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Rise Sushi and Sake Lounge
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
3401 N Southport Ave(at Roscoe St)
Chicago, IL 60657
Neighborhood: Lakeview
(773) 525-3535
- Nearest Transit:
-
Southport (Brown Line)
Paulina (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 4 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 11:30 pm
Sun 4 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
235 reviews for Rise Sushi and Sake Lounge
Review Highlights
"An absolute must is the flaming maki."
(in 19 reviews)
"The Red Dragon Roll was also excellent."
(in 6 reviews)
"The spicy tuna rolls just melt in your mouth."
(in 17 reviews)
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235 reviews in English
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Review from Jeff N.
Fishers, IN
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hello Sushi!! & hello Chicago!! I'll admit...the thought of raw fish kinda worried me a little. The thought of taking my sister's gold fish out of the bowl and just eating it didn't seem that appealing...so why would this.
Well thankfully the love of a woman brought these fears to bear and I was introduced to one of the best meals I can remember having. And the funniest part of that sentence is that I don't even really know what I ate!! There were rolls; rice; seafood; and deliciousness all around though. I do know that there was shrimp and lobster involved....and my first taste of edemame.
So due to my complete ignorance about sushi, I can't really say to much in detail about Rise. But I can definitely say that if you're a Sushi fan, and you're in Chicago...this is definitely a great choice to stop. And it is definitely my go to restaurant in Chicago.
P.S. The atmosphere is great. Really polite & friendly staff. Nice, quite, and intimate. Strongly recommended for a date....or small get together with friends. -
Review from Brian G.
Evanston, IL
1/15/2012
I went last night with a group of friends (we had 10 total) and had a terrible experience here. The sashimi was only average (tuna was frozen) though our yuzo maki was very good. However, it was the terrible, terrible service that really destroyed this place. Just a few things...
1. Ordered drinks and they took 25 minutes to show up. Of the 10 of us only two were martini's and the rest were wine and beer. That's beyond way too long.
2. With the wine, they ran out of wine glasses. Not a big deal honestly, but sort of comical to be drinking out of regular glasses at a "nice" restaurant.
3. Spilled Miso soup all over a member of our party... and did nothing about it. Not even comping the soup... it was like it didn't happen.
4. Completely forgot our order. This happens so wouldn't have been a big deal except for how they handled it.
When they forgot our meal (sashimi chef creation and the 1 roll), they put the order back in. By this time our entire group had their meals so I would expect a simple meal like ours to be moved up and come out quickly... it was nearly 30 minutes til we got it. Our entire table was already done eating. That's just frustrating. Then when the check comes... everything is on it. Again, despite two of us eating alone, zero discount. When I complained, they took our meal off but nothing else (so zero discount for the miso). The final straw is that the manager was walking around the restaurant but refused to speak with us which left us talking to the assistant. He was apologetic, but obviously had no power to do anything. When you have a table spending over $500 and you screw up that bad, how can the manager not come over and say something? My guess is that this happens all too frequently there and he didn't care.
Just plain skip this place. The sushi is average and the service is incredibly, incredibly frustrating. -
Review from Kelly A.
12/23/2011
I really wanted to like Rise sushi because I LOVE a creative fushion sushi roll and their specialty roll list is long. But after trying this place twice (once in the restaurant and another for takeout) they just don't live up to other sushi restaurants I enjoy in Chicago like Wakamono, Coast and my personal favorite, Tank.
Most recently I ordered the Honey Roll, Spicy Tuna, and the Ume Maki for delivery. I was incredibly hungry waiting for my order, yet when it arrived I was so disapointed by the rolls that I actually only ended up eating 1/2 the sushi. The Ume Make tasted WAY too sweet. Generally I really enjoy sushi rolls with fruit (the Ume has banana) and find that restaurants do a nice job of creating balance so the sweet doesn't overwhelm everything else. In this case though it did. It was like eating a mushy banana sushi roll. However, I was still able to force much of it down. The Honey Roll was another story. I'm not sure if the tempura crumb got burnt, but it looked like the fish was covered in a black tar sauce. (I've had this roll before and never remember it looking like that.) It was really unappetizing and the flavor wasn't much better.
