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Several types of kim chee accompany the Korean dishes. The bulgoghee beef (thinly sliced beef in a sweet soy sauce and garlic marinade) was good, although a little sweeter than I like. The tempura udon (noodle soup with tempura fried shrimp and vegetables) was tasty and not oily. The teriyaki chicken is a favorite of my lunch companion. The server refilled our tea cups frequently and didn't hurry us as we lingered over our lunch, visiting. I prefer Seoul Korean Restaurant (see my separate journal) because it has bigger portions and better food for the same money, but this is still a good second choice.

Sushi Club is located in the Independence Square Shopping Center on Moana Lane between Kietzke and South Virginia. Incidentally, there is an actual "club" -- for a $20 annual membership, you get $2 off any meal.

Pho is the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. It is beef broth served in a big bowl with a generous ball of thin noodles. The menu lists perhaps 15 different combinations of meats (for example, rare beef, brisket, tripe, meatballs -- singly or in combination) that you order in the soup. Accompanying the soup are raw bean sprouts, basil leaves, jalapeno peppers, lime, hot sauce and hoisin sauce to add as you wish. I have had pho at many 'authentic' Vietnamese restaurants, and this soup is the most flavorful.

Other menu selections include the same pho noodles served warm over salad, topped with grilled shrimp and delicious barbecued pork served with a vinegar-sugar-fish sauce dressing and various stir-fried meat and vegetable combinations served over rice or noodles.

Try the iced coffee -- you are presented with a glass of ice and a coffee cup. On the coffee cup is an individual-serving filter pot. The coffee filters into the cup, which has sweetened condensed milk in it. When all the coffee has filtered into the cup, stir it up and pour it over the ice. Better than dessert!

No credit cards. Metered street parking. Open for lunch and early dinner (closes about 8 p.m.)

My curiosity was satisfied about what an all-you-can-eat lobster buffet would be, but my appetite was not. If this is lobster, I'd rather not eat lobster at all, thank you.

The best deal is the all-you-can-eat sushi, at $10.95 for lunch. There is a great variety of both nigiri-style and popular rolls. As you would anywhere, think twice about raw shellfish; otherwise, the fish is fresh well prepared.

Lunch in the restaurant section is also an especially good value. For less than $7.00, you get a bento box (Japanese compartmentalized tray) with your entree, rice, a selection of 6-8 small salads and relishes and a fresh fruit garnish. My favorite is the beef bulghogi -- thin slices of beef marinated in a sweet soy sauce and garlic mix, then grilled with onions. It is also available with chicken. The lunch menu offers a number of other selections, including spicy seafood, cellophane noodles with beef, kalbi (traditional Korean short ribs), grilled shrimp, and several Japanese dishes. Sushi is also available, but the all-you-can-eat deal is offered only at the sushi bar. The dinner menu has all these and more. The spiciness of dishes is toned down a little for American tastes, and the very pleasant waitresses can tell you what is hottest. Even my hot-food-hating mother enjoyed her meal!

On one recent visit, I had an appetizer of fig stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in proscutto and grilled. It was an interesting combination, but the proscutto didn't add any flavor, and the portion was simply too small to justify the $8 price. My main course was Niman Ranch (very classy beef purveyer) beef shortribs. Although it had obviously been braised a long time, it was just salty, with none of the rich flavors I had expected. My husband's lamb shank had the same problem -- too much salt, too little other flavor.

On another recent visit, I had scallops with butternut squash and porcini mushroom risotto. The scallops, which had been coated in a light breading, were browned almost to the point of being too brown but they were still tender and moist inside. The accompanying risotto was excellent. A friend had halibut, which didn't impress her. She suspected it had been frozen because the texture was a bit mushy. Desserts also sounded better than they tasted. The wine list is very good, with some unusual selections by the glass.

Don't get me wrong, the food is good, it's just not special, though certainly not due to a lack of effort on the part of everyone at the restaurant.

One of the things that separates Aloha Sushi from Sushi Club, also reviewed in this journal, is that you can get everything on the sushi menu at all times. (Sushi Club limits some items to dinner.) Also available on the all-you-can-eat deal are marinated mussels, but you have to ask for them because they're not on the menu. If someone in your group is not a sushi fan, they have other Japanese items, like teriyaki and tempura, but I have not tried them.

This is a lively, friendly place, with an obvious following of regulars. Each sushi chef has a "special" sushi roll of his own design, so ask for it if you want something unusual. The fish has always been excellent quality, keeping in mind that Reno is not a seaport.

My next stop would be Trader Joe's at 5035 S. McCarran. Trader Joe's is less expensive than Wild Oats, but also has an excellent selection of cheeses and fresh picnic goodies. You'll also find wine at very reasonable prices and some unusual soft drinks and juices. If you didn't buy your bread at Wild Oats, Trader Joe's can fill that need, too. They have packaged breads as well as the wonderful Truckee Sourdough (at about half the price you'll find it in local supermarkets). They also have some unusual snacks (like wasabi-dusted fried peas, blue corn tortilla chips and peanut butter-filled pretzels). There is also a vast selection of cookies and chocolates for your picnic dessert.

If you haven't found a wine to your liking, head over to Cost Plus World Marketplace at 4987 S. Virginia, where they also have a variety of wines from around the world. And you can even buy your picnic basket there! Bon appetit!