to pick up some delicious sushi. The only reasons for the 4 stars is one it gets pretty packed at night so come early or be prepared to wait (not sure if they take reservations) and the sushi can be a little pricey too. But on Mondays they have half off on all of their speciality rolls.....you can't use it on carry out orders though. Despite those two things I still love this place and will be going back very soon!
(4)Eugene W.
Wonderful sushi and great service from here! The food is fresh, and the sushi selection is nice. The Miso Surprise and Dragon Roll are some of my favorites. Also, their fried cookie dessert with ice cream (forgot what it was called) is amazing! Happy hour on Mondays has half-off specialty rolls.
(5)Jennifer B.
I like going to Shinto. It's close to home and I always feel like I roll out of there after eating so much! I've never been to the hibachi side so this review is only for sushi. The reason I gave 4 stars is it is kind of pricey. The food is pretty good but you are definitely paying for the atmosphere more than anything. The artistry for the sushi is very good, which gains a star. But, they lose a star for service because the waitstaff can be hard to flag down or find sometimes. They are pleasant though. They have specials on Monday so we like to go then.
(4)Kimburly H.
One of my favorite places to go. Hibachi is awesome and I crave their sushi :) Awesome atmosphere too!
(5)Voulamoula E.
Love love love the food, and the staff is amazingly polite too! I go at least once a week. 12 dollar hibachi on Tuesdays!! woot! :)
(5)Marc F.
The sushi was excellent, and I'm pretty picky with sushi. The place is beautiful, the prices are very good. Service was good, but not exceptional... but still acceptable. We'll be back, though the traffic right in this area is horrific. Came back again, service was awesome!!!
(5)J.W. W.
The sushi is actually very good, the hibachi not so much. If this was just for the sushi side I would give it four stars.
(3)Cathy R.
We decided to finally check this place out after noticing the many positive reviews, but I would have to disagree. Okay, I take that last sentence back partially...the quality of the fish was good, not too fishy, which is very important. We showed up on a Monday night to find the place fairly busy due to their 50% off rolls. We were told by the hostess that it would be a 25-30 minute wait for a seat, but allowed us to sit and eat at the bar...there were a lot of seats available at the sushi bar, so I'm not sure why we weren't offered to sit there. We ordered a couple of specialty rolls that didn't really stand out (which is why I can't even remember the names) and your typical salmon, yellow tail, mackerel, sweet egg, shrimp, and eel sushi. It took 45 minutes for us to get our food after my husband had to say something to the bartender. By the time we received our food, the actual seating area was already clearing out, so B.S. on the hostess who quoted such a long wait time. Although we were sitting at the bar and didn't order alcoholic beverages, we didn't receive refills of water or iced tea, so that turned me off as well as the fact that those specialty rolls that were supposed to be 50% off were not reflected in the bill. What is 15 divided by 2? 7.50, not 8. Fine, it's a dinky 50 cent difference, but if you're going to promote 50% off, at least do the math properly. Yes, silly stuff like that bothers me. The place came off a bit pretentious to me, but I guess that's the vibe overall - customers with a ton of blond highlights in their hair, lip injections, and a wonderful orange skin glow from the natural sunshine that the Chicagoland area has enjoyed this past winter!
(3)Joey D.
Easily the best Hibachi I've ever had! Yes my meal was $50 dollars (the Imperial Feast), but it was well worth every penny. Would HIGHLY recommend to a friend!
(5)Jeramiah G.
My girlfriend and I have been here twice. So far, we enjoyed our time here. The food is tasty and nothing feels over done. The hibachi was excellent and the sushi is great. They event have happy hour during the week. Also this place has coupons quite a bit on groupon and living social so that's nice too.
(4)Luis C.
Bad service from the hostess, she wants me to wait 30 min for a table when there were lots of table available
(1)Graciela S.
Alright so the hibachi was delicious and Chris was an awesome hibachi man. The sushi was not impressive at all. And they charged, $1 for the spicy mayo tiny minature portion... That I found a hair in... The service nonexistent. I swear our server was new... Or just like previous reviews said - an airhead. If you have a couple of hours to wait and eat go for it. But if your crunched on time just run the other way. It was expensive and not worth it.
(2)Mavis R.
We just had sushi (maybe their habachi is better?) and seaweed wrapping the rolls was partially shriveled and very difficult to chew. They sliced one roll diagonally so, while it looked pretty, it was harder to eat and each bite only had half the ingredients. The tuna in one roll looked funny so we stopped eating. The waiter came by to ask if we wanted more food but walked away while we were talking to him. He also disappeared once we had the check so we had go up front to pay. While we waited we watched 3 bus boys clean off and set a single table at a time. They gave us a "family discount" when we complained but as this was less than the cost of a single roll which I am concerned might make me sick, this was underwhelming. It was also very noisy. Their cranberry juice was good. Maybe their cocktails are also good?
(1)Samuel C.
1/2 off specialty rolls on Mondays. Also you can't go wrong with the hibachi side of it. Good food but a but pricey. Amazing round shape bar, great ambiance, trendy and love the music they play.
(4)Hahaha H.
The sushi here is half price on Mondays, but the only roll really worth it was the Mexican roll. Almost everything else is just trying too hard to cover up the fat that it's sushi, by giving you a lot of tempura and cream cheese and a bunch of American-ized ingredients. The Hibachi is GARBAGE. It just tastes like salt and gave my boyfriend a high blood pressure attack.
(3)M f.
The blueberry acai tondie for. The pineapple martini so yummy. I came in 30 minutes before they close and they were hospitable
(5)Renee R.
shinto has become a go-to spot whenever i'm craving sushi. the atmosphere is great, the drinks will flow and the food will make your belly happy. unfortunately, having lived downtown in chicago, i cant honestly rate this any higher than three stars. compared to other sushi places, this menu just doesn't live up. many of the rolls are heavily fried and there aren't a ton of unique combinations or specialty rolls. it will satisfy your sushi craving but just doesn't compare. all in all, as far as the burbs are concerned, this is a top notch sushi restaurant and worth checking out.
(3)Brenda H.
I prefer Shinto to Benihana when it comes to hibachi. Everything about this place far exceeds what I've come to expect from Benihana. I always upgrade my steak to the chateaubriand. It's, quite honestly, delicious and I think it's better than the steak served at most steakhouses that exceed that price range. No matter what anyone says, I won't take back that statement. I've been here about a half dozen times in the past 2 years, I've never left disappointed. The sides may not be the greatest but I don't like soup.. or salad, so that's not really eaten. The veggies are better than those served at Benihana and seasoned well. The fried rice is ok, just needs a little extra soy sauce (which is available at your table). The shrimp appetizer is a nice bonus and they score major points against Benihana there. Then I feast on my chateaubriand and extra shrimp at the end. My boyfriend likes their Japanese beer and sushi. I don't like sushi and he had to beg me to try tempura shrimp--not bad! We actually really liked their tempura cookie dessert, I don't remember what it was called but it came with ice cream. I was too full to eat but somehow I kept eating this dessert till there was nothing left.
(4)Sarah S.
The hibachi here is great! The server we had was fun & entertaining. Everything tasted great. The cocktails are really good too. We went on the hibachi special night and prices were reasonable. No reservation needed.
(5)Laura B.
