Samurai Sushi

Sushi restaurant · Elliston Place

Samurai Sushi

Sushi restaurant · Elliston Place

2

2215 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203

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Samurai Sushi by TripAdvisor
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null
Samurai Sushi by null

Highlights

Cozy storefront Japanese eatery with inventive sushi plus a selection of Asian beers.  

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2215 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203 Get directions

samurainashville.com

$$ · Menu

Information

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2215 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203 Get directions

+1 615 320 5438
samurainashville.com

$$ · Menu

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dine in
takeout
delivery
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Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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@eater

"The best seats in the house at the Samurai Sushi in Midtown are at the chef’s counter, where it’s easiest to watch the action happen and choose your own adventure. The restaurant offers dozens of rolls, from raw to cooked to rice-free to vegetarian, and even an entire deep-fried section. Sushi Samurai also has larger locations in East Nashville and Germantown that add Korean dishes like bibimbap and beef bulgogi to the equation." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones, Delia Jo Ramsey, Eater Staff

Where to Eat Sushi in Nashville
View Postcard for Samurai Sushi
@eater

"The best sushi bars are small affairs, but tiny, intimate ones are harder to find in Nashville these days. That’s why the six-seat bar at Samurai remains a delight. Not only do you get to see the masters at work, but you’ve also got the proper vantage to point at any piece of nigiri that looks good and order it without embarrassing yourself pronouncing “hokigai.”" - Ashley Brantley

The 13 Best Tiny Bars in Nashville - Eater Nashville
View Postcard for Samurai Sushi

John Lindberg

Google
Look no further for great Sushi. We ordered Yellowtail lover roll and Volcano. The rolls were FANTASTIC LARGE AND VERY TASTY. Seaweed Salad was delicious. The atmosphere was very authentic. Just like downtown Tokyo. Small, personable and very cozy. The service was top notch. Best part was the ice cold glasses for our beers. Check the pic. ICY COLD. Went great with sushi. We will be back.

Daniel Jones

Google
Best sushi in town!!! Truly a hidden gem in Nashville. Service is great too! We had the gyoza, rainbow roll, crunchy shrimp roll, and had to get just one more, the tempura Cali roll (see pics). The beer and Saki deal is killer too!!

Stephen Saralvarez

Google
This is definitely a 5 star restaurant! The service is fast and great. The sushi was absolutely delicious, and very well priced for the amount. I believe my girlfriend's here on a date and we absolutely loved the vibe of the place. Really feels like a hidden gem.

Nate Peters

Google
Very good sushi at a surprisingly reasonable price, the house hot sake is also really great for how little they charge. $11 for a carafe, definitely recommend. Also very quick service, beware though the place is small so if it’s busy that’s important to know

Dana Anderson

Google
My husband and I were blown away visiting Samurai!! The quality of sushi is amazing, and there were so many items on the menu that it was so hard to choose what to try! The atmosphere is cozy, and feels like you’re walking into someone’s dining room. Very ambient and great for a date night! My husband got the fried calamari roll and crunchy shrimp roll. I got the red dragon roll and the Jane roll. Everything tasted amazing!!

Dustin Hill

Google
Best Nashville sushi. Can get somewhat busy and I've had my order go missing once in the decade I've been going here. All in all the are incredibly friendly and the food is great. I can recommend all the rolls that omit cucumber, but I would suspect the rolls with cucumber are also great if cucumber is okay with you. If you are sushi adverse this place is not for you as you will not find chicken teriyaki on the menu. Strictly great sushi.

Javiér Picón (The Coachman Boricua)

Google
What a great place to eat so delicious. The chef was amazing he has been there for 10 years this guy is good. Can’t wait to return. I travel all over the USA and Canada is hard to find great places. This place is amazing

Adam Rodrigues

Google
I've been to numerous sushi places in Murfreesboro and a few in Nashville. This is by far the best sushi I've had in the area. It may be the best I've ever had. You can just tell the ingredients are so fresh and superior to what I've had elsewhere. Amazing!

