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So I returned to Ru San's yesterday after a two year hiatus. No, people weren't doing blow in the bathroom this time. But maybe it's because I was there during lunch or maybe the wild west days of the Gulch are over. Who knows? I certainly don't and I'm a live and let live kinda gal anyway so I really don't care. It does beg the question, "Is Nashville still the new L.A.?" Dear God, I hope so. I love diversity by the way, cherish it really. Diversity has made this city a better place to live. But I digress....
I had the buffet and found the sushi to be ok, not great but not horrible either. In the past I enjoyed eating there for dinner because the menu is so huge and full of creative combinations. Their tempura used to be pretty effin' good also. I don't know how it is now because there are so many other options for sushi these days and from what I understand from other reviews, the service at dinner still sucks. However, if you have never had the pleasure of dining with loud, pulsating techno music in the background, you really should try Ru Sans at least just once for that experience alone.
The rumors and reviews are true. What used to be a way above average sushi experience - it is in my memory, as it seems to be in many other reviewers - is now thoroughly disappointing, pushy, and not worthy of a return trip.
But... Ru San's menu is SO huge. And exciting. The dinner menu looks so full of creative sushi that it just may lure me back. First I have to recover from my lunch buffet experience. Please continue.
I went to Ru San's for the infamous sushi buffet. It was scarcely filled with business types enjoying lunch. Hardly packed, yet the music was LOUD. I wonder if a crowded Friday night drowns out the volume of the techno music.
The cost is around $10, plus tax. Pretty good price if you want to eat more than a roll or two's worth of sushi. However, at Ru San's buffet, I thought I was paying for variety. Wouldn't you assume that a sushi buffet suggests many different types of sushi? Think again, because almost every single piece of sushi on the buffet 1) was fried, 2) was made of some combination of a) avocado, b) cucumber, and c) imitation crab, and last and certainly not least, 3) was ugly. Sushi is about presentation, and I think I could have rolled a prettier roll at home with my home sushi kit. Mastering the art of sushi takes YEARS, and while it doesn't bother me that the sushi "chefs" at Ru San's don't have many years of sushi-making under their belt, the sushi they are rolling could at least look a little more appetizing. Oh, and there wasn't a piece of nigiri in sight.
I remember Ru San's buffet including a variety of hot dishes, many of them very un-Japanese. I remember some creamy pasta things, foods that included cheese and other egg/dairy ingredients. These were inauthentic, but tasted good. Well, these items were no longer present. They were replaced by what looked like mediocre take-out Chinese, and a poor imitation of squid tempura.
At the end of my meal, I was urged by a waiter to try the dessert of fried banana (the only dessert presented on the buffet) because it was "so good!" Well, I had already had one piece, and one piece was more than enough. When I paid and got up to leave the same waiter said, "See you tomorrow!"
You know what? No. They won't see me tomorrow, and never again for lunch. But like I said, I'll have to get back to you when it comes to dinner at Ru San's. Here is my reasoning: Their menu is so enormous and creative. Deceiving, considering 85% of the items don't seem to see the light of the lunch buffet. Ru San's is also the only Japanese place I know of that offers Zipang, the sparkling sake drink. And they have some inexpensive offers, like dollar per sushi specials. And you can get just a few pieces of one roll, allowing you to sample a large variety of foods in one meal. As stated, the verdict is out.
If you are looking to eat cheap and have a large selection to choose from then this is probably your place. If, on the other hand, you are looking for quality, I would avoid this place and go to the little wine bar next door.
It's not a sushi bar and it's not a disco club, it's a hybrid of crap.
It's a Gimmick. The quality of food is poor but the price is high. The techno club music is blaring in your ear so the conversations are really screaming matches. They keep the place so dark so you can't tell bad the food looks. The wait staff seem like they hate working there. I wouldn't take a date here unless you think it's attractive to look at green skin and glowing yellow teeth from the stupid black lights, disco ball and epilepsy inducing strobes.
The lunch buffet is variation of wrapped up rice to cut corners. The non-sushi items are oily and are sitting out for the entire time of the lunch hours.
You're plastic food should come w/ a side of glow sticks. Maybe they should complete your 90's style Rave experience w/ some ecstasy pills... b/c that's the only way they're gonna make their food taste better.