The only redeeming thing about my order was that the rice was perfectly cooked and the spicy tuna was spot on. However, I consider these greens fees for any decent sushi restaurant. You should be able to cook rice well and spicy tuna is easy enough.
Originally I tried this restaurant in search of something new. My second meal was only because more preferred options did not deliver to my apartment. Honestly I don't think I'll be back. There are just so many other sushi places who do fusion rolls consistently well and my experience at Rise has been too hit or miss. -
Review from Steve H.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
I've only been here once and I was pretty drunk. The sushi was redic. Seriously, I had the yellow tail, spicy tuna and my roomate had some shrimp heads that he swears by. The bartender was super friendly and there were tons of beautiful looking people just hanging out. I will definitely give it another shot at five stars;
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Review from Rachel L.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Rise is definitely my first choice for sushi in Lakeview. The decor is modern and trendy but it doesn't feel stuffy or pretentious. Everything I've tried has been delicious, I would recommend ordering all your rolls off the specials menu, they change periodically, and I've never been disappointed. My favorite is the Kasumi maki, it's light and a little sweet and I always eat more than my share. I also recommend the lychee martini.
Side note: Sushi Mura is my second choice for sushi on Southport. The staff is incredibly nice, feels like a family atmosphere, and you get more for your money. The rolls are more traditional but still super tasty. Last time I was there, one of the chefs kept doing sake bombs with a birthday table. It's a good time.
Either way, you win! -
Review from Jessica B.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/3/2012
ONLY speaking about the food...Still one of my favorite sushi spots, if not my all time favorite. I cannot get enough Flaming Maki, and the hand rolls are soooo delicious and fresh tasting. YUMMM!!!
Also, the rewards card is decent, so definitely sign up if you are thinking you'll be a regular. We got a free bottle of wine last time we dined in :)
One other point-- I ordered *delivery from Rise for the first time last month- and WOW. Speedy, hot, and just as delicious as dining in.
I have to include my dig-- even though I am still giving it 5 stars for the food. Service has been less than great on 2 different occasions. The last time we dined in, no one came to our table to even greet us for 15 minutes, and the place was NOT full :-/1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/23/2011
Went on a Friday around 7pm. The place was crowded, but we were able to be seated right away.
We got… Read more »
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Review from Katrina R.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2011 7 Check-ins Here
I'm a regular, and the reviews sum this place up well: service is so-so, but gosh-darn the sushi is great.
So I go here about twice a month on Wednesdays because it's half-price martini night, my boyfriend has a membership to Rise, and because Yelp offers a 10% off coupon when you check in using the app. Sweet.
We'll start at the top. The martinis are good and strong and there's a wide variety. I'm a fan of the Key Lime martini, but no fear-- if martinis aren't your cup of tea, there's plenty of sake and other drinks to be enjoyed.
The membership is neat and entitles you to a discounted appetizer, half off the sushi roll of the day, and you get points which eventually turn into gift certificates. The point system is well done, and it's easy to earn a $5 off certificate. However, it is $1 to sign up (although seriously, you're going to be annoyed over a dollar? You save more than that with your half-off roll), and you can't use the Yelp deal in conjunction with your discounts (although you still get points and you can still use a gift card if you're earned one).
The location is great and parking is medium-low difficulty to find. I prefer to take the L, which is only steps away.
And yes, the service really is mediocre. Not disrespectful (that's a problem I've never had), just really really really really really really slow. You'd be well advised to get your order in quickly, because you will be waiting for 45 minutes to taste your sushi. That's okay, I'm not really a rushed kind of girl, so I don't mind it so much.
The sushi, honestly, is the best I've had outside of the Pacific. The rolls are creative and flavorful, with a good balance of rice and other ingredients. Ingredients, which, by the way, are never imitation and are very noticeably fresh.
So yeah, one star off for the slow service (I'm not in a rush, but jeeze time waiting is still time wasted), but the food is an easy six stars. -
Review from Allie S K.
Austin, TX
10/13/2011
Great location. Great design. Menu offers the unique and traditional Japanese cuisine. Overall sense of feeling hip and trendy, yes - it's present. Customer Service - lacking.