I was hesitant in giving this place 3 stars. I feel like soon it will change to 2 if things don't change. The quality and portions of their food has gone down so much since they first opened. I use to love their hibachi but have been very disappointed the last couple of times I've gone. The amount you spend here you would think you'd get to leave satisfied but nopes. Although I do love their happy hour deal. Their sushi is pretty darn yummy. I love the lil delicious. I think I'll only go here for happy hr now or only when they have specials. Having to pay full price and possibly leave dissatisfied will make me extremely unhappy. Basically this place is a hit or miss.
(3)Maria L.
Came here on a Saturday night with a Groupon. When calling earlier, they said they didnt have any reservations open until 8 but when I called around 6, they said they could seat us, weird. Anyway, after trying a couple hibachi places in the burbs, I would say this one has probably the best combination of fresher ingredients, environment and service. The restaurant was lively, as well as the "Japanese" hibachi chef (ie Juan). Although I would not come here without a Groupon, it was pretty expensive for the burbs. We started with a pretty tasty seared white tuna appetizer. Then we had the typical broth soup, salad with ginger dressing, vegetables, and rice. Getting fried rice is an extra $3. As for the proteins, I got the steak and chicken. The regular steak is not the best steak, but you have options to upgrade. The chicken was decent. I also tried other people's tuna, scallops, and lobster and those were pretty tasty. Overall, a good hibachi place in the Nape!
(4)Eric H.
Frinking awesome! Love this place. Great food and atmosphere. Claudia was our server. She was amazing.
(5)Tania J.
Unfortunately the staff turnover is crazy... and slow always. There tonight and had to send my sushi back! I don't think you should ever serve the end of a fish with the chewy fascia exposed in sushi anytime, anywhere!! They should have known better. Disappointed. I'll not go back. Lot's of sushi out there... on the prowl for better.
(2)Carrie H.
Absolutely love this place! This is a great sushi restaurant! The food is so good along with the atmosphere! Every time I've come here its been amazing!
(5)Abbey W.
My boyfriend and I have been going to the Shinto for 4 years now. I even had my family go here for my graduation dinner and drive here from NIU. This was our favorite place until our last experience on his birthday. We are reward members and always miss out on the points for our freebies because we don't save our receipt. Back in November I had asked more details about the reward program and told the waiter how we all miss using our rewards. He was nice enough to give us a coupon for a free specialty roll ( signed by the manager that we have never meant. I have actually never meant a manager here until Tuesday the 10th when we went for my boyfriends birthday). Anyways on Tuesday we showed the coupon to the waiter before ordering. Then at the end of out hibachi meal a manager (Brandon) comes up to me asking who gave me the coupon and the manager. He said he did not recognize the signature. He asked who the manager was 7 months ago! I said I didn't even know the severs name tonight and have never meant a manager that how should I know. He asked how did we get this coupon that the coupon is only given to employees. I explained and he said he had to make more calls because at this point he cannot honor the coupon! Brandon comes back 15 minutes later when only one couple other than us was left at the table and tells us he can not honor the free speciality roll. That he and others there did not recognize the signature and that the date looks like different handwriting! He said I should know the name of the manager who signed it because they only have for managers there! Another couple at the table even stepped in saying how we showed the waiter the coupon and how ridiculous he was being. I was so livid that this guy was accusing me pretty much if either strealing this coupon or of stealing and committing fraud and for just $15! We use to rave about this place and there customer service. This was my boyfriends birthday and the manager ruined it. The receipt even said birthday and across said $0.00 ( real classy) don't add it if you are not going to say anything. Another table had a couple who had a birthday and servers came with dessert and sang. I have always tagged my self when we come and promote how great this place was. You now can forget that. I have never been so embarrassed or insulted. Shinto's service use to be great. The managers or at least Brandon need a real wake up call and training in customer service. As this was so insulting! Thank you for horrible Shinto "Experience"
(1)Keith L.
Probably one of the best suburban sushi restaurants around. Excellent rolls, but not cheap at all. I will definitely come back if I plan on dropping a big dining tab!
(4)A G.
I came here a few months ago for my mother in-law's birthday dinner. The waitress guided me through the items on the menu which was super helpful and when the hibachi came, I could not help but smile watching the cook flip and chop our food while tossing the knives around and lighting the onion tower on fire. It was a fun experience and I came back a few weeks ago on a weekday with the same great experience. I love their food, they have great service. I'm just not a big fan of the bill.
(5)Claira V.
Only reviewing based on ordering sushi. I have been here a few times. The sushi quality is good and very flavorful rolls. Good customer service too. Just wish they had better happy hour specials.
(4)Christopher K.
My friend and I stuck with the sushi and it was pretty solid. The selection was good, the presentation was good, and the service was good. It was a bit overpriced but nothing that would keep me from returning.
(4)Nina M.
Today was the first time I've tried Shinto. I have to say, it was pretty good! My friend and I came in around 3 and it just so happened to be during their happy hour. We ordered the spicy tuna, unagi, eel roll, and crunchy roll. We thoroughly enjoyed the eels and spicy tuna. Would have enjoyed the crunchy roll more if the shrimp was properly peeled. Overall, we were satisfied and enjoyed the sushi. With the prices they offered during happy hour, the sushi was definitely worth it! Really enjoyed the unagi. Delish! P.S Mondays they offer half-price special rolls! Yum!
(5)Aijaz H.
One of the best Sushi restaurants around. Our family favorites: Monster, Bear Down, Shrimp Tempura, Volcano, Caterpillar. Enjoy...
(5)Christina M.
Love the sushi here!!! Have been coming for months for half off Monday specials! The sushi rolls are decent size with a huge selection ranging from crab to mixtures of spices tuna n other raw dishes! I highly recommend this sushi restaurant!!
(5)Dan M.
Went here for valentines day dinner with my fiancé. Definitely a classy place and I would recommend coming her for a fun date night or a night out with friends. Our Hibachi cook was top notch and gave us plenty of food. Wait staff was on too of their game too. Only thing I would say is that my steak was nothing special. Next time I come I will probably stick to chicken and shrimp.
(4)Angie C.
Spent 3 hours here total. Waitress was never to be found, second time they didn't turn the grill on so the chef left and came back later. Manager was useless and didn't apologize about the service until we asked for the owner's card. They messed up our checks 3 times. Never coming back here again.
(1)Lisa P.
Update: Ended up waiting for 3 hours. The manager was little help in resolving the issue, the waitress/manager took 3 tries to run our cards, and was visibly bad mouthing out table to the rest of the staff while running our cards. I understand some tables are harder than others but my table was polite the whole time, we never raised our voices at anyone, and all we wanted was to leave so we could continue with out night. I will NEVER be returning to Shinto nor will I ever recommend it to anyone looking for a Japanese Restaurant with Hibachi. All in all, I was extremely disappointed with the service provided and I was super excited to come here too.
(1)Madeleine B.
