School Sushi

This was by far one of my worst dining experiences. We were promptly seated for a 6:30 reservation; someone took a drink order and then we waited 10-15 minutes more; a server started taking an order for the table next to us who sat down 5-10 minutes after us; I interrupted her and said that we needed to order (we had about 1 hour 15 minutes and then had to leave for a basketball game). She said "I'm not assigned to your table" but graciously took our order which was nice. I ordered a sashimi dinner and my companion ordered a salad and hot dish. Our assigned waitress showed up to take our order about 10 minutes after we had already ordered and I told her we had already ordered. They brought my soup and salad very rapidly (they came with my dinner) but my friend didn't get any of her food until I was long done with my appetizer; I then got my edamame appetizer which I ordered, and she finally got her salad; her hot dish then came and I still didn't get my dinner. After over an hour I asked someone else to check on my sashimi (our waitress was noticeably absent the entire meal); the original waitress finally brought me a plate over an hour after we had sat down and it was the wrong thing, a sushi combo instead of sashimi and I can't eat rice. They whisked it away to fix it, but after another 15 minutes we had to leave; I didn't get charged for the dinner and they gave it to me in a box as we were headed out the door; literally none of our food came together, we got everything separately which doesn't make for a relaxing dining experience; plus I never got my dinner. They were busy but clearly there is not enough waitstaff for a busy saturday night and there is no coordination between the kitchen and the small sushi bar. I will never return and will advise my friends not to go there.

We had a great time at School. There are only two chefs so when it gets busy you have to be patient. It’s well worth the wait.

Only one parking space for this restaurant was available when we got there and we were the first customer,so parking might be a problem if you book later time, there were about five spaces for the restaurant. I wonder who parked there. But the food and service were great.

I had the Makunouchi, and it was very good. We also ordered the Okonomiyaki and shared it. It was delicious!

I had my favorite dish, Katsu Curry, so did my colleagues. We all loved it.

Lunch was great as always!

Lunch was fabulous as usual. The price was very reasonable, too.

My favorite sushi place in Lex! We sat at the counter and let the chef have fun with several different sashimi selections, it was delicious! Can't wait to go back soon.

We had the lunch special. The Udon noodles were cooked just right and tasted so good.

As usual the lunch was great!
The daily lunch special is very reasonable as well.

Food very good and service was good. Wish the ambiance was a little less modern (tables and chairs). Great to have parking too. Would be nice to have a little more choice on wines by the glass altho I had the Chardonay and my daughter had the new Pinot Nor and both were fine. We will be back.

Food, service, hospitality very good. Will put this restaurant on my regular visit list.

Real Japanese food restaurant!
Workers are friendly.

We all had a great lunch!!! Their lunch special is a very good deal.

They were one of the few places with a short wait and were availavble on Open Table when we went to see Justin Timberlake. Food was not the best I have ever had (sushi) but it was very good. They seemed short staffed and way too busy for it, so we had to flag down people to try to get our appetizers and such and we were not the only patrons to do so. The staff was friendly though and trying their best you could tell they were stressed. In fact, I even caught the bartender telling some guests if they were trying to make the concert on time they may not make it due to how busy they were (before they ordered) which I felt was honest and I can respect that. I hope they maybe can get some more help in there, because it was a nice little spot.

Service was incredibly slow (30 minutes before anyone even came to the table) and the food wasn’t that great.

We live in Cincinnati and drovefor almost two hours to have dinner @ School. The food was fantastic, and it was definitely worth the drive.

Bad experience for us, unfortunately. The restaurant was very clean and the menu looked most impressive, but the service would rank among the worst I've experienced in Lexington. We placed our order for 5 sushi rolls within minutes of sitting down and waited patiently for about 40 minutes before the first of our food arrived. Finally, one roll came out and we thought, no problem, we ordered a lot of food, so one at a time is fine. We ate our first roll and patiently awaited the next. Groups who had come in long after us were already getting their food so we figured the rest of ours was on the way.

