My Family, and I recently made a trip to the Japanese restaurant called Sakura. I had seen the locations several times, but until now we had never stopped in. Under the suggestion of friends, we visited the location and were very surprised and delighted. The prices were reasonable for a nice restaurant, and the food was pretty good. This restaurant has become one of our local favorites. It definitely is where you would take a person for a novel dining experience.
For 3 of us our bill ran around $88 before tip. This included sushi platter, 2 appetizers, 1 tempura shrimp meal, a bowl if miso ($2.50), 1 desert, 3 sodas, and a green tea. The miso soup was very good, and only cost $2.50. I ordered the tea and shared it with everyone...they all greatly enjoyed the green tea. As a bit of a tea snob I can say that the green tea was brewed to perfection, and required little in the way of sugar or honey.
My husband reports that the sushi was outstanding. Though cheaper than many other restaurants, it was as good.
Website: http://www.sakuratoledo.com/ (I do not think this is a major chain, but I could be wrong)
What we really found interesting, and fun was the classic straw-mat dining-room. This we have seen no where else in the Toledo area. The straw mat room is where we ate.
Outside, the front door.
Strawmat diningroom. You must remove your shoes to eat here. Otherwise, with shoes on you will damage the delicate floor.
There is normal seating, and even a bar.
My miso soup, and salted soybeans still in their pod.
Friend rice, and shrimp tempura.
Our sushi. Notice it comes on a traditional serving platter.
Another look at our sushi.
Me in my kimono.
All in all, we enjoyed the meal and plan on coming back. The prices are good for such a nice setting, and the meal was quality. This has just become one of our local favorites.