Arigato, Winter Park

I had lunch at this sushi restaurant on 436 on Wednesday. It was a Greek place previously and started as a Pizza Hut. It's a square box with low ceilings. A real interior design conundrum. I had the Sushi Combo for $11. Their idea of a combo is sushi alone. It was 7 pieces and a tuna roll. The tuna was tasteless. This is becoming an ongoing concern. I remember when tuna used to be the high light not the enigma. What is happening to the tuna industry? They also snuck in imitation crab and smoked salmon with the fresh fish. Surprisingly the smoked salmon was good. As was the red snapper, white tuna, salmon and surf clam. The pieces were big. The rice was adequate. They did forget the wasabi and ginger. The plating was pretty barren. The service (1) was ok. There were only 6 people there so I have no idea how they handle it if they get full. They said it was the same team that used to be on Park Avenue in Winter Park (different name). The place seats about 80. They tried to make it look Japanese Modern, but, as I said the building is just terrible. They even still have the horrible faux brick walls from when it was Pizza Hut. But, now to the real problem. It's no bargain. They have 72 rolls. Exactly 1 (non veggy) is under $5. Most are at or near $10. Their seafood entrees are near or over $20. They have 1 sushi bar appetizer under $10. Most sushi is above $5 (a piece?). And as for the sushi lunch specials (they kind of try and hide that menu), the place near me gives me a salad, a soup, a bowl of rice, octopus salad, seaweed salad and an orange for the same price. Plus they have $1 piece happy hour. It's the same quality. You can't be in the middle of no where, in a poor neighborhood, in a bad building and charge these prices. The emptiness of the restaurant should inform you of the emptiness of your business plan. I expect to see a "for lease" sign here before the summer is over.