Joseph T.

Yelp
Whenever I get food from this place it has always been through Uber Eats. This time I decided to eat indoors as I was in the area with my partner. Walking in, there is a sushi bar where you can sit in front of the chef as they make fresh sushi, or you can sit on the left where the tables are. We opted for the table. There are photos and varying art pieces ranging from news articles about the restaurant, past visitors or shots from Japan that tie into the experience. We ordered the Hurricane Roll, Jane Roll, Eel Roll, Yellowtail roll, Smoked Salmon Nigiri and another Nigiri that I cant remember(Maybe Tuna). The Hurricane roll was the best! The Jalapeño added a perfect contrast and kick to the fish. After having it delivered and eating in person, I have to say that it tastes better in person vs having it delivered. If you're looking for sushi in Midtown, Samurai will not disappoint.

Brooke W.

Yelp
I've ordered takeout from here a few times, but have never dined in. Ordering is easy, food is ready quick, and is always packaged well. I ordered the ninza, crispy, and salmon roll. Feel like the fish could have tasted a little fresher , but the crispy roll had really good flavor. Prices are also super reasonable for what you get!

Dillon M.

Yelp
Awesome little sushi joint! We had a great experience here and the food was delicious! Super friendly staff as well! Food: 5/5 Cost: 4/5

Rylie L.

Yelp
Favorite little sushi place in Nashville! It's a casual dining spot and is very quiet. The staff is always SO nice and the food comes out quickly which is great! The food itself is always unbelievable, doesn't even matter what you order! The only downside is that there isn't a designated parking area but there's a bunch of street parking around and i've never had an issue finding a spot!

Pam H.

Yelp
Located in the heart of Nashville this sushi spot is not only budget friendly but the food was phenomenal . Sushi tastes super fresh and will have you ordering more, trust me! Yum yum roll is my recommendation for one of the rolls . Chilli edamame heads up you might as well ask for a spoon because the sauce on bottom is that good. (Dip your sushi rolls in ) not much of an ambience or a vibe but for the price this place is way better than a 5 star restaurant. The service for our first time was really good and the food came out pretty fast . For the price and the food give this place a try

Tina C.

Yelp
I'm a fan! Have had their Like Butter and Tiger rolls, as well as their salmon sushi. I'd say their rolls are most worth for quantity, quality, and taste. The Like Butter roll actually does melt in your mouth but does not taste "like butter" (in a good way). Tiger roll also super flavorful and well textured. Definitely a convenient place to grab a quick and light bite!

Dave D.

Yelp
11/2022 and still our favorite! They have moved a few doors down ... inside really warm and cozy. Today was a carry out day, ordered Sashimi, multiple cut rolls and hand rolls. All good and fresh - prices have gone up a bit so not the steak it used to be, but imo worth the $$. Note ordering using online ordering the prices are higher per item vs walking in and ordering. Service was friendly and fast! Much better than their other location in Germantown... We still highly recommend.

Heather Rose M.

Yelp
This hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant has been one of my favorites in nashville. There are a couple tables inside and we were able to sneak in during the week. The sushi was delicious, reasonably priced, and they have a wide variety of rolls. The staff was very friendly and timely! I will be coming back soon.

Chad C.

Yelp
Food was good, everyone was nice . Too bad I don't live here or I would definitely comeback and try more of the menu . Small establishment but very homie and comfortable. I would suggest a visit when in town. Especially if you are tired of the hustle of broadway.

Doug G.

