Sushi Wabi
842 W. Randolph

The Basics
Where you’ll find it: 842 W. Randolph, in the heart of the West Loop restaurant row. (312) 563-1224.

When it’s open: Lunch hours: Monday- Friday 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Dinner hours: Wednesday-Saturday 5 p.m.-midnight. Sunday-Tuesday 5-11 p.m.

Reservations: Accepted and highly recommended on weekends, as the place is small.

What you’ve heard: It was the best sushi in Chicago, and the table next to us (less than 12 inches away) had heard the same thing.

Visual Aids
First impressions: Not so impressed. When you first walk in, the waiting area is extremely small with only a few chairs, and the hostess stand backs up to the first table in the restaurant. As already mentioned, the tables are 12 inches apart at most, so there was little room to maneuver, and any large person would have difficulty. ... Decorations were scarce. We were definitely expecting more for a popular sushi restaurant. ... It was also surprising that there was a DJ booth up in the corner while space was obviously limited and noise was definitely a factor.

The atmosphere: The first thing we noticed is that it was freezing — you should not have to wear your coat during dinner. ... The noise level was high, which made it difficult for our small table of four to talk comfortably. It seemed that the acoustics were poor, although when the large table of eight females sitting a couple tables away left, the noise level definitely improved. ... Despite the disappointing aesthetics, there was a large sushi bar where you can watch the chefs prepare the fresh fish. ... The upbeat crowd and waitstaff created a nice, relaxing atmosphere.

The Experience
At your service: The hostess was very friendly and even joked around after Eric accidentally hit her in the face while trying to get seated at the small table. In addition, our waitress was surprisingly playful, laughing at the boys’ common American sushi choices as “fillers.” However, she did give us a bad drink recommendation. She claimed it was her favorite, but it was subpar.

Get your drink on: There is a full-service bar with an impressive sake menu. However, specialty drinks were limited. We expected a larger selection of mixed drinks and martinis. ... Also, the boys were disappointed by the fact that they only offered 12-ounce Sapporo (rather than the large bottles that are synonymous with most Asian restaurants).

Menu variety and prices: We thought the menu selection was excellent, with a wide range of sushi at varying prices for your budget. ... The prices were comparable to other well-known sushi restaurants in the city.

Description of what you did decide on: Our dining experience was limited to only Maki rolls, but there are many other options on the menu. We started with four maki rolls, including the Rainbow, Ecuador, Futo and Godzilla. The presentation was impressive, and the fish was obviously very high-quality and extremely fresh. We all agreed the Rainbow was one of the best in the city, visually and by taste. ... The Ecuador was definitely a new twist to standard sushi and brought a hint of Mexican fusion. Overall, we were impressed with the roll, but it was a bit spicy and somewhat overwhelming for us. ... The Godzilla was excellent, and we would definitely order it again. While Futo was good, we would try something different next time. ... Our second round of sushi consisted of the Caterpillar, Dragon, smoked salmon and scallop rolls. We chose the smoked salmon and scallop rolls to compare price differences between them and some of the more expensive specialty rolls. While these rolls were excellent, the higher prices for the specialty rolls were definitely justified due to the size and numerous ingredients. ... We expected great presentation based on our first order, but we were all blown away when the Caterpillar roll arrived. It was by far the best sushi presentation we had ever seen. We all agreed that it was delicious and a must-order when at Sushi Wabi. The Dragon roll was also excellent and resembled a dragon, which made the roll more enticing. This roll is a standard order for us, and we thought that Sushi Wabi’s version is one of the best we’ve had in the city. The price is the same as most places.

Something that caught your eye: The presentation of the sushi is wonderful, and the freshness of the fish is what makes the experience.

What you’ll tell your friends: The experience was not overwhelming. However, if you are a true sushi connoisseur, this is a place to check out. ... It is better for date night rather than a group dinner with friends.

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