This is honestly one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a sushi bar. Upon arriving I asked what was in a chirashi bowl at this location since it wasn't listed on their menu, the hostess had no idea, the bar tender didn't know, and some girl at the bar had to list it off for them. I ordered the chirashi and my boyfriend got a chicken teriyaki meal. We got everything to go and when we got home I opened my chirashi's, they had put it in two flat to go containers, and the over whelming smell of rotten fish came out and took over our kitchen. Just looking at the tuna you could see blood line as well as very thick tendons running through each shredded piece. I looked over the rest of the fish and could see slime collecting in-between each piece. It was disgusting. My boyfriend pulled out his teriyaki chicken and for 20 bucks he got what appeared to be a precooked, extremely thin chicken cutlet that they just slapped some sauce on. We've both been eating sushi for years and while we didn't expect Shinto to be top of the line, we at least expected it to be edible. Instead we got home with food that I can't eat and he doesn't feel comfortable eating any of his after seeing what they sent out as passable for mine. Overall we will never be back and I'll be calling tomorrow demanding a refund, this is absolutely ridiculous. *UPDATE* I called today and spoke with Nick, he was very friendly and refunded the order and offered to have us in to be taken care of. However, I will never return after seeing the unsafe food that was considered severable.
(1)Aide M.
Nice location but the sushi is not the best. I found it to not have much flavor and the little that it did have was so similar to the other 5 rolls of sushi I ordered. Nothing really stood out. I also found it quite pricey as I did not see the sushi as that good of quality. There is another place (Sakamoto in Oswego) 20 minutes away that overtops this place not only in taste but also price wise.
(3)Suze B.
This place was delicious! We went on a Tuesday night to celebrate a friend's raise. Half price appetizers and sushi from 3-6! I got the steak hibachi with fried rice. GET THE FRIED RICE! You will not regret it. A little on the pricier side but it's worth every penny. Plus it's a funny little show. Be prepared to sit with strangers if you go with a smaller group.
(5)Kat G.
Meh. I am still trying to figure out why this place is expensive and people are willing to pay the prices they ask for. I used a Groupon at this place that knocked off $50 from the bill and still felt this place was over priced. We were seated at our table and my place setting clearly had a clump of rice and was not clean. I pointed it out to the hostess and got an "oh." So that was the first and lasting impression. We then proceeded to order appetizers and drinks. We had the scallop tempura which was decent, and I would order again. What was most disappointing was they couldn't get the little details right such as my husband's beer was warm and we asked them to get us another or cool it. By the time it was properly cooled, it was brought back towards the end of the meal. It must have been a fresh batch but it was 7pm - well into dinner service hour so I'm not sure why their beers weren't stocked earlier. I had the passion-tini. There was little passion to feel as I drank it. It tasted so artificial and I had a cough-syrupy after-taste in my mouth. Their sushi was alright. I liked the combinations and flavorings but they were way overpriced. The quality was "good" but nothing to scream about. In fact, this place charges more for lower-quality sushi than some places on Michigan Ave., Downtown Chicago. I don't mind paying a lot for sushi but when I know I'm not getting the best quality or "blow your mind sushi" for top price, I'm not going to be jumping to come back here. We enjoyed the Black Widow, Jekyll & Hyde, and The Captain Jack rolls, but we never had a "wow" moment. I did not try their hibachi and I will give this place another shot for it, but I don't think I will come back here for sushi unless it is their Monday night half off rolls special. I'll pay half of what they ask for because I think that is honestly where their sushi should be priced at. I'd rather drive to Chicago and go to Sushi Samba than pay the same price for lower quality/less enthusiastic sushi.
(3)Rachael Z.
I have only been to Hibachi here, but vow to dine in on the other side of the restaurant sometime! Hibachi Make sure you pay attention to your chef, otherwise they won't entertain you! I learned this the hard way. Order the egg yolk sauce. It's a super cheap side so if you don't like it, it's not bad to waste, but it's incredibly less than other hibachi restaurants. Drinks Good martinis and wine prices! Bar? Confusing! While half is a Hibachi area, the bar area is filled with people who look like they belong in a club downtown. Overall I love this place and their constant advertising will also save you money!
(4)Lucy C.
You know how you thought TGIFridays was super cool when you were 14? Shinto is kind of like that. My friends and I had a few pretty good memories here from a couple years ago but going back recently was very underwhelming. Drinks were expensive (on par with/greater than city prices), portions were small, and the place was really dead for a Friday night. The sushi was pretty good though, as was the service.
(3)Kestutis N.
This is the problem with restaurants these days. They just don't give a dam. Service is as you would expect from a chain restaurant, now as food is concerned I would not recommend this place to anyone unless you want Chinese. ( if you go to Japanese restaurant and cooks are Chinese you might as well go to your local take out Chinese restaurant) chances are you'll get same thing cheaper. I'm talking from experience when I say this, if cooks not Japanese or Korean you will not get what you paid for. Ok, enough ranting about that... Hibachi grill: dirty with leftovers on the grill an the table, smell was atrocious from old oil that was sitting there for months ( I presume) Grill master: seemed like he was forced to work there and I'm sorry but if you care that much about the food you serve then you do not deserve to be called a cook let along a master, everything he served was bad Chinese food and the worst thing is he couldn't do that right (undercooked rice) and from the time he rolled the cart from the door to the grill it seemed like he's waking to the electric chair, not to mention the whatever was on that cart scared the living Jesus out of me. Then when finished he goes to clean a grill with a dirty rags and stuff just flies all over the places leaving the bits and chunks of leftovers on the grill. If any Japanese person would see this horrifying display of disrespect for their culture and cuisine they would commit a suicide at the doorsteps before sitting down at the table. Now the sushi: the only thing remotely decent was crispy roll but I still couldn't tell what I was eating. Any raw fish should be consumed with heavy amount of soy sauce just to make sure you don't get sick. The server was accommodating and pleasant even though she messed up a little she came back quick and corrected the issue. Me personally wouldn't come back to this place even if it was free.
(1)Krista B.
My FAVORITE restaurant. I'm there for every special occasion. Black Widow Roll is the besg
(5)Jessica B.
Great food and great service. Fun sushi choices that prove their cost is worth it. Loved the atmosphere - perfect spacing, different levels to their dining area, and the lighting sets a fun yet relaxed feeling. The bar is fully stocked and has yummy and sophisticated martinis! I'd recommend it to any one! Especially on Mondays - sushi is half priced. If we lived closer, I'd make it a regular spot!
(5)Kata T.
Still haven't found a place in the suburbs that can come close to what I've had in the city. Came here recently for the first time in a few years, and was reminded why I hadn't been back (only came to meet up with friends - their choice). I should first mention that I'm vegetarian, so I am only judging the veggie rolls, which were very limited. I found them to be a bit bland and the "speciality" veggie roll was definitely way too small and way overpriced for what I got. The drinks also seemed overpriced for what you get. I won't be coming back. Good service and nice interior/atmosphere, though.
(2)Jon C.
I'm not a sushi person. So prior to tonight, I've never been to Shinto. Being a parent to two small children also means very little opportunity for date nights. Let me tell you why, when I get the next opportunity to escape parenthood for a few hours that I will be going to Shinto. My wife and I were making dinner tonight (Tikka Masala Chicken, for whatever worth that may be) and we realized we were out of rice. Crap. Off to make like a culinary superhero and find some plain old white rice. Nearest place? Shinto. I walked in, and stumped the poor Hostess by wanting to place an order for plain white rice. Her response? She tried to just give me free food. Didn't want to charge me. Neither did the manager. I had to plead my case to at least charge me something. Fortunately for all of us, they agreed. So I added a tip. That one small crazy expression of kindness is going to earn them my business. Fortunately, I won't have to drink myself silly at the bar before manning up enough to try...ugh...sushi. They have a hibachi bar. Saved. Thank you, Shinto--for a rare kindness I wouldn't expect in any restaurant, much less a steakhouse. And I got to save the dinner by bringing home the rice. Odd.