Yelp
Samurai Sushi, a local legend in the sushi game here in Nashville! I have not had the best luck in finding solid sushi spots since moving here, so I jumped at the opportunity to visit Samurai with a local pal of mine. There are (3) Samurai locations around the city in Germantown, East Nashville and this location on Elliston in Midtown. There has been some mixed news about this location being permanently closed and now the latest as of February 2022 shows that have re-opened and are undergoing a full renovation. I hope the latter is the truest of all the news, as this would be an absolute go-to for me! However, I could understand if they are closing this location as the building they are in is pretty worn down and vacant outside of Samurai. With their recent reopening, they have limited seating in the front part of the restaurant, none at the sushi bar itself. Seating is 4 tables, a few 4 tops and one 2 top. So, best bet would be pick-up or take out right now. Additionally, they are still waiting on their liquor license, so drink options are limited. We happened to walk in right as someone was getting up from a table, so we sat down quickly. The owner was our server and she was very friendly and efficient. She made sure we had what we needed and she was also managing the constant line of drivers picking up food, to-go orders and pickups. For such a small place, they have a pretty healthy sized menu that features 40+ rolls, 15+ nigiri/sashimi options and 10+ appetizers/salads/soup. We started with edamame and Takoyaki, which is friend octopus balls. They were absolutely heavenly and clearly freshly fried, because they were HOT! From there we jumped right into a few rolls. I had and enjoyed the Volcano Roll and a Philadelphia Roll. The Volcano roll was my favorite of the two. While I know Philly rolls are basic, this was a little more basic on flavor than I was hoping. Pricing isn't terrible on the rolls with some of the basic rolls being around $7 and majority of the special rolls being around $12. Overall, very happy to have visited Samurai. I am excited to see what this location does in the future. Definitely a local sushi spot that will be a go-to for me in the city!

Brian C.

Yelp
Highly recommend the Thai Tea and the crab Rangoon. We had awesome service and has a great atmosphere.

Bruhdidnt_ask D.

Yelp
I hate dragon ball legends why cant i get frieza i have suumoned so many times and i got sparkings the whole time and i got lf yellow frieza like why cant i get a good new unit without getting shafted.

Chumsy K.

Yelp
I love the food!!!! Yummyyyyyy We sat upstairs in a cute little room. Everyone was super nice.

Lily L.

Yelp
Delicious!!! The sushi chef at Samurai has been there for over ten years and the nigiri and rolls he puts together are amazing!

Ava P.

Yelp
Wonderful food! They were knowledgable about, and sensitive to, food limitations. Perfect for celiacs or others who are gluten free!

Phil L.

Yelp
Was in Nashville for a couple of nights. Wife didn't feel like going out so decided to pick up to go sushi. Place looked nice and staff was friendly. The food was excellent. Tasted fresh and was priced very reasonably. I would highly recommend this place.

SeRi J.

Yelp
Great ambience and service! Currently traveling in Nashville for work - menu and pricing seems reasonable. Id recommend this place for anyone who is looking for something within the affordable price range and is traveling solo!

Jennifer P.

Yelp
We came here for my birthday dinner after other plans we had fell through. The place is TINY. Street parking outside and crossing the street with our kids was a bit treacherous. Once inside, we were seated promptly and squeezed into one of three tables in the restaurant. The staff was very friendly and attentive. But I got the vibe that it's more of a takeout kind of place. We tried the edamame, which was delicious, and got a variety of sushi rolls + tempura shrimp for the kiddos. The sushi was amazingly fresh and the flavor combinations were on point. We live about 40 minutes away, but I would consider ordering and picking up in the future if we're looking for an adventure. Overall, very good, would recommend!

Shawn M.

Yelp
Went here years ago when I lived in Nashville. What's up with all the moving on the block. Very small. Not bad but not so good. The "Big Daddy Roll" is not so... big anymore. Standard size. So disappointing.

Bryan N.

Yelp
Amazing and cozy sushi spot. We stumbled in here after visiting the Parthenon and were blown away! The Takoyaki was maybe the best I've ever had, the Jalapeño Bombs were just spicy enough, the Shirinp Tempura was perfectly fried and delicious! We got some traditional fare and also some of the fusion stuff...OMG the Miss Iron blew us away! Fresh fruit and fish forever! The eel nigiri was on par with my favorite sushi spots in Austin, and the salmon sashimi melted in our mouths. As soon as the Alaska Roll was delivered to the table our kids starting fighting over it, so we had to order another one. Both were instantly gone. We'll be back!

