leyla "ruins everything" a.'s Profile

I'm going with four stars because I think the atmosphere is nice & I did have a good food experience.  

So far I've been 3X - 2 for drinks and appetizers and once for dinner.  Sitting at the bar during the week is OK but this past weekend I sat at the bar on a Friday night and wanted to shoot myself.  I had a "these, thems and dont's" guy standing behind me with his "baby."  i have no idea where these people came from, maybe da bulls game.  

Just as bad as the couple with poor english skills behind me, the girls next to me at the bar were suburban house-wife types.  They had just gotten off work OR they wore a suit downtown in an effort to pretend like they had jobs. They were very excited to be at Sunda.  They talked about their kids, husbands & gossiped about their neighbors the whole time and ordered a few rolls with training-wheels (shrimp tempura roll, rainbow roll) and miso soup.  I don't know which terrible group of people I disliked more.  

My actual dinner experience was on a Monday night and I ate at the Sushi bar (which I always prefer).  We started a glass of the Sunda beer that the sushi chef gave us.  I liked that concept, a tiny glass of beer compliments of the sushi bar.  Especially nice if you've been waiting a long time to be seated.  

We had the sashimi platter, excellent fish & well cut.  We wanted to sample some of the hot items, we had one of the potstickers, I think braised ox tail?  It was good.  We also had the beef roll on a stick, my friend (who is a man) liked it but I did not.  I wouldn't have it again, it was like the hamburger that Eddie Murphy's mom makes (from his standup routine) on a stick.  But, my male friend did like it so maybe its a dude thing.    

I'm not thrilled with their selection of rolls.  I think of myself as a sushi purist, therefore I like more simple rolls and less fried stuff.  I am also very suspicious of a sushi restaurant that serves soft shell crab when it is not in season.  

From what I can gather, this menu is to appeal to the masses who prefer fried shrimp tempura with eel rolls but I just wish there were some rolls for those of us who like raw fish.  I had the tale of two tunas - tried it 2X and both times I really liked that roll.  I'd like to see some rolls that have the seaweed on the outside that are really small bites.  

I did see the tatakis on the menu (didn't try, will try next time), so the raw fish selection does exist.   And maybe next time I will go for a handroll OR talk to the sushi chef and have him make me something that is not on the menu.

My only other gripe, for a sushi restaurant they only have 3 sakes by the glass.  They really need to have more than 3 sakes by the glass IMO.  

The atmosphere is great, very nice and simple decor.  The service has been pleasant each time I've visited.  Price-wise, it is what one could expect.  

I think this is great timing for Sunda.  Just as the other big, sushi-fushion restaurants are closing down, they emerge as the new guy in town.  I see a strong future for Sunda.

I had such a bad massage, I nearly stopped the girl, got dressed and left 20 minutes into it. I wish I had left & asked for my money back but I felt guilty and I thought it would get better. It never did get better.  

I used their coupon for the $49.99 massage, which ended up being $55, not sure how.  The place looked really promising, clean, friendly at the door when I arrived but the massage was horrible.  I did tip the poor girl who performed my massage - even though she was a terrible masseuse, she was very sweet & polite.  

I absolutely do not believe my massage therapist was a licensed therapist.  She did not perform anything that resembled any other massage I've ever had before.  I have been to nearly every spa in the Gold Coast area (and many other places), I have never experienced a massage as bad as this one, not even close.

She would rub my back aggressively as if she were trying to erase something.  She would pinch my back and she never once applied any pressure to kneaded anything.

It was an odd experience. Very odd.

My thought is that they are not using their normal staff for the coupon users.  This is a damn shame because i live in the neighborhood (1 block away) and I was looking forward to becoming a regular.  

I planned to mention my experience to the women at the desk on my way out but no one addressed me as I was leaving.  No one asked "How was your massage" or anything.  

I would not go back here for anything.  I'd rather pay triple some place else.