Run! This place has the oldest fish. It was like leather. I sent it back and the sushi chef came over to my table to yell at us. Worst restaurant experience ever. Inyo's across the street is much better but pricy. I think Sakanas is going out. It is always empty.
(1)
Keith B.
Sitting here enjoying my favorite sushi spot in metro Detroit and having the best experience with the best server ever. You have to come here and request Graham he is phenomenal!!!!
(5)
Jason P.
Place was totally dead on a Friday night which was awesome. Food was great, love tasting the slight differences in in sushi between restaurants and trying new combinations as well. Service was great, probably because there was only one other table in the place, but still!
(5)
Nick S.
Nothing special, food was pretty good but I'll probably take my chances at another sushi bar
(3)
Nina M.
Still the only place that I would go to for chicken tempura rolls, but the consistency in preparation is lacking. There have been times that the rice is not fully cooked and the chicken had too much batter. Sadly the eel sauce can be thick or amazingly thin depending on the day of the week. The staff has always been great though. They charge gratuity on takeout orders by default. While I don't agree with this practice, I still go because they are the only sushi spot I have found that has chicken tempura rolls (the chicken is cooked-fried). Hopefully the staff gets the tips because the credit card slip lists the tip under the total charge and not in the "tip" area that you would normally fill in (weird). I only do takeout lately, so I can't speak to how dine in service is now.
(3)
Deion B.
I used to come here rather often a few years ago. Last time I came here was about a year ago. Every time I came here, although I hated the decor, service and prices - the sushi was spot on. Best Sushi in Metro Detroit - But how things changed. Went here on a Sat night a few weeks ago. Service sucked - wasn't busy AT ALL, but it took forever to get anything and the waiter kept on forgetting things. Prices are still very high, but I can stomache that if the food lives up to the pricing. Now, the food.... Sakana reeks of a place that's seeing business drop and is trying to cut costs. The sushi is noticeably worse and served in noticeably smaller portions than other places I've been recently, as well as in my previous visits. Also, the Wasabi and Ginger they served with our meal was meager - almost laughable. I asked for more and got it, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. All in all, won't ever come back here again - too many good Sushi places to eat in Metro Detroit. They definitely need to turn it around - fast.
(2)
Bryan W.
Just had a salad, yellowtail roll and some nigri and everything was good. Liked the ginger dressing ... seemed to be freshly made and thicker than others I've had. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Ronda N.
Sakana = suck*ana Sushi is no-frills and certainly not worth the price for its measly portions. The restaurant is cramped with not enough seating. The service is always slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooÂoooooooooooow and HORRENDOUS. Sadly I've dined here one too many times and will never eat here again.
(1)
Lauren M.
My favorite sushi place in the metro detroit area!! The rolls are unique and fresh. The atmosphere is relaxing and very enjoyable! If you love good sushi go here!!!
(4)
Ruffy L.
Reading CL's post is like her posting my experience with this place. It took our server FOREVER to bring us our WATER!!! Took her FOREVER to take our order! And yet again ANOTHER eternity to deliver them! So service DEFINITELY SUCK-ana. This particular night, there were only four of us who initially came in the restaurant, and there were a total of no more than 9 total customers. So WHY would it take MORE than ten minutes to get our water? Shouldn't this be automatic? Or at least within the first 3 minutes after you sit down? After I opened their menu, I balked at the prices of sushi ESPECIALLY at the prices of their SPECIALTY sushi. I guess I am just spoiled going to Fuji at their all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. I decided NOT to order sushi and just opted for their teriyaki chicken "slider." (It was "eh" at best.) My friend ordered two different rolls of their sushi and had ONE piece of each roll. For someone who LOVES sushi, THIS was saying something BAD! When she told me to take a piece of the second roll and try it myself, I reluctantly oblige. I didn't think it would happen in my lifetime but this is one sushi I DID NOT SWALLOW! It WAS that BAD! It might have been a fluke, bad fish or whatever you want to call it but it was definitely enough for me to decide I am NOT coming back! NOT even for the AVERAGE decor! Sakana is CLOSELY related to a Filipino word loosely meaning, "whenever in the future" -- mostly used to mean NEVER in the future. That pretty much summed by sentiments.
(1)
Alicia L.
Sushi! Free Wi-Fi! That is all. Haha I kid I kid. But they are already on my good side because I love me some free Wi-Fi. I don't come up this way too often but when I do I always try to hit this place up. I really like the laid back vibe of the place and the super friendly service. I mean, the waiter was so sweet and attentive I felt like God would smite me if I didn't leave a nice tip lol. He even gave me extra spicy sauce because I guess he could tell I have a thing for the spicy. He also talked me into being slightly more adventurous and trying mackerel sushi along with my usual spicy salmon sushi. Ok mackerel isn't THAT adventurous but it is for me. I thought about trying the octopus but I am still too scared. 0.o I have heard octopus described as "chewy" and chewy has never been terribly appealing to me. The mackerel was pretty good but I am still sticking to my guns and still think spicy salmon is the best ever! It's sort of hipstery but that is because it is in Ferndale. Ferndale is full of people who like to dress in "vintage" because it is trendy to pretend to be poor, and I like to dress in "vintage" because I really am poor and love me some Goodwill. So...yaknow. I fit in pretty well! LOL As for cost, yeah it's a little on the pricey side but I loiter for SO long sucking up their Wi-Fi I figure that I have actually saved money on what I would have spent for internet service at home! Also, the waiters there are soooo cool about my loitering. Some places the waiters/waitresses give me snide looks or drop hints that I should GTFO. Haha, but these guys are chill and didn't bother me at all. They even let me move so I could be closer to the plug! Like I said, I don't get up this way too often, but I think I will try to hit his place up each time I do... spicy salmon (and wifi) for the WIN!
(4)
Sarah Z.
This place wasn't great. My complaint actually is only about the food and the management. We went there on labor day night and there was only one waitress working while the place was packed. She was clearly overwhelmed by herself (as anyone would be) but was left to run all food, take all orders, and buss all tables. Took her about 20 minutes to get to us (not her fault) and it took the kitchen about an hour to make our very simple 3 rolls. Again, she was very cool and friendly, it just wasn't a fair situation for her. I got a basic roll (Ferndale) with tuna, avocado, and cucumber. Now they called this roll a "maki" roll which means it should be rolled in seaweed no rice. I asked if they could do this and was met with "what, that's an impossible idea!" lol so I had to get it with rice which I don't like. When I got the roll there was barely any fish in it, it was all avocado and rice. Gross, I got it for the tuna! Wasn't too mad because it was priced at $6 (I guess you get what you pay for) but that roll was a joke. Won't be back.
(2)
Chris S.
Worst sushi I have ever had. I strongly recommend that nobody ever eats here it's beyond terrible.
(1)
Laurel M.
Was really disappointed with this place. I love sushi and have always preferred Noble Fish or Sumo, but sometimes I don't feel like the 30+ minute drive, or trying to fit in during grocery hours. We checked out Sakana about a week ago and I was not impressed. Decor- Simple grey, no frills, kind of boring Music- 90's mix- Probably the funniest part of the night.. Drinks- Over priced, underpoured. $6.00 for a tiny glass of vodka and soda.. not strong enough to convince me to buy another.. the cocktails did look better, but i can only imagine they are at least $10 a pop Waitstaff- OK. Not outgoing, slammed plates down, scatterbrained. Appetizer- Tempora Vegetables... For the price of $7.00 you get ONE vegetable each maybe 5 pieces total.... Not great if you are trying to share with your date, as you wont get to try one of each vegetable and you'll probably still be irked at how much you paid for 5 pieces of veggie. Sushi- The only thing special was the spicy sauce and $13.00 for sub- par sushi with spicy sauce is just not worth it. I will not be heading back.
(1)
Nickie P.
A friend and I went to Sakana last night, and were pretty happy with our meal. We decided to order outside of our comfort zone, and tried a white tuna roll with chili powder that was fantastic. We also tried a roll with eel, avocado, asparagus, and kiwi on top, but I wasn't too impressed with that one. The roll was very sweet and the kiwi didn't seem to add much flavor. Overall, we had a good meal at a pretty decent price. After taking a look at their bar menu, I would really like to go back and try some of their signature martinis and saketinis!
(4)
Sarah C.
I am from California so I've had my share of good sushi, this place is alright. This place is very hip and modern with a simplistic design. The waiter was very good at his job even though it was just him serving 5-6 parties. I think this is a great place to hang out but not as much for eating. You can eat up a lot here. Nice bathrooms and there are flat screens where you can watch sport games while they happen.
(3)
Elliott B.
We went here on a on Saturday night for dinner. We LOVED the atmosphere and music. The service was excellent and we loved our food. We had edamame and tofu to start as appetizers before diving into our sushi order. Absolutely delicious. If you're thinking sushi in Ferndale come here over Inyo. We'll be returning for sure to enjoy a happy hour soon!
(5)
Melinda H.
The husband & I enjoyed a lovely dinner here tonight. On Sunday's, they are open from 3-10pm, we came in around 4pm. It was empty, but that didn't bother us. This is my second time eating here and the first time was kinda empty too (during the week around 5pm). Now, don't let this scare you away. We were greeted by a friendly server immediately and seated. We made our order quickly and enjoyed a cocktail , both of which were delicious and strong (good). We enjoyed some miso soup and some edamame to start. Good, but not amazing...simple & yummy staples of the sushi experience. On to the sushi! I had the Berry Good roll (tuna, avacodo, cucumber, with strawberry and a sweet drizzle on top) ..perfect and so good! I also had the Super Dragon (shrimp tempura & cucumber, topped with avacodo, eel, crab salad and a sweet drizzle) Amazing! It was really good, but so filling. Also enjoyed some smoked salmon & eel sashimi which was delightful. For dessert we had some Moochi ice cream. It came with 4 full pieces with a choice of two flavors. We went with mango & strawberry. They cut up the two flavors in quarters and arranged them very nicely. We would come back anytime for the quality of the food and the service. Prices were about what you would expect, not cheap, but when the bill came, I wasn't shocked.
(4)
Max M.
I love sushi and really love good sushi. As far as sushi goes, Sakana does a good job - I especially like the Woodward, Ferndale and the new 9 Mile Rolls, but I always leave feeling like I got ripped off. The rolls are kinds small for the price, and the service is terribly slow. Plus, there is always so much wasted space that really if they had better service they could comfortably add about 10 more tables. I would give more stars, except for their take out policy. Don't get take out from there - there is a NON negotiable 18% after tax Gratuity that is tacked on to the to go order...there is no warning about it on their menu, nor do they tell you when you call the order in. The first time I came in to pay, I was floored and told them I would not pay - a gratuity is a GIFT/BONUS... and they cannot demand it. My wife really wanted sushi (and we already had to wait 30 minutes - so I paid... and I do regret going back for take out again. Not a great place for kids.. and the music is loud.
(2)
Christina B.
The only sushi place I visit in Royal Oak/ Ferndale. Great miso soup, avacado/cucumber ginger salad and as far as sushi I always order the Daddy's Girl and California Roll. They also have very good, strong, (happy-hour specials) on drinks.
(5)
Lauren S.
I recently started working in Ferndale and I tried inyo first, which was alright but incredibly overpriced. So next I tried Sakana. The first time I was disappointed but was convinced that I just ordered the wrong roll for my tastes. After giving it another chance I realized I just went to the wrong restaurant for my tastes. I understand this is America and not very many people enjoy raw fish. Almost all of their specialty rolls only involve vegetables or cooked fish. So this may be the right restaurant for a lot of people. But for me the raw "spicy salmon" was the consistency of cat food and the raw tuna was a bit dry and hard. I prefer actual chunks of fish instead of a ground up mixture with unappealing texture and taste. And I prefer the chunks to be fresh. It is, after all, raw. But I did enjoy the to-go amount of miso they give and how they put your soy sauce in a convenient little cup instead of the packets. Just wish the sushi was better.
(2)
Jane F.
This place is pretty good. Nice variety, decent pricing. I hate the carry out charge though, it's $6, and they do not bring it to your attention at all. It is subtly mentioned on the carry out menu, and never mentioned in store which often leads the server to getting over tipped. As a fellow service industry worker, I find this a little greedy. The saki specials are nice. I like the lounge feel area, it is nice for privacy. Every once in a while they have awful djs, but usually the amibiance is great. Overall this place is nice, good for dates, or just a plain old sushi and saki craving.
(4)
Rob B.
This place is great! We go at lunch sometimes...and it's usually just us in there! The service is very fast, so we're out in less than 1 hour. I didn't give it 5 stars only b/c the prices are a bit up there. All the sushi we've gotten is really fresh and made to order. My favorite roll is the crunch. It has jalapeno's, cream cheese, shrimp, and a splash of spices in it with a flash fry outside crust; it's wonderful when it's still warm! I'm drooling just thinking about it...
(4)
Delilah M.
I am not a big sushi person, that being said, my two stars are based SOLEY on service and other details of my evening. In other words, you could have served me ice cream made of gold, and I still wouldn't have been impressed. First there was our server. She started by slamming two glasses of water in front of us (we sat at the bar) and without making any eye contact at all...as she walked away...said, "Can I get you anything besides water..." I guess it is a good thing we didn't because she was off before we could open our mouths...and not, it wasn't busy. There were 3 servers and 6 groups of people (largest was a group of 4). Next, there was a microwave behind the bar. I thought this was interesting. I don't care if it is standard practice in Tokyo for heating a sushi roll, I don't want to see my $35 meal go anywhere NEAR a microwave (sushi lovers fill me in...is this normal?) After coming back to take our order (we sat for over 20 minutes with just water). Our waitress stated, "Is that all?" in a condenscending tone...um yeah chica, 5 rolls, two people, I think we're good. 20 minutes for our food...which considering nothing is cooked and it wasn't busy...seemed like a long time. Our server dropped our plates off, didn't tell us which was which and ignored our completely empty water glasses. Overall this place was a fail and I would never recommend it. Hopefully it will go out of business it is a waste of space. The decor is lackluster as well. It just looks like a trendy coney island.