If it weren't for the food and the absolutely divine Tom Yum soup I'd rate the restaurant at two stars - alas not going to. I recommend most of the traditional rolls and the wine and sake variety were impressive.
I don't have kids and don't plan on having kids for some time now. However, I have friends and family with little ones. Apparently the reservationist and website aren't aware if children are allowed. Coming from courteous people my family decided to make the reservation at 5:30pm on a Sunday afternoon so that we were not in the way of any trendy pretentious type who will adopt adorable Cambodian children and live in the posh renovated homes and eat macrobiotic to the point that they can't process even the faintest of processed foods. Eat a Big Mac.
Having worked in the hospitality industry for several years it's best to be detailed and specific when even booking the smallest of reservations. Always politely ask if any children will be joining - yea it's a sushi restaurant but your located in one of the thriving young family neighborhoods of Chicago. Upon our arrival the host had no clue that we had a child and treated the rest of our party as if we didn't exist. Yes, we have a child - would you like to follow with if we need a booster seat or high chair? NO, you don't have said accommodations or even allow children? Perhaps you should have asked over the phone if children were joining or even post it in a respectful manner on website.
Our server was nice and attentive but felt extremely shy - or maybe was freaked out by the very small talking person at our table (Child). Might I add who ate the sushi. It was not his fault because he himself clearly wasn't aware of the policy of the fact that booster seats and highchairs were not available. We would have sat outside behind the kitchen just to avoid the looks from all the hip kids in layered black.
Also, just to note the bathroom was filthy - much to my surprise since we arrived prior to normal dinnertime rush. We were the only table for the first hour and yet the bathroom was disgusting. Perhaps no one cleaned up from the night before or employees weren't mindful of appearances. Which also made me have a flash image of no employee washing station and all the food particles and substances just hanging out in the restrooms. I've always thought that you can really tell how classy a place really is by how clean their restrooms are. -
Review from Ashley R.
Chicago, IL
9/9/2011
Absolutely the best sushi I've had in Chicago! Don't even look at the regular menu! The special are always incredible... I mean Kobe Beef Sushi! Is there anything better in life?
Take any sushi fan here and they will be thoroughly impressed! -
Review from Rachel V.
Chicago, IL
9/18/2011
I'm so excited to have found my new neighborhood sushi place...and on my first try! While Rise might not take the place of my favorite downtown sushi spots, it's a great place on Southport!! Any sushi restaurant whose "spicy" rolls actually are spicy impresses me. The rolls on the special menu were original and delicious, and the lounge atmosphere is cool and relaxing. Best of all, I'm thrilled the prices here are reasonable - I'm so tired of little, dumpy neighborhood sushi restaurants that empty my wallet!
Can't wait to go back and try more of the specials! -
Review from Andrew C.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2011
i love this place for sushi....the Chinese food I can do without...even though it's serviceable. It's just nothing to write my imaginary Chinese mom home about.
Rise is a nice "clubby/upscale" sushi restaurant that also serves passable Chinese food in the Southport areal. I'm the type of guy who likes to see the creativity in the rolls. Some of Rise's rolls hit the mark, like the Red Dragon Roll (one of the best in the city, IMHO). Some of them are AWFUL....such as any of the cooked rolls.
Come on! Cooked rolls? Don't go out for sushi if you can't/won't eat raw fish. Argh!!!!
Andy gives this place 5 stars for the fish and 3 stars for the Chinese.
So THERE!!! Kablam! -
Review from Jennie P.
7/21/2011
What can I say, I LOVE Rise! I am a frequent diner, I just can't get enough of it. I'm a big traditional roll eater so tuna/avocado, spicy tuna, salmon cucumer, I love them. They're nice and firm and easy to eat in one bite which makes roll eating better for everybody.
My husband also turned me on to Seaweed Salad and I'm hooked, we now order it as soon as we sit down. It's over a nice bed of greens and covered in sesame seeds..has a nice crunchy texture, it's amazing.
Now, on to the REAL deal is the specialty rolls - yes I and everybody knows this is where the calories come from in sushi eating but we don't eat it every night, right? :)
Given I am a regular, these are my favorite to include every so often - Niku Make, Flaming Make, Dragon Roll, Red Dragon Roll, Honey Roll, Fire Roll, Crazy Roll, Mexican Maki, and Hawaiian Maki. All of those are a must when trying specialty rolls.