(5)Frances O.
I really enjoy this place for their sushi. I can't even think of a roll that I haven't liked. My favorites are the lil delicious and volcano roll. The crab rangoon appetizer and the egg rolls are very good too. They usually have good groupon deals, or coupons in the local clipper magazines. I knocked them down one star, only because their hibachi is not the best in the area, it is decent though. Mondays are the best days to go because half price specialty sushi rolls! It is a bit crowded, but worth it.
(4)Stephanie S.
The hibachi is your standard that you'll find at Domo 77, Benihana, etc. It's pretty good if you're looking for something like that. The sushi is some of my favorite in the area. The Little Delicious and Mexican rolls are the ones I like best. This places tries hard to be trendy and upscale, but it's really not. A decent place for weeknight sushi though.
(4)Victrix V.
I've been here 3 times and this place has more flair than Domo 77 or other sushi/hibachi restaurants; and sometimes, they have better taste too, yet their hibachi is quite salty and their sushi is over priced for it being standardly and acceptably fresh (is it above average or outstandingly fresh? No.) . Their speciality is fried rolls and if you're not digging the fried scene their other selections aren't as creative. Basically, you're paying for atmosphere and for the kitchen to make you some of it's signature fried rolls (even if you're not ordering it) Other than that, it's acceptable to eat here, but I don't feel it's worth it for many reasons. Most people will enjoy this place, but I'm simply not a fan. I'm looking for fresher sushi for these prices and better ingredient quality and cooking regarding their seasonings and hibachi options. As a healthy foodie I shake my head, but I understand how this place still makes money and attracts.
(3)Jen K.
This place has good food, without a doubt. If you like sushi and hibachi, the food will not disappoint you. However, it's all overpriced. Truly. I would only step foot in this place for sushi again if it was during their happy hour (M-F, 3-6pm), where many of the rolls are half price. Otherwise, you can find a sushi place in Naperville that is just as good at lower prices. It's definitely a trendy type of sushi place, meaning that it's not an authentic Japanese restaurant...they go for a night-club feel. The place is open late into the night! Are they a bar or restaurant? I'm never really sure. If you want an traditional Japanese sushi place, you will not get that here. It's all trendy, American-type rolls. If you want sashimi, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. The Tuesday night hibachi special is a good deal, but BE CAREFUL: the server will ask you if you want fried rice or regular rice. Of course, you want fried rice, when given the option, But buyer beware: it costs $3 extra, and they don't tell you that until you get the bill. I know it's a few extra bucks, but I find it deceptive. Most of the 9 people at our table ordered the fried rice, and the server told none of us about the extra charge. Also, this is a fairly popular special, so be prepared to wait awhile. After you are done waiting, be prepared to be crammed at a table above the normal capacity. I had to sit on a corner, and the host didn't seem to see a problem with this. It was a very irritating way to eat my dinner. Don't get me wrong, everything tasted great (except for the avocado tempura, or fried avocado, or whatever it's called...SO overrated). But its just kind of crazy how much everything costs, in my opinion. **All of the aforementioned comments are my opinion and not facts.**
(2)Melissa T.
Love going here for happy hours! Staff are great and food are very delicious
(4)Jacki A.
For starters, I've been coming here for a few years now and it seems as if not much has changed. The reason I do not give five stars is because of the price. Very pricey, but that's expected since the food is good and it's in Naperville. The whole place has a nice atmosphere and the host is friendly. Our waitress was pretty nice, and I'm picky about my wait staff. (Wow, that sounds reaaaally snobby...not meant to come off like that..) Anywho, she was a tall blonde who was really friendly and didn't give me attitude when I was very indecisive! I came here with a groupon, and upon arrival we had to strategically choose which rolls we would get so we didn't go over the 50$ mark. We decided on 4 rolls of sushi, I'm forgetting with kinds exactly but I know we got an unagi roll, a rasta roll (a new one for me, I would strongly recommend it!), and another two that I can't remember the names of but I think one of them was Black Widow and it was delicious! I think the people around us probably thought we had starved the rest of the day because when we got the four rolls, the two of us ate all of it in 5 minutes...a little embarrassing... Regardless of our record eating time, all rolls were amazing and the service wasn't bad either, but not spectacular. I wish there was more groupons or I will return when there is happy hour! Good job shinto.
(4)Samantha C.
Mediocre hibachi, mediocre sushi. This place is ok, but it's definitely not for sushi aficionados. They would most probably be disappointed. This is more of a place for people who enjoy the feel of an exotic eatery but have blander or inexperienced palates. It's worth it to go to their happy hour, that's when you get the best deal for sushi. I would recommend trying their lil' delicious roll, it seems to be very popular. The best hibachi chef at this place is known as "White Chris", request him if you want more than mediocre hibachi.
(3)Hayde J.
Great food, amazing rolls- most artsy I've seen around this area. Decently priced. They have daily specials for drinks or food and the restaurant has a nice outdoor seating area. I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes to be seated and the service has been pleasant every time I've gone to dine in and for carry out pick ups.
(4)Jen Z.
I keep coming back because the food is great, the service varies. Monday nights are half off specialty rolls - awesome deal. I have no complaints about the food at all. I love the volcano and lil delicious rolls. Give the hibachi a try as well. Always comes out great. I've had great service here with no problems but there are other times that makes me question coming back. For example, I went there with a party of three and we had no reservations and half the tables were empty. We were told the wait was an hour. Then my sister remembered that Shinto was on OpenTable and she made a reservation right then and there for a time that was 10 mins in the future. We went back up to the stand and told them we had an Opentable reservation and they took us right away. All those empty tables never filled up. I don't know why they told us there was an hour wait. That kind of stuff gives me a negative view.
(4)Regina H.
Have not had a bad meal yet. Sometimes service is a little slow so don't come if you're in a time crunch. But servers are always pleasant.
(5)Brant W.
When Shinto first opened, it was the best sushi around, but has declined ever since. The size of the rolls and quality of the fish are not as good. Service has never been great, but this has also gotten worse. Hard to get water refilled and takes to long for food. Only a good deal during happy hour & for the Lil' Delicious-still one of my favorite rolls ever.
(3)B J.
Def had an overall great experience!! the food and presentation was amazing and we had a nice celebration for a friends birthday!!!
(4)Tom S.
