I rarely go to a sit-down chain restaurant but when I'm feeling that sense of emptiness and loss created by the passing of the old Sushi Rock Downtown (yes, the sadness is still there) I find that Wasabi perks me up.
The fish has always been fresh (a must for any sushi place, of course) and the creators of the menu know when to not mess with traditional -- the nigiri is simply the fresh seafood and rice -- and when to mix it up -- the shrimp-based Super Crunch Roll has jalapenos mixed in which mirror the kick of the standard wasabi.
The menu is quite large with all the usual cuts of seafood and there are numerous rolls combining those options. The prices are also decent -- Jeannene and I usually spend about $100 and we feel full and a little tipsy with two drinks each. Ahhh, Tsunami Night, how I miss you.
Their appetizer list is also extensive with a lot of traditional Japanese dishes or at least inspired ones. I always go with the spicy crab salad while Jeannene goes with the seaweed salad which are both fresh and lightly seasoned.
Meanwhile, Wasabi's cocktails -- running the gamut of tropical to dessert -- always seem to be well mixed and not watered down.
We've never been on the hibachi side of the restaurant but it seems like a good place for large groups as it's usually boisterous with a lot of laughing.
One warning -- the service can get slow at times, depending on how crowded it is, so assume that you are going to have a more leisurely dinner.