The ambiance is great, chic for the Southport area, you can usually get seated right away or there may be a short wait. If you're waiting, you can always sit at the bar or grab a table near the bar and have a drink.
During the week you can definitely stop in after work without having any problems. On the weekends, it's a tad busier and the only complaint is that it can get loud. But what trendy restaurant in the city doesn't get loud on the weekends?
It's not BYOB which a lot of sushi restaurants are so that does add money to the bill but the rolls and other dishes are all reasonably priced.
I love it here and will continue to be a regular. -
Review from Aimee D.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2011
Have you ever had a dinner where you think about how good the food was immediately after you're done eating, the next morning while you're waking up in bed, and every day for the next week? That was my experience with Rise a couple of weeks ago.
I've been going to Rise for a long time, but it's usually with my husband, who doesn't eat sushi, so I usually end up ordering one maki roll for myself (the Niku - my favorite). I am always jealous of the tables where huge platters of sushi arrive for everyone to eat, while I just sit there with my single maki roll and edamame.
This past time, I went with a group of girlfriends who were Rise fans but had since moved to the burbs and hadn't been there in a while - and they were really excited to return. This time I got to be at one of those tables where we were served these big platters of sushi deliciousness. I wish I could remember every roll I tried, but there was of course the Niku, Dragon, Fatty Tuna, and Sa-b roll on there. Everyone was raving about how good it was and how we all have to go back.
It is a very hot spot on Friday and Saturday nights so it can get kind of loud in the restaurant, but you're usually so busy eating, that I'm willing to let it go.
To conclude - I love eating out with my hubby, but when it comes to Rise Sushi, I think it's got to be with the girls! -
Review from Evan B.
9/1/2011 6 photos
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein. This is what you would see on the ingredients if they kept their soy sauce in a real soy bottle and not old Sake bottles. This is a far inferior product compared to natural brewed soy sauce.
This was a shame as the seared ahi and roll combo was great, for $17 I got a great portion of spice crusted ahi and a tempura sweet potato roll with tempura asparagus. It was fresh and full of flavors but it could have used some real soy.
My girlfriend got the curry hot pot. Why this was served in a hot pot I do not understand as there was no real broth. It was full of mushrooms veggies tofu and a bit of curry that was hidden at the bottom. I did enjoy the brown rice at no extra charge. $13
Overall portions and quality were great for this price and we enjoyed the ability to dine al fresco.
Granted we had no real sushi or sake so keep that in mind. -
Review from Jessica B.
Chicago, IL
7/29/2011
Although I'm fairly certain our server was on meth, my friend and I loved this place!
The neighborhood is super nice, decor was cool, and service was good.
Would DEF recommend the seaweed salad--my favorite in the city. I had a tuna roll with mango and avocado on top, and some smoked salmon sashimi--both were great.
Great place and I will be back! -
Review from Mary H.
7/28/2011
Hands down, this is a four star sushi place. The rolls are fresh, tasty and well-prepared. Prices are mid-high range for a nice sushi place - and in my opinion, worth the cost.
I've dined in and taken out, and would recommend taking out to beat the hassle of making a reservation/waiting for a table. -
Review from Kristina A.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Kobe beef rolls, spicy tuna rolls, done. Our server had some great recommendations and was really helpful in picking out some signature rolls. The traditional rolls are a little tricky to find on the menu.
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Review from Cecelia G.
Chicago, IL
11/17/2011
I've been meaning to review Rise for a long time! I go probably about once a month with one of my girlfriends and we always sit at the bar. The sushi is fantastic -I highly recommend the flaming maki, red dragon and there's another one on their specials card that has pecans, cream cheese and shrimp tempura that tastes like dessert and is amazing!
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Review from Matt M.
Chicago, IL
5/10/2011 12 Check-ins Here
Rise Sushi and Sake lounge has become a (minimum) once-a-week spot for dinner. For the Midwest, this is surprisingly fresh seafood. To put it more simply, I feel not only safe but enthusiastic about ordering nigiri. They do the simple stuff well, but also have a great selection of specialty rolls. My favorite include the Flaming Maki and Dragon Maki, both of which are served warm (salmon with wasabi mayo baked on top and unagi with avocado respectively). Besides their sushi dishes, they also have an excellent Japanese fried rice that allows me to drag my non-sushi eating friend here almost every week.