Go home Shinto...You're drunk. My wife and I frequent this place and I write this review not to warn potential customers about dinning here, but rather in hopes that ownership/management will read this and institute some basic serving training, or common sense....or at least a Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers" quality pep talk. The food: it's not Sunda, it's not Nobu, but it's always pretty darn good sushi when you consider the reasonable prices and the fact that it's in the middle of the Chicago suburbs, hundreds of miles from any fresh tuna or crab source. The details: we sat at the bar for dinner around 6:45 on a Monday night (half off speciality roll night). It was busy, but not crazy weekend busy, but still busier than usual. The service: shame, shame, shame Shinto. I consider myself a reasonably patient person and with about 13 years of bar tending/service experience between my wife and I, we know the difference between shoddy service due to a short staff on a busy night, and straight up zero F's being given by our lady bartender responsible for serving us our raw fish wrapped in rice. Last night, we had ourselves a strong case of the latter. While the food took well over an hour to come out, and we watched 3 other groups sit down after we ORDERED, yet still got their rolls before us, and the request for wasabi mayo on the side (wife is not a fan) was not fulfilled... These were not the causes of the frustration. It was the complete and utter silent treatment we received the entire time. In between flagging her down for drink refills and getting no explanation, apology, smoke signal, handshake, hug, or semblance of an empathetic acknowledgement for the extreme delay, we got to watch her text on her phone...while we longingly watched yellowtail and seaweed getting dunked in low sodium soy sauce all around us. To cap off our Monday night entertainment, we got to watch our absentee bar tender count her tips and close our her cash drawer... for 20 minutes ...after our plates had been cleared. Finally, with no plates, our glasses long emptied, and my credit card sitting on the bar for the entire time, her bar tending counterpart dude finally closed us out. As he handed me the check and semi apologized for "the long night" our 2 plus hour "Shinto Experience" ended. Miso Frustrated.
(1)Lynn M.
Liked the atmosphere and live band, but sushi was not good. I usually get Ikura and uni sushi but the ikura at Shinto was nasty. Quality was not good at all, I wanted to spit it out. Uni is never available there. I also order the kani which is king crab, but i got imitation crab meat. Omg! I was so disappointed. Dont waste your money here. Go to Kiku Japanese restaurant in naperville. Much better sushi. Fresh and delicious. U won't b disappointed.
(1)rose f.
Several visits and no disappointments. SERVICE is consistent and customer oriented..food is consistent quality and prep, whether hibachi or sushi AND there are SOME deals to be on the look out for. Tuesday nights Hibachi, Monday night's rolls- the groupon, cocktail appetizer deals? Food is fresh and they will adjust seasoning etc as requested. Thank you!
(3)Scott P.
Visited with my girlfriend for our 3 year anniversary. We had heard good things from our building manager, and my girlfriends hair dresser. Unfortunately, our experience was unacceptable. I have never walked out of a restaurant before, but we were so disappointed by our experience that we had to. Essentially, we showed up. It was fairly empty, we placed our order for the chefs choice plate for 2. The waitress didn't seem to have any idea what was included in the order... its one of the bold, boxed offerings on the menu. My water was never refilled without my explicit asking, and even then took extremely long to get refilled considering the waitress had only 2 tables. The sides came, but since it was a meal for 2 we thought it would come with one soup and one salad for each of us... instead there was only one soup, and one salad... that we ended up having to split. I asked the waitress if this was a mistake, and she offered to add a second order of soup to our bill.... no thank you! The night continued, the sushi never arrived. We thought it would take about 20 minutes to make considering how empty the place was... we were wrong! After 30 minutes we flagged down the waitress who had not refilled my water, and asked when the food would arrive. She said "only a few more minutes". After 10 minutes she came over to apologize for the delay, saying 1 order had come in in front of ours, and our order involved a lot of thinly sliced pieces.... you would think thinly sliced pieces would be something a sushi place would be efficient at, and its a restaurant so having 1 order in front of ours should not impact anything. Once again we asked, how much longer. Once again "a few more minutes". Once again we waited about 10 minutes. We had now been waiting for 50 minutes. The waitress who still was not refilling our waters in a timely manner came over, we asked how much longer. She apologized and said "I would have walked out by now", we said we were at that point. She offered to give us 15% off the bill and free desert. We already had a coupon for 15% off, and the free desert was their valentines week special offered to everyone! We were not interested in the offer, we asked to talk to a manager. She said, the manager was in an interview. (Who interviews at a restaurant at 7pm on a Thursday?) We insisted. We waited(10 minutes now an hour after our order), didn't see any progress, started putting on our coats (we never talked to the manager as he was supposedly stuck in the interview.... what kind of manager can't get out of an interview for a disaster like this?). As we were about to walkout, we saw the waitress and host working on the computer. We walked over, ready to pay for the drink, soup and salad we had been provided. They did not charge us, and gave us a $20 gift card for our troubles. We left, went to Portilos, ordered food and got it in 4 minutes and finished eating in less than 15 minutes. This is going to go down as the most memorable anniversary ever, unfortunately not for good reasons. We will not be back.
(1)Ed D.
Our second time here... first time was hibachi and this time we're trying their sushi. We usually go to Kiku but there was a coupon so decided to try this again. Place is very nicely decorated but their attention to detail is lacking. Our seats were a little dirty and we had one glass and one plate that had leftover dried food on it but no biggie since they replaced them really fast. The bathrooms were at least clean. The staff was very pleasant and food came out pretty fast. Chicken terriyaki was good. We also got shrimp tempura, caterpillar, eel and yellowtail rolls. Food tasted fresh. I still think pricing is a little high and that's probably why we don't come here more often but with a coupon its definitely worth it. Coupon came from a mailer.
(4)Mariam A.
Food is good, the delicious roll is always my favorite. I always love coming inside because the ambiance they have put together is very modern and hip. I am giving them 2 stars b/c I came here last week with a group of friends and almost ALL of us were sick or getting sick the next day!! Either poor food handling or something.... Disappointed.
(2)V.i.o.l.e.t.t.a. D.
This place is excellent for hibachi. I first came here for sushi the first time and I was underwhelmed for sure. The sushi was tiny compared to the other places I'd been and more expensive. I left wishing I had gotten the hibachi like everyone else I had come with so I made a mental note to come back and try the hibachi for myself. I'm glad I gave this place a second chance because my steak and chicken were great. Both times the chefs were very good at their jobs; funny, thoughtful, and excellent at preparing our meals. They were the best part of our experience for sure. Thumbs up for hiring great staff :] Helpful Tip: Expect to spend around $30 a pop when coming here not including tip. There are coupons and weekly specials you'll get in the mail which help a bit. Our bill was $75 or so for 2 people and we had a $20 off of $60+ so that was nice.
(4)Rubrya G.
the sushi is great! hibachi is amazing!! it gets busy so sometimes the service is not as good bout most of the times its great! very fun atmosphere great for a double date night or a night out with the girls! love coming here!!! everything is perfectly season and the sushi is AMAZING! it is a bit pricey so try to go on Monday for sushi specials or 10 dollar hibachi Tuesdays!!! great choice!
(5)Joan S.
Excellent food & service. Went this past Friday got there at 6:30 had a reservation, place was packed, got seated immediately. Laura our server went above & beyond. Cook was very entertaining and good. We all had something different, steak, shrimp, swordfish. We had a groupon and will be coming back again. Highly recommend
(5)Kari B.
I've gone to this place since it first opened. The sushi is delicious. Any roll any time. Pay attention to specials, happy hour and coupons.
(4)Jaye R.
I finally found a place in Naperville that has sushi worth talking about. And it only took 3 years. My friend and I ate the spicy special roll (aka the roll of the day), and it was so tasty we ordered a second round. The drinks were very, very tasty. I highly recommend the cucumber-tini. Light and smooth, but packs a punch. I can't speak to the crowds because we went for a mid-afternoon lunch. It was fairly empty, however I absolutely loved the decor. Surprisingly hip for the 'burbs. I'd say that the sushi side seemed best used for "date night" while the hibachi side seemed great for families and groups. I also cannot speak to the hibachi, but I will say that when you're on the "maki" side of the restaurant, the loud clang of the spatula against the grill when they start the hibachi show may give you a minor heart attack...but only for a second. :-) I'll definitely be back. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the wait time. For the limited number of people in the place, the length of time it took to get our drinks and food was noticeably long but not insufferably long (if that makes sense). Our bar attendant/waitress was really nice and awesome and extremely apologetic when food or drinks took a while to prepare. Way to keep us top of mind! *applause*
(4)Lauren G.