I've been to Ru Sans twice. The first time was mediocore, the second was awful. I went on a random weeknight in hopes of getting just a few sushi rolls before running errands. The server was horrible, got our orders wrong, we got my husband's sushi first, then our appetizer, then my sushi and then our drinks. Also, it smelled as if the AC was broken (meaning damp and warm) so all the fish tasted foul.
Sad, but I'll not be returning.
The real downfall of Ru San's is the atmosphere. Its too loud and hip. It has some creative and good sushi, but the soda from cans and extra loud music work against it, making it an average experience overall.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS PLACE?!?
Four years ago, this was the #1 sushi spot in Nashville. The only reason why I did not go more often was because I didn't have a car. The lunch buffet was an absolute steal. Quality hand rolls with eel, salmon and tuna filled the trays. It was great sushi for a great price.
Four years later, I drop by, and the buffet is a mess. It was as if the owner went on vacation and the janitors overthrew the chefs, took over the restaurant, and started making sushi. Almost EVERY sushi roll was CRAB. You had your deep-fried crab roll, your guacamole crab roll, your cream cheese crab roll... It was gross. There were only two tuna rolls, both of which had PURPLE TUNA. The fish was so discolored that I refused to pick it up. That was it.
I have NEVER in my entire life willingly paid for and walked out of a buffet still hungry. I had a few bites of my sushi and left. Do NOT go here. EVER. The absolute worst 10.95$ I have ever spent on a buffet.
While I totally agree with the obnoxiously loud music and the pretty long time I had to wait before the first anything showed up on our table, I still think the food is pretty decent. Come on! This is no Convoy Street of San Diego with oodles of sushi offerings. You got to make do with what you got. As a vegetarian, I was bowled over by the choice of dishes they had to offer. Some of them were as Japanese as Mount Fuji is an American landmark. Like, say, Potato Au Gratin. Yes. But, otherwise, the veggie Maki rolls and the explicit "vegetable" section (Fuck me if I am wrong, but Octopus does not grow on any plant I know of) was pretty broad enough for me to want to go there again.
The waiter we had was pretty sweet, just overworked. Once the crowed thinned out, he was at our beck and call and brought us everything we ordered pretty much asap. The fried icecream was delightful and so was the mushroom something in tofu butter sauce.
A friend finally convinced me to go back and give Ru San's another try, and it was actually ok this time. The service was really slow. The table next to us said they had to wait 15 minutes before anyone took their drink order. After waiting 10, we flagged down someone by way of wild arm waving and got our orders in.
I sampled off the $1/$2 roll menu and was pleasantly surprised. Sure, they are small rolls, but you are only paying $1. I also had a bowl of miso (it was ok, nothing special) and some tempura which was good.
In all, I have decided to take this place for what it is. A cheap, slow, loud sushi joint.
I truely believe that Ru Sans is a good case of hype overwhelming substance. The lunch buffet is… Read more »
It should be noted that Ru San's is a chain, albeit a small one, but this might affect your opinion of the place. It is one of the trendier places to eat sushi in Nashville. Do not plan on going here to have an intimate chat with your date or a casual lunch to talk business. The loud thumping techno music emanating from their speakers will shatter any chance of such conversation. That being said, Ru San's gives off an excitement when you walk in the door. I'm not sure if it's the mental preparation for eating delicious sushi or the physical urge to break out into dance, but it's definitely not the place to go if you want to brood quietly in a corner.
One of the best things about this place is the fresh all you can eat sushi buffet they offer during the week. You might have to stand a while in line for a table and then stand a while in line to fill your plate, but if you're a sushi fanatic looking to pack it in, it's a great place to be. They're pretty quick about restocking the buffet which is impressive if you think about the amount of people that are crammed in line around you.
The sushi they offer is definitely more contemporary than traditional, but they've got something to offer for everyone. The menu is extensive and although the rolls are rather pricey, they are quite large and they don't skimp on the ingredients.
They are located in an area called the Gulch which is turning into a very trendy, yuppie typed area and is by far not my favorite section of Nashville. I think Ru San's is probably the cheapest dining option compared to it's neighbors, which says a lot because sushi is not a fare generally identified with being cheap.
There is no parking close to the building, but there is a large free public lot a block or two away, or you can always choose to valet park.
Very huge selection of sushi rolls, good serving size, somewhat overprized. Good atmosphere, good service. Make sure you like techno music, that is all that will play during your meal.