The decor and ambiance can be both loud and tight as it gets very crowded occasionally, but the food is well worth it. Their wine list is unimpressive, so I highly recommend doing carryout if you're looking for a good vintage with your sushi.
Finally, in the last month or two they've started up a rewards card which gives you 1 point per dollar spent and allows you a $15 discount for 150 points. Not bad if you come here often. Especially important is the fact that you get double points on Sunday-Wednesday, which rapidly adds to the discount. Rewards card members (it costs the nominal fee of $1 for the card) also get other benefits, including half price on a "roll of the week" with orders over $25 and free edamame with larger orders on dine-in. Stop by for some of the best fish in Lakeview! -
Review from Neil R.
10/5/2011 13 Check-ins Here
The sushi at Rise is very well made and the place one of my favorite sushi spots in Chicago. The Niku Maki, Flaming Maki, and Kasumi Maki are excellent and and prepared professionally and quickly. Go with the signature rolls and the specials menu to try some other complex rolls. I feel it is reasonably priced and the waitstaff has always been helpful and friendly. Great place to take sushi virgins and veterans alike. I've not had any alcoholic beverages aside from the standard Japanese beers, but I hear the cocktails are really good (especially the lychee martini, as you can see from other reviews). They also have a "rewards program" which is pretty neat in that you get $15 back after you spend $150. You also get a discount on one of the special rolls of the day (or week, I can't remember) and free edamame with carry out. First time yelp check-ins can get 10% off the bill, too!
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Review from i.am.a A.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/26/2011
Dear Rise -
I used to love you, but you are going down, down, down...
I know you are trying to better yourself, but you are just not making it fast enough!
Please get someone better on the phone (deaf and crabby answers now), get a couple of good servers (some are just "lounging" when you need them), get rid of the ones with attitudes (the ones "lounging" that get upset when you call them to your table), replace the plates that are chipped (you have a bunch!), level your tables (PITA!) and a few other random items, and I promise you that you will have my love back...
All the best,
Me1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/15/2010
I go to this place about once a week. Great place to have a couple of drinks and then some sushi;… Read more »
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Review from Janet X.
5/16/2011
So I have a rule when it comes to sushi places: generally, the cooler the decor, the worse the sushi. Rise pretty much follows that rule. It's more a lounge than a restaurant, with hip lighting and skinny servers clad all in black, but the food itself is only okay.
I got a Crazy Roll and a salmon avocado; bf got the lemongrass grill with chicken. The Crazy Roll was almost 3/4 rice, 1/8 cucumber and avocado, and 1/8 fish. Salmon roll was better, but not spectacular. I also tried the grill and I have to say the chicken was a little dry, and the dish was a little sparse on the vegetables.
Next time, I think I'm going to go back to Sushi Mura (cheaper) or Ukai (better food). -
Review from Shelly B.
Chicago, IL
6/5/2011
The only reason we ventured to this sushi place is because they can do all the rolls using brown rice. We ordered the Crazy Maki, hamachi roll and tun roll and a lot of salmon sashimi. The sashimi was really good, fresh and melt in your mouth. The rolls were just ok. Ai sushi has 1/3 brown rice and whole foods sells rolls with brown rice and I have to say whole foods is better. That pretty much sums up their rolls with brown rice. This review will only help you if u want brown rice rolls I cant speak for the regular rolls.
The decor was nice but the place was too loud, you have to really raise your voice to be able to talk. The service was attentive and the water
keeps coming. I dont regret trying this place but I wont be back.
The price is mid range -
Review from Danny R.
Chicago, IL
10/9/2011
Rise is an excellent neighborhood sushi restaurant. The sushi is well assembled and fresh and the service is prompt and courteous. The flaming roll is delicious and I highly recommend it.
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Review from Melanie M.
Chicago, IL
12/9/2011
Amazing sushi! The service is good not great but still acceptable. I haven't tried their cooked menu but I know that their drinks are delicious. They even have a rewards card for ordering and you can earn double points on certain days. Well worth it!
