By Pamela Brownstein
Although Lunch Bunch was only three people, between myself, Kim and Elizabeth, we love to eat, especially when it comes to delicious Japanese food.
We started with warm appetizers: a bowl of edamame — fresh soybeans steamed and lightly salted — and then devoured a plate of pork gyoza, pan-fried homemade crispy dumplings that are impossible to resist.
Next, at Kim’s request because tuna is her favorite, we tried the Lady’s Island plate made with fresh tuna and flying fish roe over half an avocado. We coated the whole dish with the special honey wasabi sauce and it was melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Then we also ordered the tuna tataki, which is seared tuna marinated in ponzu
sauce. The pieces of tuna were generously cut, but deceivingly delicate because they were sliced thin, making for a delightful dish.
For the main meal, we ordered a variety of rolls from the more than 40 cooked, raw, vegetarian and hand rolled items on the menu. Most of our choices came from under the makimono, the art of rolls, section because these are more elaborate and specialty rolls.
The moment when the waitress brings out the giant platter filled with so many colorful rolls in creative positions is like heaven. Then it’s time to ready the soy sauce dish, break open the chopsticks and try to decide which piece I want to savor first.
Although all the rolls we ordered were good, there were some that tempted me more than others. My old favorite is the classic Cherry Blossom — a flower-shaped roll with salmon-and-avocado filled center and a colorful outer layer of tuna — and it was as good as ever. Then it’s hard to beat the spicy, crunchy sensations of the Crunchy Roll, made with tempura shrimp, cucumber with extra-crispy tempura batter, and spicy crab meat on top. I also recommend the Beaufort Roll, crab meat, asparagus and cream cheese with shrimp on top. It’s unique and memorable — just like Beaufort!
With great conversation, amazing sushi spread before us and a cold Sapporo (Japanese beer) to wash it all
down, we couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying way to spend a Friday afternoon.
Sake House has many lunch specials, as well as happy hour specials from 4 to 7 p.m., and for those who might not be accustomed to sushi, there are plenty of other options, such as chicken or steak teriyaki. The hibachi tables accommodate large groups, so it is a great place to bring family or friends to celebrate a special occasion — with the food cooked on the hibachi grill right in front of you, it’s a fun, entertaining experience.
Sake House is at 274 Robert Smalls Parkway, Suite 200, Beaufort. They are open Monday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:30 to 10 p.m. Call 843-379-5888.