My husband & I used a Groupon for our dinner here, and I am very happy that I didn't pay full price. I have never been up-charged for fried rice at a hibachi table! They charge $4 for fried rice instead of plain white. Our server tried selling us on the fried rice, calling it "amazing" which it was very far from. It was actually quite tasteless & not worth the calories. I had the Steak & Chicken dinner - it was good, but nothing to rave about. Same with my husbands, except he had a nice big piece of fatty gristle in his steak. The California Roll was good, but it's pretty hard to mess that up. Our server was extremely slow, and was always apologizing for something. I think she forgot every request given to her by our full hibachi table!! We will not be returning to Shinto. Domo 77 on Ogden is AMAZING and I can't wait to go back there. Their fried rice is included, and is delicious. They have offers on Groupon a lot, so take them up on their deal :)
(1)Nadia K.
My favorite Sushi in Naperville! I live down the street so I order a lot of takeout from here, but have also eaten in on both their Hibachi side, and the sushi side. The sushi is consistently delicious, as is the hibachi. I recommend their famous Little Delicious Rolls, as well as some of their unique rolls like the Filet Roll and the Rasta Roll. Hibachi is always good too, I spend the extra $$ on upgrading my steak to the chateaubriand because it is excellent. Their hibachi chefs are very entertaining. The food is on the pricey side, but they have deals during the week that I take advantage of. Nice bar too. I always take friends here that are visiting from out of town.
(5)Marisa S.
Had a great experience at Shinto! My boyfriend just moved into that general area of town. We had passed Shinto a couple times on 59 and thought we should try it out. Lucky enough for us Google Offers had a deal for Shinto and we snatched it right up. The sushi is fresh and the rolls are interesting (quite a few rolls with cream cheese that's a no-no for me) just ask your server for a recommendation, they seem to know their stuff. I was happy with what I ordered, but I can't say I'd try all their rolls. The hibachi lunch is a great value for what you get. I had the calamari lunch($10) which had a choice of soup or salad (both are delicious), you also get appetizer shrimp and white or fried rice (at an upgrade). While the dinner is more expensive you definitely get more food for your dollar. You could be completely content with the lunch and a roll, that's what I did and I ended up having leftovers to take home! Our server was great, very knowledgeable and friendly and our hibachi chef was amazing! He was super entertaining and really knew how to cook good food, plus he was taking to us the whole time! I would go back for lunch anytime! P.S. the dessert is to die for... literally, everything is tempura covered but the cookie with cinnamon ice cream is amazing. Hope you saved your calories to eat the cookie!
(4)Manny S.
This place rocks when it comes to sushi . Happy hour (between 3 and 6:00 PM) Monday thru Friday,Is very nice. On Monday half of speciality rolls. Decor is nice, drinks are decent and the triple berry mojito is awesome.
(4)Rob S.
We've been here many times and used to enjoy it. What brought us in initially (1/2 price bottles of wine on Thursdays) has disappeared under the new ownership. Sushi used to taste fresh but now has gone down hill and is often 'fishy' rather than clean tasting. Their Hibachi is still pretty good but not any better than Domo, Benihana, Adoke or any other Japanese Steakhouse. We won't be returning.
(3)JT L.
2nd behind Kiku... fried rice and chicken, not as good. Really, pre-cooked chicken for the fried rice? More discounts and promos here though
(2)Kelley T.
My best friend took me here for dinner for my birthday this year. I would love to give them 5 stars because the sushi we had was outstanding! We went on a Monday so everything was discounted. The service we had was HORRIBLE! Our waitress took 10 minutes to bring us drinks, and we had to wave her down to get refills. She also never put in the order for our appetizer, which we only ordered because she warned us about the wait time for rolls. I'll be back, but hopefully I don't get that same waitress!
(4)Robert P.
Great Sushi, We sit at the sushi counter and Mike takes great care of us every time.
(4)Emi N.
Dinner on a Wednesday night. No reservation: no problem though I would recommend a reservation. They had to wait to fill the table. I ordered the vegetarian meal which was made before any meat touched the grill, which I thought was very thoughtful. Our chef (hibachi master?) Chris was great. Very personable, quick and lots of tricks after all, you pay for the show as well as the food. No kidding, the shrimp appetizer (I got tofu) he picked up on his spatula and tossed it in everyone's mouth. My husband caught his from about 15 feet away. This guy is good. This place is better than beni Hana (I've never had beni Hana offer to make me a vegetarian fried rice, let alone grill my meal on a clean grill the meat hasn't cooked on yet. With that, I got to start eating first, bonus! I will definitely be back!
(5)Maria C.
Yum, yum, yum. Great appetizers, great sushi, great staff, the best sushi chefs, especially Mike!!! Mike is the king of sushi.
(5)Renee H.
Went here for lunch & had hibachi & sushi. Both VERY GOOD! I had the scallop hibachi & my husband had the steak & shrimp. Very tasty & our server, Josh, was real nice. He was fun to talk to too. We were constantly checked on which I kinda liked. Everyone who worked there was super nice. Loved the atmosphere & the restaurant is really big. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)Jimma J.
My first thought honestly was "Wow, this place used to be a billiards hall." Although you wouldn't even guess that. My second thought was that I really don't like Hibachi. I typically find it greasy and everything tastes the same. With that out of the way, I was quite surprised at how good everything was. Not good enough to change my mind about liking hibachi, but I went in with low expectations and left happy. This is definitely better than Benihana and Domo 77. The look and feel of the place really started to win me over. It's not your typical, generic Asian decor. It's a little more modern and open with a high ceiling. The chefs come on and make their show as they cook your food. Nothing special, but its got entertainment value and I have to hand it to them. I appreciate what they do. At first I did want to try the sushi given my dislike for hibachi, but the price was pretty high so the wife and I opted to share a hibachi and get some sides. I imagine that the sushi can't be too good since it doesn't seem like they have a dedicated sushi chef, but I can't judge the place on it without trying it. The steak and shrimp were better than I expected. It was light and the fried rice and udon was pretty good. Not great, but satisfying. The only real annoyance was that there was a birthday song every 10 minutes. I'm not even exaggerating that there were about 8 or 9 birthday announcements and songs while we were there, and the servers scream it out so no one can miss it. With all the other noise and cooking shows going on, the birthday screams were a little much. Not to bring down anyone's birthday, but you can have your celebration and song without screaming it and interrupting the entire restaurant. In all, Shinto was a surprisingly good place to eat. I would go back, but I'm not in a rush.
(3)Jie S.