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Review from Ashley P.
Chicago, IL
4/16/2011
One of my favorite sushi places in the city. LOVE the inside of this place as it promotes a relaxing and slightly exciting dining experience. Though the inside can be a little tight, the outdoor seating in the summer is excellent (if you can make the effort to ignore the clowns piling out of Justin's, kittycorner).
The sushi is great as are the cocktails. The presentation is pretty great as well. I give this place three stars mostly because, every time I order a roll with mayo, there just seems to be too much. Regardless, the nigiri is always fresh and excellent. Love me a martini and fatty tuna nigiri! Also, they need to disable the terrible music on their website.-1 stars for that obnoxious crap. -
Review from Liesel F.
Baltimore, MD
9/22/2011
I've always enjoyed Rise. Its super convenient since its just off the Southport El stop, and it's big, so I've never had to wait for a seat.
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Review from Ellen D.
1/18/2011
When my boy toy moved to the Southport area, I knew I had to try Rise - not because I had heard anything spectacular about the place, but simply because I have recently become a sushi fanatic.
Because my guy isn't a Japanese food fan, I had to wait until Christmas for him to take me, and I have to say, it was well worth the wait! The decor is super cozy and provides a great romantic vibe for you and your better half.
The gyoza were amazing and the scallop roll with salmon and spicy sauce was ba-nan-as. Post-dinner cocktails made Rise one of the best sushi places I've tried in Chicago.
Definitely a go-to date spot for sushi lovers.
Only downfall is that it is fairly pricey. But I have to say, it's pretty much worth the money and the wait (no reservations for parties of less than 6).Listed in: Great Dates
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Review from Ellen M.
Chicago, IL
9/10/2010
I came to Rise to have a good time and despite my best efforts, did not.
We were really pretty poorly attended to. Our waiter was MIA, didn't really have the greatest timing and didn't anticipate our needs. He got the order wrong, had difficulty remembering things we said 2 and 3 times and didn't really give us full information which ended up costing us A LOT more than expected.
The thing is, though, he was quite sweet. And our edamame and rolls were fresh and tasty.
But we were charged $2 PER for refills that we never asked for, then received and had to pay for an iced tea we didn't order or drink and charged for extra diet cokes we barely touched because they tasted like my friend's club soda. When we contested this, the manager stepped in from afar -- and he was the ultimate in customer disservice.
Now here's a lesson in restaurant management: This is not McDonald's. This is a high-class operation where I am paying $12 for my sushi rolls. After being taken for a ride like that, I do not expect to have to read legal print while I sit back and enjoy my well-paid-for evening. And just so you know, Let-Them-Eat-Cake Sushi Manager: Even McDonald's give free refills.
Yet through our waiter, the manager told us he refused to take the drinks off, wouldn't come to speak to us personally, did not apologize, made the waiter be his mouthpiece and showed him where -- on the menu -- he could point out the fine "No refill" print to us once he returned frightened like a little mouse to our table. Then the manager did something between a stare and a glare in our direction for the rest of the evening. What a douche. Obviously we were uncomfortable and left. He got his wish. But we will not be returning. Sushi Mura, where I had my first date with my now fiance, is down the street.
If I had, in fact, taken him to Rise for our first date, I'm pretty certain we wouldn't be planning our wedding now. -
Review from Jessica H.
Barrington, IL
4/28/2011
Best sushi I've ever had! We came with 5 other people and ordered 6-8 different maki rolls. Everyone enjoyed all but one, cant remember the name but it had a pink wrapper around it.
Cocktails were good, the seating is tight and the tables are close together. But that's expected at these popular Chicago eateries. Great atmosphere, excellent wait staff. -
Review from Allen B.
Chicago, IL
3/3/2011
Anthony Kiedis works here as a server. Just kidding. =) There is guy though, that really looks like him. So if you're a fan of the Chili Peppers, then you'll be a fan of Rise.
Enough said. -
Review from Alberto C.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2011
Hands down the best Sushi in Chicago! I was always scared to try Sushi but after eating at Rise I immediately became a Sushi freak! I've eaten at several sushi places all of which have been decent-good, but Rise is AMAZING!
