Seki Restaurant

Even though Mr. & Mrs. Seki passed away, they sold the store to their friend and experienced sushi artist. Chef Shan uses the same supplier so the fish is just as fresh and carefully selected as if Seki were still there. Students no longer need to be afraid. Mrs. Seki wont back you out the door. The days of calling in a 30 minute window PRAYING that you are allowed to get a reservation (not hung up on) are gone. Everyone is welcome now. They also serve sake now!! more

Seki is really a wonderful place, but I admit it's a place for regulars. Even then, getting a table there isn't easy. It's a small unique family business, not a chain restaurant in a strip mall. The ""hostess"" so often talked about in the reviews here is actually the owner, and she fills her tables each night exactly as she wants. She is very careful not to overbook her husband, the sushi chef-artist (for an artist he truly is) so that he can have the time to create his masterpieces for customers who truly appreciate his art. I know that in this service-obsessed society, people grow very indignant when they don't get the royal treatment. If you need the royal treatment to be happy in a restaurant, stay away from Seki. If you love sushi and want the best in Lexington, then there's a small chance that they may have an open table. Seki is a privilege, not a right. Pros: Great sushi!!!! Family-run. Unique. Cons: Very exclusive-don't even try to walk in off the street for a quick bite... more

The food was pretty good. They probably have to learn how to serve people outside of their close-knit Japanese business community. When a friend of mine called, they said the wait was more than an hour. We got there ahead of time and asked if we could wait inside. It turned out the place was almost empty except for a few customers. It looked like they were expecting a large group of regulars, which did not arrive 1/2 hour after we got seated. It's just sad when you're from out of town with no idea where to eat, craving for good food, find a seemingly authentic place only to be treated like a second-class customer. Pros: Food Cons: Service more

I would love to say that I've eaten at Seki, we've been planning a large group trip for some time now, but I haven't been able to make a reservation due to the fact that the hostess hangs up on me every time I try to call. I've tried 6 times consecutively, yes, that means I hang up and immediately call back. Tip, if you're calling to make a reservation, don't use any definitive words such as 'ok,' upon which she slams the phone back onto the receiver, or 'can I make a reservation on another night' which she interprets as 'have a good night' and again slams down the phone. I've heard good things about this restaurnat, but if they don't have time to show me a bit of common courtesy, then I don't have the time to give them my business. Pros: good reputation Cons: rude workers more

I have been to Seki many times over the past several years. As it has become more well known, it is getting harder to make reservations. There is not a drop of Japanese in me, but have never NOT been able to get reservations except on Friday nights (they fill up quickly). Interacting with the abrupt hostess is part of the experience of the retaurant, and the sushi ""artist"" is amazing to watch. As there is only one human creating the sushi dishes, on busy nights and for large orders, there may be a wait. If you want a fast fish meal, go to Long John Silvers. If you want excellent sushi, it is worth a bit of patience. My boyfriend and I took his daughter there for her 8th birthday and they were fabulous. The hostess even craked a big smile for the occasion. We love the serve your own beer option, and the staff has always been super helpful. You cannot beat the price. And yes, it is cash or check only. If you cannot remember that, particulalry if it is not your first visit, then really that is your problem, not theirs. Pros: Great food Cons: getting reservations on busy nights more

Read the following exeperience from Saturday, September 16th, 2006 at 8 PM.\r I respect the business of Seki, but not its treatment of foreign exchange students. I recently took two students from Japan to celebrate a birthday dinner and they were treated very rudely, beyond any reference point for sensible behavior by the sushi chef himself. They were first time visitors, I was a 5th time visitor who highly recommended the business as an American. However, I will never take another foreign exchange student or American to this place again. Apparently, the chef had profit expectations from our college student group of six individuals (whom he misjudged to be company reps) and we did not order enough food, (beyond 1 entree each), to satisfy his justification that we deserve his ""high quality"" service to begin with. No complaints were made in the restaurant, even though our sushi was overloaded with wasabi, yet we payed the tip which was not deserved and left quietly but now I am writing out against his business for the ill treatment we received, endured and did not publicly challenge within the restaurant. I also did not mention the fact that it was my girlfriend's birthday and the experience ruined her day and she was also, sadly, a first-time guest at Seki who will never return. Also, another detail is that we drove from Centre College in Danville, KY - 45 minutes away to enjoy a nice dinner as the highlight of our evening but due to the chef's inexplainably rude behavior, we left with surprising disappointment and have personally vowed never to return. Nevertheless, I have learned an important lesson - always treat your customers as if it is their birthday (even if it is not). And secondly, I highly recommend Aqua sushi bar in Malone's restaurant (across from Hamburg Pavilion) because of their courtesy, professionalism, equal treatment of varying nationalities and delicious, contemporary sushi creations. Thank you. Pros: nothing honestly Cons: everything more

After trying sushi in New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco and other cities known for authentic restaurants, me and my boyfriend cannot praise enough Seki. We come here every week and not once have been dissappointed with quality or prices. It gets a little noisy sometimes but one should not expect a 4 star ambiance experience in the place run by a Japanese family with wooden tables and self-served drinks. The place is full of light and very clean. The sushi is EXCELLENT, as well as the prices. And Ms. Seki doesn't offer a huge ""dumb"" smile and ""how are you"" but so what??? The service is efficient, very nice and respectful. Try it and you'll be flying back here for some more Seki's sushi. Don't forget to make a reservation! more