(2)
Amanda B.
I ordered carryout on a Saturday night, they told me 30 mins since they were busy no problem. 30 mins turned out to be more like an hour which was upsetting and the staff did not seem to care. Upon coming home I was very disappointed I had ordered crab salad instead of crab stick in a roll that was wrong. The rolls were uneven in size and filling distribution. The spicy tuna was sweet not spicy and also resembled nothing of a spicy tuna roll. All of this and I was also charged the ridiculous take out fee of 15% on my order for service that was subpar.
(1)
Jessica C.
YUM. I've been here a few times with a few different friends and let me tell you it is very easy to order lots of sushi here. There menu is quite good and quite extensive. They've got all the traditional rolls and a lot of unique rolls. Their drinks menu is also quite nice. I've had a few of their cocktails and both have been fresh and delicious.
(4)
Erica M.
Go to Sakana. Order the Cruisin' roll. And try to give this place less than 4 stars. That's what I thought. There are so many annoying things about this place. The atmosphere is stark and cold. The music is too clubby. The prices are ridiculous. The service is mediocre. Even getting takeout from this place is annoying, as they TACK AN 18% GRATUITY ON TO YOUR BILL! And yet, it's my favorite sushi place. Everything is very good, but the Cruisin' roll is something really special. Maybe it's the spicy sauce, or the delicate crunch of the tempura flakes, but whatever it is, I just can't get enough.
(4)
Joe B.
I can't say enough good things about the sushi at Sakana! The sushi is always on point, properly executed and freaking delicious! The service is usually impeccable from the waitstaff (which is sometimes a bit too leisurely), to the sushi chefs, to the bartenders. Whether it's for an after work snack or a late night sushi dash I'm always pleased with the Sakana experience. Their fish is always very fresh and the rolls are decent size, and while you may have to wait a bit longer for your order to be ready on a busy night I've found it worthwhile. It's an asset to the Ferndale scene. The quality compares to the price for sure.
(4)
Heidi D.
On the good end, Sakana's menu has tons of options, the bar is well-stocked, and the ambiance is chill. The sushi itself is also really well-made, with fresh ingredients and a lot of roll options. That said, this place is really missing that intangible quality that makes a restaurant great. With a minimalist ambiance, overly open floor plan, and hipster bar with multiple TVs, there is just nothing about this place that is inherently memorable. The music is a bit too low and easy-listening, and the walls are just too plain. Verdict? While it's great for a tasty bite with friends, I would head somewhere else when trying to impress a date.
I have been going to Sakana for a number of years. The last few times I've been there it has been a mixed experience. First off - the atmosphere. It's a combination of sports bar with big screen TVs showing all the games and upscale sushi bar with a dark ambiance and high coolness factor. The place has an open sparse feeling that doesn't overwhelm, at least visually. Then we get to the blaring weird music, which certainly did overwhelm. It was bizarre electronica played so loudly that one could only hear every dissonant note instead of the people at the table. I can understand trying to add to the funky feel of the place with some quirky electronic music, but scaling it down to less than a lawnmower decibel level would be nice. I have never had the best experience with the wait staff either, even when they first opened. It's as if they find anyone who has a ton of piercings, tattoos, and/or facial hair and think "that would be hip!" and hire them without regard to their customer service acumen. Maybe this is the trend in hipster restaurants, but I'd rather have friendly than hip. The food is decent most of the time. I usually order the Sushi Lounge, which is the chef's choice maki and nigiri. It is usually good and the selection to my liking. Other rolls and nigiri are good and decently priced. They have specialty maki, and a huge variety at that. They are presented very well, but I don't really care for most of the specialty rolls myself. They cost a bundle (some are over $12 each) and have weird combinations. For instance, I'm usually not a fan of cream cheese in my sushi, but if you like that kind of thing then you have at least a few selections that include that ingredient. I may be a sushi traditionalist, because I don't think I want lox and cream cheese at a sushi restaurant, at least not unless I got a bagel with it. I have gone there at least a few different times now when at least one of my dining companions got sick from the food. This is always a risk with sushi (and every sushi place warns of it) but I've not seen it happen as often as it does at Sakana. Maybe it's the cream cheese, because I haven't become ill yet after eating there. So, maybe one should avoid the specialty items and stick to the standard sushi fare, or try one of their limited non-sushi selections. It's so hard to find a really good sushi place in the Detroit area. Ajishin in Novi is extremely good, but so far away and so busy pretty much all the time. I only wish they had really good sushi closer to home...
(3)
Christa B.
Went for Happy Hour...had a Sakitini...I think it was called New Paris....or something with Paris in the name. Had pineapple juice, pear saki, and chambord...it was delic! Snacked on a California Roll which was very good. I didn't have anything super amazing so I couldn't give it 5 stars, but I do like the sushi WAY better than Inyo across the street!
(4)
Sage M.
I'm really not terribly into sushi. I'm not too picky. But one night I had a craving for some philly roles, so I order take out. The staff was friendly and the food was ready on time and everything, but I only ordered about 2 rolls and they added gratuity! I should have payed like 12 bucks, They charged me like 3 dollars or something like that! I ended up shelling out almost $20 without knowing it! On 2 of the cheaper rolls! That itself was enough for me to never go there again.
(2)
Ashley K.
Each time I've dined at Sakana it hasn't really been on purpose. On weekends when most other spots in downtown Ferndale are on a 45 minute wait, Sakana always seems to have a table. So that's a plus in my book. I think the food is just as good as Inyo across the street (though neither place holds a candle to Ronin), and the drink selection is pretty stellar as well. My friend was thrilled to see Hitachino on the menu. As far as the wait staff goes, they're really nice but they've seemed understaffed every time I've been there. Took a while to place our orders, cash out, etc. In all, I do like Sakana.. I will surely eat there again. But for me it is one of those places that never seems to be my first choice. I can't quite put my finger on why, but that does say something.
(3)
Rahul S.
Why do I feel like I'm being critical when I give a place a three star rating? Maybe it's that orange tinge the stars take on. Anyway, I digress... My most recent trip to Sakana was on a Friday evening. About a third of the place was full when I walked in about 6pm. It did get a little busier when I left at about 8pm but I still don't think it was packed. They have a menu with a ton of options both in terms of food and alcohol. I believe 5-7pm is happy hour (including Fridays) which include $4 martini specials. I decided to go with the margariti-tini with was surprisingly good. I've also previously had the wasabe bloody mary which I highly recommend! The food is reasonably good. I've had some of the maki rolls as well as the nigiri. It doesn't quite match up to the standards of Noble Fish in my mind but I haven't tried anything I could complain about. For what it is though I do feel it's a little overpriced. I think a meal for two with a couple drinks each was around $80 (without the tip). The decor and interiors to me are a little confusing. Depending on what you look at it could either look like a dimly lit lounge (candles et al) to a hipsterish bar. Maybe that's the look they are going for, who knows? No real complaints though since it's comfortable and quiet enough to carry out a conversation whether you're with just another person or a group. The service seems like it's hit or miss. The first time I visited service was good but that was also a Tuesday night with about six people in the restaurant in total. Service on Friday was a little slow considering it wasn't too crowded. Servers are friendly enough though so it's not a huge turn off. The positive is that they don't rush you at any point so if you want to spend a while just talking it's a good option. All in all, if you're looking for a place to chill, have some quality drinks and decent sushi I'd give Sakana a try.
(3)
Kristy K.
I love that this place is candle lit! Service has always been friendly and good any time I have went there, and they've went out of the way to help with with explanations & suggestions. The sushi is fresh and reasonably priced. They have other things on the menu for picky eaters, like home made sweet potato fries and tempura chicken/ rice bowls. All their sauces and signature cocktail syrups are made in house too! The best deal is probably happy hour when all the specialty martinis are half off and I think they have $15 wine and sake bottles too every night As for it being "empty" I have seen it slower in the day time, but it is always pretty busy in the evening. I would highly recommend this place to anyone :)
(5)
Nicole U.
This is my favorite sushi place in the metro Detroit area. The food is fresh & the selection is wide. The drink selection is great. I love the bartenders & wait staff. They're funny & make you feel at home. I also love the music. If you haven't been here, give it a shot.
(5)
Per S.
The sushi here isn't bad. Definitely tasty and not the worst I've had in Michigan. I used to live in Japan so my critique of sushi might be harsher than others. Really, what I liked about this place were the cocktails and the music. When I went the restaurant with my sister the place was full but not jam-packed. There were more people hanging out at the bar then actually dining in for sushi. The service was definitely sub-par. The waitress seemed a little lost and forgot about our table and the ones near us for quite some time. Either way, we got our food and enjoyed our meal. Would I go here again? Sure. The pricing was fair but I do wish the service was a little better.
(3)
Elizabeth T.
Went with 2 friends. Sushi was mediocre but not horrible. What was horrible was that all three of us got sick the next day.
(1)
Angela F.
Got a huge take out order tonight way to long to mention - tons of nigiri and a sushi lounge along with some rolls and appetizers - really huge. ALL of it was delicious as usual. They left one item out - salmon roe. When I called, they were immediately apologetic and asked me what they could do to make it right so I told them I would be in later to get it and they said they could make it right up. And they did. When I came, not only did I get an extra salmon roe, but they also gave me a discount for our next visit. I mention this all because to me, this is as important as the good food (and I think that it is value for the money - especially because you get 2 pcs of nigiri not just one for the menu price). I appreciate the customer service very much. There are new free 15 minute parking spaces in front of several of the restaurants on Woodward now (yay!) and that is also a huge help. Everyone makes a mistake on occasion - and in this case there were at least 25 items on our order - so that is entirely forgivable. It is the way they handled the mistake that will keep me going back.
(4)
S O.
Usually love it. So not on their game tonight- staff, thumbs down!
(2)
Jessica S.
Sakana is the go-to place for sushi in our circle, aside from Ronin. The sushi has always been delicious, the service has always been great and the ambiance can't be beat. Highlights for me include the Aged Dashi tofu, the (new!) miso-glazed tofu, the miso soup (which always tastes perfect!), the dragon and volcano rolls, and the vegetable dumplings. The sashimi always tastes fresh, and the sake is always served at the perfect temperature. The service is usually pretty good. I never feel pressured to order drinks or dessert, and they pay just the right amount of attention to you, without making you feel like they're constantly up in your business. The prices? Ehhh, they might be a little high, but nothing that would make me stop coming. All-in-all, I'm a fan :)
(4)
Maria B.
Good (not great) sushi, but i really go here for the ambiance! It's more of a chill lounge to have a b'day party or get-together at, and they have great local djs spinning everything from house music, electro, and other chill music....oh, and almost forgot to mention that their happy hour is awesome: $5 martinis!!! Just a side note: the booths here are really tight...but the table seating is more open & comfortable.
(3)
Kristin G.
Way too pricey for the Eel sauce saturated "sushi" experience. I just felt like for the price, I could go to Ronin yelp.com/biz/ronin-royal… and have more creative, tastier better made rolls for the same price. If it wasn't so pricey, I'd probably bump it up a star. To me, price should mimic quality, but this was not the case here. We got a "Rocket" roll that tasted like they'd rolled some playdoh inside. It had this mysterious sodium flavor, probably from improperly made rice. Big strike out there. Sushi means RICE. Get it right, not salty, SWEET rice. The place itself is really trying to be modern, but ends up feeling more like a sterile & dark Panera or something you'd expect from a lunch only restaurant. Just overall an "eh" experience.
(2)
Jeff E.
Sushi was fair. The chubby goth chick waitress was super rude. Won't be returning. Mainly because of the waitress. There's plenty of other places.
(1)
Andre H.
I love Sakana I like the laid back atmosphere and the sushi is always good.
(4)
Theresa U.
Pardon my writing, I have a block today. =) If I had to choose one word to describe Sakana, it would be 'sterile'. The first thing I noticed was an absence of art on the walls. It just looked so, plain! Put something up! Japanese calligraphy, something! The dining area also looked sparse. Like a big empty room. For the amount of space they have, they could put a few more tables up. Maybe they don't need to. Check out the pics and decide for yourself. So, anyway, I was here over the weekend for a friend's b-day with a party of oh, 30 give or take. Our waitress was pretty high strung. I give her credit though; it would be hard to keep track of all of us. The vegetable gyozas were a hit $6. I had the shrimp tempura with cucumber, avocado, and spicy sauce $8. A few others raved over the yellowtail and salmon. Fab chocolate martini, lechee martini and mojitos. I also appreciated the quality dining ware/dishes they have! Beautiful martini glasses. Aesthetics are important! Overall, I had a good time, they did a good job catering to a huge party. My heart and taste buds still go to Noble Fish and Sushi Caf, but I'd come here again. =)
(4)
Kate R.
Overall, I was pretty pleased with this place. I was here with a friend for dinner - first, props for my Sparkling Plum with the champagne and plum brandy... delish. We ordered the Yum Yum roll - dumb name, yet tasty. I LOVE red snapper and had never had it in sushi before! I was pleased with our order - Rainbow, Super Dragon, spicy white tuna, and tempura salmon. The menu had TONS of options, it was a little hard to narrow choices down, but I feel like we picked some of their best options - - I'm really more of a "foo foo" sushi person than simply going for simple maki. Bonus points for our server being really nice!
(4)
Jean P.
