Sushi Samba Rio

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504 N Wells St (at Illinois Street)
Chicago, IL 60610

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(312) 595-2300
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Sushi Samba Rio - Chicago, IL
Sushi Samba Rio - Chicago, IL
Sushi Samba Rio - Chicago, IL
Sushi Samba Rio - Chicago, IL
Sushi Samba Rio - Chicago, IL
Sushi Samba Rio - Chicago, IL
Reviews
( 34 )
( 32 )
( 21 )
( 38 )
( 26 )

Best

The food here is awesome! I had spicy tuna rolls, and they were the best I've ever had. My sister had california rolls, and those were good too. My brother had cooked crab rolls, ...

Worst

Sitting at the sushi bar is the better choice. Tables for two are set up in tight rows which sits you right next to other diners. While you struggle to hear your date, you can h...

Service with an attitude 7/8/2005

Like your sushi with poor service and lots of attitude? Sushi Samba Rio is the place for you. Servers decide which patrons are worth their attention and which aren't. Lot's of gossip and talk at the prep station with little actual food moving to the customers. But hey - you're lucky to be easting here, right? Wrong. This is one restaurant that deserves to go under the knife. There aren't many places that I would make a point of telling patrons to avoid, but this is one of them. Average, overpriced food, neglect and attitude from servers who's lack of attention to their customers' needs is just plain rude - do youself a favor and keep your distance. Cons: service, service, service more
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My mother always told me ... 7/4/2005

... if I can't say nothing nice, then I shouldn't say anything at all. In this case, I think she'd understand -- because I'm doing this as a service to all. I can't even begin to tell you how bad of an experience I had at this restaurant. The service was quite possibly the worst I've ever experienced!!! Everyone we dealt with from the hostess to the wait staff to the management was horrible. To be fair, the bus boys were very attentive and did their job well -- the others should learn from their professionalism. The food was okay, but because the service took so long, I quickly lost my appetite. Restaurants should aim to have great food, atmosphere and service. In this case, because the service was so horrible, this is a place I would definitely steer clear of. Cons: Horrible Service more
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My mother always told me ... 7/4/2005

... if I can't say nothing nice, then I shouldn't say anything at all. In this case, I think she'd understand -- because I'm doing this as a service to all. I can't even begin to tell you how bad of an experience I had at this restaurant. The service was quite possibly the worst I've ever experienced!!! Everyone we dealt with from the hostess to the wait staff to the management was horrible. To be fair, the bus boys were very attentive and did their job well -- the others should learn from their professionalism. The food was okay, but because the service took so long, I quickly lost my appetite. Restaurants should aim to have great food, atmosphere and service. In this case, because the service was so horrible, this is a place I would definitely steer clear of. Cons: Horrible Service more
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Poor Service 6/12/2005

Don't you hate it when a new restaurant gets going and it gets a little hype, then it gets a little full of its self and service goes down the drain? Welcome to Sushi Samba. My business associates waited 1.5 hours before we got our food (how embarrassing). They didn't check on us, we had to request to order, get drinks, and get the soup and salad that came with the meals. Unreal! more
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Poor Service 6/12/2005

Don't you hate it when a new restaurant gets going and it gets a little hype, then it gets a little full of its self and service goes down the drain? Welcome to Sushi Samba. My business associates waited 1.5 hours before we got our food (how embarrassing). They didn't check on us, we had to request to order, get drinks, and get the soup and salad that came with the meals. Unreal! more
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For insecure goofballs and dorks 5/23/2005

I couldn't believe I was duped into going to such a ridiculous place. It's your classic scene where tons of inscure dorks are hanging out trying to be hip. If paying exhorbitant prices for bad food, terrible service, and hanging out with the "trendy" crowd (aka the herd) is your scene, then by all means go. Otherwise, spare yourself the agony. more
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For insecure goofballs and dorks 5/23/2005

I couldn't believe I was duped into going to such a ridiculous place. It's your classic scene where tons of inscure dorks are hanging out trying to be hip. If paying exhorbitant prices for bad food, terrible service, and hanging out with the ""trendy"" crowd (aka the herd) is your scene, then by all means go. Otherwise, spare yourself the agony. more
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Great Restaurant!!! 2/25/2005

I loved the coconut rice,the chicken teryaki and of course the sushi. I will come back again. The prices were average for the type of restaurant. The decor and ambience was very nice. Pros: Ambience, Drinks, Food more
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Great Restaurant!!! 2/25/2005

I loved the coconut rice,the chicken teryaki and of course the sushi. I will come back again. The prices were average for the type of restaurant. The decor and ambience was very nice. Pros: Ambience, Drinks, Food Cons: none more
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Turn down the bass! 1/7/2005

Am I getting old (31) or is it just way too loud in this place to have any semblance of a conversation? Great, inventive food and prompt service (improved over my last visit); however, sitting in front of one of the many subwoofers almost ruined an otherwise good meal. I'll second-guess going back to this place if I intend to do anything beyond sit at the bar for a quick drink. Is there any place with more visible cleavage? Come on girls, have some pride. Your dad might be at the bar picking up your friends. Pros: Food, Service more
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Turn down the bass! 1/7/2005