We have gone to Ru San several times over the years
and it's not my favorite Sushi place but certainly offers some good options. The $1 menu and $2 menu are good for the price.
My husband loves some of the sushi rolls that are deep fried (I am sure this is more fusion or amercianized) and they have a nice selection of those. They have some sampler options as well where they bring you courses of a few different types of items from the menu and there is some build your own combos with this as well. They range in price from $18-$20 and are enough for 2 if you are a pretty moderate eater.
With that all in mind the service is really spotty and I have found that in general the sashimi is not all that fresh. I don't like it at all. So if you are a sushi purist, this will probably not be your bag. Also, avoid the lunch buffet, (I have never found a fresh one) it's pretty gross.
I had heard so many great things about Ru Sans, but I was not impressed. My girlfriend and I went at 7 o'clock on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and could barely hold a conversation because the techno music was so loud. The service is slow, with our waiter missing for almost the entire meal. I tried to figure out how the floor was charted, because there were other waiters in our vicinity, but he kept running off somewhere else.
The sushi's okay. It's cheap, and I had a hard time understanding the menu. I'm still a bit of a novice when it comes to Sushi, but I think a description would be appreciated. Though the prices are good, i don't think it's worth the trade off of atmosphere.
I went here while visiting a friend in Nashville. 7 of us sat at the sushi bar and had great service. The chef offers some complimentary tidbits and the sushi is great. We had the Rising Sun Maki...it was SO GOOD!
When I can't decide between sushi and a techno dance party I go to Ru San's. I think the best feature is their extensive menu. Just the rolls get a page and a half and there are 3 pages of starters, tempura options, and much more. The place is more Westernized than I prefer, but it might make it more attainable for the sushi virgins in your group.
I came because I had tried the Gone with the Wind roll at last year's Best of Nashville party, and I wanted to have it again in it's native environment. I was overwhelmed when I received my plate. This roll is made up of 8 small rolls in wheel with cream cheese and crab in the center. They are all tied together with seaweed and then fried. This crazy concoction is served to you on three imposing wheels with a spicy, creamy sauce on the side. Once I gathered the bravado to pick it up and take a bite I was pleased. It was delicious, but definitely not date food.
The service was very friendly and every chef on the line wished us a friendly goodnight as we passed. I look forward to adventuring through that epic menu again.
Based on what I've heard from those that have been to the lunch buffet at Ru San's, this is an great restaurant. However, I went for an evening meal and strongly beg to differ.
My friend and I ordered steamed rice, a noodle dish, two rolls, and mixed vegetable tempura. To begin, the steamed rice and tempura were luke warm. The tempura was not mixed vegetable (only peppers and onions) and certainly not fresh, nor was the oshinko in one of the rolls. And finally, I found a nice long hair in the noodles. Excellent.
One of the managers agreed to take it off the tab after several minutes of some serious dialogue with other employees. As we awaited our bills, she came back, with hair in hand, puts it in front of me on the table, and said she thought it was mine. Excuse me? I would like to mention that my hair was up, I was wearing a hat, it's short, and brown, not red. In brief, I disagreed, she continued being defensive, I said she was rude, she said don't come back. Wow! No loss though.
Conclusively I would say:
overpriced, obnoxious techno, slow unfriendly service, lukewarm, hairy food.
P.S. Waitress had no idea about anything on the menu. I understand she was fairly new, but uh... training?
Sometimes I love Ru San's and sometimes I don't like it at all. I think it all depends on the night you go.
Sometimes the food is top-notch and delicious and sometimes it's slimy and sub-par. I'm definitely not giving any stars here for consistency. The menu is so huge and confusing that even the servers don't know what's going on. You have to be completely explicit with your order. I always try and order the smoked scallop sushi, Gunkin style and I mostly get the wrong thing. It's really good when I get it, but it's hit and miss that I do. The Futo Maki is phenomenal though - best I've had anywhere.
The service: also hit and miss, sometimes because it's busy and sometimes because the servers don't understand what you're trying to order. There's a fun atmosphere here, but if you're not in the mood for something loud and crazy, don't go. From the techno music to the loud pot banging and singing when it's someone's birthday (they make people dance on the bar too), it has its own unique vibe.
I still like this place a lot, but I've learned to live with its shortcomings. I only go at night. I do not go to the lunch buffet, because I always come away frustrated. You have to get there super early because you pay and then they just stop putting food out and you end up with soggy tempura and picked over sushi (just warning you - get there at 11.30 if you want something decent to eat).
