sushi samba rio (#20)

our first chain sushi restaurant, sushi samba rio.

how it sizes up: 2.5
atmosphere: big, quick, good for large parties with a major "real world house" illusion.
showstopper: pacific roll.
creativitay: we actually said while eating, "they never should have used 'sushi' in the name of this place." the menu, while it has great items on it, lacks maki rolls big time.
would we go again?: doubtful. only worth it if you have it delivered for 20% off.
misc: you are definitely paying for the name and location at sushi samba. complimentary coat check which is always nice in a chicago winter. the service was good, but the beer could have been colder.

sushi x (#19)

if you're searching for a recession sushi joint, 'x' definitely marks the spot at sushi x.

how it sizes up: 3.5
atmosphere: cool, somewhat small and to the point.
showstopper: buddha. though a vegetarian roll, we didn't miss the fish one bit.
creativitay: they have managed to put spicy cooked chicken in a roll with other cold ingredients and make it taste as if they belong together. we know that is no easy feat.
would we go again?: absolutely.
misc: talk about bang for your buck. happy hour with half price rolls from 5-7pm. they also bring sour candy to your table with the check. we're in love.

shine (#18)

with a menu close to rise, shine was an obvious choice.

how it sizes up: 3
atmosphere: a nice, simple dining experience.
showstopper: honey roll.
creativitay: predictable, yet good because you know exactly what you're going to get.
would we go again?: sure. if need be.
misc: again, shine is fairly predictable. we knew what we liked from the rise menu, making it feel like somewhat of a do-over.

dee's mandarin restaurant (#17)

a fantastic late summer/early fall patio everyone should take advantage of...dee's mandarin.

how it sizes up: 3.5
atmosphere: indoors is a warm, classic feel. while outside there is a quaint, but gorgeous patio that is adorned with candles and white lights.
showstopper: winter maki.
creativitay: traditional maki rolls that are fair in price and flavor.
would we go again?: yes.
misc: as a mandarin restaurant, we didn't completely know what to expect. it was a great choice that we will gladly make again.

blu coral (#16)

now on to a wicker park pick that we felt was overrated. blu coral.

how it sizes up: 3
atmosphere: a classy, contemporary interior for the nearly strip mall appearance outside.
showstopper: pink cadillac.
creativitay: there was a sparkle of creativity that could have become something greater, but didn't.
would we go again?: signs point to no.
misc: don't get us wrong, blu coral is good. however with so many people raving in reviews claiming it to be the best, we just felt it was pretty middle of the road.

tank (#15)

as a recent mdc (monthly dinner club) pick, tank is fresh in our minds.

how it sizes up: 4
atmosphere: a more open feel, not tables on top of tables. it accommodated our group of six girls with ease.
showstopper: orange crush.
creativitay: there is a blt maki on the menu. that's just plain amazing.
would we go again?: for sure.
misc: when branching out, don't let tank pass you by. it's an easy walk from the brown line in lincoln square and makes for a great way to shake things up. it is worth the trip.

blue fin (#14)

a wicker park pick that we thought was totally underrated, blue fin.

how it sizes up: 3.5
atmosphere: it's possible that the very bright/loud colors on the walls and questionable booths covered by fabric rather than upholstery, may have drawn the attention away from the sushi restaurant experience.
showstopper: hot night.
creativitay: they have a long list of signature makis that we absolutely loved.
would we go again?: definitely.
misc: don't let the atmosphere of blue fin deter you. it's fresh, unique in its own right and the sushi blows coast out of the water.

coast (#13)

after all the hype and hooplah, our expectations were not met with this chicago fav; coast.

how it sizes up: 3.5
atmosphere: modern, intimate and dark. maybe even too dark.
showstopper: white dragon.
creativitay: it wasn't that they lacked creativitay, more that the specialty maki section on the menu was a tad too short.
would we go again?: maybe.
misc: fresh, trendy, byo, we can see why people love it. however, we decided that it is more the standard maki go-ers at heart who love it the most. to us, there are much better fish in the sushi sea.

tokyo lunch box (#12)

not a lot to say about tokyo lunch box, but it is a convenient in the loop, go-to.