I have never been to a real sushi bar before (only got takeout from pre-made plastic containers) and had never actually had any sashimi. The pollock trays from Costco do not count! So this was my first trip, fortunately we went with some friends who are more familiar with the menu! It was intimidating at first, not knowing what anything was, but the server was very patient and explained everything very well. She took very good care of us all night, checking on us regularly but not hovering. Also, when I ordered a sparkling water, she gave me a choice between a ritzy bottle of Voss or the stuff they have on tap for cocktail mixers, rather than automatically bringing me the expensive stuff (lol, which I ordered anyway). I also asked for "a lemon, or lime, or something like that if you have it" and got both! A+! My husband and I shared an asparagus/cucumber roll, some mackerel nigiri, and something called a Woodward Avenue roll, I think? The contents escape my memory at the moment, there were several fish and a vegetable but don't ask me what they were. We also upgraded to brown rice for everything, and having that option made me a very happy camper! It doesn't stick together as well as real sushi rice, but I just love me some brown rice. Anyway, I LOVED every bite of everything! The mackerel especially, which I was a little nervous about initially, but the taste and texture was just PERFECT. I also got some miso soup, which had a little bit of tofu, scallions, and a tiny bit of seaweed (yum); my husband had a shrimp tempura appetizer which I did not try, but he gave it 2 thumbs up. The only thing keeping me from living there is the pricetag: for 3 shared items, 2 appetizers, 2 beers, and 2 sparkling waters, the bill was just shy of $60. It was magically delicious, but another drawback is that I was hungry again after a few hours (I think that's a characteristic of almost all sushi, not just Sakana). It would have to be a special dinner every once in a while because of the price, but I'm very much looking forward to returning! The place was EMPTY at dinnertime on a Friday night, so everybody please please please go try it out! I really want it to stay open!
(5)
Olga P.
First time at Sakana we really enjoyed it. Edamame and miso were great. Detroit roll and Woodward rolls were delicious, no complaints at all, surprised by bad reviews. We are Noble Fish regulars and are usually critical, but sushi was delicious
(5)
Lesley H.
My husband and I come here on a semi-regular basis - it's usually between this and Noble Fish for us. We've tried quite a few different rolls here, and I can't recall one that we've disliked. Their Crunch rolls, which are dipped in tempura batter and deep-fried, are a standout. They do offer other Asian dishes, but we've always stuck with sushi, so I can't comment on those. They have a full bar and I know they used to have DJs on the weekend, but I'm not sure if they do this anymore (we typically go during the week). We almost always sit at the bar and have always had good service. The atmosphere is very chill and the decor is minimalistic and dark, and I know some people dislike how "sparse" it feels, but I rather enjoy this aspect of the place. Overall, good sushi and a cool, laid-back atmosphere.
(4)
Mikey K.
I dined here with a friend awhile back. While the sushi was excellent, the service was lacking. Overpriced and under appreciated....yeah, probably won't be going back. Our bill was $135 without tip for two people. The server only checked back with us once. Heck, we could have wanted more sushi, which would have meant more money for the server, but we decided to cash out and bounce to a real bar to order more drinks. And rave about how good the sushi was. Some of their specialty rolls have fruit in them, and it's to die for. I always knew strawberries and cream cheese were the bomb, but with raw fish...get out. The seaweed salad tasted amazing, and the fish tasted fresh. It was rather dead when we went. Not sure if they're doing enough advertising. And the ambiance is sort of lounge-like. We'll probably go back, but sit at the bar next time so we can see the chef in action and perhaps get more attention.
(3)
Ashley L.
It was my first time and I have to say amazing. This is now my new favorite sushi restaurant for when I'm visiting home. Sushi was great and drinks were delicious. Loved the waiter and the fact that they serve sushi late night.
(5)
Melanie J.
When I first ventured into the land of sushi I was not very adventurous (I'm a vegetarian). I always stuck to veggie rolls and my favorite roll was avocado. Boring, I know. This was the case until one fateful night, I had dinner at Sakana. I came to Sakana on a Sunday night and the place had a decent crowd, but wasn't packed. After some yummy Saki, we dove into the sushi menu. We ordered some edamame (I have deep love for edamame) and I ordered some veggie rolls, per usual. My bf ordered up a bunch of rolls that I had no intention of sharing. When dinner came the rolls all looked so delicious and my bf kept telling me how amazing they all were that I finally sucked it up and tried some. I am now a sushi convert. Although I am not a fan of anything with salmon, I will eat a crunchy California roll from Sakana (and this may even be my favorite sushi roll of all time) and on a good day you MIGHT get me to try some tuna (from Sakana, of course). This is honestly the best sushi I've had in Detroit. The waitstaff is always friendly and the atmosphere has a relaxing, chill vibe to it that I enjoy. I would put Sakana's sushi up against any other sushi in Detroit. It wouldn't even come close!
(5)
Myrtle M.
Welp, my experience goes like this: I'm meh about Sakana. Their miso has those frozen mini blocks of tofu in it and seemed just kind of warm. The tea was meh, the sake was meh, and the sushi was rolled really big. My husband likes his sushi in jumbo size, so he was happy, but mine just fell out of my mouth and all over my lap. The Detroit roll was pretty awesome, but the yellowtail was meh. The dark walls are nice and made me feel like a cave creature, but this place has zero atmosphere aside from that. Not a stitch of art on the walls, just a couple of TVs by the bar. Also, one of the servers was yelling really loud in the back about some drama with her boyfriend, and everyone up front could hear every word. Girl, I sympathize with you, but shut your face while I'm shovin' sushi in my mouth. I did get my water refilled a lot though, so that was nice. They're very creative with their menu options if you're interested in trying fruit with sushi, but that just sounded like blarg to me.
(2)
Jeff R.
By no means am I a connoisseur of sushi. I love it, don't get me wrong, but I've had people tell me that I've never had 'real' sushi if I've only had it in Detroit. Whatever. One thing I do know is that if it sits in the 'window' too long before it gets to my table, the seaweed gets saturated with moisture and becomes tough. It doesn't have a snap to it when bitten. I like that snap, because it gives me a delusion of a freshly prepared roll. But that's just me. And you know what, I've never experienced the snap at Sakana. I've also never experienced good service at Sakana. I should say I've never experienced attentive service. When they're actually at your table, they get the order right, and when it's delivered, it's as ordered. Otherwise, it just feels over-priced for what you get. Some of the specialty rolls have interesting flavor combinations going on, like kiwi and strawberry, but I'm kind of a purist. I like my sushi a little simpler. One unique thing at Sakana is that you often (not always) are given a special, free 'bonus' roll by the chef. Unfortunately, the last time, it arrived after we were already done with our lunch, i.e., we were full. We tried it anyway, and I couldn't tell you what all was going on there, but it wasn't good. Some Asian flavors work for me, some don't. My palate is mostly Euro-centric. Also, if you're going to wait until long after the last roll is gone and we're just waiting for our MIA server to take our money, maybe you could give us a dessert roll instead? Just a thought.
(3)
Gene M.
So its a Sunday evening. There are literally 3 customers inside and 2 sitting outside. It has been aprox 30 min since I've placed an order for 4 rolls. Don't expect me to leave a tip.
(1)
Abigail S.
Best Sushi ever! Try the Berry Good, Volcano and Cool Breeze. This location has amazing sushi and is my go to spot. The fish is always fresh! Sakana is appropriate for large groups and small intimate dinners. The drink menu has a variety of specialty concoctions and are very tasty as they make all of their simple syrups from scratch. Not a restaurant to take children. This s a lounge so many nights they have great DJ's. A great place for business lunches as well.
(5)
Tom N.
One visit, not a good experience. The menu is exciting with diverse offerings to please even a non-sushi eater. We ordered 4 rolls, shrimp tempura, and miso soup. The rolls tasted just okay, the presentation was nothing flashy, but they were all poorly made, and all of the pieces on 3 out of 4 of the rolls fell apart. With good, freshly made rolls being available at many grocery stores, and in an area loaded with sushi places, there is no excuse. The shrimp tempura had really nice extra large shrimp, but the batter was heavy, thick, and unappetizing - in peeling most of it off there were even pockets of white flour clumps. Our bill with soft drinks was $60 (50+ tip). The only good part of the meal was my Coke, which was a near perfect mix of heavy carbonation and not too much syrup.
(1)
Carly S.
Unfortunately we didn't get to eat the food. We waited 15 minutes for someone to notice we were waiting to be seated and none of the employees even glanced at us. Several servers walked by us and no one spoke a word. Such a disappointment, we were looking forward to trying it.
(1)
Larissa H.
A lot of people I know really love this place. I only went once and found it to be totally overrated. Of course, I recognize it could have been a bad day but the service was really crap, the sushi was nothing to write home about and it was over priced. These things in mind, I haven't been back.
(2)
Jon K.
This is our default sushi lunch place. During the mid days, they are fast and friendly. I can't argue when the chef almost always takes our special requests. The one thing that freaks everyone out is that this place is almost never busy. The lack of customers is NOT telling of the food quality. Although its not the best sushi in the world, its a good quality. As with any sushi joint, the price is higher than a usual lunch or dinner. Not gouging, but up there. If you're there and find yourself with killer hunger, order the soup first. It helps.
(3)
Alfred K.
When it comes to sushi, I feel like there's practical, and then there's not-so-practical. Practical would be like Nobana in Troy, or Noble Fish in Clawson - good sushi that is fairly priced. But you can't have a drink with your sushi, and I hardly feel sophisticated like TV seems to suggest a sushi experience to be. And then there's the not-so-practical, like Sakana. Sakana is way overpriced. $6 for 6 pieces of dingy vegetable tempura... it tasted good and all, but $1/piece of vegetable... seriously? The avocado roll was $4 and it's almost the exact equivalent of what they have at Edamame Sushi (Madison Heights) for $2.25... except it's on a nicer plate. Don't get me wrong... I still like Sakana a lot. Everything tasted great. The vegetable goyzas tasted homemade and were good. For vegetarians, I would recommend the... uhm... Crazy something roll. Oops I can't remember the exact name... I did have a few drinks. But anyway it's supposed to be crabstick, cucumber, jalapeno, cream cheese, wrapped in rice, deep fried, and garnished with a sweet and sour sauce. We got it without the crabstick and at 11pm, it really hit the spot. The drinks are good. I liked the lychee iced tea. Drinks are pricey, as you would expect by now. But it was fun, and I'll probably come back someday when I feel like splurging on a Friday night.
(4)
Kiarash Z.
My lunch date and I found parking around the corner and waltzed into an empty Sakana for their daily specials. Mine was special. Hers wasn't. For about $15, I had a maki roll, plus five pieces of chef's choice nigiri. I think he hit me with mackarel, tuna, salmon, squid and red snapper. The nigiri was good. The spicy tuna roll was amazing. It wasn't too spicy and had a bit of tempura-like crunch inside. The seaweed was real, fresh and flavorful. My date had a sashimi platter, which was cute but tiny. Hardly a meal. The miso soup was included in the lunch deal, but it was unimpressive and came in square bowls with spoons. I don't like my miso like that. Round bowl. No spoon. Now. Service was outstanding. Our server promptly took care of us but left us alone to have private conversations. He didn't pressure us for dessert or drinks. Speakin of dessert, the ice cream mochi was good, but Sakana only offered red bean, vanilla and coffee flavors. They were out of green tea and strawberry. Boo. In all, our lunch (sashimi platter, maki and nigiri, soups, diet soda and two mochi balls) came to $38, not including tip.
(3)
Chris V.
I like to go to Sakana with friends on the way to shows in Detroit. I've only been here for a late dinner, but my experiences have always been positive. It is a little pricey, but it's a great place to unwind with friends to prep for the night's festivities. Most of the times I've been there there's been a surprisingly decent deep house DJ playing, which when you're getting your night going is a great mood setter. The sushi menu was plentiful and what I ordered wasn't the best sushi I'd ever had, but it was certainly delicious. Their gyoza are better than most - check those out.
(3)
melissa k.
I was really disappointed with this restaurant. I decided to overlook the slightly overpriced rolls and place a carry out order. My first disappointment was to learn that I had to pay a 13% gratuity even though I was merely picking up carry out. My $14 caterpillar roll was minuscule and the eel was tasteless. I could tell that both the salmon and tuna were NOT fresh at all, in fact I suspect they'd actually been frozen and thawed. The pleasant ambience and the few unique (though woefully overpriced) rolls are not enough to overcome un-fresh fish. I will not be coming back to this place.
(2)
Denise C.
When I went here a few years back, the sushi was pretty bad and I didn't return for a while. Recently, I moved to Ferndale recently and was starving, so I thought I'd give it another chance. WOW. They really stepped up their game. I haven't had a roll yet that I don't like and the wine and sake was great too. Thumbs up!
I spent years in California and have eaten some of the best sushi to be found in the USA. Sakana does not disappoint! The best Sushi in the metro Detroit area.
(5)
Michael D.
Very good service everytime! Sushi is good and so is the Saporo.
(4)
Therran O.
They have the best selection of riceless maki sushi in the metro area. I'm not the biggest rice fan, so these get me happy every time! All of the sushi here is good. Plus, the selection of sake is not bad...bombs anyone? Bonzai! If you're ever in the Ferndale/Royal Oak area you should check this place out. I think it beats out Ronin and Little Tree for variety and atmosphere. I've never had a bad experience here and think you'll enjoy it - kind of reminds of a east coast kind of lounge. They should make room for some lounge seating and make this a hang out/after work drinks spot.
(4)
TJ F.
I brought some ex-girlfriends and future ex-girlfriends here. This is good sushi yo! I'm not saying its so good that its going to break up your good thing, but the statistics are not promising in my case. Seriously though there are some very creative items on the sushi menu that I did not expect to like at all, but they totally surprised me. If you want to find out what I'm talking about, try one of the rolls made with fruit and avocado. I am NOT a fan of cream cheese in sushi but my ex's dig it...er whatever. The "mainstream" sushi, nigiri, maki and appetizers are all solid yo. This is a good place to experiment with sake because they have a nice variety at different price points and the staff is refreshingly knowledgeable. This place has the additional distinction of having a live DJ and dancing some evenings (I don't know the schedule) If you like sushi, saketinis and techno, this may be your spot yo. but think twice about bringing your future ex-girlfriend.