Am I getting old (31) or is it just way too loud in this place to have any semblance of a conversation? Great, inventive food and prompt service (improved over my last visit); however, sitting in front of one of the many subwoofers almost ruined an otherwise good meal. I'll second-guess going back to this place if I intend to do anything beyond sit at the bar for a quick drink. Is there any place with more visible cleavage? Come on girls, have some pride. Your dad might be at the bar picking up your friends. Pros: Food, Service more
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I won't go back! 11/10/2004

7 of us went for a friend's birthday. Ambience is very nice. We had alot of food, but the food was average at best. The only thing I recommend is the scallops....those were good. Everything else was ok. Way overpriced. The mojito was not good. Not recommended! Pros: Scallops, Ambience Cons: , Food more
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I won't go back! 11/10/2004

7 of us went for a friend's birthday. Ambience is very nice. We had alot of food, but the food was average at best. The only thing I recommend is the scallops....those were good. Everything else was ok. Way overpriced. The mojito was not good. Not recommended! Pros: Scallops, Ambience Cons: , Food more
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A Great restaraunt- The best sushi 5/23/2004

As a chef I go out to eat as much as I possibly can. I went to sushi Samba in chicago on Saturday and it was the best and freshest fish that I ever had. The toro was wonderful and the staff was very welcoming. The atmosphere was top notch and the presentations of the dishes were different in that they put all of the sushi on one plate. The miso soup had the biggest chunks of tofu I ever had. Thank you for the experience. Josh Green Pros: miso soup, Staff, atmosphere more
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A Great restaraunt- The best sushi 5/23/2004

As a chef I go out to eat as much as I possibly can. I went to sushi Samba in chicago on Saturday and it was the best and freshest fish that I ever had. The toro was wonderful and the staff was very welcoming. The atmosphere was top notch and the presentations of the dishes were different in that they put all of the sushi on one plate. The miso soup had the biggest chunks of tofu I ever had. Thank you for the experience. Josh Green Pros: miso soup, Staff, atmosphere more
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New Year's Eve Disaster 1/4/2004

Although I had enjoyed Sushi Samba Rio on a previous visit, New Year's Eve was chaotic. The service was remarkably bad. We waited almost two hours for our first course to be served. Our questions / complaints to managers were met with feeble excuses and a continued lack of attention. A night that should have been filled with celebration was tarnished by a horrendous dining experience. We ultimately had to leave hungry, forced to pick up burgers and fries from Wendy's on our way to a party. While this may have been an isolated incident, I will never take a risk on this establishment again. Pros: Good Food, Inventive, Stylish Cons: Slow Service, Expensive, Crowded more
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New Year's Eve Disaster 1/4/2004

Although I had enjoyed Sushi Samba Rio on a previous visit, New Year's Eve was chaotic. The service was remarkably bad. We waited almost two hours for our first course to be served. Our questions / complaints to managers were met with feeble excuses and a continued lack of attention. A night that should have been filled with celebration was tarnished by a horrendous dining experience. We ultimately had to leave hungry, forced to pick up burgers and fries from Wendy's on our way to a party. While this may have been an isolated incident, I will never take a risk on this establishment again. Pros: Good Food, Inventive, Stylish Cons: Slow Service, Expensive, Crowded more
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Delicious 12/16/2003

The food was excellent. Very Tasty. We tried the red snapper dish, the shrimp entree and the steak variety entree and it was all soooo flavorful. Highly Recommend it. But make reservations ahead of time. Pros: Tasty Food, Trendy Crowd, Nice ambience more
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Delicious 12/16/2003

The food was excellent. Very Tasty. We tried the red snapper dish, the shrimp entree and the steak variety entree and it was all soooo flavorful. Highly Recommend it. But make reservations ahead of time. Pros: Tasty Food, Trendy Crowd, Nice ambience more
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Talk about ambience 11/9/2003

This place is has a very good NY feel. Its not bad attitude, but it is posh. The staff is friendly, but inattentive. But when they do come by, they are very helpful and friendly. I expect staff, as in most decent places, to check up atleast once or twice to see how things are going(actually should be a few times). But Not Once! I had to repeatedly wave down our serviceperson. There were extremely long gaps between dishes... even between entrees. I do have to say I like the place, and would go back, but as a piece of advice they should advise guests that they believe in allowing time between courses to atleast excuse their disappearing routines. Maybe its just that they have the staff extremely stretched...I hope they get better as I would recommend them, if you aren't in a hurry to get anywhere later. Pros: excellent food, friendly staff, great sake selection Cons: service times, make reservations more
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Menu for Sushi Samba Rio


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    Chic young Chicagoans flock to this energetic, clubby restaurant, whose blend of pulsing salsa rhythms and Asian influence is already a hit in New York and Miami. The cavernous...

  • 7/20/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Tue 11:30am-11pm Wed-Fri 11:30am-1am Sat 11:30am-2am Sun 12pm-11pm
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central
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