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| - Prologue:
My fiancee and I were attending a performance at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and we were looking for a nice place to have dinner before the show.
We came upon this new sushi restaurant while strolling around near the Center and decided to give it a try.
The Plot:
We started by sharing an order of Fried Calamari (those of you who have read some of our previous reviews are well aware that I am virtually incapable of passing up an opportunity to order this starter).
That was followed by a Golden Dragon Roll and the Sasaki Poki Bowl.
We also enjoyed a complimentary Calamari Salad (more about that below).
The Scene:
The portion sizes for all of the items we ordered were decent and more than enough for the two of us to share.
The Fried Calamari rings were plump, tender, juicy, and delicious.
During this course my fiancee and I discussed the fact that the term 'calamari' is often used as a generic term for squid on restaurant menus. In reality, of course, the term 'calamari' refers to one just specific species from among over 500 species of squid. Judging by the diameter and thickness of the rings we were served, this was undoubtedly a species other than calamari; however the dish was, never the less, very yummy.
The Golden Dragon Roll was perhaps the most artistically presented sushi roll we've ever ordered (see Billie's photo below). Although I agree with the general concern shared by some chefs and gourmands regarding inedible garnishes, in this case I was more than willing to set aside any such concern and simply enjoy the experience.
There was a lot going on in the roll itself as well. Often times when a sushi roll is this complex, the flavor of the fish tends to get somewhat drowned out. However, in this case, the flavor of the fish still came through, was fresh, light, and balanced well with the flavors of the other ingredients.
Our experience with the Sasaki Poki Bowl was very similar to the Golden Dragon Roll in that the flavor of the fish was fresh and light without being overpowered by the other flavors.
This dish also reminded me of the Poke Tuna Salad we tried at Ramen Dozo (see our review from 11/29/17). My preference for poke, as a result, has now transitioned to this type of dish because of the relatively lighter flavors, as compared to the stronger citrus and pepper flavors of traditional poke.
My fiancee was, for the most part, unfamiliar with squid salad prior to this meal. She is now most certainly a fan and has ordered it again on a couple of occasions since
The presentation was delightful and the portion size was relatively generous.
The Rest of the Story:
The service was very friendly, however the wait for our entrees was somewhat excessive.
Recognizing this, the chef at the sushi bar sent a complimentary, and quite yummy, squid salad to our table, which was much appreciated.
The prices were a little higher than we normally pay at sushi restaurants; however given the location this was to be expected and the difference was by no means exorbitant.
Epilogue:
The convenience of this location and the quality of the food alone deserved 3 stars.
We might have decided against awarding another star due to the long wait for our entrees, however the chef succeeded in making it up to us with the complimentary appetizer.
I expect this will become a regular dining spot for us when attending future performances at the Center for the Performing
Arts.
Photo Design:
by Billie Z.
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