The staff is freindly and helpful...to the point that we always have trust and let them choose a roll or two for us.
The drinks are good! my personal favorite is the Lychee martini.
Their spicy Fried Calamari appetizer is the best calamari I have EVER had.
I have never had their entrees but friends (non-sushi eaters) always rave about how good their food is.
It can get busy on certain nights so make reservations or come in early. We have never had to wait more then 15 minutes.
I've been on differnt days of the week and the atmosphere has been differnt. During the week its less busy and crowded and ideal for a date or place to have converstion. Weekends it gets crowded and a bit too Loud, so its not as easy to have a conversation without yelling.
Highly recommend Rise. Food is Amazing. Staff is friendly. Drinks are good. Great place to meet friends for dinner/drinks before going out. -
Review from Kate s.
Chicago, IL
3/6/2011
If you're a sushi fan check this place out! Not only is it in a great location but the sushi was fantastic! My favorite was the fire roll. We ordered a ton and shared everything - everyone was happy and found something they loved. The waitress also suggested a wine which was fantastic. I love the BYOB sushi places here on the north side (like Wakamono on Broadway) and tend to go to them, but this place is excellent.
The environment was also great. You weren't squished in like so many places and it was super trendy and cute. Loved it! We sat at the sushi bar and even that was fantastic. -
Review from Mandi K.
Chicago, IL
3/21/2011
So, the first two times I went to rise I thought it was just average. I have been several times recently and it is def my new fav! The atmosphere is great. Its usually pretty busy on Fridays and Saturdays so plan on waiting but they have an awesome drink menu. I have found some of the best rolls I've ever had!!!! Im not sure what they are called but they are on the special menu towards the bottom. My fav is the roll that has cream cheese, crab tempura and avacado....served warm with eel sauce and walnuts on top....DELISH!!!!!
Love, Love Rise! -
Review from Debra M.
Boston, MA
Updated - 10/19/2010
I am updating my review and taking away 2 stars for the delivery guy. I have been eating at this place for over 2 years. I have had dinner at the restaurant (which is awesome) and have had it delivered for the nights I work late and want to eat delicious sushi in my pj's.
The last 2 times I have ordered delivery, the delivery guy refuses to come upstairs. I live in a buzzer building with a driveway big enough to fit 2 cars (1 parked with their flashers and room enough for 1 to come and go in and out of the garage). Insert note-I have never had a problem with any other delivery from other restaurants and I order out A LOT. Double park and put on the hazards, it's Chicago! Both times he has said my buzzer was broken, which it is not. He is clearly just lazy. The first time I had a problem, it took him so long to call me on my cell phone to come down, my food was freezing cold by the time I got it upstairs. I didn't tip him due to his bad service, and then ordered it for pick up for the next 6 months in fear of it being tampered with. Tonight was the first time since that I ordered delivery and had the same bad experience.
I have to say that the manager each time that I have called to complain has been very understanding and has taken care of me. But how many times do I need to deal with an incompetent delivery guy before I find another sushi restaurant........1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/20/2008
Very good sushi and good service as long as you are not in a rush. Specialty rolls are amazing and… Read more »
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Review from Matt A.
Chicago, IL
11/24/2010
As the current Foursquare mayor of Rise, it's fair to say I've been there enough to put together a review. I live a few blocks from them, and really want to be happier about that.
I'm a sushi snob. If you're not down with raw fish, we're probably going to have to agree to disagree.
Here's the short:
Maki Rolls - nothing to see here, move along (2/5).
Sashimi/Nigiri - best option if you want to taste the fish (3/5).
Entrees - disappointingly tasteless. (2/5)
Appetizers - pretty good (4/5).
Drinks - nothing extraordinary (3/5).
Ambiance - you're trying way too hard (2/5).
And the long:
Maki Rolls-
Almost everything on their speciality list has either a mayonaise-based spicy sauce, deep fried something, or is cooked. It's sushi for the new sushi eater, which is great if that's you, but you're going to be wildly disappointed if you're looking for interesting combinations of raw fish in roll form. You can ask them to make anything, but by the servers reaction when I did, it's clear that this doesn't happen much.