Abrianna R.

Yelp
Samurai Sushi is a true gem in the world of sushi. From the moment I entered, the ambiance and decor transported me to Japan. The staff were welcoming, knowledgeable, and attentive. Now, let's talk about the sushi. Each dish was a work of art, beautifully presented. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the flavors were exquisite. The Samurai Special Roll was a standout, with its perfect balance of flavors and textures. Beyond sushi, their appetizers and sides were delightful. The miso soup was comforting, and the gyoza dumplings were crispy and flavorful. To top it off, their premium sake selection was impressive. The staff helped me find the perfect pairing for my meal. Samurai Sushi offers an authentic culinary experience that will leave you craving for more. It's a must-visit for sushi lovers. I can't wait to go back!

Victoria H.

Yelp
Great service and a nice local joint to grab good sushi. The menus selection has a lot of great options and good local beer choices too.

Kylie F.

Yelp
The food was great! It came out really fast, and the owner was so nice! Definitely will come back!!

Wendy S.

Yelp
Authentic and fun. I love the vintage feel! It's small but if you get there and it's crowded there's a Kroger dining room that's up the stairs in the corner. Food is yummy and people are friendly

Kara B.

Yelp
The sushi was really good! Only thing is they need more options for ppl who don't eat sushi but the ramen was fantastic as well!

Jaelea L.

Yelp
I have no complaints for the food but the service is what was awful. Overall it's not a welcoming environment at all. While ordering it's very rushed and you can tell they just want to get it over with. When we were ready to leave we asked for a to go box and our check and after 10 minutes we received neither. The lady acted like we never even asked. We saw her standing near by and tried to get her attention many times and we were ignored. Finally when we got someone's attention it still took a very long time to get our check. It also took us asking about 5 times to get a to go box. It was very frustrating not being able to leave because of that. I DO NOT RECOMMEND DINING IN.

Walter C.

Yelp
They do a great job with take out and to go. Fast, efficient and fresh! It's not restranut sushi but for delivery sushi it's better than average for sure.

Davis M.

Yelp
Best sushi in Nashville! My favorite rolls are Dr Larry, Tiger, Like Butter, and Playboy

Johanna O.

Yelp
Little sushi gem in Nashville. The fish was fresh and staff pleasant. We really enjoyed the Crazy Monkey roll. Extremely reasonably priced. I'd definitely come back if I lived in Nashville.

Shannon C.

Yelp
Unfortunately, East location will likely close. I love the ability to walk to restaurant and when dining in, food has always been great. However, the last 2 times we have visited, no alcohol can be served bc all wait staff is underage and the sushi makers/owners/other staff won't serve. I'd just like a glass of wine with my dinner. Ordered delivery tonight for the first time and the quality fish must be reserved for in house. Favorite roll had half gray salmon throughout. Had to stop eating for texture, fishy flavor and fear of getting ill. Fingers crossed. I hope they can turn it around!

Andi B.

Yelp
Delicious! I got the choo choo roll and the vandy roll. I would definitely get the vandy roll again and would want to try other things on the menu too. I will be back when I'm in town again!

Stephanie B.

Yelp
Great vegan options and service. My friend and I sat at the bar and had a good time. The inside is nice and they have a patio area for when the weather is warm.

LA A.

Yelp
One of the best sushi places in mid-town. I went there quite often with workmates. Unfortunately, I may not have the opportunity to go for sushi at Samurai again since we have moved back to the coast. If you have an opportunity, I highly recommend Samurai Sushi.

Adam B.