(4)
Soli G.
Sakana is my first choice when going out for sushi. I tried Sakana on the recommendation of a good friend and have been very pleased. Unassuming from the outside but nice atmosphere on the interior. There is a hip, lounge feel with high booths, dark lighting, and contemporary sofa seating in the rear. I've always sat at the bar because i enjoy watching the sushi chef in action. The rice is perfectly sticky and the nigiri is always fresh. Their maki rolls are tight and just the right size. On a recent visit, the sushi chef provided my friend and I with great conversation, enhancing the experience greatly! Happy hour drink specials make the trip worth it right after a long day's work. Exotic cocktails for $4 I believe from 5-7 pm. The sushi prices are a little higher than other local places but if you're looking for a place to take a date or have an intimate conversation with a friend, Sakana is THE place to go.
(4)
Dan P.
A little expensive but good non the less.
(5)
Rachel M.
this place is always dead. that made me nervous, but I tried it out. They have very good Miso. The sushi was ok, not bad, but not great either! The prices were cheaper then Inyo but I think that is because the quality is cheaper as well............thats all I got
(2)
C. L.
Sakana should change it's name to Suckana. The one star is for the stylish decor and decent music, NOT for the sushi. The sushi and service both deserve a negative 0. Don't come here hungry, because you will wait, even if the place is empty. The wait staff appears to be on copious amounts of Xanax. They are aloof and slow. Don't bother ordering edamame, it won't come. On two occasions, they flat-out forgot to bring it. The sushi itself is bland. All of the rolls taste the same -- and they're very anorexic. They have some creative specialty rolls, but they're about $12 and wholly unsatisfying. Not long ago, a friend of mine stopped by and was craving sushi. Inyo had too long of a wait so I suggested Sakana with the disclaimer that it's not my fav. He took the plunge and ordered a few rolls, one of them a specialty roll. It was the size of a small California roll, yet cost $12. He was infuriated that he wasted $30+ for three rolls and was still starving. I don't blame him. Go across the street to Inyo. It's better (about 3-1/2 stars). Better yet, drive down the street to Ronin and get the Ahi Pizza and Mountain Dew Roll.
(1)
TJ F.
Sushi was fresh but overpriced. Ordered a fair amount of spicy rolls, it seemed like it was just extra Sriracha sauce. Got a roll with kiwi on it - that was unique.
(2)
Ruth G.
Sakana is a nice place to go. I'm pretty much a child so I generally order fancy, cooked sushi options but I always enjoy what I get here. The atmosphere is really nice without being laughably pretentious (see my Rojo review) and good tunes. Rather expansive list of cocktails, though they are fairly pricey. Happy Hour looks like a good deal, and I intend to check it out sometime.
(4)
Carl B.
Went here on our weekly Wednesday night pre band practice feast. Nothing gets you in the mood to slog through the same song 15 times like a bellyful of sushi. This place did exactly that! It was strangely deserted, had kind of a cruise ship lounge vibe to it, I almost expected Davy jones, billed as the monkee, to appear stage right and bust into a tired version of "daydream believer". No such luck, but the sushi was grip in
(4)
Amanda K.
I was visiting my best friend in ferndale and we were craving some sushi. Thank gosh for the yelp iphone application. My fiance yelped it up, and suggested sakana. We drove here and parked behind the restaurant. The place smelled a little funny and we were the only customers. Thus, the service was great! The sushi was mediocre. My friend is new to the sushi world, and ordered the spicy california roll, which she loved. We all shared the veggie gyoza, which were really good. Our sushi was okay, the riceless rolls I found to be the best. The ones wrapped in either dakon or cucumber. We ordered one eel roll and a spicy tuna type roll.. Visually they were not appealing, and the spicy roll had a weird peppery taste... this sushi was just okay... still on the look out for a good sushi place to eat my fave food when I'm visiting detroit. Probably would have given this place 2.5 stars if that were possible.
(2)
M T.
Great sushi, friendly staff. The lunch menu is a bit overpriced for what you get on your plate though so I'll stick to order the rolls individually. Sakana is my favorite place for sushi in the area. Just wish I could walk out once without having spent over $100 on sushi and a couple of drinks for two people.
(4)
Steve M.
Good sushi but very much overpriced. DON'T BUY THE RESTAURANT.COM COUPON FOR THIS RESTAURANT. Sakana really limits what you can buy with the discount, which really bothers me when restaurants do that and Sakana is one of them. I wouldn't go back just b/c they limit what you can order with the coupon.
(2)
Elexis W.
Had a great time on a Friday with my girls. Drinks were great ask the bartender/manager to make you something up great and you won't be disappointed. The sushi we got six different ones and everyone of them was fantastic. Aaron is a great barkeep/mgr. I will definitely be back
(5)
Candice K.
Okay, yes Sakana is a little pricey averaging $6-$8 per roll but dang it is good! You really do get what you pay for. The service is great, the fish is quality and I have yet to find a better sushi place in the area. I love the 9 mile, gyoza and the tempura fried ice cream is a must try! Sakana always seems to be empty, definitely underrated. Dark, nice ambience, perfect for dates and great service!
(5)
Art G.
Was there first time last weekend... Fantastic from the seaweed salad to the Miso soup to the Edamame Spider rolls and shrimp tempura to the Sashimi .... mackerel was amazing
(5)
Evan G.
We came here tonight with a party of 8. Service was super slow for a near empty restaurant. I left disappointed that I spent $90 for two cocktails (which were the best part of dinner) 3 rolls of sushi and a terrible noodle dish which was served cold (didn't say anywhere on the menu). We also thought it was weird that even the best rolls only had Krab Stick and not real crab meat. I highly recommend Ronin as the fish was fresher and they actually have crab. And hot noodle dishes. And faster service.
(2)
Albert K.
I simply don't understand why this place is never busy. They nice modern decor, decent sushi for Ferndale (which is still pretty bad, but better than Kroger) and a nice variety of cocktails. On top of that, I have always found the wait staff to be consistently good. Whatever the reasons may be, I enjoy the intimacy this place provides. It is my usual meet up joint for a night out in Ferndale. In sum, they have decent hot sake, passable sushi and solid drinks.
(3)
Christina K.
We came here on a Sunday and it was pretty dead inside. We sat in a U-shaped booth so you could see out towards the entire restaurant. One thing that irked me is that there was a white pizza box on top of one of the lower tables in front of a couch. Plus there were backpacks and coats on top of the couch which doesn't give the best first impression for a restaurant. There was a lot of items on the menu and we ordered the miso glazed tofu-which tasted a bit corn starchy but the miso sauce was decent, sesame noodle salad-save your money don't order this, chicken tempura slider- hubs liked this a lot and two sushi rolls-I'm not sure if the sushi 'chef' was in training but the rolls were not rolled correctly. The filling was not in the center so when you picked up the sushi it just fell apart. Also the rice was hard and too vinegary. Will not be back!
(1)
Elizabeth M.
The sushi is always good and plated well. Drinks are are okay, they always have decent specials. Service I would rate a 2out of 5. It's not horrible, but it definitely could use some training.
(3)
Azzura D.
I'm such a sushi connoisseur. This place was really good. I seldom try new sushi places because I have had some bad experiences because of bad fish. Anyways, the staff here was great! We sat at the bar and had great prompt service. They have a huge and wide variety on their menu. My food was great! The mussels with the spicy sauce were so good! I have never had them that way and I'm a huge seafood fanatic!!! I will definitely be coming back. Did I mention the have a 750ml bottle of sake on happy hour on weekdays? Super!
(5)
Deborah R.
I do like Sakana. I like a lot of things about it. It is open late, the drinks aren't bad (try their saketinis!), and two words- Golden Bridge (thank me later). Sometimes they have live music, which is a plus, and the atmosphere is A+ for dates. There is limited seating, but I have never once waited for seating or turned away because of a line. *The only thing I will note here negatively is that with all of that being said, Sakana is not my first choice if I want sushi in the area on a weeknight. I will try Crazy sushi or Edamame first.For many reasons, but all to do with positives with them, not negatives with Sakana.* But, I will say on a Friday night I would rather be here.The enviornment here is perfect for a night out.
(4)
Colleen B.
I came here on a Saturday evening with my girlfriends. It was my first time there and I'll be returning again. Our service was excellent and our waitress was fun to talk to and sincerely cared about our experience there. I think her name was Kristy, she's pretty awesome. The food was great and the atmosphere is very cool. The prices are reasonable too.
(5)
Will B.
Excellent food, great service, nice atmosphere, and good prices. What else could you ask for? They use good quality ingredients (no "Krab" with a K here!...), their rolls are good, they're priced well, and delicious. I like this place a lot more than Inyo for my Ferndale sushi fix.
(4)
Blaise B.
So... I never liked sushi, for my whole life, and then I came here and now I like sushi. I'm dead serious. I do need to say that yes, it is too dark in here (to the point that you can't see much when you're looking around) and the service was too slow considering how empty it was. BUT. My roommate and I went here for Ferndale Restaurant Week, and we got a bowl of miso soup each, a pop each, and a sampler platter to share for $20. This was a GREAT deal! The soup was fantastic- I'd never had miso soup before so I can't compare it to other places, but I loved it. The sampler was amazing too- my roommate loves sushi and she agreed that it was fantastic. I've been converted, thanks to Sakana!
(4)
Leah S.
I've been there a few times and everytime I go, the sushi is amazing! The California rolls are good and one time I tried this one thing called "dragon" i think. its very good. The inside has a cool vibe to it. It's also not all asians working like usual sushi places.
(5)
Stefani B.
My spouse and I popped in here for a quick bite before a show one weekend. We love to support local businesses and he's a huge sushi fan. We walked in WANTING to fall in love. Unfortunately, Sakana left us very disappointed. Service was slow- we were some of the only people dining and it still took forever- and the bill was very high for what we ordered. I realize that this is a short review, but we spent most of our time waiting. But the time our order arrived, we had only a few minutes to eat and had to request boxes. That, combined with nearly nonexistent service, leaves me without much to write about. For the price, the quality and the service, there are better sushi places in Metro Detroit. Heck, there are better sushi places in *Ferndale.* We will not return.
(2)
Etienne T.
I do not think I have ever had such a horrible dining experience in my life. The sushi was good, and we had one good waitress. The rest of it was a humiliating and painful experience. My partner and I ordered off the regular food menu, and both ended up sending our orders back. They were stone cold, and the noodle texture was odd. The waitress was obliging and understanding, and my partner and I decided instead of paying for what we did eat and leaving, we'd order more. Another waitress came back and argued over why I send my menu back. Now I don't believe the customer is always right, but we were being calm and rational for our reasons, and apologized for the inconvenience. Our waitress then proceeded to complain about us in our view (and mostly in our hearing as well) to other staff members, a fight broke out at some point, and they left to go and finish it in the kitchen. I don't know why I didn't walk out then, I was completely humiliated and enraged At one point the words "I hate her" were said by one waitress to another, in full earshot of the all the patrons. I have not experienced such unprofessional behavior by the staff. The icing on the cake was a drunken patron who kept trying to chime in to the "discussions" that were taking place between the staff members. I would give this place a big fat zero rating, if that were an option.
(1)
Jake A.
Every time I forget to pack a lunch, I find myself starving and stopping on the commute home from work at someplace on Woodward, knowing all too well I'm too tired and lazy to cook myself anything when I get home. This was the case with Sakana, I just wanted some sushi. The service was prompt, maybe because I was one of the only people in there, but good service is good service, and I won't knock it. Everything was ready for my ferocious devouring in a matter of minutes it seemed, and I promise you I did just that. I didn't have anything too special, just a California and New York roll (or The Coasts, as I referred to them). The decor and furnishing here is very appealing, and I would be very curious to come back during more intimate and sociable circumstances instead of being a lazy white collar worker stuffing his face with sushi at the bar while the sun is still up to see what else this place is all about. I noticed the sign out front advertises a DJ. This place has captured my attention. Regardless, based upon my quick meal here, this place is worth another visit at least.
(4)
Heatherleigh N.
I talked my sweetie into coming here on the advice of some friends, even though he had been there before and told me I probably wouldn't like it. But it's local, and my friends had raved about it, so I insisted we give it a shot. My bad. We went on a Saturday evening, around 6pm, and there were only high top tables left for seating; all the booths were full, so we chose one against the wall. Uncomfortable, and the sun coming in the front window was glaring. Speaker above our head was pretty bad quality and had a screeching effect, making the 90s dance music even harder to bear for a date night. The ambiance was not fun, classy, relaxing, or anything like it. We considered walking out after waiting more than ten minutes to even be greeted, but decided to give the food a shot. We ordered one roll and a couple pieces of ngiri, and waited about a half hour for it to show up. In the meantime, our drinks were not refilled, and the music got louder and tinnier. When the food arrived, it was sub-par: surf clam was rubbery, roll fell apart, not in any way inspiring us to order more. The service was ssssslllllllloooooooooooooowwwwwww. As others have mentioned, there was only one waitress, which for a Saturday evening shift seems like a bad idea. She was practically invisible, disappearing for long periods of time. I actually had to track her down in the ladies room to get our check, after waiting more than half an hour for her to reappear (I felt like a heel doing it, but the bartender out front was no help in getting us our check). The bartender, who eventually took our money, said she wasn't feeling well. Then send the poor girl home, dude, and call someone in to cover that shift! We left pretty bummed, but then walked across the street to Inyo, our usual sushi place, where we had a killer meal, and great service, which totally salvaged date night.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Larry B.
Run! This place has the oldest fish. It was like leather. I sent it back and the sushi chef came over to my table to yell at us. Worst restaurant experience ever. Inyo's across the street is much better but pricy. I think Sakanas is going out. It is always empty.
(1)Keith B.