This review is for the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. I'm in agreement with John G, it's a lot of not very good sushi for a moderate price tag. I'd rather lack the "variety" and go to Ken's instead. Or check out Omikoshi in Cummins Station (which I've heard has an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet and is probably almost equally far from downtown if you are going on a weekday lunch break).
Sorry RuSan's. You get the Heisman from me.
Loud, gaudy and completely without shame.
Yes, boys and girls, this is Ru Sans's, the trashy talk show of sushi joints.
Just like it's great to flip on some Springer every once in a while and feel better about yourself, it's perfectly ok to enjoy the kitschiness that is Ru San's. Located in the burgeoning Gulch area of downtown, Ru San's is fantastically over the top.
From heart-thumping techno music to the slightly haughty staff, Ru San's definitely has an urban, metro vibe that bodes well with the Music City crowd. You know the types - thick rimmed classes, hair perfectly disheveled, tans even in the middle of winter. This is a lunch time favorite of this crowd, and for good reason.
For $10, you can help yourself to a lunch time feast of all you can eat sushi. Ok, sure, the food's not going to win a major award anytime soon, but the rolls are good, and they keep on coming. And coming. And coming. You can fill your plate three times and never have the same thing twice.
They also usually have some other lunchtime choices on the buffet, such as teriyaki and Japanese dishes, as well as some pretty rockin' tempura veggies (mmm...deep fried sweet potato).
Overall, Ru San's is a little too hip and slightly pretensions...and proud of it, thank you very much. So grab a plate, throw down some sushi, and enjoy the ride.
Insider Tips:
Want to get a seat quick? Come before 12 or after 1. The buffet is open from 11:30 - 2:30 Monday - Saturday. Also, don't miss the lot parking in the back!
I go to RuSan's when I have to (business lunches, friends' birthdays), and never by choice. Last night's unfortunate experience solidifies that statement, and will even push it to "I never go to RuSan's."
First off, the service was slow as Christmas, and it wasn't a fluke one night of poor service either. The last time I visited, my friend and I didn't get our appetizer until well after we'd gotten our sushi.
When I did actually get my sushi, it tasted good enough, but certain things were missing. My roll that promised spicy aioli on top was lacking the aioli, and I had to ask for it on the side. There were no dishes for soy sauce on the table either.
We split the check up between 4 people, and I was the only one to put down a credit card. The waitress came back, gave me back my card and my receipt, so I added my tip and we proceeded to leave. Moments later, the waitress is running down the street after me, proclaiming that she never did run my credit card. What?
None of this compares with what happened when I actually got home from the restaurant. The last time I went, I did get mildly sick following my meal there, but it was nothing like last night. I have never gotten sick off of sushi in my life, and my friend was also not feeling well afterward. Something is dreadfully wrong with some component of the meals that RuSan's serves.
I will not return.
When this place first opened it was great! The sushi was creative and well prepared. It was never a place to go for a quiet date, but the food was good and the atmosphere was relaxed and fun.
Fast forward to 3 years later. I went for the lunch buffet and was immediately struck by the smell of wet mildewed carpet. My water tasted like dirty dishes, the sushi was sloppily rolled and it seemed like everything was the same, just give or take a few ingredients. The table next to us was never bussed (we were there for 45 minutes)...all in all, I was pretty grossed out and probably won't be going back.
Located in the ever-popular "Gulch" district of downtown 12th Avenue, Ru San's modern spin on Asian cuisine has made it one of Nashville's buzzed about spots. But does it deserve the status? Overall...yes. It's not easy to make sushi. With that said, if you're a sushi place, it's hard to mess up sushi. It's respectable raw fish, it's got rice in it, it's color-coordinated, hopefully some sauce, and that equals good. In this endeavor, Ru San's succeeds.
My biggest concern is that in its pursuit of more modern-minded patrons, the restaurant abandons its Japenese identity. With its art deco design planted right next to "it" club Sambuca, Ru San's strives to be all things to all people in its departure from the traditional, both in menu and decor. The menu boasts hundreds of items, which only suggests to me that the establishment is willing to wear themselves too thin. Gimmicks like Georgia on my mind roll and Banana boat maki only diminish Ru San's credibility to me, but the people seem to enjoy it. The restaurant ends up having to compensate for its poor choice in musical ambience. It's hard to reconcile the traditional miso soup with some techno version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" blaring overhead. But compensate it definitely does.