how it sizes up: 2
atmosphere: minimal seating and gets very crowded around lunch time.
showstopper: the dragon.
creativitay: standard rolls.
would we go again?: if we're desperate.
misc: it's a great spot in the loop for a quick in and out sushi lunch. we've found ourselves just refraining the urge to get sushi at lunch and having a nicer sushi dinner.

sai cafe (#11)

with a new neighborhood and new apartments, we knew 

sai cafe was going to be an ideal spot.

how it sizes up: 4
atmosphere: recently renovated, there now is a new entrance, a full bar and a nice large booth for extra seating.  
showstopper: volcano maki.
creativitay: simple choices but they also have a great use of white tuna which is one of our favs.
would we go again?: certainly.  been back many times.
misc: sai cafe also has a fun, involved sushi chef.  whether or not you sit at the sushi bar, he's bound to come chat with you about how you enjoyed your meal. 

agami (#10)

if EVER in the uptown neighborhood, you need to park it at agami.

how it sizes up: 5
atmosphere: really great booths in the front windows that seat up to six.
showstopper: it's technically an appetizer, but the spicy tuna rice krispies are out of this world.
creativitay: really interesting combinations, many including tempura and just the right amount.
would we go again?: indeed and we did. the second time, sadly, didn't quite live up to the first. we still stick to our guns on the first visit and how amazing it truly was.
misc: agami is in the upper price range and the overall experience matches that. attentive service and a fantastic place to catch up with friends.

sushi wabi (#9)

we rang in the first 23rd birthday in an off the beaten path west loop MUST...sushi wabi.

how it sizes up: 4
atmosphere: again, modern and simple. the restaurant itself is narrow. a reservation would be necessary for parties of four or more.
showstopper: the fire roll.
creativitay: traditional maki rolls with an unique twist of chili sauce, chili oil and green onion.
would we go again?: definitely.

misc: a great spot for a post work dinner. a near by hookah bar is an added bonus. the west loop is a hidden jewel that deserves to be tapped into.

mirai (#8)

if you are looking for a great wicker park/bucktown spot, mirai is going to treat you right.

how it sizes up: 4.5
atmosphere: really sleek, modern decor. makes for a great friday night dinner and drinks.
showstopper: tuna tuna salmon and special zuke.
creativitay: the maki menu is short and sweet. no abundance of specialty makis, but the quality over quantity is superb.
would we go again?: absolutely. we've made our second trip and we imagine it won't be our last.
misc: great outdoor seating. it's the first to fill up and not overwhelmed with street noise. another plus, if you haven't thought ahead to make a reservation, you can kill some time at the bar and lounge upstairs while waiting for a table.

sushi o sushi (#7)

hands down the most complete sushi experience one can have.

how it sizes up: 4.5
atmosphere: the entire restaurant may only seat 30-40 people. pair that coziness with good music and food, and the result is an ideal place for a date or even a small get-together.
showstopper: the armitage.
creativitay: major creativity used here. andy makes a “special sauce” that is unlike anything else we’ve ever had. don’t bother asking, he won’t tell you the ingredients. they also have a long list of signature/specialty makis. to die for.
would we go again?: absolutely. the most frequented sushi restaurant on the list.
misc: andy. the sushi chef. words can not explain how enthusiastic he is about his food. he is incredibly unique and truly loves to know that people have enjoyed that which he has prepared. the rest of the wait staff is incredibly sweet and helpful. you will not be disappointed by sushi o sushi.

hey sushi (#6)

we were only able to enjoy hey sushi once before they temporarily closed their doors at the clark street location.

how it sizes up: 3
atmosphere: very different/borderline awkward. if you're looking for a club/restaurant love child; you're in luck. however, if you don't like to savor your sake over head-splitting techno tunes, look elsewhere.
showstopper: n/a. unfortunately you can no longer view their menu online.
creativitay: interesting spins on classic rolls.
would we go again?: eh, maybe, maybe not.
misc: it was a good quick fix when you had the itch.

