Sakana gets split decision You wouldnt think one of Ahwatukees hottest eateries would be buried in a rundown Golds Gym strip-mall. You would be wrong. Sakana, which has other locations in Scottsdale and Glendale, is one of the citys most happenin restaurants, offering a festive atmosphere, teppanyaki tables and extensive sushi menu. Did Sakana live up to the hype in the eyes of our reviewers, though?
Reviewer #1
Ahwatukee sushi eatery's popularity is easy to fathom
By ADRIENNE FRANK
Get Out
Wait: We arrived at 8 p.m. on a Thursday and were seated immediately.
Service: Our server was bubbly and polite; she made certain everything was prepared to our liking and was quick with the refills (which were much needed thanks to the super-spicy salmon appetizer).
What we liked: While it was no easy task tackling the aforementioned salmon appetizer featuring two small fillets topped with chili powder and six other spices with chopsticks, the juicy, zippy dish was worth the trouble. (Though it did seem a bit strange that something dubbed an appetizer was served with our meal, not before it.) The mixed tempura, featuring strips of lightly battered shrimp along with zucchini and onions, was as easy on the eyes as it was on the palate, while the stuffed shrimp, bursting with spicy crab and other seafood, was equally tasty. My only complaint was a too-salty dipping sauce that you guessed it left me needing even more water.
Scene: Come 8 p.m. on a weekday, most Ahwatukee restaurants save Nellos are dead; this strip-mall gem couldnt have been further from flatlining, though. Nearly every table was occupied, the bright blue dining room was buzzing with laughter and conversation and the sake and plum wine were flowing as if it were a Friday night. And in addition to being fun, Sakana also has got authenticity on its side, boasting a handful of teppanyaki tables, an extensive sushi menu and not a single piece of flatware. (If youre not proficient with chopsticks, this probably isnt the place for you.)
Bathroom break: Despite the jarring pastel color scheme seafoam green and a loud peach the restroom was tidy and well-stocked.
Tab for two: $37 with tip for spiced salmon appetizer ($6.95), chicken teriyaki ($6.25), stuffed shrimp ($6.99) and mixed tempura ($7.45).
If work werent buying: It seems as if theres an Asian restaurant on every corner in the East Valley unfortunately, most of them are forgettable or just plain scary. Sakana, however, is one worth remembering.
Reviewer #2
Long wait, slow service precedes hairy experience
By CRYSTAL PETROCELLI
Get Out
Wait: We arrived at 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday and were asked if a booth was OK. It wasnt, so we inquired about dining teppanyaki style. After some confusion, our hostess went to check on our request and returned a few minutes later to seat us at the last open table.
Service: Teppanyaki is a slow style of dining, but Sakana was slammed, which brought things to a crawl. We waited about 15 minutes before finally just handing our sushi orders to the woman who had taken our drink orders. The sushi was sluggish making it to the table, as were the water refills. We went thirsty for a significant amount of time. Our chef showed up almost an hour after we had been seated, so it was a good thing we followed the rest of our table's lead and kept the sushi coming. Chef Jesus wasnt exactly Asian, but he busted out more comedy than most (These scallops look fresh, eh? They're from Saguaro Lake.) and gave us some fancy fire action.
What we liked: The crunchy sea bass tempura roll, one of the nights sushi specials, was a scrumptious combination of lightly battered and fried fish, crab, asparagus and rice. The accompanying spicy miso mayo mixture made a great soy substitute. We sampled four different sushi rolls, all with generously sized pieces.
Scene: The place was packed with everything from families to fortysomethings. The teal walls and dark carpet didnt do much for me. Neither did the unremarkable posters that were scattered throughout.
Bathroom break: Polaroids of hundreds of customers celebrating birthdays are plastered on the walls near the restrooms. Inside, the teal walls continue and are met with pink stalls. Bonus! Justin Timberlake could be heard cooing Cry Me a River through rather loud speakers.
Tab for two: $85 with tip for New York steak and shrimp ($18.75), shrimp and scallops ($19.75), Philadelphia roll ($5.45), rainbow roll ($8.99), shrimp tempura roll ($6.99) and crunchy sea bass tempura roll ($7.45).
If work weren't buying: The restaurant gods were not with Sakana. My teppanyaki-style veggies came with a little something extra a short, black hair popping out from the top of my broccoli. Unfortunately, I couldn't say anything for fear of ruining my entire table's meal. An incident like this would keep me away from a favorite restaurant, let alone one I was trying for the first time.
Sakana
5061 E. Elliot Road, Ahwatukee,
Major cross streets: Southwest corner of Elliot Road and 51st Street Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday Reservations accepted: Only for teppanyaki tables Most recent health report: No critical violations on Feb. 19 Prices: $3.25-$26.95 Most interesting item: Calamari tempura ($5.95)
