Editor Pick
Sakura
- March 6, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
ChelCesa from Orlando, Florida
Walking into Sakura one almost immediately notices the hustle and flow of the unusually set up dining room. My first experience in this restaurant was clouded by the rushed demeanor of the waitress, however, the food was delicious.
The waiting area is hardly big enough to fit the line of people waiting to sit on a Saturday night. We were not greeted with a "How Many?" but a "howmany?wouldyouliketositatthebar?" and when we asked how long for a table, the staff rushed over to a party of two, who had just been seated at a table that would seat three, and asked them to move to a smaller table. The couple obliged, but it didn't seem as though they could have protested. We were rushed to the table and immediately asked for our drink order. Whew.
The menu was ample, but we were mostly in the mood for sushi. Along with the menus, was a long piece of paper and a pencil, listed with about forty different types of sushi, all of which you can order as single pieces of hand rolled sushi or a six pack. We chose the sixers of California (with crab and avocado), Cucumber and Avocado, and Spinach. We each also picked two of the appetizer selections—the lightly fried tofu slices and the steamed shrimp dumplings. There were approximately eight tofu slices in the order, however there were only three steamed dumplings, which would not have been enough for a larger party.
Interestingly, the sushi chefs prepare the food from a spot behind the bar, where most of the dining room can see them in action, however the folks at the bar have the best view. The presentation was also significant—neatly arranged, fancy plates, and pleasant arrangements. However, the sushi and dumplings were presented with some type of plastic leave, which seemed a little off.
The decor was a little, well, hole in the wall Chinese restaurant, with pictures of the sushi plastered on the walls and showing up on the table tents. They could have done more with traditional Japanese art to spice up the experience.
Everything at the table was delicious. The sushi was well prepared, holding together when picked up with chopsticks, and the dumplings were steamed perfectly. Overall, a good experience, but perhaps my next visit will be on a weekday, or during the day, as to avoid the rushed feeling, but maybe that is just the way it is at Sakura.
From journal City Life of Providence: Intimate and Entertaining