What makes up for its shortcomings, you ask? Two words: dollar menu. It doesn't get any better than the invention of the dollar menu, people. One buck can get you up to three pieces off the dollar menu's dozen or so selection of sushi types. This makes Ru San's the perfect bet as a lunch or dinner date for even the most frugal. Not that it's hard to break the bank. Entree's can be as much as $12 for a single six pieces, $25 for an assortment box, and dessert up to $10. With a myriad of appetizers arranged by quantity, the options are limitless. From a five spot to fifty for a meal, RuSan's can boast one of the most extreme price ranges in the city. Luckily they take credit cards. So if you're in the mood for sushi but also in the mood to be seen, go to Ru San's and prepare to pay for passable sushi, decent crab cakes, and a spectacle of trendy ambiance.
Now I love sushi, but it's hard to really get behind a place that plays deafening, booty-bumping house music and serves sushi that looks and tastes like Taco Bell's answer to Japanese cuisine. Ok...maybe that was a little harsh. The sushi isn't terrible, but it certainly isn't up to par with some of the more authentic and less Westernized Japanese places in the city.
Like most of the establishments in the Gulch (i.e. City Hall, Bar Twenty 3), Ru San's seems to shoot more for hipness than for quality. Everything about Ru San's seems post-modern and neon, and, while you can get all you can eat during the lunch buffet, nothing tastes exceptional.
All the basics taste typical--the miso soup and tempura are pretty run-of-the-mill. The staff is pretty nice, though you might be ignored during their busier hours. The Japanese sushi chefs are really funny and given to shouting silly things from time to time. If you're looking for Nashville's sushi hip-time happy fun hang out, Ru San's is your joint. If you're looking for quality and authenticity, skip it.
If you're into quantity over quality and rolls stuffed with rice over fish, you'll love the lunchtime sushi buffet. Boyfriend and a few friends love it, but really just for the plates and plates of food. Its cheap and there's a lot of it. Not sure how many more ways I can put that...
The buffet is $10 or so a person and extremely popular. I'm not a fan at all, but occasionally go along and eat the miso soup, veggie tempura and crispy tofu that they have out. Those are all pretty good.
I'm not a big fan of the restaurant for the same atmospheric reasons a few others have mentioned. Its the worst aspects of a chain (its based in Atlanta) and the gulch.
It's bright. It's shiny. It's loud. It's full of raw fish. Ladies and gents, I give you Ru San's.
If you take your sushi seriously, this is probably not the place for you. Take, for example, the Georgia On My Mind roll--smoked catfish and fried okra. It's quite yummy, but hardly Japanese.
The menu is extensive, ranging from three pieces of select maki for a buck to sashimi bowls that are over $20. While not authentic (damn, having a Tokyo-born boyfriend is handy for vetting such things), Ru San's delivers fresh taste and artistry. Sometimes the presentation is so pretty, you don't want to ruin it by eating. I especially like the seared five-spiced tuna, the ginger-simmered beef and the Cajun maki. Yes, I said Cajun maki--it's a crawfish salad with a little spice.
Service is uneven. The sushi chefs bought me a sake once when they had to remake my roll in apology for the wait. I appreciated that. Overall, my experiences have been good and when I'm in the mood for raw fish, this is my first choice in Nashville.
mehhhhhhhhh.... i dont even know what to say. the buffet filled me up, but it was pretty much empty calories. NEVER WASTE YOUR CALORIES ON YUCKY FOOD.
I read the bad reviews and got worried - this was a off hours business dinner with co-workers, and I wasn't looking forward to a case of food poisoning. I went over to CitySearch to see if the opinions were bad all around, and over there this place is raved about.
This place didn't match up to the wonderful relaxed, subdued atmosphere in Amura (Orlando). I have never associated sushi with bad techno, but Ru San's doesn't let up.
We were a group of 6, and sure enough the service for large groups is indeed bad. Watch your receipt too - they put the gratuity on it already, even though we all got seperate checks. I asked for mine back and changed the total. She wasn't THAT great..
The sushi was really unremarkable, and the wasabi pile was very small. I will say that the seaweed salad was delicious, and at least twice the size of the one at Amura's, but serving it on a trifold paper towel as some kind of fancy presentation was really tacky.
