Sushi cafe is a restaurant in South Elgin on Randall road that offers all-you-can eat rolls for $24.95 per person during the week. This deal is not valid on Friday and Saturday for sure and maybe Sunday.
Let me start by saying, drive the extra 40 minutes and go to Sushi Para! Sushi Para is $17.95 and offers a lot more than just the rolls offered on this menu.
As far as the rolls at Sushi Cafe, they are very good and there are some interesting choices. My wife and son thought the rolls were spicier (hot) than "normal" rolls. My son thinks this is good, while it's a turn-off for my wife. This is also an order off the menu, all you can eat deal, so you can customize the food (we get rolls without avocado).
Overall, this would be my pick for sushi in the Tri-City area. While not cheap, the all-you-can eat aspect of it makes sure you are not going home hungry after spending good money for good sushi rolls. However, knowing about the Sushi Para option that also includes sushi & appertizers, it's hard to spend the extra money here unless we just don't have the time to drive to Sushi Para.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Sushi Yama
Whole family went there last night for dinner after football practice got cancelled because of the weather. This was the 2nd time for the whole family and the 3rd time for my wife and I. The sushi and rolls here are very good. I especially like the BEN roll while my wife really likes the TEMPURA roll. My son and I also got the SASUKA (?) roll which had a hot topping and might be my favorite roll yet. As you can hopefully tell, we really like the food here and their is some variance in the rolls to make it different from other places.
However, cost is a big factor here. We ordered a total of 8 rolls and two appertizers at $5 & $7 each with no drinks. The bill with tax and tip still came to over $100. My son and I barely felt like we had enough to eat and my wife was ok, but not full. Everyone had some snacks and/or desserts when we got home. That's just too much money for not enough food for me to really recommend this place. While I might go back when I really want to splurge, it's not a place we'll go for regularly. I would still have to pick Sushi Para as "THE PLACE", if only it wasn't a hour away.
However, cost is a big factor here. We ordered a total of 8 rolls and two appertizers at $5 & $7 each with no drinks. The bill with tax and tip still came to over $100. My son and I barely felt like we had enough to eat and my wife was ok, but not full. Everyone had some snacks and/or desserts when we got home. That's just too much money for not enough food for me to really recommend this place. While I might go back when I really want to splurge, it's not a place we'll go for regularly. I would still have to pick Sushi Para as "THE PLACE", if only it wasn't a hour away.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Citizen Kane
Ever heard of The Radio Shopping Show? I had used it several years ago, but had forgotten about it until talking about saving money in my church's Financial Peace University class. Basically area businesses trade gift certificates to their establishments for radio advertisment. The radio stations then sell the gift certificates for 40-70% off the face value. For example you might be able to buy a $20 gift certificate to a restaurant for $8-$10. The only limitation is that you can only use 1 certificate at a time and only once every 30 days. There are two radio stations in this area out of Elgin and Aurora, so both get certificates for the Tri-City area (AM 1410 & 1280).
Well I ordered a certficate for this restaurant and my wife and I went for lunch when she took some time off of work for her birthday. The appertizers are a little on the high side with all of them being about $10, but they did have a seared Ahi Tuna on a chip which was excellent. It's 3 big portions of tuna in a very mild (almost tasteless) sauce, but the tuna is prepared excellently. I also had a lunch special of chicken and sausage jambalya which was great and spicy enough for me! My wife had a corn chowder soup which I just barely got to taste because she liked it so much. She ordered a crab lunch portion salad which she also liked and ate the whole thing. We shared a key lime pie slice for dessert which we both thought was NOT tart enough (too sweet). The lunch pricing was in line with a full service restaurant and I'm glad I got another certificate (from the other radio station) so I have an excuse to go back soon!
Well I ordered a certficate for this restaurant and my wife and I went for lunch when she took some time off of work for her birthday. The appertizers are a little on the high side with all of them being about $10, but they did have a seared Ahi Tuna on a chip which was excellent. It's 3 big portions of tuna in a very mild (almost tasteless) sauce, but the tuna is prepared excellently. I also had a lunch special of chicken and sausage jambalya which was great and spicy enough for me! My wife had a corn chowder soup which I just barely got to taste because she liked it so much. She ordered a crab lunch portion salad which she also liked and ate the whole thing. We shared a key lime pie slice for dessert which we both thought was NOT tart enough (too sweet). The lunch pricing was in line with a full service restaurant and I'm glad I got another certificate (from the other radio station) so I have an excuse to go back soon!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sushi Para
Ok, it's not in the Tri-Cities, but that is good since I might be tempted to break my ideal of not having credit card debt if this place was closer!
This is a sushi restuarant on Dundee Road right off of Route 53 in Palatine (?). They do have a regular menu, but we go for the All-you-Can-Eat sushi. What's really nice about this place is that it's not a buffet, but you actually have a special menu that lists all the items you can order. You mark down what you want and then the food is brought to your table as if ordering "entrees" off the menu. What's even nicer (compared to the Sushi Cafe in S. Elgin) is that the menu contains more than just rolls! It has salad, soup, appertizers (try the shrimp dumpling and won-ton things), rolls, tempura vegetables (we ask for all brocolli), sushi on the rice (tuna, eel, salmon & more) and of course all types of rolls (our favorite is the Michigan)! Now you would think this would be up there with the $40 price tag of Todai (a sushi buffet chain) or more expensive then the roll only deal at Sushi Cafe of $24.95, but no - it's only $17.95! While it's a nice meal out, the value is AWESOME! While the drive is long and the price is out of our range for weekly meals, we find excuses to go back to this place. We have been 3 times since I discovered this place when looking for an alternative to Todai.
