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| - "Jane, you ignorant slut..." - Dan Aykroyd
(That's basically what I'm thinking as I read some of these sushi bar reviews. I mean, who the heck rates a sushi bar based on the distance of the walk to the restaurant or the taste of the 'prime rib' they order there?)
First of all, I think this is about a 3 1/2-Star. Let me explain why but before I do... I want you, dear reader, to think about an important question: "What is the criteria for good sushi?" I believe there are some very basic criteria:
-- FRESHNESS
How soft is the fish? Does it smell? Is there a slimy texture to it? Does it melt in your mouth? And doesn't this depend a lot on when fresh fish arrives? DUH. Ladies & gentlemen, I think we just solved the question of "why are the reviews all over the place for Sushi Roku?"
-- CHEF SKILL (Selection, cut, preparation)
What portion of the fish is served to you? And how that portion sliced? Is it prepared with something in addition to rice, like a plum sauce? How is the formula for this restaurant's sushi rice? These are all things that should be considered in looking at sushi because they can all drastically affect the overall meal.
-- PRESENTATION
Does the dish appear appetizing? What kind of wasabi & nori is used? Is special sashimi shoyu provided with sashimi dishes? Sushi that looks unappetizing is just plain poorly made sushi. A significant part of the experience of dining isn't just eating but the anticipation of eating as well.
The fact is that Sushi Roku's sushi is just "okay". On the days they get their shipment of fish delivered, the quality is very good. Other days, not so much. Their chefs aren't bad but like most touristy places in Vegas, you don't form a relationship with the chef. At best, you get to know the restaurant manager. What compensates for some of the variation is the fact that Sushi Roku, despite its upper crust placement, is about 20% CHEAPER than the other big name sushi restaurants. (i.e. Nobu) This difference in cost will be important later when I go over group visits. The sushi starts them 3-Stars.
What gets them a little more over 3-Stars however are the other things.
-- FOOD/DISHES
They have a fair number of "group oriented" dishes both incorporating raw fish or those that are cooked, allowing dinners to be eaten & shared by people who both "eat sushi" & "don't eat raw fish". (Here's the menu: http://www.sushiroku.com/sushiroku/menus/lv.asp) Additionally, the atmosphere is a lot more "relaxed" with the pretension & arrogance turned down a few notches, compared to some other sushi joints.
This makes Roku surprisingly "party friendly" for folks doing group get-togethers or Bachelorette Parties, etc. since with the well-balanced menu, everyone can order something cheaply that they'd be willing to eat, & then pass it around w/out getting too dressed up. You don't comfortably get this in many restaurants in Las Vegas, even Nobu.
-- SERVICE
The wait staff is okay but what defines Sushi Roku however is Kenji Tamida - General Manager of Sushi Roku, Las Vegas. Most of the time, you can find the well-dressed Kenji personally greeting & escorting guests like VIPs to their tables along with the hostess, shaking hands, & making people feel welcome. Kenji has a knack for remembering people & providing that high quality, repeatable touch that is lacking in so many turn-and-burn Vegas restaurants today. And if you've got a group , he'll even sit & have a drink with you if you ask him to & tell you about what's hot in the city, 'cause he's a high profile partier too. Ask him, & he just might be able to point you to the quickest way to the party, if you know what I mean. If you stop by, be sure to say hi to him by name & tell him you read about him on Yelp. He'll take care of you.
-- DECOR
The décor is similar to what you'd see in Nobu, Yellowtail, etc. What's nice is that the restaurant is configurable for groups of 4 all the way to 30+. Additionally, their view is great: It hangs directly over the Las Vegas Strip & give you a rare up-close 3 story view of everything going on while you're dining. Be sure to make a reservation for a window seat.
BONUS: For some reason, a lot of bachelorette parties come here. I think it's because Roku's known for being a quieter, less dressy, lower profile place & thus I've seen as many as 3 parties going on at the same time, each with the signature wedding veil on the bride to be.
CONCLUSION:
I want to stress that you're not going to go back to Roku over & over for the food. While it's decent, it's stil a notch below places like Nobu & Yellowtail. Ultimately, however it's an all-around good place for groups, birthday parties, bachelor parties, etc., w/ a good balance of raw & cooked dishes w/ something for everyone, personal attention from the management, an unbeatable view, & consistently less lower prices than other sushi houses.
3 1/2-Star
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