Sitting here enjoying my favorite sushi spot in metro Detroit and having the best experience with the best server ever. You have to come here and request Graham he is phenomenal!!!!
(5)Jason P.
Place was totally dead on a Friday night which was awesome. Food was great, love tasting the slight differences in in sushi between restaurants and trying new combinations as well. Service was great, probably because there was only one other table in the place, but still!
(5)Nick S.
Nothing special, food was pretty good but I'll probably take my chances at another sushi bar
(3)Nina M.
Still the only place that I would go to for chicken tempura rolls, but the consistency in preparation is lacking. There have been times that the rice is not fully cooked and the chicken had too much batter. Sadly the eel sauce can be thick or amazingly thin depending on the day of the week. The staff has always been great though. They charge gratuity on takeout orders by default. While I don't agree with this practice, I still go because they are the only sushi spot I have found that has chicken tempura rolls (the chicken is cooked-fried). Hopefully the staff gets the tips because the credit card slip lists the tip under the total charge and not in the "tip" area that you would normally fill in (weird). I only do takeout lately, so I can't speak to how dine in service is now.
(3)Deion B.
I used to come here rather often a few years ago. Last time I came here was about a year ago. Every time I came here, although I hated the decor, service and prices - the sushi was spot on. Best Sushi in Metro Detroit - But how things changed. Went here on a Sat night a few weeks ago. Service sucked - wasn't busy AT ALL, but it took forever to get anything and the waiter kept on forgetting things. Prices are still very high, but I can stomache that if the food lives up to the pricing. Now, the food.... Sakana reeks of a place that's seeing business drop and is trying to cut costs. The sushi is noticeably worse and served in noticeably smaller portions than other places I've been recently, as well as in my previous visits. Also, the Wasabi and Ginger they served with our meal was meager - almost laughable. I asked for more and got it, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. All in all, won't ever come back here again - too many good Sushi places to eat in Metro Detroit. They definitely need to turn it around - fast.
(2)Bryan W.
Just had a salad, yellowtail roll and some nigri and everything was good. Liked the ginger dressing ... seemed to be freshly made and thicker than others I've had. I would definitely come back.
(4)Ronda N.
Sakana = suck*ana Sushi is no-frills and certainly not worth the price for its measly portions. The restaurant is cramped with not enough seating. The service is always slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooÂoooooooooooow and HORRENDOUS. Sadly I've dined here one too many times and will never eat here again.
(1)Lauren M.
My favorite sushi place in the metro detroit area!! The rolls are unique and fresh. The atmosphere is relaxing and very enjoyable! If you love good sushi go here!!!
(4)Ruffy L.
Reading CL's post is like her posting my experience with this place. It took our server FOREVER to bring us our WATER!!! Took her FOREVER to take our order! And yet again ANOTHER eternity to deliver them! So service DEFINITELY SUCK-ana. This particular night, there were only four of us who initially came in the restaurant, and there were a total of no more than 9 total customers. So WHY would it take MORE than ten minutes to get our water? Shouldn't this be automatic? Or at least within the first 3 minutes after you sit down? After I opened their menu, I balked at the prices of sushi ESPECIALLY at the prices of their SPECIALTY sushi. I guess I am just spoiled going to Fuji at their all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. I decided NOT to order sushi and just opted for their teriyaki chicken "slider." (It was "eh" at best.) My friend ordered two different rolls of their sushi and had ONE piece of each roll. For someone who LOVES sushi, THIS was saying something BAD! When she told me to take a piece of the second roll and try it myself, I reluctantly oblige. I didn't think it would happen in my lifetime but this is one sushi I DID NOT SWALLOW! It WAS that BAD! It might have been a fluke, bad fish or whatever you want to call it but it was definitely enough for me to decide I am NOT coming back! NOT even for the AVERAGE decor! Sakana is CLOSELY related to a Filipino word loosely meaning, "whenever in the future" -- mostly used to mean NEVER in the future. That pretty much summed by sentiments.
(1)Alicia L.
Sushi! Free Wi-Fi! That is all. Haha I kid I kid. But they are already on my good side because I love me some free Wi-Fi. I don't come up this way too often but when I do I always try to hit this place up. I really like the laid back vibe of the place and the super friendly service. I mean, the waiter was so sweet and attentive I felt like God would smite me if I didn't leave a nice tip lol. He even gave me extra spicy sauce because I guess he could tell I have a thing for the spicy. He also talked me into being slightly more adventurous and trying mackerel sushi along with my usual spicy salmon sushi. Ok mackerel isn't THAT adventurous but it is for me. I thought about trying the octopus but I am still too scared. 0.o I have heard octopus described as "chewy" and chewy has never been terribly appealing to me. The mackerel was pretty good but I am still sticking to my guns and still think spicy salmon is the best ever! It's sort of hipstery but that is because it is in Ferndale. Ferndale is full of people who like to dress in "vintage" because it is trendy to pretend to be poor, and I like to dress in "vintage" because I really am poor and love me some Goodwill. So...yaknow. I fit in pretty well! LOL As for cost, yeah it's a little on the pricey side but I loiter for SO long sucking up their Wi-Fi I figure that I have actually saved money on what I would have spent for internet service at home! Also, the waiters there are soooo cool about my loitering. Some places the waiters/waitresses give me snide looks or drop hints that I should GTFO. Haha, but these guys are chill and didn't bother me at all. They even let me move so I could be closer to the plug! Like I said, I don't get up this way too often, but I think I will try to hit his place up each time I do... spicy salmon (and wifi) for the WIN!
(4)Sarah Z.
This place wasn't great. My complaint actually is only about the food and the management. We went there on labor day night and there was only one waitress working while the place was packed. She was clearly overwhelmed by herself (as anyone would be) but was left to run all food, take all orders, and buss all tables. Took her about 20 minutes to get to us (not her fault) and it took the kitchen about an hour to make our very simple 3 rolls. Again, she was very cool and friendly, it just wasn't a fair situation for her. I got a basic roll (Ferndale) with tuna, avocado, and cucumber. Now they called this roll a "maki" roll which means it should be rolled in seaweed no rice. I asked if they could do this and was met with "what, that's an impossible idea!" lol so I had to get it with rice which I don't like. When I got the roll there was barely any fish in it, it was all avocado and rice. Gross, I got it for the tuna! Wasn't too mad because it was priced at $6 (I guess you get what you pay for) but that roll was a joke. Won't be back.
(2)Chris S.
Worst sushi I have ever had. I strongly recommend that nobody ever eats here it's beyond terrible.
(1)Laurel M.
Was really disappointed with this place. I love sushi and have always preferred Noble Fish or Sumo, but sometimes I don't feel like the 30+ minute drive, or trying to fit in during grocery hours. We checked out Sakana about a week ago and I was not impressed. Decor- Simple grey, no frills, kind of boring Music- 90's mix- Probably the funniest part of the night.. Drinks- Over priced, underpoured. $6.00 for a tiny glass of vodka and soda.. not strong enough to convince me to buy another.. the cocktails did look better, but i can only imagine they are at least $10 a pop Waitstaff- OK. Not outgoing, slammed plates down, scatterbrained. Appetizer- Tempora Vegetables... For the price of $7.00 you get ONE vegetable each maybe 5 pieces total.... Not great if you are trying to share with your date, as you wont get to try one of each vegetable and you'll probably still be irked at how much you paid for 5 pieces of veggie. Sushi- The only thing special was the spicy sauce and $13.00 for sub- par sushi with spicy sauce is just not worth it. I will not be heading back.
(1)Nickie P.
A friend and I went to Sakana last night, and were pretty happy with our meal. We decided to order outside of our comfort zone, and tried a white tuna roll with chili powder that was fantastic. We also tried a roll with eel, avocado, asparagus, and kiwi on top, but I wasn't too impressed with that one. The roll was very sweet and the kiwi didn't seem to add much flavor. Overall, we had a good meal at a pretty decent price. After taking a look at their bar menu, I would really like to go back and try some of their signature martinis and saketinis!
(4)Sarah C.
I am from California so I've had my share of good sushi, this place is alright. This place is very hip and modern with a simplistic design. The waiter was very good at his job even though it was just him serving 5-6 parties. I think this is a great place to hang out but not as much for eating. You can eat up a lot here. Nice bathrooms and there are flat screens where you can watch sport games while they happen.
(3)Elliott B.
We went here on a on Saturday night for dinner. We LOVED the atmosphere and music. The service was excellent and we loved our food. We had edamame and tofu to start as appetizers before diving into our sushi order. Absolutely delicious. If you're thinking sushi in Ferndale come here over Inyo. We'll be returning for sure to enjoy a happy hour soon!
(5)Melinda H.
The husband & I enjoyed a lovely dinner here tonight. On Sunday's, they are open from 3-10pm, we came in around 4pm. It was empty, but that didn't bother us. This is my second time eating here and the first time was kinda empty too (during the week around 5pm). Now, don't let this scare you away. We were greeted by a friendly server immediately and seated. We made our order quickly and enjoyed a cocktail , both of which were delicious and strong (good). We enjoyed some miso soup and some edamame to start. Good, but not amazing...simple & yummy staples of the sushi experience. On to the sushi! I had the Berry Good roll (tuna, avacodo, cucumber, with strawberry and a sweet drizzle on top) ..perfect and so good! I also had the Super Dragon (shrimp tempura & cucumber, topped with avacodo, eel, crab salad and a sweet drizzle) Amazing! It was really good, but so filling. Also enjoyed some smoked salmon & eel sashimi which was delightful. For dessert we had some Moochi ice cream. It came with 4 full pieces with a choice of two flavors. We went with mango & strawberry. They cut up the two flavors in quarters and arranged them very nicely. We would come back anytime for the quality of the food and the service. Prices were about what you would expect, not cheap, but when the bill came, I wasn't shocked.
(4)Max M.
I love sushi and really love good sushi. As far as sushi goes, Sakana does a good job - I especially like the Woodward, Ferndale and the new 9 Mile Rolls, but I always leave feeling like I got ripped off. The rolls are kinds small for the price, and the service is terribly slow. Plus, there is always so much wasted space that really if they had better service they could comfortably add about 10 more tables. I would give more stars, except for their take out policy. Don't get take out from there - there is a NON negotiable 18% after tax Gratuity that is tacked on to the to go order...there is no warning about it on their menu, nor do they tell you when you call the order in. The first time I came in to pay, I was floored and told them I would not pay - a gratuity is a GIFT/BONUS... and they cannot demand it. My wife really wanted sushi (and we already had to wait 30 minutes - so I paid... and I do regret going back for take out again. Not a great place for kids.. and the music is loud.
(2)Christina B.
The only sushi place I visit in Royal Oak/ Ferndale. Great miso soup, avacado/cucumber ginger salad and as far as sushi I always order the Daddy's Girl and California Roll. They also have very good, strong, (happy-hour specials) on drinks.
(5)Lauren S.
I recently started working in Ferndale and I tried inyo first, which was alright but incredibly overpriced. So next I tried Sakana. The first time I was disappointed but was convinced that I just ordered the wrong roll for my tastes. After giving it another chance I realized I just went to the wrong restaurant for my tastes. I understand this is America and not very many people enjoy raw fish. Almost all of their specialty rolls only involve vegetables or cooked fish. So this may be the right restaurant for a lot of people. But for me the raw "spicy salmon" was the consistency of cat food and the raw tuna was a bit dry and hard. I prefer actual chunks of fish instead of a ground up mixture with unappealing texture and taste. And I prefer the chunks to be fresh. It is, after all, raw. But I did enjoy the to-go amount of miso they give and how they put your soy sauce in a convenient little cup instead of the packets. Just wish the sushi was better.
(2)Jane F.
This place is pretty good. Nice variety, decent pricing. I hate the carry out charge though, it's $6, and they do not bring it to your attention at all. It is subtly mentioned on the carry out menu, and never mentioned in store which often leads the server to getting over tipped. As a fellow service industry worker, I find this a little greedy. The saki specials are nice. I like the lounge feel area, it is nice for privacy. Every once in a while they have awful djs, but usually the amibiance is great. Overall this place is nice, good for dates, or just a plain old sushi and saki craving.
(4)Rob B.
This place is great! We go at lunch sometimes...and it's usually just us in there! The service is very fast, so we're out in less than 1 hour. I didn't give it 5 stars only b/c the prices are a bit up there. All the sushi we've gotten is really fresh and made to order. My favorite roll is the crunch. It has jalapeno's, cream cheese, shrimp, and a splash of spices in it with a flash fry outside crust; it's wonderful when it's still warm! I'm drooling just thinking about it...
(4)Delilah M.
I am not a big sushi person, that being said, my two stars are based SOLEY on service and other details of my evening. In other words, you could have served me ice cream made of gold, and I still wouldn't have been impressed. First there was our server. She started by slamming two glasses of water in front of us (we sat at the bar) and without making any eye contact at all...as she walked away...said, "Can I get you anything besides water..." I guess it is a good thing we didn't because she was off before we could open our mouths...and not, it wasn't busy. There were 3 servers and 6 groups of people (largest was a group of 4). Next, there was a microwave behind the bar. I thought this was interesting. I don't care if it is standard practice in Tokyo for heating a sushi roll, I don't want to see my $35 meal go anywhere NEAR a microwave (sushi lovers fill me in...is this normal?) After coming back to take our order (we sat for over 20 minutes with just water). Our waitress stated, "Is that all?" in a condenscending tone...um yeah chica, 5 rolls, two people, I think we're good. 20 minutes for our food...which considering nothing is cooked and it wasn't busy...seemed like a long time. Our server dropped our plates off, didn't tell us which was which and ignored our completely empty water glasses. Overall this place was a fail and I would never recommend it. Hopefully it will go out of business it is a waste of space. The decor is lackluster as well. It just looks like a trendy coney island.
(2)Amanda B.
