I had a truly phenomenal lunch today at Sakura Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Riverview. If you're a sushi and sashimi addict like I am -- or if you prefer teppanyaki -- this place is definitely a MUST on your to-eat list.
It would be difficult for the food at Sakura to trump the elegance of the contemporary decor in this exciting new restaurant, but it did.
In addition to the sushi bar, there is a large hibachi room with eight built-in grills and shared tables, where the chefs can dramatically wield their knives.
Seafood dominates, especially in the various sushi and sashimi specialties. This Sakura Roll is made with spicy tuna, eel, seaweed salad and avocado wrapped with soy bean seaweed and tuna, then topped with caviar. I don't know when I've had such sparkling fresh sushi.
The artistic Fancy Dragon Roll includes shrimp tempura, Kani (krab meat) and cucumber wrapped in eel and avocado. 
Lava Roll is a Sakura special roll made with spicy tuna, avocado and caviar in tempura with a chef's special sauce.
I especially liked this delightful assorted sashimi platter: tuna, shrimp, crab, white tuna, halibut, mango, salmon and eel in rice. All fish should be this good!
A closer view of the sashimi deluxe entree. Extraordinary! It's the high quality of its raw fish that makes Sakura a standout.
As with almost every order, artful presentation is an important visual aspect of the meal, like this Black Pepper Tuna Tataki served with ponzu sauce. 
While this spanking new place is largely Japanese, the menu is layered with other Asian specialties like this Pad Thai.
There are plenty of reasons to celebrate Sakura's arrival: sleek digs, superb service, fabulously creative dishes -- oh, and don't forget that sushi and sashimi.
Sakura Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar
10722 Big Bend Road
Riverview, FL
(813) 671-2388
2 comments:
Art and I went there tonight with Dr. Steve and Barbara! Beautiful place, does not look like we were in the boonies! The service was nice, but the food was excellent and the presentation was gorgeous! Thanks for the suggestion!
I've been to this place a few times, but I will not be going back not because the food is bad but due to unwelcoming behavior on the part of the employee in charge of the front end on the night that I visited. I inquired about the happy hour roll specials because it was advertised on the local ad magazine, and I was told that it was just for dine-in only. I said fine then pointed out that this was not specified in the magazine ad or anywhere in their menus. She rudely told me that "of course it's only dine-in, everybody knows that, that's why the happy hour menu is not a take home menu". Hello?...you advertise and don't disclose the exemptions with an asterisk or and small print which is what most restaurants do, and then expect me to know this! The attitude was terrible, I don't mind paying if you are going to give good and have some courtesy. I will not be going back, I'd rather stick to Samurai down the road, they always offer a great product and a friendly attitude.
Ivonne K.
Riverview
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