Rusan's Sushi & Seafood

Doesn't Recommend

FriendIndeed

Joined 3 years ago

LOUD & Pretentious "Rude-san". Shortly after it opened, I went here with my wife, who is from Japan (where I also lived several years). She was all excited about the new, trendy restaurant, and I was looking forward to some authentic sushi. We were both sorely disappointed.

After we were "seated" at one of the very high tables on uncomfortable, bar stool-like chairs, we tried to read the lengthy sushi menu. I couldn't find much recognizable standard choices -- it was almost entirely bizarre creations with cream cheese and Mexican ingredients that I guess are now considered hip and pass for sushi in the U.S. The waiter was amazingly unconcerned and slow -- sort of like, "Don't bother me, I'm trying to avoid being a waiter." The sushi was not terrible, but indifferent at best.

But the main thing was the awful, shrieking techno beat music that prevented a normal conversation or any semblance of relaxation.

AVOID at all costs. Try Shintomi, Ichiban, or Sonobana -- or ANY others for that matter!

Doesn't Recommend

MvE

Joined 3 years ago

I've thrown up 3 times after eating here. I think I only need to say this: I've thrown up on THREE separate occasions after eating the sushi at Ru San's. I'm to blame for going back after the first time.

However, I will go on about an altercation I had with one of the owners when I simply wanted him to take a single item off our ticket that was not prepared correctly and because our fish was old and rubbery.

My girlfriend and I ordered dinner: 2 sushi entrees and a handful of ala cart items. She'd ordered th "Godzilla Roll" - something that I had ordered every time I'd dinned here, probably totaling 15 visits over 2 years. My favorite roll, it is comprised of red snapper and macadamia nuts rolled in rice, flash fried and covered w/ a spicy aioli, then baked. I was very familiar with the food's preparation and character.

My g'friend consumed ONE piece of the 5 presented on the plate, then followed with some ala cart items. She put the 2nd roll into her mouth and started chewing, but abruptly spit it out into her napkin. The fish was rubbery, like calamari. She asked me to check it out. One look at the dish and I could tell it hand't been prepared correctly. No flash frying and no baking - therefore, not prepared as advertised. In addition the raw fish was old and chewy. All in all, she ate one piece, spit the other in her napkin and I sample 1/2 of a 3rd. That's 2 1/2 pieces of the 5 on the plate (this comes into play in a second). Here saba nigiri (salmon) was also not at all fresh - she had to pick it up with her hand and pull on it to rip it with her teeth.

Being very disappointed in the dish, I notified the server that we would like to request that he take that single item off our ticket ($8.95). He refused, saying that if we ate more than 1/2 of the dish that they do not offer refunds. After an exchange with him, I asked to see the Manager on Duty who in this case happened to be a part owner of the restaurant. He was very rude and matter of fact in point out that clearly marked on their menus is a return policy stating that if you ate more than half your dish, you could not get a refund.

To avoid a heated exchange, I paid for the item. After paying, I checked the menu for the refund policy. Nowhere on the menus is this information he quoted printed - as a matter of fact, refunds are ONLY available for food that is NOT PREPARED CORRECTLY. Also, we touched exactly 1/2 and not more (if we want to go with a technicality).

Upon leaving, I mention to the owner the lack of his claimed refund policy on the menu. I asked him why he lied to me - He replied with "We give NO refunds, no matter WHAT," thus contradicting even what WAS printed on their menu.

Later that evening my girlfriend got sick from the food she ate.

I ended up contesting the charge w/ American Express and had our total ticket refunded to me.

In a nutshell - rotten food, rotten people, rotten restaurant.

Recommends

jrromano

Joined 3 years ago

Absolutely Amazing. I love Rusans. Everything on the menu is amazing. There is one trick, though... you *have* to sit at the sushi bar. I will actually leave if I can't. Don't go if you are in a hurry... these masterpieces take time to make. The fish is wonderful, the menu has a very wide selection, and while the servers themselves are not my favorite, I have always had good luck with the sushi chefs.

I must say that my favorite menu item is the Tuna Symphony: Tuna prepared 5 ways. My other favorite item, sadly, is not on the menu; my chef made it up on the spot. They really ought to do that more often, because this creation was the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.

Doesn't Recommend

SBee

Joined 3 years ago

Horrible Service. We were not approached by a server for 10 minutes. We received our food about an hour after ordering. We had to eat in 5 minutes because we had someplace else to be. I'm sure the food was good but we were so put off by the timing/service that we didn't notice.

Recommends

missmeagan85

Joined 4 years ago

loved it. We were completely bowled by the hospitality and efficiency of the staff,when the food arrived we loved the place even more. Entire team works like a piano,the guy who was entertaining the most,talking to everyone from server to guests was named sento,he spent a while with us figuring what kind of sushi would suits us the most? very nice of him.We would go again to Rusans as much as we can afford it

Recommends

Nashville jack

Joined 4 years ago

The best sushi ever. we always go there for sushi either with our friends or our family, since we open the door they always welcome us with warm greeting " in Japanese" i think its mean welcome then while waiting for our foods the server and the sushi chef always joke around with us really make us feel at home , best sushi and best service, always the best Ru san

Recommends

tshafer61

Joined 7 years ago

I love this place!. I have read some of the recent reviews and think they are crazy. I go to Rusan about once a week and I love it every time. The fish is fresh, the staff is nice, and the prices are cheap. For the money there is no better Sushi in nashville. Oh and don't every forget about the lunch buffet!!

Recommends

NashB

Joined 4 years ago

Good food but music a little loud sometimes...... Really good value for the price but having a conversation is a little hard sometimes. I don't mind the music, but the volume could me tailored to the time of day. Maybe a little quieter during lunch and louder during dinner?

Still a really cool place, but maybe not for a first date! :)

Doesn't Recommend

PantsPants

Joined 4 years ago

It's dirty but at least the sushi is bad!. This place use to feel hip and fresh. I hadn't been in months and months and was shocked at how it had gone way downhill. The place was so filthy, the staff seemed bored and detached (and slow) and the sushi all had a vaguely samey samey taste. I had one piece of salmon the was fishy fishy gross. I don't think I could be talked into going back until it's under new management or new ownership.

Doesn't Recommend

MizzPink

Joined 4 years ago

Terrible Service. What happened to this place? We get to the door, it's not crowded at all and we wait while the hostess looks at us like we are bothering her. After finally being seated, we waited 15 minutes and NO ONE came to our table. There were more people working in there than eating so I don't understand the problem. We finally left and I advised the guy at the cashier stand what happened and he just said "OK???" I call and ask for the manger, KENT, well, he couldn't come to the phone because he was going on a break??? I called back today and they couldn't tell me when he was expected to be in. WOW---there are so many people that need jobs????