I ordered carryout on a Saturday night, they told me 30 mins since they were busy no problem. 30 mins turned out to be more like an hour which was upsetting and the staff did not seem to care. Upon coming home I was very disappointed I had ordered crab salad instead of crab stick in a roll that was wrong. The rolls were uneven in size and filling distribution. The spicy tuna was sweet not spicy and also resembled nothing of a spicy tuna roll. All of this and I was also charged the ridiculous take out fee of 15% on my order for service that was subpar.
(1)Jessica C.
YUM. I've been here a few times with a few different friends and let me tell you it is very easy to order lots of sushi here. There menu is quite good and quite extensive. They've got all the traditional rolls and a lot of unique rolls. Their drinks menu is also quite nice. I've had a few of their cocktails and both have been fresh and delicious.
(4)Erica M.
Go to Sakana. Order the Cruisin' roll. And try to give this place less than 4 stars. That's what I thought. There are so many annoying things about this place. The atmosphere is stark and cold. The music is too clubby. The prices are ridiculous. The service is mediocre. Even getting takeout from this place is annoying, as they TACK AN 18% GRATUITY ON TO YOUR BILL! And yet, it's my favorite sushi place. Everything is very good, but the Cruisin' roll is something really special. Maybe it's the spicy sauce, or the delicate crunch of the tempura flakes, but whatever it is, I just can't get enough.
(4)Joe B.
I can't say enough good things about the sushi at Sakana! The sushi is always on point, properly executed and freaking delicious! The service is usually impeccable from the waitstaff (which is sometimes a bit too leisurely), to the sushi chefs, to the bartenders. Whether it's for an after work snack or a late night sushi dash I'm always pleased with the Sakana experience. Their fish is always very fresh and the rolls are decent size, and while you may have to wait a bit longer for your order to be ready on a busy night I've found it worthwhile. It's an asset to the Ferndale scene. The quality compares to the price for sure.
(4)Heidi D.
On the good end, Sakana's menu has tons of options, the bar is well-stocked, and the ambiance is chill. The sushi itself is also really well-made, with fresh ingredients and a lot of roll options. That said, this place is really missing that intangible quality that makes a restaurant great. With a minimalist ambiance, overly open floor plan, and hipster bar with multiple TVs, there is just nothing about this place that is inherently memorable. The music is a bit too low and easy-listening, and the walls are just too plain. Verdict? While it's great for a tasty bite with friends, I would head somewhere else when trying to impress a date.
(3)Lauren D.
I don't know why this place is often so empty. My fiancé and I eat here at least once a week it seems, the food is consistently good and affordable. It's not mind blowing, but it's good.
(4)Shawn W.
I have been going to Sakana for a number of years. The last few times I've been there it has been a mixed experience. First off - the atmosphere. It's a combination of sports bar with big screen TVs showing all the games and upscale sushi bar with a dark ambiance and high coolness factor. The place has an open sparse feeling that doesn't overwhelm, at least visually. Then we get to the blaring weird music, which certainly did overwhelm. It was bizarre electronica played so loudly that one could only hear every dissonant note instead of the people at the table. I can understand trying to add to the funky feel of the place with some quirky electronic music, but scaling it down to less than a lawnmower decibel level would be nice. I have never had the best experience with the wait staff either, even when they first opened. It's as if they find anyone who has a ton of piercings, tattoos, and/or facial hair and think "that would be hip!" and hire them without regard to their customer service acumen. Maybe this is the trend in hipster restaurants, but I'd rather have friendly than hip. The food is decent most of the time. I usually order the Sushi Lounge, which is the chef's choice maki and nigiri. It is usually good and the selection to my liking. Other rolls and nigiri are good and decently priced. They have specialty maki, and a huge variety at that. They are presented very well, but I don't really care for most of the specialty rolls myself. They cost a bundle (some are over $12 each) and have weird combinations. For instance, I'm usually not a fan of cream cheese in my sushi, but if you like that kind of thing then you have at least a few selections that include that ingredient. I may be a sushi traditionalist, because I don't think I want lox and cream cheese at a sushi restaurant, at least not unless I got a bagel with it. I have gone there at least a few different times now when at least one of my dining companions got sick from the food. This is always a risk with sushi (and every sushi place warns of it) but I've not seen it happen as often as it does at Sakana. Maybe it's the cream cheese, because I haven't become ill yet after eating there. So, maybe one should avoid the specialty items and stick to the standard sushi fare, or try one of their limited non-sushi selections. It's so hard to find a really good sushi place in the Detroit area. Ajishin in Novi is extremely good, but so far away and so busy pretty much all the time. I only wish they had really good sushi closer to home...
(3)Christa B.
Went for Happy Hour...had a Sakitini...I think it was called New Paris....or something with Paris in the name. Had pineapple juice, pear saki, and chambord...it was delic! Snacked on a California Roll which was very good. I didn't have anything super amazing so I couldn't give it 5 stars, but I do like the sushi WAY better than Inyo across the street!
(4)Sage M.
I'm really not terribly into sushi. I'm not too picky. But one night I had a craving for some philly roles, so I order take out. The staff was friendly and the food was ready on time and everything, but I only ordered about 2 rolls and they added gratuity! I should have payed like 12 bucks, They charged me like 3 dollars or something like that! I ended up shelling out almost $20 without knowing it! On 2 of the cheaper rolls! That itself was enough for me to never go there again.
(2)Ashley K.
Each time I've dined at Sakana it hasn't really been on purpose. On weekends when most other spots in downtown Ferndale are on a 45 minute wait, Sakana always seems to have a table. So that's a plus in my book. I think the food is just as good as Inyo across the street (though neither place holds a candle to Ronin), and the drink selection is pretty stellar as well. My friend was thrilled to see Hitachino on the menu. As far as the wait staff goes, they're really nice but they've seemed understaffed every time I've been there. Took a while to place our orders, cash out, etc. In all, I do like Sakana.. I will surely eat there again. But for me it is one of those places that never seems to be my first choice. I can't quite put my finger on why, but that does say something.
(3)Rahul S.
Why do I feel like I'm being critical when I give a place a three star rating? Maybe it's that orange tinge the stars take on. Anyway, I digress... My most recent trip to Sakana was on a Friday evening. About a third of the place was full when I walked in about 6pm. It did get a little busier when I left at about 8pm but I still don't think it was packed. They have a menu with a ton of options both in terms of food and alcohol. I believe 5-7pm is happy hour (including Fridays) which include $4 martini specials. I decided to go with the margariti-tini with was surprisingly good. I've also previously had the wasabe bloody mary which I highly recommend! The food is reasonably good. I've had some of the maki rolls as well as the nigiri. It doesn't quite match up to the standards of Noble Fish in my mind but I haven't tried anything I could complain about. For what it is though I do feel it's a little overpriced. I think a meal for two with a couple drinks each was around $80 (without the tip). The decor and interiors to me are a little confusing. Depending on what you look at it could either look like a dimly lit lounge (candles et al) to a hipsterish bar. Maybe that's the look they are going for, who knows? No real complaints though since it's comfortable and quiet enough to carry out a conversation whether you're with just another person or a group. The service seems like it's hit or miss. The first time I visited service was good but that was also a Tuesday night with about six people in the restaurant in total. Service on Friday was a little slow considering it wasn't too crowded. Servers are friendly enough though so it's not a huge turn off. The positive is that they don't rush you at any point so if you want to spend a while just talking it's a good option. All in all, if you're looking for a place to chill, have some quality drinks and decent sushi I'd give Sakana a try.
(3)Kristy K.
I love that this place is candle lit! Service has always been friendly and good any time I have went there, and they've went out of the way to help with with explanations & suggestions. The sushi is fresh and reasonably priced. They have other things on the menu for picky eaters, like home made sweet potato fries and tempura chicken/ rice bowls. All their sauces and signature cocktail syrups are made in house too! The best deal is probably happy hour when all the specialty martinis are half off and I think they have $15 wine and sake bottles too every night As for it being "empty" I have seen it slower in the day time, but it is always pretty busy in the evening. I would highly recommend this place to anyone :)
(5)Nicole U.
This is my favorite sushi place in the metro Detroit area. The food is fresh & the selection is wide. The drink selection is great. I love the bartenders & wait staff. They're funny & make you feel at home. I also love the music. If you haven't been here, give it a shot.
(5)Per S.
The sushi here isn't bad. Definitely tasty and not the worst I've had in Michigan. I used to live in Japan so my critique of sushi might be harsher than others. Really, what I liked about this place were the cocktails and the music. When I went the restaurant with my sister the place was full but not jam-packed. There were more people hanging out at the bar then actually dining in for sushi. The service was definitely sub-par. The waitress seemed a little lost and forgot about our table and the ones near us for quite some time. Either way, we got our food and enjoyed our meal. Would I go here again? Sure. The pricing was fair but I do wish the service was a little better.
(3)Elizabeth T.
Went with 2 friends. Sushi was mediocre but not horrible. What was horrible was that all three of us got sick the next day.
(1)Angela F.
Got a huge take out order tonight way to long to mention - tons of nigiri and a sushi lounge along with some rolls and appetizers - really huge. ALL of it was delicious as usual. They left one item out - salmon roe. When I called, they were immediately apologetic and asked me what they could do to make it right so I told them I would be in later to get it and they said they could make it right up. And they did. When I came, not only did I get an extra salmon roe, but they also gave me a discount for our next visit. I mention this all because to me, this is as important as the good food (and I think that it is value for the money - especially because you get 2 pcs of nigiri not just one for the menu price). I appreciate the customer service very much. There are new free 15 minute parking spaces in front of several of the restaurants on Woodward now (yay!) and that is also a huge help. Everyone makes a mistake on occasion - and in this case there were at least 25 items on our order - so that is entirely forgivable. It is the way they handled the mistake that will keep me going back.
(4)S O.
Usually love it. So not on their game tonight- staff, thumbs down!
(2)Jessica S.
Sakana is the go-to place for sushi in our circle, aside from Ronin. The sushi has always been delicious, the service has always been great and the ambiance can't be beat. Highlights for me include the Aged Dashi tofu, the (new!) miso-glazed tofu, the miso soup (which always tastes perfect!), the dragon and volcano rolls, and the vegetable dumplings. The sashimi always tastes fresh, and the sake is always served at the perfect temperature. The service is usually pretty good. I never feel pressured to order drinks or dessert, and they pay just the right amount of attention to you, without making you feel like they're constantly up in your business. The prices? Ehhh, they might be a little high, but nothing that would make me stop coming. All-in-all, I'm a fan :)
(4)Maria B.
Good (not great) sushi, but i really go here for the ambiance! It's more of a chill lounge to have a b'day party or get-together at, and they have great local djs spinning everything from house music, electro, and other chill music....oh, and almost forgot to mention that their happy hour is awesome: $5 martinis!!! Just a side note: the booths here are really tight...but the table seating is more open & comfortable.
(3)Kristin G.
Way too pricey for the Eel sauce saturated "sushi" experience. I just felt like for the price, I could go to Ronin yelp.com/biz/ronin-royal… and have more creative, tastier better made rolls for the same price. If it wasn't so pricey, I'd probably bump it up a star. To me, price should mimic quality, but this was not the case here. We got a "Rocket" roll that tasted like they'd rolled some playdoh inside. It had this mysterious sodium flavor, probably from improperly made rice. Big strike out there. Sushi means RICE. Get it right, not salty, SWEET rice. The place itself is really trying to be modern, but ends up feeling more like a sterile & dark Panera or something you'd expect from a lunch only restaurant. Just overall an "eh" experience.
(2)Jeff E.
Sushi was fair. The chubby goth chick waitress was super rude. Won't be returning. Mainly because of the waitress. There's plenty of other places.
(1)Andre H.
I love Sakana I like the laid back atmosphere and the sushi is always good.
(4)Theresa U.
Pardon my writing, I have a block today. =) If I had to choose one word to describe Sakana, it would be 'sterile'. The first thing I noticed was an absence of art on the walls. It just looked so, plain! Put something up! Japanese calligraphy, something! The dining area also looked sparse. Like a big empty room. For the amount of space they have, they could put a few more tables up. Maybe they don't need to. Check out the pics and decide for yourself. So, anyway, I was here over the weekend for a friend's b-day with a party of oh, 30 give or take. Our waitress was pretty high strung. I give her credit though; it would be hard to keep track of all of us. The vegetable gyozas were a hit $6. I had the shrimp tempura with cucumber, avocado, and spicy sauce $8. A few others raved over the yellowtail and salmon. Fab chocolate martini, lechee martini and mojitos. I also appreciated the quality dining ware/dishes they have! Beautiful martini glasses. Aesthetics are important! Overall, I had a good time, they did a good job catering to a huge party. My heart and taste buds still go to Noble Fish and Sushi Caf, but I'd come here again. =)
(4)Kate R.
Overall, I was pretty pleased with this place. I was here with a friend for dinner - first, props for my Sparkling Plum with the champagne and plum brandy... delish. We ordered the Yum Yum roll - dumb name, yet tasty. I LOVE red snapper and had never had it in sushi before! I was pleased with our order - Rainbow, Super Dragon, spicy white tuna, and tempura salmon. The menu had TONS of options, it was a little hard to narrow choices down, but I feel like we picked some of their best options - - I'm really more of a "foo foo" sushi person than simply going for simple maki. Bonus points for our server being really nice!
(4)Jean P.