I wouldn't go back just because of the terrible music. It was all downhill from there.
Great lunch buffet for the hungry and indecisive sushi lover. Horrible techno music.
The Food: I have only been for the lunch buffet. The rolls have a poor fish-to-rice ratio, but there are over 40 options and the rolls are tasty. The buffet also has a few other non-sushi options which are quite good. The buffet is only $10. I like this option because I like to sample sushi, I can never just decide on one type of roll.
The atmosphere: I really hate the atmosphere. Early 90's pop techno remixes blast, ostensibly to make you suck down your sushi faster.
This place takes forever to serve mediocre Japanese fare (and pretty terrible sushi) and bombards you with Japanese techno music at an unusually loud level for a restaurant. It's pretty damn expensive and the service is awful! Definitely not worth the huge amount of time and relatively large sum of money you will drop. I'd go with Samurai or Tenno instead.
I've never gotten sick from eating at Rusan's, so I can't relate to a lot of the other reviewers.
That being said, I LOVE Rusan's! It is by far THE hippest/swankiest sushi joint in Nashville - I would definitely take out of town friends here on a weekend night to give them a good impression of Nashville. However, there is always a long wait, and you can't really do much in the vicinity while you're waiting. It's definitely a hole in the wall, which can be great, but waiting in your car in the gravel parking lot for 1.5 hours since there's nothing else close to it COULD be a little more exciting.
Now, on to the food...
Everything is reasonably priced, but the atmosphere is 1/2 of the experience. Yes, it's true that you may not be able to hear anybody in your party talking on a Fri. or Sat. night, but who cares?! You're here to gawk at the gorgeous 20-somethings that flood the place around 8-9 pm, not to have an intimate conversation. The staff puts on a ridiculous show whenever somebody does sake bombing, and if it's somebody's birthday, well, i won't ruin the surprise...ok actually I will: my friend's birthday there resulted in both of us being forced to dance on top of our table w/ a complete stranger while being served a jazzed up twinkie for dessert. TWINKIES AT A SUSHI RESTAURANT?!?!
Their menu is laughably long, with everything from cilantro-flavored 'tiger beef' to innovative rolls like the cranberry roll and a million others I can't remember. I once accidentally ordered completely raw beef, and the waiter took it back and gave me something else with no complaints. Last time I was there you could get a discount on the lunch buffet if you went after they stopped making fresh rolls.
Overall, I think Rusan's is the perfect prelude to a concert/night on the town. The food is good enough in itself, but the trendy atmosphere and beautiful patrons make the potentially long wait worthwhile.
If there were an option for 0 stars, I would choose it. I will NEVER, EVER return to this place. I have eaten there only a few times, maybe 3 or 4, and every time it has been disappointing. Great concept though - $1 and $2 menu is great on a budget. However, the sushi is not good here. I would like to have shared in the great sushi that other people have had here, because the sushi I have had at Ru San's was sloppy, the seafood was not fresh, and the rice was overcooked. I have to say my final visit here was BY FAR THE WORST.......read on if you dare....
A friend from California was visiting and I decided to take her to Ru San's for dinner. It was pretty late, but it was not too busy. Long story short, we ordered sushi and while the "sushi chef" (which is a very generous title) did not think we were watching, he took his towel, wiped his forehead, wiped his hands, and then wiped his knife blade with that same towel. Needless to say I did not touch that sushi. We were too mortified to even mention this to anyone (which I wholeheartedly regret), so we asked for our check and were ready to leave. We wanted to split the check, which really ticked off the waitress. She split the check, and I gave her my card (I rarely carry cash). She scoffed and said "we do not accept cards for anything under $10." What? Hmmm....strange since I was able to do that the last time I came here. My friend had some cash so we just laid it on the counter and left.
Needless to say, once again, that I WILL NEVER RETURN HERE. Sorry for the all-caps but that really needs to be stressed!!
First, let me say, I don't like sushi. I know that's not very hip or trendy of me, but I don't. But I still like Ru San's. For one reason mainly: The Teriyaki Rice Ball. It is one of my favorite things ever. And it's only like two or three bucks, so I have to get something else because there is a food & drink minimum per person. The decor is mod & fun, and yes it is very loud. I can handle the loud music and yelling... What I can't handle is how unbearably cold it is in Ru San's. Seriously, it's like an ice box every time I go in there. So, four stars for the teriyaki rice ball, and maybe two for everything else!
