Bonsai Bistro - Coeur d'Alene

My husband and I have visited this restaurant multiple times, and we’ve always had a positive experience. The menu offers a wide range of Asian dishes, which may not be traditional but are still enjoyable. As a big sushi enthusiast, I'm quite particular about the quality of the fish and rice, and I must say this place serves excellent sushi at a reasonable price. I consider their prices to be fairly average for sushi. It's important to make reservations, especially during busy holidays and weekends. The restaurant has a wonderful family atmosphere, and the Koi pond adds a lovely touch. We definitely plan to come back!

I used to enjoy dining on sushi in the restaurant, but now it seems the only option is to eat at the noisy sushi bar. The waitress explained that we can only order full meals in the restaurant. When we asked if we could get sushi at the bar and bring it to our table, she said no. This means that if one person wants sushi while others prefer stir-fry, the group has to split up or everyone has to squeeze into the sushi bar. It's absurd. Manager, please take note. We left and you lost our business. UPDATE: I’m not surprised the restaurant has closed. Terrible management!

My husband and I have celebrated our anniversary at this restaurant for the past four years and have always enjoyed it, but unfortunately we won't be coming back. While the waitstaff was incredibly accommodating, we were disappointed with the new menu. The food fell short in terms of presentation, flavor, and texture. Regrettably, we'll be exploring other options for our anniversary next year.

I was initially discouraged by the reviews, but I found this restaurant to be quite good. The food was tasty, the portion sizes were generous, and the prices were reasonable. Entrées were around $8 per plate, while the rolls ranged from $12 to $16 but were incredibly large and filled with delicious ingredients. The nigiri was decent too; I was able to choose some tuna and mackerel for about $4 per order. Overall, the food exceeded my expectations for the price. I particularly recommend the special rolls (not the beginner menu ones). They are a bit pricey, but they're worth it for their size and flavor. The service was satisfactory, not outstanding, but I have no complaints. Our waitress was attentive, checked on us regularly, and offered helpful suggestions on how much food to order.

I was extremely disappointed with our early dinner visit to Bonsai. The hosts were unfriendly and lacked any warmth, and our server was rude, only checking on us once. We had to repeatedly ask multiple staff members for a fork. I used to love coming here because the food was great, but this time I was let down by the sushi as well. Overall, it was a terrible experience, and we ended up asking for the bill without finishing our meal. I would never allow my employees to treat customers this way.