The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

 Tuna Nachos - love the Crab Rangoon dip served on top.

I was recently invited to check out The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, a Charlotte restaurant that pushes the limits on the definitions of "sushi" and "burger" and even invents its own words like "burgushi" to describe combinations that blend elements of burgers and sushi. The menu here is ENORMOUS! You could not get through it even after a dozen visits. There is plenty for everyone with the burgers and the sushi standing out as the main items to consider. There are some great appetizer options also including the above tuna nachos we enjoyed. 

Inside, there is a sushi bar and a full bar (including sake selections) and lots of trendy, modern sushi theme art lines the walls. The patio, heated for winter enjoyment, is a great option also, although if you want the vibe you should stay inside. Even with the obvious attraction for the young adult crowd, The Cowfish is welcoming to families and the wait staff didn't blink an eye when we brought in our infant for an early dinner. 

If you haven't yet tried The Cowfish, it is definitely an experience and a destination. I look forward to returning again to try the burgers (more than a dozen combinations plus an option to build your own) and the build your own sushi - what fun!

Martini.

Sweet and Spicy Thai Cucumbers - available as an appetizer or side.

The Motherload sushi platter - includes every piece of fish on the sushi menu! Unique presentation and very tasty. They even have different flavors of fish roe for the top of the roll which tops a California roll with all types of sashimi.

Close up of the fried shrimp head, also on the Motherload platter.

Filet and Lobster Roll. Very inventive!

Sushi bar.

Patio where we sat.

 

Cheesecake.

The Grasshopper milkshake - mint chocolate chip goodness.

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary. 

How Do You Roll? Opens In Ballantyne

The Director's Cut Roll - seaweed wrap, kani and unagi (crab and eel), avocado, tofu skin, crunch, wasabi mayo and unagi sauce.

How Do You Roll? just opened a new a fast-casual sushi spot in Ballantyne that allows diners to design their own sushi rolls or bowls. Protein options include many cooked meats like beef, chicken, freshwater ell (unagi) and even crawfish tails. Salmon, escolar and tuna are available raw. Both seaweed and soy wraps are available and you can choose from white or brown rice. Then you pick your veggies, toppings and sauces. Classic and original rolls designed by the restaurant are also available. This location of How Do You Roll? joins an uptown Charlotte location and two dozen or so total locations throughout the country.

I was invited to preview the restaurant's offerings earlier this week and enjoyed the Director's Cut roll (above), custom shrimp roll (below) and sides such as the tasty and authentic miso soup, edamame, calamari salad and seaweed salad. I also sampled the fruit roll and green tea mochi ice cream. Whether you think you love sushi or not, this is a great alternative for a healthy, fast meal. Even if you don't like raw fish there is plenty here for you to try.

Through Sunday How Do You Roll? hosts its Grand Opening, with a benefit for childhood cancer in association with the Adam Faulk Tanksley Foundation. If you donate at least $1 to the foundation now through Sunday, you get a free sushi roll or bowl - a great way to try this new spot and fight childhood cancer at the same time.

Some of the available ingredients for rolling.



Custom shrimp/avocado/mango roll with brown rice.



Dessert fruit roll.

Nikko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Tempura shrimp roll and California roll - lunch special roll combo.

Nikko and I go way back to the time when the restaurant was located in the much smaller space in the building just north of the current location, which is in the pink high-rise on South Boulevard. At that time owner/sushi chef Joanna was there most of the time and I dined often at the sushi bar for the spicy tuna roll, the "Trust Me" roll as well as the "Super Crunchy Roll". Since then, Nikko has expanded into its current huge space with a full bar and lounge area. The menu has also expanded to include many traditional Japanese dishes as well as sushi.

I recently had a quick lunch here on my own and enjoyed it. The sushi rolls were good as usual and the salad with ginger dressing is always pleasing. I look forward to returning soon, but I do miss the intimacy of the original location. Still, I'm glad to see Joanna doing so well and it's great to have good sushi in the neighborhood.

Salad with delicious ginger dressing.

R. Rice Wok Grill Sushi in Atlanta

Massaman curry with scallops.