sushi mura (#5)

when we decided to brave the tundra instead of ordering delivery or carry out, we tended to find ourselves at sushi mura on southport. especially when we discovered they give you free stuff.

how it sizes up: 4
atmosphere: small, cozy and jazzed-up by a very hands on, sake-bombing sushi chef.
showstopper: cubs maki and golden pearl.
creativitay: for the most part, good rolls made great by a passionate chef and a little imagination.
would we go again?: we did. again and again…
misc: at the end of the meal they bring you orange slices. a couple of times they also brought us a house salad that did not turn up on our bill. anytime free things are involved, you can be sure we’ll be back.

rise (#4)

another easy and quality sushi joint for those of you in or near wrigleyville; we’ve yet to set foot in this place other than getting carry out, but as they say where we're from, it sure do look purdy.

how it sizes up: 3
atmosphere: super modern and trendy, yet inviting.
showstopper: new york and chef’s roll.
creativitay: a lot of cilantro and even melted provolone on the fire roll. the cilantro adds a different twist on what might otherwise be a standard maki roll. however, the provolone we could have done without.
would we go again?: yep. we’ve been back multiple times.
misc: another great go to when in lakeview. good, quality sushi at a good price.

kitchenette (#3)

we had a quick and easy go-to when living in wrigleyville. kitchenette.

how it sizes up: 3
atmosphere: small, to the point and a friendly staff.
showstopper: trio salmon.
creativitay: they like to jam pack their rolls.
would we go again?: indeed. damn near regulars.
misc: byo. a good menu and good prices. there are lots of specialty makis to chose from, which we love.

tsunami (#2)

another blast from our sushi past: tsunami. we went here to celebrate moving to chicago in july of 2007; and with the help of some stellar sushi and eclectic jams, celebrate we did...

how it sizes up: 4
atmosphere: somewhat interesting. we were one of the few parties present, yet were seated by a set of ginormous speakers upstairs. there was some questionable (i'm blue da ba dee da ba die???) music played, but over all, the loungey feel is a good one.
showstopper: white tiger and tuna 4 way.
creativitay: pretty standard, but their use of mango was rocks our collective world.
would we go again?: yes. and we have.
misc: again, a river north pick. valet only. it was a great way to ring in becoming chi-town residents.

blue water grill (#1)

we're going back. wayyy back to the winter of 2006...

not only is blue water grill one of our favorite restaurants in chicago, it has unbelievably good sushi. it's like everything on that menu just turns to gold.

sadly, to our shock and dismay, blue water closed its doors yesterday.

how it sizes up: 5
atmosphere: awesome. might borderline on perfect.
showstopper: filet roll as well as the tuna & lobster roll.
creativitay: filet mignon in a sushi roll, we believe that speaks for itself.
would we go again?: absolutely. and we have.
misc: river north neighborhood, close to nordstrom/north bridge mall. never in our lives have we had a restaurant experience so grand. oysters on the house, two maki rolls on the house, sock hats and a little box filled with mini sugar cookies for a table of almost 10 girls. the fish in the sushi was extremely fresh; this joint exceeded our greatest expectations in all regards.

rip, blue water. you will always hold a special place in our hearts and our stomachs.

the run down.

our basis of ranking sushi establishments will be as follows:

• how it sizes up - our overall opinion of the restaurant on a scale from 1-5, 5 being the best
• atmosphere
• showstopper/favorite roll - what rocked our socks off
• creativitay - how unique were their rolls?
• would we go again?
  
• misc - parking, neighborhood, freshness, etc.

19.

before full-time jobs, rent and utilities, there was a summer that was something sent from the gods. a time when our lives were a vacation.

the vacation ended, but every now and again, we are able to sail peacefully through this rocky ocean of reality on maki-shaped rafts, floating gently on wine, and pretend that the real world is just as divine as that long-gone summer.

tonight will be lucky number 19 on the long list of chicago sushi restaurants. reviews and comments to come.

welcome to our sushi blog!

born and raised in small town america, we like our sushi like we like our trucks. loud, proud, and unexpected. bring on the heat, bring on the crunch, bring on something fresh and fun and we are likely to eat it up (both literally AND figuratively).