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Arigato Sushi
1225 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 965-6074
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Reviews by the General Public
Excellent Chef , 8/7/2010
Reviewer: Alexis Livier
from San Juan Capistrano, CA
Our 1st time here. We enjoyed our chef Ramon, we allowed him to pick all of our food. Every choice Ramon made for us was delicious!
I myself and my daughter eat Sushi all over San Juan Capistrano, New Port Beach, Long Beach to small towns in between. We want to take this time to give this restaurant an excellent review. Price was not bad at all if your use to paying for sushi it's about average.
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dry fish, 7/15/2010
Reviewer: lidia zinchenko
from Santa Barbara, CA
i didn/t like it, my dish was not good at all. salty dry fish with salad (seafood salad) cost me 20 dollars,too much for what i had there. sorry, no more, arigato sushi for me!
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Where's the friendly and engaging service? , 7/8/2010
Reviewer: Peter
from Santa Barbara, CA
I do like the food here but the service really fell on its face on my last visit. The waitress had absolutely no interest in serving. She got the job done, but was so disinterested that it really took away from the experience. At best she was robotic. At about $100 for dinner for two, I expect a whole lot more. When I commented about my dissatisfaction on my way out, the hostess said, oh, well, I think she (the server) is tired. Hello management? Please send the tired servers home.....this restaurant is too good (and expensive) to have lame servers.
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Arigato loyal customer, 6/14/2010
Reviewer: Claudio
from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been going to Arigato for 18 years now (back when they were in the little unit near Video Shmideo) and have always had great tasting and unique sushi plus wonderful service from the wait staff. Try their special nigiri sushi: seared hotate (scallops), salmon skin salad, kobe beef entree, or their carpaccio specials. They have such a broad range of choices and they definitely have decent "cooked" meals if that's what you prefer. It is pricey, but worth every penny.
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Great quality, $$$, 6/10/2010
Reviewer: Brendon
from Santa Barbara, CA
Arigato is everything that you would expect. It is definitely pricey, but if you are willing to spend a little, it is well worthwhile. The carpaccios demonstrate the freshness of the fish & the 'Locals Only' plate is magnificent. Great ambiance, clean bathrooms & knowledgeable staff...
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Blown Away, 4/19/2010
Reviewer: kris
from Santa Barbara, CA
I really expected more from this place. Second time i ate there with same expierence. Kinda sad that we dont have a good sushi joint in this town. Arigato waitress came out 10 mins after we sat down. We had to ask for menus. Food that was supposed to be hot was luke warm. To round it off the place was half full at the time.
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Great atmosphere, Okay food, Disappointing service, 4/2/2010
Reviewer: Marie
from Santa Barbara, CA
I was so excited to come here again after several great experiences at the sushi bar. Most appetizers were delicious - like the ahi carpaccio and jalepeno hamachi sashimi. Nigiri was great - ShiroMaguro, Hirame, Hotate, etc. But rolls were underwhelming.
While our main server was very nice and helpful, another (very rude) brunette seemed to be the bully they sent over to finish up the job and get us out! Although they were very busy, the only consistent thing about the service was their eagerness for us to order, and then to pay the bill at the end of the night so they could close up shop. I think they even brought dessert while food was still on the table!
Overall - okay. I will surely be back to sit at the sushi bar : )
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Very enjoyable experience, 3/29/2010
Reviewer: Brian Curtis
from Ventura, CA
Several locals recommended Arigato so 2 of us stopped in on a Sunday evening about 6 p.m. The restaurant was moderately busy but we received a very friendly greeting and were seated immediately. Service was prompt and professional. They became pretty busy during the course of our meal but seemed to handle it well and tables were turned quickly with a minimum of fuss.
We started w/ a cucumber salad w/ shrimp and miso soup, then had several varieties of nigiri sushi and two rolls. The fish was fresh and tasty and the portions were on a par w/ most other sushi restaurants we have tried. Our check came as soon as we asked and was brought w/ a smile.
Overall a very enjoyable experience and we would go back. One comment about previous reviews re seating; it is obviously not a large space and the seating seems geared to 2 & 4 tops. We both felt that, had we been in a large group we probably would have chosen another spot rather than complain about the staff not rearranging the entire room to accommodate one party.
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Okay sushi, terrible service., 3/15/2010
Reviewer: Mike
from Just visting, CA
We were in Santa Barbara on business, and wanted to get together with some associates for sushi. After asking around, we were told Arigato Sushi was the best. After our experience there, I definately disagree.
