Nikai Sushi - ISLAMORADA

This restaurant is situated within the beautiful Cheeca Lodge resort in Islamorada. It features an appealing terrace and the service was excellent. We ordered the tiger roll and a 6-piece nigiri. While the fish was exceptionally fresh, it was difficult to fully enjoy the meal due to the rice, which was hard and tasted stale. It was disappointing to pay $22 for a sushi roll only to encounter such subpar rice. We brought this to our waitress's attention, but unfortunately, there was no offer of compensation. Just a heads up: for these high prices, the quality of the sushi rice does not meet expectations.

Nestled within the Cheeca Lodge Spa, Nikai is undoubtedly one of the finest sushi bars I have ever experienced. The seating is located on an upper level with a lovely view of the resort's beach. The tables are simply adorned with small lamps and live bonsai trees, creating a pleasant atmosphere. The live music adds to the ambiance, providing a backdrop that's lively enough to enjoy while still allowing for normal conversation. However, the food truly takes center stage. During my visit with two others, we shared two sushi rolls and a bento box, and it was simply incredible! If you have the opportunity to visit, I highly recommend it—you won’t be disappointed!

We ordered a poke bowl, but it arrived without rice because they had run out (an Asian restaurant running out of rice is puzzling). We also got two ramens, which were a letdown—the noodles were clumped together, the pork was tough like jerky, and the broth was so salty that I couldn't eat much of it, even though I was starving. They served $80 sake in cracked cups, which felt very unprofessional. In total, the bill came to just under $1,000 for the three of us. I'm shocked that a restaurant charging at such a high price point would deliver food and service of such poor quality.

This is the best sushi I’ve ever tasted! It's definitely worth the price. I highly recommend the luxe roll. Price per person: $30–50. Food: 5/5, Service: 5/5, Atmosphere: 5/5. Recommended dishes: Sushi.

FANTASTIC! From the food to the views, top notch. Started with pork potstickers and kimchi edamame. Delish. Seaweed salad and the nitro roll. Good cold saki also. So hungry forgot to get all the pics Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $50–100 Recommended dishes: Sushi, Wakame Seaweed Salad, Edamame