Yelp
A unassuming, unglamorous, but wonderful sushi find in midtown Nashville! The decor is a bit stereotypical and the furnishings are a bit old, but what is lacking in trendy ambiance is certainly made up for in the quality and taste of the sushi! I mean, do we go out for sushi for the fancy tables and chairs or do we go for the brilliant blending of flavors and the freshness and quality of the fish and other ingredients?! I had splurged in a few other meals while in Nashville (Biscuit Love - woot woot!) so I didn't want a ton of food. I went straight for 4 types of sashimi and a special Mr Kaiser roll which was topped with seaweed salad! The sashimi was super fresh and delicate; I had yellowtail, mackerel, white tuna, and spicy octopus. The Mr Kaiser roll was spicy tuna and the aforementioned seaweed salad, which was splendid, I love the texture along with the smokiness (is that because of the toasted sesame seeds?) So good! If you're in Midtown and done with hot chicken (or the wait at Hattie B's was too long,) give this little gem a whirl, you belly will be "sushi-full" which is that nirvana of perfectly content full.

Garrett L.

Yelp
This place is amazing! Even though the inside is a bit run down and everything is older, the staff, food, and drinks are fantastic! I had the Choo Choo roll personally. It was fantastic. I've never had strawberries on my sushi before, but I'm sure glad I did! The rest of my group had various rolls you can see pictured. I personally tried every one of them. And can attest that they're all worthwhile. One of my favorite sushi spots in Nash.

Lee A.

Yelp
Best sushi in Nashville. Been coming to this establishment since 2019! Love it! The Mr. Kaiser Roll

Eugenie B.

Yelp
20 min prior to closing I laced a "to go" order to be picked up. I walked down from the Hampton Suites, 0.3 mi. from the hotel. Upon arrival, my order was ready and waiting. Back at the hotel my friend and I were quite pleased with our order of Miso Soup, Salad with ginger dressing which was thick and delicious. Seaweed salad can be hit or miss. Im happy to report this one was a hit. I had Yellowtail Nigiri and a roll. Fully satisfied client here. The place is small, could use a good scrub down and a facelift but I'd definitely order from here again.

Natalya T.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite sushi places in Nashville. I've never been disappointed by their Crazy Roll or really anything I've gotten here. It's the perfect hole in the wall spot that's really great and affordable too!

Samantha C.

Yelp
Average sushi -- plus the ambiance and service left a lot to be desired. Menus were really inaccurate (almost all listed beers/sake were not available) and the service itself was rough. The server, Chris, was not very friendly, short with his responses, didn't know the menu (even scoffed at me as if it was silly to ask where I could find one of the items on the menu that he blindly recommended), forgot what beer I ordered, then messed up one of only two rolls that I ordered. Tons of stuff in the bar area and non-bussed tables around the restaurant that made it feel cluttered/messy inside. To me, if good service is lacking, the restaurant feels messy, menus are outdated AND there are limited products, then it starts making me question what else is not top quality -- like possibly the food/fish itself. Was really looking forward to this place as I'm a big sushi fan, but it was honestly a let down.

Maddie H.

Yelp
Samurai is a small sushi restaurant in Midtown. The front room has a small sushi bar and tables and there is a back room with additional tables. My friend and I came here on a Saturday night around 7 without reservations and were seated right away. We were seeing a show at Exit/In which is right across the street so this was a convenient option for us. Their menu is only sushi rolls and nigiri with a couple of appetizer options. I appreciate the way their menu sorts the rolls by whether they contain raw fish, cooked fish or a combination. Service: 2.5/5 The server seemed very distracted and took a long time to come around and take our order. I also had to keep trying to make eye contact with him when we were ready for the bill at the end. I gave him simple instructions then repeated them to check for his understanding as to how to split the bill (these two items on this card the rest on the other card) yet he came back after a few minutes and asked me to repeat it yet a third time. I'm not sure if he was new or just perhaps was having an off-night. Food: 3.5/5 The food is pretty good but the rolls were average. The rolls weren't stuffed with a lot of fish so I wish that the rolls were bigger. The prices for what we ordered are very reasonable, though. My friend and I ordered: -Edamame ($4.50): Standard with salt, no additional seasoning -Tom & Jerry roll ($9.95): A spicy tuna roll wrapped with boiled shrimp, eel, crunch & wasabi sauce. -Hurricane roll ($9.95): Spicy crab and cucumber roll topped with avocado and spicy tuna -Mr. Daniel roll ($8.95): Spicy tuna and cucumber roll topped with tuna, avocado and spicy mayo Ambiance: 3/5 The restaurant is clean and the decor is traditional. Although small it has a comfortable feel to it. The restroom was also clean in the ladies room. Overall, it was okay and I would give it another shot. However, parking is tricky in this part of town so I would only come back if I had something else to do in the area.