I loved the modern decor, delicious appetizers, and great services. However, pricey mediocre sushi rolls were not too impressive. Three girls went in for a Friday lunch with a $50 Groupon on the phone. It was a nice stop before we hit the outlet. The appetizers were great. We started with White Tuna Tataki, Fire n' Ice Salad, and Scallop Motyaki. They were kind of spicy in three unique ways. White Tuna Tataki was seared tuna on the bed of spring mixed salad. The tuna slices had a strong tasty spicy rub on the surface which was totally new to me. It went very well with Tuna and the salad. Fire n' Ice Salad had the tuna cubes with Siracha sauce. It was spicy in a southern Asian way with a hint of freshness of the sliced cucumber. Scallop Motyaki was really tasty and the mild one among three appetizers. It was more like a small stir fry type of dishes. I loved all of them especially White Tuna Tataki. However Caterpillar rolls and Volcano rolls were not impressive at all. The appetizers had raised up the bar so high and the sushi rolls hardly met up our expectations. The sashimi plate with salmon, tuna, and white fish was not as fresh as I would like. It was a bit disappoint for me. Our server was really sweet and polite. The whole meal would be too expensive if we didn't have the Group on. I will wait for some kind of coupon to try hibachi or do the appetizer again.
(4)Jason R.
This is a great Hibachi restaurant. I've been to most of the areas Hibachi restaurants and this one is the best so far! Upscale and clean! I've been here twice now and the chefs are very entertaining. I haven't tried much of their sushi yet though, but what I have had was very good! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Sejal P.
Good food, slow service. On Saturday nigh expect 1 hour or more wait. After being seated at our table, they sent wrong cart to our table. Waitress disappeared after our first round of drinks. We didn't get any water on the table until after our dinner was done when we asked for it. For a group of 6 this was extremely slow and unfriendly service. Food was good, i can't say i haven't had better Suhi, but at the same time it's good for this area.
(4)Kat V.
OUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR SUSHI!!!! Love everything about this place.. shocked to see some bad reviews. Over the last two years we have been her probably 8-12 times and never had a bad experience ... server of food! ALSO.. a HUGE plus is it is smokeless & odorless hibachi- you don't smell like your meal the rest of the night! What a rare and awesome find.
(5)Mac H.
Okay so after my last visit more than a year ago, I succumbed to the idea of never going there again since my friends were going here for Monday specials. On Mondays, signature sushi rolls are half priced. Keep in mind, Monday specials are not good on any (even slightly) significant Mondays. Monday specials are no-go after almost any holiday (even if the holiday doesn't fall on a Monday). So after acquiring a bit more knowledge and visiting many sushi restaurants, I will give Shinto 3 stars. For the Naperville/Aurora area, sushi is good. In a broader comparison, it is average. Service this time around was much better. Reasons for me to go here again would be both Monday specials and my friend's ultimate love of Shinto (Me? Not so much!) - both conditions must be met for my any future visit.
(3)D B.
This place drives me crazy. The food and drinks are very good - however the service is ALWAYS terrible. I notice others have expressed the same concern. My wife and I sat at the bar and had dinner one night. Couple of issues - Bartenders seemed more into the sports game to notice my empty vodka tonic (2) times. Why do I have to keep asking for each drink? You were watching TV while working? - Ordered dessert - waited 15 minutes, then was told they ran out of the item and the kitchen "never told anybody". - Once we ordered sushi and waited 45 minutes. It was somewhat crowded. The server apologized for the wait and said he would comp a glass of wine. Guess what? The glass of wine was on the bill.
(4)Tamara K.
I love coming in on Mondays for the sushi happy hour, but now I love it even more after getting exceptional service from Maja. I will definitely be back more often thanks to her!
(5)MJ L.
POST THE CORRECT HOURS ON YELP!!! It clearly says Today's Hours (1/4) 11:00am-1:00am. We arrived at 11:30 to find out that this place opens at 12:00pm. This review is only for the hours posted.
(3)Courtenay G.
I was really excited to go to Shinto. lovely atmosphere seemed promising of a great experience, but unfortunately that's not what we got. Waitress didn't get us half the things we asked for, we had to flag down another server 20mins later to get what we needed. An hour later, we still hadn't gotten our food. In fact, the habachi chef had n't even started to cook yet. No explanations, not even a quick "sorry for the delay". We finally got our food an 1.5 hours after we arrived, and within 15mins, the waitress was asking us if she could take our plates (seriously!?). In the end, we were there 2.5 hours and we still hadn't gotten our bills. We finallu spoke to a manager, and she was not helpful at all. She didn't even try to apologize for the poor service. By the time that we got our checks, they charged us 18% gratuity. We spoke to the manager and had it removed. We were so mad, we were ready to leave and not pay. We were still there at 10pm, and we got there at 730pm!!! Inexcusable! Never going there again, to say the least. Horrible and inexcusable service.
(1)Brandy B.
I came to the restaurant around 2:30pm today and asked to be seated on the patio because it was such a beautiful day and I wanted to quietly read a book while I ate. I was promptly seated and was the only one out there. Very pleasant. My waitress came out right away to get my drink order, then brought my drink right away which was wonderful. I ordered the shrimp shumai, the sunomo cucumber salad, and a spicy tuna roll with jalepeno added, and the shumai and salad came promptly which again, was wonderful. Sadly, my good experience stopped there. Not more than two bites into my food, the door to the patio burst open and a man and his girlfriend swept out onto the patio and proceeded to sit at the table literally right next to me (with 10 tables to choose from). I immediately noticed they reeked of alcohol. They then proceeded to each light a cigarette. I was shocked to see this as it was my understanding that the Smoke-free Illinois Act was still in effect. As the two blew smoke into the air, it wafted directly onto me in the breeze. The man proceeded to then take off his stinky shoes and prop his feet up on one of the seats across from him. The couple THEN proceeded to make out right in front of me, I kid you not, WITH tongue. I am not exaggerating. At this point I took my book, my purse, and my drink and went inside the restaurant and asked the bartender to please bring my food into the building, as I refused to sit with people blowing smoke in my face and making out next to my table while I'm trying to eat. Instead of asking the couple to please put out their cigarettes or even perhaps move further away on the patio, the bartender simply brought my food in to me. Though he was kind, I really felt like all accommodations were being made for this rude and obnoxious couple and at this point I was so incensed I just told him to wrap it up 'to go'. Another waitress then brought my sushi roll over to me (not knowing yet that I was leaving), and it was the wrong roll. I asked her to fix it and she took it back. Meanwhile, the bartender brought a bag with my shumai and salad wrapped up. He was kind enough to let me know he had wrapped the salad container in saran wrap just in case the dressing leaked. I waited probably 10 minutes and the waitress brought the correct roll in a to-go container, put it in the bag, then brought me the bill. $28.00 later, I was out the door with doubts that I'd ever come back. I was relegated to eating my nice sushi meal in my hot car in a parking lot as I was nowhere near home and was sorely disappointed to discover that there were no chopsticks, no utensils, no napkins, no soy sauce, not even the leftover shumai sauce in the bag. Just the 3 tiny containers of leftover food sitting in the bottom of this gargantuan bag. When I finally took a look at the spicy tuna roll, I realized it was crazy-overstuffed with jalepeno. I mean, there was more jalepeno than tuna! It was so unbelievably hot that I had to pick most of it out. And when I unwrapped the salad container it was so full of dressing that, despite my opening it delicately, it still spilled all over my lap and car seat and I had to go next door to the car wash to have the vinegar shampoo'd out of my seat, to the tune of $20. The Smoke-free Illinois Act states: "Beginning January 1, 2008, business owners shall not permit smoking at their business, or within 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes." I wonder why, if people are not allowed to smoke within 15 feet of an entrance/exit, these two yahoos were permitted to smoke not more than three feet from the door? I wonder why, if smokers are not even allowed within 15 FEET of open windows, these two yokels were permitted to sit right on top of me and blow smoke into my food? These are questions I await answers for, as I contacted the manager via their website tonight to complain. In terms of the order screw ups, unfortunately this is nothing new in my experience at Shinto. I have visited Shinto a few times and every single time something is screwed up. I do not mean to insult anyone, but they do not seem to hire the brightest bulbs, especially their hostesses who take the carry out orders. Today was the final straw, though, and I personally won't be coming back and will be informing my friends to avoid the place. Their prices are WAY too high for them to have such low standards of customer service.