Unfortunately all the stereotypes, rumors, and gripes about Ru San's are true - the sushi is great, some of the best in town as a matter of fact, but the atmosphere is annoying on a good day, if I'm being generous, and the service is also lackluster, if not completely annoying in it's lack of efficiency. It's not that the wait staff is rude, it's just that they don't really seem to care about you, your lunch, your lunch break only lasting a certain amount of time, you not wanting to wait 20 minutes to place your order, ya know - that sort od thing.
I'll spare you the talk about their food, as there seem to be over 20 reviews detailing that and tell you this: if you have time to kill, are not on a scheduled lunch break, or have an hour or more to spend AT lunch and want sushi - absolutely go. However, if you're on a tight schedule, it's better not to bother, you'll save yourself a headache, and keep yourself from souring such a great Sushi place because of the service being poor.
I came here with my brother once he discovered that I was eating sushi. It's a nice place and I'm glad to see the Gulch continuing to develop, however after eating in San Francisco I can be a bit harsh to judge such places. The food was very American with its reliance on rolls and the techno music got a bit grating on the nerves.
To be honest, this is a good place to stop by and get a drink and a bit of sashimi but if you're looking for anything more than that you're better off going to Ichiban,
I see that Ru San has some mixed reviews on it's Yelp page. Some of them may be justified, as I have been there and experienced pretty bad service, but the food has always been consistent when I go. Every time that I have been to Ru San I get the feeling that they try super hard to be hip, maybe it is just the modern Miami Beach style interior. Either way, I don't mind. The quality of the fish is pretty good and they have some cool rolls that include traditional Southern foods, like okra.
friendly service, good and cheap food. love it.
one time i was there (ive been there at least 5 times), there were girls dancing on the tables. i think it was their birthday.
my first time there, it was my friend's birthday and they gave us complimentary fried ice cream thingy. i dont think its even on the menu. it was great.
employees were fun and smiled a lot. i appreciate that. sake was good especially the warm plum sake.
good job!
I used to love this place...till I saw a roach crawl on the table. Don't eat here! If you like Sushi, try somewhere else. Ugh! Granted it was a few years ago but, I am still reluctant to go back.
I would go so far as to say the food I have eaten here is GREAT and I still won't rate over two stars, or ever go again for that matter. The pounding techno music combined with the yelling chefs banging on pots and pans (and that's even before they find out it's someone's birthday) completely destroy your chances of conversation or peaceful digestion. The creative and inventive trendy (non-traditional) sushi, is better the higher up the price scale you get. If you shell out the big bucks, it's top notch. However, NOBODY in your party will be served at the same time. Appetizers and entrees will waltz in at arbitrary intervals and everyone else may have finished their entire meal before you see a scrap of tuna. There is absolutely no reason to go here unless you happen to be a gulch-dwelling dweeb...did I MENTION sparkly purses? Eat sushi at Samurai. There's simply no excuse.
Ru-Sans has to be one of my most dreaded outings when I am forced to go. Why do I say forced? Because a lot of my friends seem to think because this place is in the gulch, serves sushi, and plays loud dance music that it must be good! WRONG. The food here is awful. Try any of their "value" menu, and you'll see that the restaurant is really the one getting the value out of selling you terrible food for anything more than free. For example for $1 you can get what amounts to a potato chip wrap. Its rice wrapped about Japanese breadcrumbs. If that's not scraping the bottom of the barrel I don't know what is. Also the service here is horrendous. One time I came towards the end of their lunch buffet, and the waitress who was a total bi*ch turned the lights off on my table as my party and I were eating! How rude! Stay away! There are so many other sushi places in the vicinity (Ken's if you want value, or Virago's if you are going for ambiance), that there really is no justifiable reason to go to this dump.
Love this place and their distinct sushi. Music is loud; well the whole place is loud, but fun. The lunch buffet is great. I believe this is the only place in Nashville that offers Sushi buffet. Sashimi can be expensive compared to other places, but they are good. You got to arrived 30 minutes and get in line before they open during lunch. This place is crowded.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Japanese
Nashville, TN
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Hillsboro/West End
Category: Sushi Bars
Nashville, TN
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Belmont/Hillsboro
Category: Bars
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