The tempura chicken dinner is great also! This is what my youngest son gets who doesn't like sushi (even though that is slowly changing - he likes the pre-packaged sushi from Sam's Club now). The dinner comes with soup and salad and several big pieces of chicken tempura for $12.95. What's even better is the tempura is light and tastes great!
Obviously I can't recommend this place enough if you are in the area or even if you're not, it's worth the effort to get there!
This is a sushi restuarant on Dundee Road right off of Route 53 in Palatine (?). They do have a regular menu, but we go for the All-you-Can-Eat sushi. What's really nice about this place is that it's not a buffet, but you actually have a special menu that lists all the items you can order. You mark down what you want and then the food is brought to your table as if ordering "entrees" off the menu. What's even nicer (compared to the Sushi Cafe in S. Elgin) is that the menu contains more than just rolls! It has salad, soup, appertizers (try the shrimp dumpling and won-ton things), rolls, tempura vegetables (we ask for all brocolli), sushi on the rice (tuna, eel, salmon & more) and of course all types of rolls (our favorite is the Michigan)! Now you would think this would be up there with the $40 price tag of Todai (a sushi buffet chain) or more expensive then the roll only deal at Sushi Cafe of $24.95, but no - it's only $17.95! While it's a nice meal out, the value is AWESOME! While the drive is long and the price is out of our range for weekly meals, we find excuses to go back to this place. We have been 3 times since I discovered this place when looking for an alternative to Todai.
The tempura chicken dinner is great also! This is what my youngest son gets who doesn't like sushi (even though that is slowly changing - he likes the pre-packaged sushi from Sam's Club now). The dinner comes with soup and salad and several big pieces of chicken tempura for $12.95. What's even better is the tempura is light and tastes great!
Obviously I can't recommend this place enough if you are in the area or even if you're not, it's worth the effort to get there!
Beehive Tavern & Grille
Went here with the family for dinner because it was part of our AA Dining Rewards program. We had been once before a few years ago for the same reason. Forgot how good the food is here! We shared the nacho appertizer (which now seems to be a staple order at every restaurant) and it was big and very good!
Overall the food and pricing were on average for a sit-down American food restuarant and it will continue to be on the radar for a place to go when we are looking for a meal out.
Overall the food and pricing were on average for a sit-down American food restuarant and it will continue to be on the radar for a place to go when we are looking for a meal out.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Front Street Cantina
Tried this Mexican restuarant across from the Geneva train depot on Saturday night with my wife and some friends. Our friends have been here before and really liked the restuarant, but this was our 1st time. Turns out this location is one of several in the western suburbs. The food here was very good and I can see why our friends like this place. They recommended we try the cheese nachos which were very good with just chips and melted cheddar cheese. The cheese was plentiful and very gooey. My wife tried a chimichanga (spelling?) which she said was great and didn't share! I had the Durango which was a sampling of 3 different items (taco, enchillada & burrito). I like that this restuarant has several combo meals where you can get a sampling of all their dishes. You are even able to mix & match the filling in each item (I had shrimp in the enchillada, steak in the burritto & shredded beef in the taco). Food was very good and reasonablely priced. Since I don't like beans and didn't want the rice, they have printed right on the menu the option of taking a side salad instead of rice & beans. The salad was great and the dressing was served on the side for you to control the portion. My friend got a taco salad with portabello mushrooms which was huge and served in the fried chip bowl.
Can't wait to return to this restuarant when in the mood for Mexican food.
Can't wait to return to this restuarant when in the mood for Mexican food.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Olive Garden
Yes, I'm at another chain restuarant. I like to try new places, but I'm here with my family and they like places they know. The two things we really like are the all-you-can eat bread sticks and salad. However, my oldest son has stated on this trip he no longer likes the dressing on the salad.
On this trip, we tried the new ravioli fried appertizer (Fritta) and it was delicious! We also got the calamari and it's great along with the special white sauce that is so much better than the marinaria. I tried the Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and really liked it, but my older son got the other shrimp dish and it was way better. My wife had the crusted talipia and really enjoyed it. My youngest son had the mac & cheese which was just average. We were too full to try dessert. In fact, the portion sizes were so big, that we all had left-overs to take home. The meal is a little more expensive than some casual sit-down restaurants (Fridays, Applebees, Chilis, etc), but I think you get a good value with the bread/salad and huge portion sizes.
On this trip, we tried the new ravioli fried appertizer (Fritta) and it was delicious! We also got the calamari and it's great along with the special white sauce that is so much better than the marinaria. I tried the Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and really liked it, but my older son got the other shrimp dish and it was way better. My wife had the crusted talipia and really enjoyed it. My youngest son had the mac & cheese which was just average. We were too full to try dessert. In fact, the portion sizes were so big, that we all had left-overs to take home. The meal is a little more expensive than some casual sit-down restaurants (Fridays, Applebees, Chilis, etc), but I think you get a good value with the bread/salad and huge portion sizes.
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