(2)David C.
Always excellent sushi! They're re-doing their cocktail menu, so that was a bit of an issue, but the food never disappoints. Very good service. Cool vibe in the restaurant, a bit dark. Sometimes it can be slow to be seated, but we made reservations this time and it was instantaneous.
(4)Jillian H.
I've gone a few times and the experience has been hit or miss. Shinto's is a contemporary Hibachi and Sushi bar with a circular bar the divides the two sections. The dumpling appetizers are good but the vegetable maki roll was bland. The sushi is pretty good. My favorite traditional roll is the spicy tuna roll. The Mexican Roll is decent but kind of difficult to eat. I like the caterpillar and dragon rolls better. I've only had "good" service one time the other times it was mediocre at best. The prices are what you would expect for a restaurant like this.
(3)Melissa K.
Really tasty sushi and nigiri. Everything tasted really fresh. We also had our first saki bombs here and the waitress was kind enough to show us how to properly "do" a saki bomb. Standard sushi prices (not cheap), so I was happy to have a groupon.
(4)Sue T.
We had a mixed group of folks, some wanted hibachi, some wanted sushi. The salmon had a nice caramelly crust and was served with good grilled vegetables. Watching the chef slice, dice, flip and season was fun. One downside -- we got to witness personally just how much oil was used, and sure enough, there was an oily sheen to the entrees. The sushi was just ok and the server insisted on filling up our soy dipping dishes like we were going to use them as finger bowls, even after we asked him to stop. We had to dump out the soy to mix the pearl of wasabi with just the amount of soy we needed. The seared scallops appetizer was the best thing we ordered. For dessert -- well, who knew deep-fried cookies were so good? This is a good place for kids or groups of friends, although the prices add up. There is better sushi to be found elsewhere.
(3)Kevin W.
After visiting here on a few more occasions I have to say either the quality is getting better or maybe I am adapting?! Either way the rolls of sushi I have ordered seem to have gotten better and the hibachi is always really good. I do still find their prices to be higher than most although. I still say this place is worth it with the Groupon deals, Yelp deals and Living Social deals that they constantly have out there. If I were to pay full price they would lose a couple of stars for sure.
(4)Rosie D.
I bought a travelzoo coupon for this place because it sounded yummy and was close to my boyfriend's home. We went on a Monday night and did the hibachi grill meal. The restaurant is pretty swanked out. I liked the layout. It was pretty nice for a casual dinner or a swanky date night. Let me start by saying their food was off the mickey fickey CHAIN! We both ordered the dinner combos. I had steak and scallops and my boo had steak and shrimp. We also had sushi. The sushi roll I had was the volcano and it was delicious! Fresh, yummy, fun, everything a sushi lover like myself wants in a roll. The show the chef put on was fun. He was amazingly agile and he made our steak and seafood to perfection! I can't sing the food's praises enough. Yummy!!!! Ok so onto the not so fun stuff...the service. Our waiter was a bit of a ummm ummmm.... Snot. Yes we'll go with snot. I think he was mad because we had a coupon. I'm sure he's had to deal with a lot of them lately but really that's not my problem. He was pushy, kinda rude, and forgot to bring my rice. I guess I should've upgraded to the fried rice option to get better service. But really that's the only stain on this restaurant. And from reading the reviews this place clearly has a legacy of bad service. But i would say if you can handle the snotty service then check this place out. It's worth it trust me!
(3)Jessica D.
This is one of two favorite Japanese restaurants I have in the area. I couldn't believe how whimsical the bamboo fountain area is, particularly with an underfoot, glass-bottom boat feel as you approach the sushi bar. The sushi bar area is not only well-stocked, and expertly-staffed, it's a complete aesthetic enjoyment sitting here for sushi. The really best part for me is that they had several choices for vegetarians, which can be a tricky proposition in many sushi places. They are very well versed in adult libations, and their hibachi section brings forth not only loud hurrahs from entertained patrons, but many a smiling face. Gorgeous open space, and harmonious decor plus excellent yummies equals a great Japanese restaurant.
(4)Tina E.
Aways the Tempura Avocado!!!! Filet rolls, Lobster Rolls, Vegatable Maki Rolls- All amazing!! Beautiful decor. You won't believe your sitting on Rt 59
(5)Kristin J.
A+ Hibachi. B- Sushi. The hibachi chefs are always really great and the cocktail menu compliments the food well. I prefer to go when I have a $25 for $50 Groupon. A message in Groupon etiquette however - tip based upon the TOTAL bill, not the Groupon amount. People who do that are 1) being cheap and 2) ensuring that places will stop accepting Groupons.
(3)Avni S.
It's more like what I didn't like.. nothing.. fabulous sushi and hibachi.. drinks are no exception!
(4)Howard L.
This is a brand new hibachi place, and the largest and most modern I've seen. I don't know how they are going to keep this ballroom sized place filled. Anyway, the sushi was decent, but not great, as I had a chirashi bowl for dinner. The wife and son had shrimp and swordfish, respectively, from the hibachi and it was pretty standard hibachi fare. The hoodless hibachi was interesting, particularly with like a 20' ceiling, and we didn't walk out smelling too strongly of the place. Decor is also stylishly contemporary, so that was also a little different for us as far as hibachi restaurants. The cooks also put on more of a show than some of their competition.
(3)Michelle M.
I have mixed feelings about Shinto. I ate here a few weeks ago with my fiancé and a friend, and our rolls were tasty, but that's about it. The atmosphere is ok, but I feel like they're trying to be trendier and hipper than they are really capable of. The bar with the color-changing lights is kind of neat, but I'm not sure how the gigantic, tacky hot air balloon advertisement in the parking lot fits in with the upscale sushi lounge atmosphere they seem to be aiming for. The service is certainly atmosphere-appropriate, with rude, hipper-than-thou servers who take their sweet time delivering your food and providing refills, and the prices are up there as well. Their menu leans toward heavy, deep-fried and cream cheesey rolls. I wasn't terribly impressed with the giant, battered Little Delicious, but the Miso Surprise was really yummy. I will probably be back again for one of their happy hour specials, which seems like a pretty decent deal.
(2)Vodka Sauce C.
Very very good sushi. Great atmosphere. We had : Mexican Roll - Amazing Little Delicious roll - Amazing (had all the toppings you could think of. Will be back !
(5)Joanne D.
Love the place - no matter what occasion that we have gone there the staff & food are always excellent. This is definitely better than Beni Hana and the food has a amazing taste never to dry. Love the drink selection as well, but I would suggest to make sure that you set up a reservation.
(5)