While I was still in Atlanta I was invited to a special tasting at R Rice in Dunwoody. This pan-Asian restaurant's byline: "wok, grill and sushi" understates how huge its menu is - and there truly is something for everyone! The menu contains a variety of traditional and innovative sushi combinations, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai cuisines and even tacos. The location off Hammond Dr. is easy to miss although it's near the corner of Peachtree Dunwoody and Hammond and there is ample parking once you find the right lot.

My overall favorite dishes include the massaman curry (above): a huge portion with good spice and flavor; and the salt and pepper soft shell crab. Get the crab over the calamari - it's something different and it's better. The special sushi rolls we tried were also tasty. R Rice uses some unique sushi wrappers including soybean paper and cucumber, although I love the traditional seaweed wrappers personally. Several in our party tried the cocktails, which came in an array of rainbow colors and were determined to be on sweet end of the spectrum - good for those who enjoy fruity drinks. The fried green tea ice cream was a nice end to the meal - I'm a sucker for green tea ice cream so I knew this would not be a bad choice! If you are in the area, you should give R Rice a try - you will definitely find something you enjoy!

Agedashi tofu.



Salt and Pepper Calamari.



Salt and pepper soft shell crab.



Shumai: steamed shrimp dumplings.



The King and Queens' Crown - king crab with house seasoning and crunchies wrapped in avocado.



Sushi Dinner.



Hawaiian roll.



Tuna Pizza.



Lollipop roll.



Fish Katsu.



Fried green tea ice cream - deliciously sinful!



Bar, dining and kitchen areas in the open restaurant.

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.

Thaicoon - Marietta

The Sherlock Holmes Roll - not sure why it is called this but I love this spicy tuna roll topped with more fish and a tiny piece of lemon. Tangy, spicy and delicious!

Recently we dined at Thaicoon in Marietta just before viewing a performance of "The Sound of Music" on Marietta's historic square. This restaurant has a sister located near where I live at the Sage Hill shopping center on Briarcliff Road. For no particular reason, I have not actually had a meal there although I've ordered take out several times. This was a great opportunity to sample the offerings, which are similar at both restaurants. My favorite dishes here include the above fancy sushi roll and the basil duck. The tom yum kung soup was also good. The Panang curry with scallops was too bland for me - one of those instances when the spice stars don't mean a thing - definitely a disappointment after our recent trip to Thailand! Thaicoon was crowded - it was Saturday night - so make a reservation if you're going at a popular time. If you have never tried Thai food this is a great place to start. There is a full Japanese menu available as well including several other creative sushi rolls like the Caribbean Roll, which includes snow crab and shrimp tempura.

Basil Duck - tasty.



Panang Curry with Scallops - not enough spice for me!



Tom Yum Gung - good flavor but not heavily spiced.

Miso Izakaya Revisited + foodie book recommendation

Kimchi Rice - a deliciously flavored perfect comfort food. Love it!

I recently dined with fellow foodies at Miso Izakaya, a place I've blogged about before. Read about my first visit in 2009 and my awesome tasting visit in 2010. Miso has consistently improved since its opening and I found my latest visit exceptional as well. The above kimchi rice is not complicated but the flavors meld together perfectly with just enough spice - definitely a must try this winter. The fried Camembert is also a winner (although I don't want to think about the calorie content!) - do what I did and share with a friend. The sushi is also drastically improved since opening. The white tuna was particularly delicious.

The meal turned into a celebration for my friend and fellow food blogger, Malika Harricharan, who wrote the below book, available for purchase at Amazon.com. I am impressed that she compiled such a valuable resource for Atlanta food lovers. I also appreciate her mention of my blog in the introduction! Thank you Malika :)

Buy this book!!



Fried Camembert. Need I say more?!



The sushi was also excellent. Spicy tuna handroll, white tuna and salmon sashimi.

Sushi Itto

Smokey Mountain Roll.

We recently tried the newly opened Sushi Itto in the shopping center at the corner of LaVista an Briarcliff. The restaurant features light wood and a long sushi bar. We sat at a table and tried the gyoza and several of the rolls. The spicy tuna was good and although at times I prefer to stick with simple sushi combinations, the special rolls we tried pleased the palate. I didn't have any nigri sushi yet but that is usually my test: the taste of the plain raw salmon, white tuna and yellowtail. I'm glad this place has joined the neighborhood since there are not many moderately priced good sushi places around in town Atlanta.

Gyoza. Good but not quite like the ones I had in Japan!



Spicy Tuna Roll and Tiger Roll.