There were seven people in our group. We arrived early and waited for them to open. Upon opening, we were seated at a table built for four. We asked the waitress if we could push another two person table together to have room to eat. She said she had to ask the manager, then cam eback and told us no. So there we were, seven people all huddled around a table built for four people...horrendous customer service to say the least.
The food tasted good, but was hard to enjoy with no room to eat. The portions were very undersized. The I had ordered a couple of rolls, and the pieces were sliced about 1/4 of an inch thick, and only six VERY thin pieces at that. Our food from our intial order came out at various times over the entire time we were there...very awkward.
To top it off, the staff added a mandatory gratuity of 20% to our bill, because we were a large party. No problem if we were actually given enough room to eat, but instead just added insult to injury. To say the least, we will never go back. Nor would we recommend it for anyone else. Spend your money elsewhere, where they will appreciate your business.
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Easily the best Sushi in SB, 3/9/2010
Reviewer: Paul L
from Santa Barbara, CA
Went here with my family and another family and they were very accommodating with the table arrangement. The sushi was fresh and the food came out quickly despite the restaurant being really busy. The service is always nice. My only complaint is that sometimes it can get a little bit loud in here, but hey that happens at most of the restaurants in SB, especially when they are filled to capacity.
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Sashimi ripoff, 2/7/2010
Reviewer: Pete
from Santa Barbara, CA
I really do like this restaurant. But last night, I had a bad experience. Sashimi is not supposed to be paper thin slices that fall apart with your chop stick. Certainly not for $15 or more. Normal sashimi is more like 3/8" thick slices. Got some lame reason about the type or cut of fish (yellowtail) required a smaller slice. On top of that, we ordered six slices and we got five. When we called it out to the chef, he was rather unapologetic. I wish we had just handed the plate back to him and said no thanks. I would be surprised if we got even one ounce of fish. This restaurant is expensive enough. A bad experience like this makes it hard to want to return.
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Happiness is Arigato , 11/29/2009
Reviewer: Joanna Feldstein
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been dining at Arigato for the last ten years and I am NEVER disappointed. The food is always incredibly fresh and delicious. The chefs are extremely talented and consistently create wonderful and innovative dishes. The staff is attentive and personable and I am always extremely satisfied with the service. The manager is very charming and welcoming and adds to the dining experience. I have had sushi all over the world and nothing compares to Arigato. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys truly great sushi.
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Owner is RUDE!, 11/23/2009
Reviewer: Aimee
from Santa Barbara, CA
Unfortunately, I love the sushi at Arigato. However, the owner (male) has been rude to the customers on more then one occasion. The first time this happened to me, I chalked it up to him having a bad day. But it happened again this weekend- where he was utterly rude, pretentious, and not customer service oriented in any way. I love the sushi there, but will start going to other restaurants for a while...
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6 stars for Service, 10/5/2009
Reviewer: Cathya
from Santa Barbara, CA
I went there last week and I had a little accident, spill soy sauce all over my top. I was happily surprised when less than 2 minutes later, I didn't even ask for help, but the manager approached to our table and gave me an extra napkin and some sake to get the stain off my clothes! That's what I call excellent Customer Service, he was aware of everything going in the restaurant and in this case was able to rescue me.
Food excellent as always and also his recommendation on the carpaccio.
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For those who know the difference - over rated
Reviewer: Rebbe
from Santa Barbara, CA
The sushi is deff. ok. I would say it is over priced for average tasting sushi. Service is not good nor bad, you get your meal (then again I am European so I do not expect as high of a standard as Americans).
I would say the restaurant has succeeded with their PR for the place. If you know good sushi, and ONLY go by your taste buds and not the location nor the looks (-appealing and always full)etc. then you might get disapointed. It is somewhat of a trend going there, if that is what you are looking for then this is the place for you.
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Hilarious
Reviewer: A P C
from Santa Barbara, CA
My co-workers and I were actually at Arigato sitting right next to the review below, but we had a completely different experience. The 4 of us spent about $110 on rolls and small plates like the Locals Only. There was absolutely nothing negative about it, everything was wonderful. They had menu items I'd never had at a Japanese restaurant before, or at all, like the Foie Gras, flying fish roe, kampachi and geoduck. I was ecstatic. It was probably one of my favorite restaurant outings of all time.
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Thank you but NO thank you
Reviewer: Chris
from Santa Barbara, CA
Wow i was disappointed. To start we ordered edamamme (spelling?) which was great. Cooked with garlic and tasted good. Then we ordered "locals only" a scallop dish that was at best alright. Then came the sushi rolls. We ordered a "dracula roll" which when it came tasted like the fish was fresh from 2 weeks ago. Then we ordered california sunset. First they brought out some other roll. Then they brought out a california roll. Both times we told the waitress that wasnt what we ordered. When the correct food finally came it was tastless except for the tuna which tasted bad. Simply put, not a place that i will go back to. Not to mention the service was horrid and they charged my credit card more than the bill.. I recommend that the staff of arigato lower their prices and buy fresh sushi.