Zach M.

Yelp
Well well well Samurai Sushi... SPOILER: There's not any samurai in the whole restaurant, very disappointed... 0/5. HOWEVER... the sushi was delicious and that made up for the blatant lie in the name so... 5/5.

Patrick S.

Yelp
Came to this place on a whim. Turned out to be some of the best and most affordable sushi I've had in Nashville. I had three rolls and they were all delicious. Chili edamame also an A+. Cool, low-key spot that doesn't try too hard to be "trendy". In one word: delectable.

Matthew P.

Yelp
Love the food and service. Sushi was the best in Nashville will come more. Weekly spot

Kelly N.

Yelp
Great sushi if you're in the Nashville area. Super fresh and unique combinations. Get the avocado bomb and then thank me profusely!

Frankie I.

Yelp
The sushi was decent but not anything amazing. It definitely looked better in the pictures. The pieces themselves were so big it was annoying to eat. The fish also didn't taste that fresh. The place looked clean but had a weird smell to it. However the wait staff were very nice and attentive. The food also isn't worth the price. For how the food tastes I'd be willing to spend half of what I did there *i forgot to take pictures before I started eating. The presentation of the food was very nice*

caitlin k.

Yelp
Freaking delicious. I haven't had quality sushi in so long. I scoured Yelp and Google search to find the best sushi spot in Nashville, and this was on some of the lists, so I took my chance. Ordered take out and stuffed my face at home. Totally worth it. On the more expensive side for the rolls, but worth it to spend more money on quality sushi.

Melissa S.

Yelp
I am always on the lookout for great sushi that won't cost an arm and leg. I've ordered takeout from this restaurant twice. Both times the food has been delicious. I've been very satisfied with all of my orders. I've found an assortment of different types of rolls cooked and uncooked. Well worth the money.

Lisa B.

Yelp
I love sushi I eat it all the time I have had amazing sushi all over the place! This is my FAVORITE sushi place! I was vacationing here for only a few days and went multiple times because of how good it was. The waitress were very friendly and hardworking and the sushi chefs were also very friendly and made the whole experience terrific. If you are in town do yourself a favor and get The "like butter roll"

Shirley C.

Yelp
Quality sushi at a reasonable price! I went with a group of 11 people for a late lunch on a Thursday. We ordered a variety of rolls and shared with each other, which I think is always the way to go when going out for sushi. Assorted Sushi: 4/5 The menu is extensive, with many unique combinations of ingredients that I had never seen before. Overall, the sushi was of good quality, with the fish and vegetables being relatively fresh and the flavors more or less complimenting each other. The rolls we ordered were not the most authentic, but they were delicious. Service: 3/5 The waitstaff was attentive, but I found it strange that, right as we walked in, they mentioned that the kitchen closes in 30 minutes. This made me feel unwelcome, as it gave me the impression that they didn't want our business because they wanted to clean up early. They also struggled to split the check among the group, which was inconvenient for us because we ended up having one person pay and everyone else Venmoing him.

Mateo G.

Yelp
This sushi was really good. I went to three different sushi spots within the week and this is the best one in Nashville. Yes I went to O-Ku, and yes it was significantly better. Not really one to care much for ambience if the food is good. It's kinda hard to screw up real sushi, but I really enjoyed how this place has some fresh rice. I kinda didn't wanna stop ordering. Funny story is, when I first arrived in Nashville someone told me that the city had terrible sushi and I thought, "how bad can you screw up sushi?" I assume they probably meant rolls, which I personally don't get much. But yeah, wasn't really disappointed. Good stuff. Check it out.