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I decided to check out the 103 Ave A Japanese Restaurant and Gallery, an old reliable that I’d frequented often. This Japanese Restaurant/Gallery, first opened almost thirty years ago was the original of what was to be a cornucopia of indistinguishable and forgettable sushi restaurants to follow in the Lower East Side. 103 Ave A was the “IT” place during the 80’s and 90’s attracting such as Leo DiCaprio and Chris Noth during the Lower East Side’s renaissance: The retro neon sign was the same but the entrance was now more welcoming revealing a bar crowd that was discussing strangely enough the sanctions of the French government against its rebellious World Cup soccer team. The once unattractive carpeting and what seemed like sawdust flooring in an old saloon décor was now replaced by a more modernist environment, including a futuristic attractive bar setting and tile flooring from recycled tires, an unmistakable “ going green” homage since I’m told it costs more than the standard. The sushi bar in the rear still harkened of a Zatoichi movie…original and familiar but the sound of David Ruffin and the Temptations that the house DJ was spinning still seemed oddly out of place as was Ruben Blades’ Pedro Navaja almost twenty years ago when I first visited 103 Ave A. The DJ characterized the music as eclectic but the range from Celia Cruz to Rod Stewart and Michael Buble was, if not interesting, at the very least not boring. No one seemed to mind that I stopped and perused the three dozen or so pieces of artwork that were displayed with unexpected panache- some pedestrian but more than a few pieces commanded a second look. I recalled the dining room being the avant garde showcase to many a struggling East Village artist in the early eighties . I joined in the soccer discussion and ordered what the owner was having: a pomegranate mojito that was mysteriously fruity and refreshing yet one could feel the strong kick of the rum. As part of a 6 buck special on Sundays, this was worth the price of admission; a “ Dynamite”- a tin foil wrapped appetizer of fragrant and sweet scallops with mushrooms dressed lightly in Japanese mayonnaise with a jalapeño infusion was tantalizing if not spectacular. The sashimi combination was elegant and beyond expectations in terms of freshness and verve. The cost of this meal was under 30 bucks, a different and utterly delightful experience under a new managerial regime.

Honestly I was very disappointed by the past services they had. So I came back few years later thinking maybe things changed after they changed it to avenue a the place seem as if it had a great face lift. nice atmosphere, very good service, good food and great improvement!

Found this place this fall and loved it! However I have already seen a decline in service just over the past few months! I don't know what happened, but everyone has become extremely short and rude. I understand that they're busy, but there's a point where rudeness like this can't be overlooked. Eating in the service was acceptable, but ordering take out lately has been difficult. I had to call back to pay for the food because the guy hung up before I could tell him my method of payment. He barely said more than 10 words ending both phone conversations simply in a cold. okaybye. It's really upsetting that their food is so good because if this continues to happen they are definitely losing my business.

I've been going here since it opened, maybe 20 years (?) and it's been one of my standby sushi places. I love the fun music/dj atmosphere and the food has always been decent. However, tonight we ordered the wrong thing and now I'm very disappointed and will never go back. After seeing the other recent reviews I'm thinking it's not just me. We were 4 people and all wanted a variety of sushi so we ordered the Sushi Boat, something I've never had before. The waiter explained that it was rolls, sushi & sashimi and was nice about substituting things we don't like (ie that weird fake crab crap they always try to unload on people who think it's fish) with other fish. The oyster appetizer was delicious. The surprise was that there was no sushi: there were 4 rolls and the rest was sashimi. When I mentioned it to the waiter he snidely said "well do you want some rice?" which is besides the point. I think they purposefully serve the sashimi so you will still be hungry and have to order more food. After $95 for the boat we were still hungry and ordered another roll. Magically, between the time we sat down and the time we ordered more food, the half price special was no longer valid. We were still hungry even after that last roll (only 2 pieces per person in a roll) but just ready to go home. At the end, after 2 sakis & 3 sodas plus one shared dessert incl tip it was $163 for 4 people and we left hungry. In fact, I'm now going to lower my initial value rating on this review as I consider that we spent over $40 per person and were 100% unsatisfied.

ive loved ave a for 7 years strong and last night i was humiliated to have brought friends there - it was honestly embarrassing. they didnt once clean the table, and we had to literally find the waiter to get our order taken. the bill came to $50pp and for that money you should at least get DECENT service. the food was edible but nothing impressive at all. I went to tell the manager how upset i was (really, upset - its my favorite place in the city) and he basically told me the table was sticky bc of saki bombs (which we didnt do). im devastated that my favorite restaurant is no longer, embarrassed to have brought friends there, and pissed the manager was ungrateful and rude. never again, ave a, never again.

I recently went there for the art show...the food was great after receiving it 40-50 minutes after ordering...the waitress was unattentive and slow...the music was just a little too loud...felt like i was at a concert yelling to my fellow diners...what should have been decent volumed dinner talk...all in all it wasn't bad...the service killed it...but the art and friends made it a fun night...

So my friend and I went in to order take-out, and after being told there was a credit minimum of $15, my friend decided to put both rolls on her card and I would pay her back. The hostess then charged the rolls separately, but both on my friend's card [two $13 charges]. She then asked why she had two charges on her card, but the hostess didn't understand what she was asking. I tried to step in and explain things, saying that she put in the orders separately so she charged them separately. [but if she was going to break the credit card rule I obviously would've put my own food on my card]. So I was explaining to my friend that I would give her the cash for mine, and that I would owe her seven bucks. It was at this point that a waiter who was completely uninvolved until this point interjected with "oh my god, it's $7, is it going to kill you?". By now, we were fed up with the service and canceled our order. We were simply inquiring as to why we were charged the way we were, and we were met with a very hostile response. As a paying customer and a manager of a boutique, I know all too well that this is NOT the way you speak to the business that walks through your door. Especially when most of your tables are empty at 9pm.