I have never been to a real sushi bar before (only got takeout from pre-made plastic containers) and had never actually had any sashimi. The pollock trays from Costco do not count! So this was my first trip, fortunately we went with some friends who are more familiar with the menu! It was intimidating at first, not knowing what anything was, but the server was very patient and explained everything very well. She took very good care of us all night, checking on us regularly but not hovering. Also, when I ordered a sparkling water, she gave me a choice between a ritzy bottle of Voss or the stuff they have on tap for cocktail mixers, rather than automatically bringing me the expensive stuff (lol, which I ordered anyway). I also asked for "a lemon, or lime, or something like that if you have it" and got both! A+! My husband and I shared an asparagus/cucumber roll, some mackerel nigiri, and something called a Woodward Avenue roll, I think? The contents escape my memory at the moment, there were several fish and a vegetable but don't ask me what they were. We also upgraded to brown rice for everything, and having that option made me a very happy camper! It doesn't stick together as well as real sushi rice, but I just love me some brown rice. Anyway, I LOVED every bite of everything! The mackerel especially, which I was a little nervous about initially, but the taste and texture was just PERFECT. I also got some miso soup, which had a little bit of tofu, scallions, and a tiny bit of seaweed (yum); my husband had a shrimp tempura appetizer which I did not try, but he gave it 2 thumbs up. The only thing keeping me from living there is the pricetag: for 3 shared items, 2 appetizers, 2 beers, and 2 sparkling waters, the bill was just shy of $60. It was magically delicious, but another drawback is that I was hungry again after a few hours (I think that's a characteristic of almost all sushi, not just Sakana). It would have to be a special dinner every once in a while because of the price, but I'm very much looking forward to returning! The place was EMPTY at dinnertime on a Friday night, so everybody please please please go try it out! I really want it to stay open!
(5)Olga P.
First time at Sakana we really enjoyed it. Edamame and miso were great. Detroit roll and Woodward rolls were delicious, no complaints at all, surprised by bad reviews. We are Noble Fish regulars and are usually critical, but sushi was delicious
(5)Lesley H.
My husband and I come here on a semi-regular basis - it's usually between this and Noble Fish for us. We've tried quite a few different rolls here, and I can't recall one that we've disliked. Their Crunch rolls, which are dipped in tempura batter and deep-fried, are a standout. They do offer other Asian dishes, but we've always stuck with sushi, so I can't comment on those. They have a full bar and I know they used to have DJs on the weekend, but I'm not sure if they do this anymore (we typically go during the week). We almost always sit at the bar and have always had good service. The atmosphere is very chill and the decor is minimalistic and dark, and I know some people dislike how "sparse" it feels, but I rather enjoy this aspect of the place. Overall, good sushi and a cool, laid-back atmosphere.
(4)Mikey K.
I dined here with a friend awhile back. While the sushi was excellent, the service was lacking. Overpriced and under appreciated....yeah, probably won't be going back. Our bill was $135 without tip for two people. The server only checked back with us once. Heck, we could have wanted more sushi, which would have meant more money for the server, but we decided to cash out and bounce to a real bar to order more drinks. And rave about how good the sushi was. Some of their specialty rolls have fruit in them, and it's to die for. I always knew strawberries and cream cheese were the bomb, but with raw fish...get out. The seaweed salad tasted amazing, and the fish tasted fresh. It was rather dead when we went. Not sure if they're doing enough advertising. And the ambiance is sort of lounge-like. We'll probably go back, but sit at the bar next time so we can see the chef in action and perhaps get more attention.
(3)Ashley L.
It was my first time and I have to say amazing. This is now my new favorite sushi restaurant for when I'm visiting home. Sushi was great and drinks were delicious. Loved the waiter and the fact that they serve sushi late night.
(5)Melanie J.
When I first ventured into the land of sushi I was not very adventurous (I'm a vegetarian). I always stuck to veggie rolls and my favorite roll was avocado. Boring, I know. This was the case until one fateful night, I had dinner at Sakana. I came to Sakana on a Sunday night and the place had a decent crowd, but wasn't packed. After some yummy Saki, we dove into the sushi menu. We ordered some edamame (I have deep love for edamame) and I ordered some veggie rolls, per usual. My bf ordered up a bunch of rolls that I had no intention of sharing. When dinner came the rolls all looked so delicious and my bf kept telling me how amazing they all were that I finally sucked it up and tried some. I am now a sushi convert. Although I am not a fan of anything with salmon, I will eat a crunchy California roll from Sakana (and this may even be my favorite sushi roll of all time) and on a good day you MIGHT get me to try some tuna (from Sakana, of course). This is honestly the best sushi I've had in Detroit. The waitstaff is always friendly and the atmosphere has a relaxing, chill vibe to it that I enjoy. I would put Sakana's sushi up against any other sushi in Detroit. It wouldn't even come close!
(5)Myrtle M.
Welp, my experience goes like this: I'm meh about Sakana. Their miso has those frozen mini blocks of tofu in it and seemed just kind of warm. The tea was meh, the sake was meh, and the sushi was rolled really big. My husband likes his sushi in jumbo size, so he was happy, but mine just fell out of my mouth and all over my lap. The Detroit roll was pretty awesome, but the yellowtail was meh. The dark walls are nice and made me feel like a cave creature, but this place has zero atmosphere aside from that. Not a stitch of art on the walls, just a couple of TVs by the bar. Also, one of the servers was yelling really loud in the back about some drama with her boyfriend, and everyone up front could hear every word. Girl, I sympathize with you, but shut your face while I'm shovin' sushi in my mouth. I did get my water refilled a lot though, so that was nice. They're very creative with their menu options if you're interested in trying fruit with sushi, but that just sounded like blarg to me.
(2)Jeff R.
By no means am I a connoisseur of sushi. I love it, don't get me wrong, but I've had people tell me that I've never had 'real' sushi if I've only had it in Detroit. Whatever. One thing I do know is that if it sits in the 'window' too long before it gets to my table, the seaweed gets saturated with moisture and becomes tough. It doesn't have a snap to it when bitten. I like that snap, because it gives me a delusion of a freshly prepared roll. But that's just me. And you know what, I've never experienced the snap at Sakana. I've also never experienced good service at Sakana. I should say I've never experienced attentive service. When they're actually at your table, they get the order right, and when it's delivered, it's as ordered. Otherwise, it just feels over-priced for what you get. Some of the specialty rolls have interesting flavor combinations going on, like kiwi and strawberry, but I'm kind of a purist. I like my sushi a little simpler. One unique thing at Sakana is that you often (not always) are given a special, free 'bonus' roll by the chef. Unfortunately, the last time, it arrived after we were already done with our lunch, i.e., we were full. We tried it anyway, and I couldn't tell you what all was going on there, but it wasn't good. Some Asian flavors work for me, some don't. My palate is mostly Euro-centric. Also, if you're going to wait until long after the last roll is gone and we're just waiting for our MIA server to take our money, maybe you could give us a dessert roll instead? Just a thought.
(3)Gene M.
So its a Sunday evening. There are literally 3 customers inside and 2 sitting outside. It has been aprox 30 min since I've placed an order for 4 rolls. Don't expect me to leave a tip.
(1)Abigail S.
Best Sushi ever! Try the Berry Good, Volcano and Cool Breeze. This location has amazing sushi and is my go to spot. The fish is always fresh! Sakana is appropriate for large groups and small intimate dinners. The drink menu has a variety of specialty concoctions and are very tasty as they make all of their simple syrups from scratch. Not a restaurant to take children. This s a lounge so many nights they have great DJ's. A great place for business lunches as well.
(5)Tom N.
One visit, not a good experience. The menu is exciting with diverse offerings to please even a non-sushi eater. We ordered 4 rolls, shrimp tempura, and miso soup. The rolls tasted just okay, the presentation was nothing flashy, but they were all poorly made, and all of the pieces on 3 out of 4 of the rolls fell apart. With good, freshly made rolls being available at many grocery stores, and in an area loaded with sushi places, there is no excuse. The shrimp tempura had really nice extra large shrimp, but the batter was heavy, thick, and unappetizing - in peeling most of it off there were even pockets of white flour clumps. Our bill with soft drinks was $60 (50+ tip). The only good part of the meal was my Coke, which was a near perfect mix of heavy carbonation and not too much syrup.
(1)Carly S.
Unfortunately we didn't get to eat the food. We waited 15 minutes for someone to notice we were waiting to be seated and none of the employees even glanced at us. Several servers walked by us and no one spoke a word. Such a disappointment, we were looking forward to trying it.
(1)Larissa H.
A lot of people I know really love this place. I only went once and found it to be totally overrated. Of course, I recognize it could have been a bad day but the service was really crap, the sushi was nothing to write home about and it was over priced. These things in mind, I haven't been back.
(2)Jon K.
This is our default sushi lunch place. During the mid days, they are fast and friendly. I can't argue when the chef almost always takes our special requests. The one thing that freaks everyone out is that this place is almost never busy. The lack of customers is NOT telling of the food quality. Although its not the best sushi in the world, its a good quality. As with any sushi joint, the price is higher than a usual lunch or dinner. Not gouging, but up there. If you're there and find yourself with killer hunger, order the soup first. It helps.
(3)Alfred K.
When it comes to sushi, I feel like there's practical, and then there's not-so-practical. Practical would be like Nobana in Troy, or Noble Fish in Clawson - good sushi that is fairly priced. But you can't have a drink with your sushi, and I hardly feel sophisticated like TV seems to suggest a sushi experience to be. And then there's the not-so-practical, like Sakana. Sakana is way overpriced. $6 for 6 pieces of dingy vegetable tempura... it tasted good and all, but $1/piece of vegetable... seriously? The avocado roll was $4 and it's almost the exact equivalent of what they have at Edamame Sushi (Madison Heights) for $2.25... except it's on a nicer plate. Don't get me wrong... I still like Sakana a lot. Everything tasted great. The vegetable goyzas tasted homemade and were good. For vegetarians, I would recommend the... uhm... Crazy something roll. Oops I can't remember the exact name... I did have a few drinks. But anyway it's supposed to be crabstick, cucumber, jalapeno, cream cheese, wrapped in rice, deep fried, and garnished with a sweet and sour sauce. We got it without the crabstick and at 11pm, it really hit the spot. The drinks are good. I liked the lychee iced tea. Drinks are pricey, as you would expect by now. But it was fun, and I'll probably come back someday when I feel like splurging on a Friday night.
(4)Kiarash Z.
My lunch date and I found parking around the corner and waltzed into an empty Sakana for their daily specials. Mine was special. Hers wasn't. For about $15, I had a maki roll, plus five pieces of chef's choice nigiri. I think he hit me with mackarel, tuna, salmon, squid and red snapper. The nigiri was good. The spicy tuna roll was amazing. It wasn't too spicy and had a bit of tempura-like crunch inside. The seaweed was real, fresh and flavorful. My date had a sashimi platter, which was cute but tiny. Hardly a meal. The miso soup was included in the lunch deal, but it was unimpressive and came in square bowls with spoons. I don't like my miso like that. Round bowl. No spoon. Now. Service was outstanding. Our server promptly took care of us but left us alone to have private conversations. He didn't pressure us for dessert or drinks. Speakin of dessert, the ice cream mochi was good, but Sakana only offered red bean, vanilla and coffee flavors. They were out of green tea and strawberry. Boo. In all, our lunch (sashimi platter, maki and nigiri, soups, diet soda and two mochi balls) came to $38, not including tip.
(3)Chris V.
I like to go to Sakana with friends on the way to shows in Detroit. I've only been here for a late dinner, but my experiences have always been positive. It is a little pricey, but it's a great place to unwind with friends to prep for the night's festivities. Most of the times I've been there there's been a surprisingly decent deep house DJ playing, which when you're getting your night going is a great mood setter. The sushi menu was plentiful and what I ordered wasn't the best sushi I'd ever had, but it was certainly delicious. Their gyoza are better than most - check those out.
(3)melissa k.
I was really disappointed with this restaurant. I decided to overlook the slightly overpriced rolls and place a carry out order. My first disappointment was to learn that I had to pay a 13% gratuity even though I was merely picking up carry out. My $14 caterpillar roll was minuscule and the eel was tasteless. I could tell that both the salmon and tuna were NOT fresh at all, in fact I suspect they'd actually been frozen and thawed. The pleasant ambience and the few unique (though woefully overpriced) rolls are not enough to overcome un-fresh fish. I will not be coming back to this place.
(2)Denise C.
When I went here a few years back, the sushi was pretty bad and I didn't return for a while. Recently, I moved to Ferndale recently and was starving, so I thought I'd give it another chance. WOW. They really stepped up their game. I haven't had a roll yet that I don't like and the wine and sake was great too. Thumbs up!
(5)Stacy c.
Super atmospheric décor, very modern. Went for lunch at the bar, so I haven't experienced it at night, which is what the place looks like it was designed for. The food was delicious; and I was offered a choice of regular or low-sodium miso soup. I chose the low-sodium, and it was quite good, not bland at all as one sometimes expects low-sodium products to taste. I had two maki rolls, the tofu and the Detroit. The rice was fantastic, a little on the sweet side, however--the rolls fell apart very easily, which was annoying. Had the rolls stayed together, it would have been a four star experience. I'd like to try some of the spicy rolls and the specialty maki, it sounds good from the menu description.
(3)Dan D.
I spent years in California and have eaten some of the best sushi to be found in the USA. Sakana does not disappoint! The best Sushi in the metro Detroit area.
(5)Michael D.
Very good service everytime! Sushi is good and so is the Saporo.
(4)Therran O.
They have the best selection of riceless maki sushi in the metro area. I'm not the biggest rice fan, so these get me happy every time! All of the sushi here is good. Plus, the selection of sake is not bad...bombs anyone? Bonzai! If you're ever in the Ferndale/Royal Oak area you should check this place out. I think it beats out Ronin and Little Tree for variety and atmosphere. I've never had a bad experience here and think you'll enjoy it - kind of reminds of a east coast kind of lounge. They should make room for some lounge seating and make this a hang out/after work drinks spot.
(4)TJ F.
