Maru has good sushi, decent prices, and while the ambience is not fancy or fabulous, the attentive staff and friendly management provide an enjoyable environment for dinner. \r
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My major complaint, and what will likely drive me to stop eating at Maru, is that they charge a ""corkage"" fee for folks who bring their own liquor, yet they do not have a liquor license and thus cannot themselves provide the beer, wine, and sake. To me this is a misguided and unscrupulous business practice. When I sought some kind of explanation from our waiter and management, they merely shrugged and laughed at my critical observation. \r
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A corkage fee is right and necessary when the restaurant misses out on the opportunity to sell from their stock because of the preference of a patron to bring his/her own alchohol. When the restaurant has not made the investment in obtaining the license and thus cannot provide any drinks, management puts the responsibility for doing so on the customer. Why should we be charged for making the extra effort to provide a product that the restaurant has elected not to provide? \r
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As I said to start, Maru has good food and nice service. I will return to eat at Maru only after they discontinue the ridiculous corkage charge or obtain their own liquor license. Who doesn't want hot sake with sushi? I would gladly pay the rates charged for such service. Sadly, when the waiter and manager let me know they do not care about my concern, they also lost a few good customers and also motivated me to write this review.
Pros: Good sushi, non-pretentious environment
Cons: Misguided corkage charge, no liquor license
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