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Superior quality for those who know the difference
Reviewer: Jason Rothschild
from Tampa, FL
First, high quality sushi has everything to do with the fish, not what they can put into a roll. Arigato has some of the finest sushi I've had, on par with Sushi Yasuda in NYC - one of the most highly regarded restaurants in that city. The uni was amazing, possibly the best anywhere. Yes, the nigiri pieces are smallish - but bigger than Yasuda. There's a reason for that - there should be a balance between rice and fish and the piece should be the right size for one bite. There was a great selection of interesting rolls, so even non-hardcore sushi lovers will surely enjoy it. Price was on par for what you'd expect for high quality, not overboard. If you want cheap sushi go to the grocery store. Really amazing. Sit at the bar - we had amazingly attentive service.
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You have to pay for quality
Reviewer: Tony
from Santa Barbara, CA
What an experience...Just awesome food. Understand when you eat at Arigato's that it isn't about quantity, it's about quality. I took a friend here for his B-Day and we spent $200 for the two of us. Understand that we didn't hold back, we can both eat a lot of food and our bar tab was a significant portion of the bill. Because of the price I won't be eating here weekly but when I'm ready to step up and do something special I can't imagine going somewhere else.
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To The Guy Below
Reviewer: Mike
from Santa Barbara, CA
If you had Subway after getting sushi you are a joke.
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Not really worth it
Reviewer: Brian
from Santa Barbara, CA
I spent $60 on dinner for two. And what did I do when we left the restaurant? Went to Subway for a footlong sub. Not only did it taster better, but I only had to spend $6. If you want sushi that's worth the price, tastes better, and comes adult sized portions, try Kyoto, East, or even Something's Fishy or Edomasa. Ordering three rolls at any one of these places has always been enough for two (we ordered four at Arigato).
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WOW OVERATED
Reviewer: Logan
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have allways heard the best sushi in toen is either here or Sakana. I have always gone to Sakana and i decided to try arigato. Everybody says how great the food is.But i think it is average. The service is terible. They gave us wasabi on are sushi when we asked for no wasabi. And the Waitress dissapered. I say stick to Sakana.
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Amazing
Reviewer: Kevin
from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been to a lot of Japanese restaurants around the world, and especially in California, and I can safely say this is in one of my top 3 sushi experiences.
Even in the middle of February, everything tasted fresh, in season, and most importantly delicious. Yeah it's a little pricey, but for what you get, it is high-class eating.
I highly recommend any of the salmon sashimi dishes, or the eskimo roll. Be prepared to spend 20-30 per person.
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ALWAYS the best sushi in town!
Reviewer: Sarah
from Santa Barbara, CA
I had dinner at Arigato on Saturday night. We began our meal with the "Locals Only" appetizer which is always amazing. The sushi rolls we ordered were very tasty and exactly what I was looking for. The yellowtail was so fresh and definitely the best in town.
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Arigato is comfort food to sushi lovers
Reviewer: Dustin
from Goleta, California
First, I've been all over the world and experienced Sushi from Hawaii to Okinawa. Arigato is easily the best sushi place I've visited thus far in North America, and that's saying something.
While I've not had the best service while seated at tables, the perfect service review comes from a simple truth...sushi bars are best experience AT the bar. Also, the place is always packed, so give the wait staff a break. They're working a lot of tables.
The portions are just right. If you're ordering nigiri and expect it to be massive, you're at the wrong establishment. The Gold Shot is a great way to start your dinner, and everything else is fantastic. My wife, who is not a sushi fan at all, loves the kobe beef plate and plum wine sherbert.
Finally, the sushi bar staff are the best I've ever had, anyplace. I'd name names, but I'm still trying to remember them all and I'd feel like a jerk if I left anyone out. They go above and beyond to take care of my wife and I, and they all work together so well that you cant help but enjoy being at the bar watching things come together.
Again, the food is ridiculously good. I've never left let down.
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Great food, but bad service
Reviewer: Heather
from Santa Barbara, CA
The food is fabulous, but the service is terrible. The waiters forgot parts of the order, were slow and brought the food out at varying times. I really enjoy the food, but the portions have decreased. Overall I would go back again, but only because I have yet to find a better sushi restaurant in Santa Barbara.
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