I brought some ex-girlfriends and future ex-girlfriends here. This is good sushi yo! I'm not saying its so good that its going to break up your good thing, but the statistics are not promising in my case. Seriously though there are some very creative items on the sushi menu that I did not expect to like at all, but they totally surprised me. If you want to find out what I'm talking about, try one of the rolls made with fruit and avocado. I am NOT a fan of cream cheese in sushi but my ex's dig it...er whatever. The "mainstream" sushi, nigiri, maki and appetizers are all solid yo. This is a good place to experiment with sake because they have a nice variety at different price points and the staff is refreshingly knowledgeable. This place has the additional distinction of having a live DJ and dancing some evenings (I don't know the schedule) If you like sushi, saketinis and techno, this may be your spot yo. but think twice about bringing your future ex-girlfriend.
(4)Soli G.
Sakana is my first choice when going out for sushi. I tried Sakana on the recommendation of a good friend and have been very pleased. Unassuming from the outside but nice atmosphere on the interior. There is a hip, lounge feel with high booths, dark lighting, and contemporary sofa seating in the rear. I've always sat at the bar because i enjoy watching the sushi chef in action. The rice is perfectly sticky and the nigiri is always fresh. Their maki rolls are tight and just the right size. On a recent visit, the sushi chef provided my friend and I with great conversation, enhancing the experience greatly! Happy hour drink specials make the trip worth it right after a long day's work. Exotic cocktails for $4 I believe from 5-7 pm. The sushi prices are a little higher than other local places but if you're looking for a place to take a date or have an intimate conversation with a friend, Sakana is THE place to go.
(4)Dan P.
A little expensive but good non the less.
(5)Rachel M.
this place is always dead. that made me nervous, but I tried it out. They have very good Miso. The sushi was ok, not bad, but not great either! The prices were cheaper then Inyo but I think that is because the quality is cheaper as well............thats all I got
(2)C. L.
Sakana should change it's name to Suckana. The one star is for the stylish decor and decent music, NOT for the sushi. The sushi and service both deserve a negative 0. Don't come here hungry, because you will wait, even if the place is empty. The wait staff appears to be on copious amounts of Xanax. They are aloof and slow. Don't bother ordering edamame, it won't come. On two occasions, they flat-out forgot to bring it. The sushi itself is bland. All of the rolls taste the same -- and they're very anorexic. They have some creative specialty rolls, but they're about $12 and wholly unsatisfying. Not long ago, a friend of mine stopped by and was craving sushi. Inyo had too long of a wait so I suggested Sakana with the disclaimer that it's not my fav. He took the plunge and ordered a few rolls, one of them a specialty roll. It was the size of a small California roll, yet cost $12. He was infuriated that he wasted $30+ for three rolls and was still starving. I don't blame him. Go across the street to Inyo. It's better (about 3-1/2 stars). Better yet, drive down the street to Ronin and get the Ahi Pizza and Mountain Dew Roll.
(1)TJ F.
Sushi was fresh but overpriced. Ordered a fair amount of spicy rolls, it seemed like it was just extra Sriracha sauce. Got a roll with kiwi on it - that was unique.
(2)Ruth G.
Sakana is a nice place to go. I'm pretty much a child so I generally order fancy, cooked sushi options but I always enjoy what I get here. The atmosphere is really nice without being laughably pretentious (see my Rojo review) and good tunes. Rather expansive list of cocktails, though they are fairly pricey. Happy Hour looks like a good deal, and I intend to check it out sometime.
(4)Carl B.
Went here on our weekly Wednesday night pre band practice feast. Nothing gets you in the mood to slog through the same song 15 times like a bellyful of sushi. This place did exactly that! It was strangely deserted, had kind of a cruise ship lounge vibe to it, I almost expected Davy jones, billed as the monkee, to appear stage right and bust into a tired version of "daydream believer". No such luck, but the sushi was grip in
(4)Amanda K.
I was visiting my best friend in ferndale and we were craving some sushi. Thank gosh for the yelp iphone application. My fiance yelped it up, and suggested sakana. We drove here and parked behind the restaurant. The place smelled a little funny and we were the only customers. Thus, the service was great! The sushi was mediocre. My friend is new to the sushi world, and ordered the spicy california roll, which she loved. We all shared the veggie gyoza, which were really good. Our sushi was okay, the riceless rolls I found to be the best. The ones wrapped in either dakon or cucumber. We ordered one eel roll and a spicy tuna type roll.. Visually they were not appealing, and the spicy roll had a weird peppery taste... this sushi was just okay... still on the look out for a good sushi place to eat my fave food when I'm visiting detroit. Probably would have given this place 2.5 stars if that were possible.
(2)M T.
Great sushi, friendly staff. The lunch menu is a bit overpriced for what you get on your plate though so I'll stick to order the rolls individually. Sakana is my favorite place for sushi in the area. Just wish I could walk out once without having spent over $100 on sushi and a couple of drinks for two people.
(4)Steve M.
Good sushi but very much overpriced. DON'T BUY THE RESTAURANT.COM COUPON FOR THIS RESTAURANT. Sakana really limits what you can buy with the discount, which really bothers me when restaurants do that and Sakana is one of them. I wouldn't go back just b/c they limit what you can order with the coupon.
(2)Elexis W.
Had a great time on a Friday with my girls. Drinks were great ask the bartender/manager to make you something up great and you won't be disappointed. The sushi we got six different ones and everyone of them was fantastic. Aaron is a great barkeep/mgr. I will definitely be back
(5)Candice K.
Okay, yes Sakana is a little pricey averaging $6-$8 per roll but dang it is good! You really do get what you pay for. The service is great, the fish is quality and I have yet to find a better sushi place in the area. I love the 9 mile, gyoza and the tempura fried ice cream is a must try! Sakana always seems to be empty, definitely underrated. Dark, nice ambience, perfect for dates and great service!
(5)Art G.
Was there first time last weekend... Fantastic from the seaweed salad to the Miso soup to the Edamame Spider rolls and shrimp tempura to the Sashimi .... mackerel was amazing
(5)Evan G.
We came here tonight with a party of 8. Service was super slow for a near empty restaurant. I left disappointed that I spent $90 for two cocktails (which were the best part of dinner) 3 rolls of sushi and a terrible noodle dish which was served cold (didn't say anywhere on the menu). We also thought it was weird that even the best rolls only had Krab Stick and not real crab meat. I highly recommend Ronin as the fish was fresher and they actually have crab. And hot noodle dishes. And faster service.
(2)Albert K.
I simply don't understand why this place is never busy. They nice modern decor, decent sushi for Ferndale (which is still pretty bad, but better than Kroger) and a nice variety of cocktails. On top of that, I have always found the wait staff to be consistently good. Whatever the reasons may be, I enjoy the intimacy this place provides. It is my usual meet up joint for a night out in Ferndale. In sum, they have decent hot sake, passable sushi and solid drinks.
(3)Christina K.
We came here on a Sunday and it was pretty dead inside. We sat in a U-shaped booth so you could see out towards the entire restaurant. One thing that irked me is that there was a white pizza box on top of one of the lower tables in front of a couch. Plus there were backpacks and coats on top of the couch which doesn't give the best first impression for a restaurant. There was a lot of items on the menu and we ordered the miso glazed tofu-which tasted a bit corn starchy but the miso sauce was decent, sesame noodle salad-save your money don't order this, chicken tempura slider- hubs liked this a lot and two sushi rolls-I'm not sure if the sushi 'chef' was in training but the rolls were not rolled correctly. The filling was not in the center so when you picked up the sushi it just fell apart. Also the rice was hard and too vinegary. Will not be back!
(1)Elizabeth M.
The sushi is always good and plated well. Drinks are are okay, they always have decent specials. Service I would rate a 2out of 5. It's not horrible, but it definitely could use some training.
(3)Azzura D.
I'm such a sushi connoisseur. This place was really good. I seldom try new sushi places because I have had some bad experiences because of bad fish. Anyways, the staff here was great! We sat at the bar and had great prompt service. They have a huge and wide variety on their menu. My food was great! The mussels with the spicy sauce were so good! I have never had them that way and I'm a huge seafood fanatic!!! I will definitely be coming back. Did I mention the have a 750ml bottle of sake on happy hour on weekdays? Super!
(5)Deborah R.
I do like Sakana. I like a lot of things about it. It is open late, the drinks aren't bad (try their saketinis!), and two words- Golden Bridge (thank me later). Sometimes they have live music, which is a plus, and the atmosphere is A+ for dates. There is limited seating, but I have never once waited for seating or turned away because of a line. *The only thing I will note here negatively is that with all of that being said, Sakana is not my first choice if I want sushi in the area on a weeknight. I will try Crazy sushi or Edamame first.For many reasons, but all to do with positives with them, not negatives with Sakana.* But, I will say on a Friday night I would rather be here.The enviornment here is perfect for a night out.
(4)Colleen B.
I came here on a Saturday evening with my girlfriends. It was my first time there and I'll be returning again. Our service was excellent and our waitress was fun to talk to and sincerely cared about our experience there. I think her name was Kristy, she's pretty awesome. The food was great and the atmosphere is very cool. The prices are reasonable too.
(5)Will B.
Excellent food, great service, nice atmosphere, and good prices. What else could you ask for? They use good quality ingredients (no "Krab" with a K here!...), their rolls are good, they're priced well, and delicious. I like this place a lot more than Inyo for my Ferndale sushi fix.
(4)Blaise B.
So... I never liked sushi, for my whole life, and then I came here and now I like sushi. I'm dead serious. I do need to say that yes, it is too dark in here (to the point that you can't see much when you're looking around) and the service was too slow considering how empty it was. BUT. My roommate and I went here for Ferndale Restaurant Week, and we got a bowl of miso soup each, a pop each, and a sampler platter to share for $20. This was a GREAT deal! The soup was fantastic- I'd never had miso soup before so I can't compare it to other places, but I loved it. The sampler was amazing too- my roommate loves sushi and she agreed that it was fantastic. I've been converted, thanks to Sakana!
(4)Leah S.
I've been there a few times and everytime I go, the sushi is amazing! The California rolls are good and one time I tried this one thing called "dragon" i think. its very good. The inside has a cool vibe to it. It's also not all asians working like usual sushi places.
(5)Stefani B.
My spouse and I popped in here for a quick bite before a show one weekend. We love to support local businesses and he's a huge sushi fan. We walked in WANTING to fall in love. Unfortunately, Sakana left us very disappointed. Service was slow- we were some of the only people dining and it still took forever- and the bill was very high for what we ordered. I realize that this is a short review, but we spent most of our time waiting. But the time our order arrived, we had only a few minutes to eat and had to request boxes. That, combined with nearly nonexistent service, leaves me without much to write about. For the price, the quality and the service, there are better sushi places in Metro Detroit. Heck, there are better sushi places in *Ferndale.* We will not return.
(2)Etienne T.
I do not think I have ever had such a horrible dining experience in my life. The sushi was good, and we had one good waitress. The rest of it was a humiliating and painful experience. My partner and I ordered off the regular food menu, and both ended up sending our orders back. They were stone cold, and the noodle texture was odd. The waitress was obliging and understanding, and my partner and I decided instead of paying for what we did eat and leaving, we'd order more. Another waitress came back and argued over why I send my menu back. Now I don't believe the customer is always right, but we were being calm and rational for our reasons, and apologized for the inconvenience. Our waitress then proceeded to complain about us in our view (and mostly in our hearing as well) to other staff members, a fight broke out at some point, and they left to go and finish it in the kitchen. I don't know why I didn't walk out then, I was completely humiliated and enraged At one point the words "I hate her" were said by one waitress to another, in full earshot of the all the patrons. I have not experienced such unprofessional behavior by the staff. The icing on the cake was a drunken patron who kept trying to chime in to the "discussions" that were taking place between the staff members. I would give this place a big fat zero rating, if that were an option.
(1)Jake A.
Every time I forget to pack a lunch, I find myself starving and stopping on the commute home from work at someplace on Woodward, knowing all too well I'm too tired and lazy to cook myself anything when I get home. This was the case with Sakana, I just wanted some sushi. The service was prompt, maybe because I was one of the only people in there, but good service is good service, and I won't knock it. Everything was ready for my ferocious devouring in a matter of minutes it seemed, and I promise you I did just that. I didn't have anything too special, just a California and New York roll (or The Coasts, as I referred to them). The decor and furnishing here is very appealing, and I would be very curious to come back during more intimate and sociable circumstances instead of being a lazy white collar worker stuffing his face with sushi at the bar while the sun is still up to see what else this place is all about. I noticed the sign out front advertises a DJ. This place has captured my attention. Regardless, based upon my quick meal here, this place is worth another visit at least.
(4)Heatherleigh N.
I talked my sweetie into coming here on the advice of some friends, even though he had been there before and told me I probably wouldn't like it. But it's local, and my friends had raved about it, so I insisted we give it a shot. My bad. We went on a Saturday evening, around 6pm, and there were only high top tables left for seating; all the booths were full, so we chose one against the wall. Uncomfortable, and the sun coming in the front window was glaring. Speaker above our head was pretty bad quality and had a screeching effect, making the 90s dance music even harder to bear for a date night. The ambiance was not fun, classy, relaxing, or anything like it. We considered walking out after waiting more than ten minutes to even be greeted, but decided to give the food a shot. We ordered one roll and a couple pieces of ngiri, and waited about a half hour for it to show up. In the meantime, our drinks were not refilled, and the music got louder and tinnier. When the food arrived, it was sub-par: surf clam was rubbery, roll fell apart, not in any way inspiring us to order more. The service was ssssslllllllloooooooooooooowwwwwww. As others have mentioned, there was only one waitress, which for a Saturday evening shift seems like a bad idea. She was practically invisible, disappearing for long periods of time. I actually had to track her down in the ladies room to get our check, after waiting more than half an hour for her to reappear (I felt like a heel doing it, but the bartender out front was no help in getting us our check). The bartender, who eventually took our money, said she wasn't feeling well. Then send the poor girl home, dude, and call someone in to cover that shift! We left pretty bummed, but then walked across the street to Inyo, our usual sushi place, where we had a killer meal, and great service, which totally salvaged date night.
(1)