"I was delighted to see this recent addition to Hillandale. It gives the adjacent establishments (Chipotle and the Big Greek Caf much-needed competition. I had their signature dish, teriyaki chicken, and an order of California rolls. Both were fresh and tasty, with only slight detractions (the teriyaki a bit oily, and the California rolls slightly lacking the usual characteristic sweetness). The dining area is spacious, with a thoughtful amount of space between a few central tables, and booths lining one wall. The service was friendly and helpful. The food and atmosphere had a certain soul to it that is reminiscent of a place like Ben's Chile Bowl, but with a Japanese menu.Detractions: The sconce lighting consists of very bright white LED fixtures that are harsh and annoying. The nearly-white walls add to the glare. The acoustics are terrible, with no suspended ceiling (as is so common these days in many fast-food restaurants). All the upward utilities were neat and clean, but viewing a bunch of ducts and BX cable just isn't good for ambience. Thankfully, the echo-chamber quality of the space wasn't further degraded by loud music. In fact, the music was actually very subdued, and that is a good thing. (Chipotle needs to take a lesson.)My advice to the owner(s):Paint the walls with Benjamin Moore Glamour Pink, catalog number 2006-40. Put a clear coat over it for durability. Pink is a great color for restaurants because it induces a feeling of calm (but it will cause customers to linger a little longer due to its soothing psychological effect).Replace your daylight-white LED bulbs with ones that have a substantially warmer color temperature, around 2700 degrees Kelvin to 3500K degrees Kelvin.A suspended ceiling is probably out of the question, but see if you can spray the ducts and other large metal surfaces with an acoustic absorbing material such as International Cellulose Corporation's K13 Sound Absorption Spray, made just for that purpose.I look forward to trying more dishes here, and recommend this place for anyone looking for innovative fast food at a fair price."