About 30 minutes went by. Another waiter who was passing asked if we were still waiting on food (major red flag) and I told him we were, having not seen our waitress in about half an hour by that time. About 5 or ten minutes later, our waitress showed up to apologize for our wait and I kindly asked if we could go ahead and cash out, right as our 2nd roll was delivered, which we did. No complaints about the food. Both rolls we received were fantastic, but not worth an hour and a half wait.

Finally, someone who I assume to be the manager came out extremely apologetic but didn't offer anything to make things right. At no point did the restaurant SEEM exceptionally crowded but clearly they were having trouble keeping up on a Friday night. Not sure if we'll be back but the quality of what we were able to enjoy was great. Just needs better organization and communication.

We waited 15 minutes for water. They seemed overwhelmed by having tables. It was a Friday night. The server was nice, but we wanted this to be a fairly quick dinner. We were there over 1.5 hours for 3 sushi rolls, edamame & 2 drinks. I’d go back because the sushi was good...but not if I have somewhere to be, like the concert we were very late for.

The quality of the food is always excellent! The service was great!

Great Sushi!! I love here...

Amazing food but weird server. We shared ramen and got three full rolls of sushi for a great price. Will always come back.

The service is as good as the food, The owner, Tomoka, is very friendly and nice to the customers.

We had the Lunch Special. (They offer three specials on weekdays.) It was great!

When we arrived to find that Mr. Sugano, whose namesake restaurant closed 2 years ago for him to travel and golf, was tending the sushi bar, we were elated. He is, simply, the best sushi chef we have encountered anywhere in the US, and School is finding some wonderfully fresh fish on which he can perform his magic. Bravo School- may Sugano fill in for a few months.

Lunch was fabulous!!! It's the best Japanese restaurant in Kentucky for sure!

Went for lunch, when we arrive we were told the sushi chef did not show up for work. Our order came and it was made out of ground crab and tuna, gross on many levels. Our original order included salmon but they couldn’t find the salmon. Portions were plentiful, however the food truly left something to be desired. For me this is a no go restaurant!

I am Japanese. This has been one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Lexington, KY. In this location, the menu is exclusively focused on Japanese cuisine. Some of my favorite Japanese dishes disappeared from the menu, but added new ones (e.g., takoyaki or octopus balls). I highly recommend School for lunch if you work around downtown. Food is solid. Rarely School's food disappoints me. The ambiance of this new location is better than the last.

The lunch special is such a deal. The food is very good and so reasonable.

Great food and extremely friendly, attentive service. We will go again soon!

This is a gem for Lexington...so serene and beautiful. And the best sushi!!

We had a business meal with some visitors from Japan. They all loved the authentic Japanese food.

Perfect place to meet a friend! Delicious!

School has the best Katsu Curry I have ever had. It's so filling and yet reasonable. I highly recommend it.

Lunch was fablous!!! All the food they serve is so authentic that we love it.

I had Katsu Curry - It's the best in the U.S.!!! I highly recommend it.

Great fresh sushi! Service was amazing , and food came out in a timely manner.

We truly enjoyed the authentic Japanese lunch.

Having lived in Japan for many years, I am spoiled to the authentic Japanese cuisine/sushi experience. School absolutely smoked my very high expectations!

The ambience was modern and sophisticated but still warm.

The service was prompt and attentive but still gave us enough space/time to develop the experience. It was well balanced.

The appetizer portions were generous and the presentation was true. The flavors were intense and authentic.

The sushi was some of the best I have had in America. Cool temperature, visually fresh/good color, great flavors and great accompaniments.

We will be back and I have already recommended this establishment to some discerning palates.

*I was not compensated in any way for this review*

Lunch was fabulous. I had never seen the restaurant so busy for lunch. I am very glad the restaurant is getting more and more popular and that many people appreciate the fantastic food.