| Ambiance: |  (4 / 5) |
| Service: | (2.5 / 5) |
| Value for money: | (2.5 / 5) |
| Toilets: | (3.5 / 5) |
Sam and I fancied something a little different for dinner and rather than settling on the usual Italian or Thai, we opted for sushi. I’d always (almost shamefully) liked Thai 9 in Reading, so was interested in seeing what it’d become under its new ownership and branding. Also, the fact that it was called “Sushimania” added to the appeal all the more.
The Menu
We booked a table for 8pm and walked into a busy restaurant, which looked almost identical to how its predecessor had looked. We were sat at a nice table for four and asked for our drinks order. I was happy to see a nice selection of reasonably priced wines on the menu and was even happier that I recognised, and liked the house selection, “Ugni Blanco”. Ordering a bottle of that, we dove into the food menu. I can’t remember being talked through the concept but knowing me, I probably assumed I already knew so may have waved them away :S. Essentially, you’re given a paper menu with all the available options of food and with a pen, you can tick up to six dishes at a time. You can do this process as many times as you see fit.
It turned out that we would’ve appreciated some form of explanation as the a la carte menu was different to the paper menu, meaning a lot of the dishes we would’ve liked, we couldn’t. So, we were left with a lot more limited offering than we initially thought. Despite this, we persevered and ordered a selection of sushi, kebabs, sashimi and salad.
Sushi, Sashami and Nigiri
Katsu Chicken and Salmon Teriyaki
Tuna Nigiri
Sushimania also operates an obligatory 10% service charge which is something I’ve never been a big fan off as being a waitress myself, I’ve always worked harder to ensure tips but if you’re going to get them anyway, what’s the point in good service? And with Sushimania’s servivce, unfortunately this seemed to prove my case. Like the service, the food wasn’t overly overly exceptional and the sushi was made with far too much rice, meaning we left a lot of it. In hindsight, we agreed we probably ordered the wrong things and should’ve kept with the ‘meatier’ or ‘fishier’ options like the sashami and skewers.
When we’d ordered about six rounds of food and realised we couldn’t handle much more rice, we asked for the bill and were met with the manager telling us that usually he’d charge us for leaving so much rice, but this time he wouldn’t but if we came again, “he would”. So, this pretty much topped off the substandard level of service and the overload of rice and I don’t think either of us would return.
Recommendation
If you’re craving sushi, I’d probably recommend going to Tesco and picking some up from there but if you like your rice and like the unlimited appeal, Sushimania isn’t too bad a shout. However, don’t go with big expectations!
Extra Information:
Address: 9 Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7QF
Phone:0118 958 8293
Website: http://www.reading.sushimania.co.uk/
NTK: Unless you like rice, don’t order too much sushi – go for the sashimi instead. Also, don’t make my mistake and ask for prawn crackers… they’re not “Japanese” apparently… oops!