The traditional maki rolls aren't bad, but like most midwest sushi joints, there's way too much rice. We're here for the fish, people.
Sashimi/Nigiri-
The fish is pretty fresh, but after eating at Katsu (Peterson at California), I can't give Rise more than a 3/5 rating. The fish is consistently good at Rise, but it's arguably better and fresher at Katsu. Still, in a bind, I'd go to Rise out of convenience.
Entrees-
We've only done this once, and probably won't be doing it again. There's better places nearby if you're looking for some sort of Asian dinner entree. Very, very light on the spices and seasoning. Not much flavor, and not what you'd expect at a place like Rise -- especially considering the appetizers.
Appetizers-
Any given night, we're either having the scallops (seasonal?), the tuna tartar, hamacchi carpaccio, sea bass (hot plate) or the wagyu beef (seasonal). We've gone here a few times for the sole purpose of eating appetizers. They're great and reasonably priced.
Drinks-
Good liquor selection, not so much on the beer selection. Pretty nice sake collection.
Ambiance-
Single handily my biggest gripe with this place. The wait staff is way too stuffy -- as if they fear for their life if they speak out of turn. It's not warm, inviting, or hospitable. A couple of them have started to see me as a regular. If it were my first visit and I made a special trip to get here, I'm not sure I would feel strongly about coming back. It's strange.
The wait staff doesn't seem to know their sushi, either. I tried to order a custom maki roll. After the most confusing conversation of my life, they finally conceded and brought something similar to what I asked for (it had fish and rice, but the similarities end there). That's a bummer, but should be fixed if I sit at the sushi bar (not the liquor bar on the other side). Yeah, that didn't work out either.
On a recent trip, I asked to sit at the sushi bar. They looked at me like I asked for a Happy Meal. Very, very strange reaction for a sushi bar; Looking back, I realize that I've _never_ seen anyone eat at the sushi bar, even on busy nights. Typically the sushi bar is the best seat to get the best rolls, but each one of the chefs looked at me in state of total confusion. They also held the tradition of the waitstaff -- deer in headlights when I tried to have any sort of dialogue with them. I'm not there to talk about my feelings, but I wouldn't mind an answer when I ask "order any special fish this week?"
I may have been spoiled at places out west, but the best sushi I've had came from a chef who got to know my tastes and seemed to enjoy making it while having small talk. I miss those days, but can get over it if the sushi is spectacular.
Rise is good, but not spectacular. -
Review from Marie E.
Chicago, IL
6/8/2011
the flaming maki was so wonderfully delicious that I intend on bringing others to this restaurant just to try it! I love sushi, although I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I generally tend to enjoy food that has a unique twist on something I have had many times before. Maybe it was something about the spicy sauce on top, but it was worth $12 in my opinion.
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Review from Stephanie M.
Chicago, IL
2/9/2011
This is the place that turned me on to sushi. It has creative combinations and delicious sauces. It's not your traditional sushi place and that is why I love it. And the cooked items on the menu are all delicious as well. It has something for everyone's taste. Love it!
My favorites include:
Oyshi Maki
Fire Maki
Bagel Roll
Winter Maki
Red Dragon
Big Noodle -
Review from Heather L.
Chicago, IL
12/13/2010
Really 3.5 stars.
I should preface this by saying that I guess I am just used to really great sushi in Boston. I moved here a month ago, and I have yet to find a place that I really love to go to.
However, Rise was pretty good, and the tuna tartare was the best I have ever had. It was really special and if I had to rate the restaurant just one that, they would have five stars.
The seaweed salad was a bit frozen. I told them, and they brought me a new one, but it seemed possibly microwaved, warm in parts and frozen in others. This was a miss.
The rest of the rolls were good - not great - but good.
The manager did not charge us for the seaweed salad, which I thought was the right thing to do. He was very attentive, which I appreciated. -
Review from stephanie c.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/29/2011
Downgrading because the last time I was there, I just felt robbed. Small rolls for a lot of $$. The waitress just looked at me with sympathy when I voiced my annoyance. No more Rise, sorry.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/7/2006
Sushi is great, service is not so great. We consistently wait a long time for our food even when the… Read more »
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