Sakura Brings Second Location to 5 Points, Makes Upscale Dining More Accessible to College Students

By: Melanie Fincher

Growing up in the Athens-area, I was familiar with Sakura Steak House on Atlanta Highway. It was always a common destination for birthday parties growing up. Parties of ten or more middle-schoolers would pay close attention as the Hibachi chef threw around knives, and even tossed the occasional sushi piece into our mouths. So when Sakura opened its second location right down the road from me in Five Points earlier this year, I was nostalgic for that unique dine-in experience once again.

Sakura Hibachi and Sushi Bar in Five Points, serves lunch and dinner every day of the week. As tempting as it was for me and my roommate to go for one of the grill tables, we decided to experience the restaurant from a regular booth. I thought the Tuesday night special (where you can get select types of sushi for $1 per piece) would bring in a crowd, but it was fairly sparse in the restaurant that night. The environment was confusing. On the one hand, the dim lighting and upscale decor made me think I was in for a fine-dining experience. But the flat screen TV situated on the wall behind me playing “Jeopardy,” along with the pop music playing over the speakers gave me a different impression. I’m not sure what Sakura is trying to achieve, but I would classify it as moderately upscale dining for college students.

Although the server was quick to come take our order, the lengthy menu took a while to graze over. I was surprised to find that Sakura has an extensive list of signature martinis and mixed drinks, along with a somewhat limited beer and wine list. I chose a glass of the Sauvignon Blanc ($7.95), which was crisp and light.

After perusing the numerous sushi and hibachi options, we decided on several sushi rolls to share. Sakura is a good place to come with a group, so you can sample as many rolls as possible. In order to take advantage of the Tuesday deal, we each sampled a sushi a la carte for $1 per piece. The eel sushi a la carte was very tender, but with little flavor. The octopus was fairly chewy. But for our meal, we ordered the full priced sushi rolls including the Alaska roll ($5.25), the October roll ($14.95-which can be ordered during any month, don’t be fooled), and the rainbow roll ($10.95).

Not long after we ordered we were met with a full tray with all our sushi, nicely decorated with a flower garnish and a drizzle of sauce. The presentation was a pleasant surprise.

The first roll we tried was the Alaska roll. An Alaska roll is a fairly common, simple roll. This one consisted of salmon, avocado, and cucumber. Sadly, the most simple roll was the most

disappointing one as well. It was lacking in flavor, and the rice was so skimpy that large portions of the green seaweed holding the roll together were visible.

The rainbow roll, named after the rainbow of raw fish sitting on top, was a nice, light roll. With a rainbow of salmon, tuna, and red tail snapper, this is a classic California roll on this inside. This twist on a classic role is great for anyone who isn’t looking to branch too far out of the comfort zone, but still would like to try something new.

And to save the best for last, the October roll was rich, decadent, and made it impossible to keep your chopsticks from drifting back to get another piece. The roll is stuffed full with shrimp tempura, eel, avocado and spicy tuna. To top it all off, there is a large helping of salmon placed on top. The crunch of the shrimp tempura complemented the smooth texture of the avocado. The piece was so large, you almost can’t fit it in your mouth. But I’m not complaining.

Of course this is Sakura Hibachi and Sushi Bar, so we couldn’t leave without ordering a side of fried rice ($2.75). Almost instantly, the rice was brought out in a perfect little dome, along with a bowl of Yum-Yum sauce. The rice had little flavor, even when I drowned it in sauce. Did this stop me from shoveling it in my mouth? No, it’s fried rice for goodness sake. But would I spend my money on it again? No.

Sakura Hibachi and Sushi Bar is a good sushi stop for college students looking to feel like they’re getting an upscale dining experience. That is, as long as you know what to order. The rolls can be a hit or a miss, but as far as sushi in Athens goes, Sakura is towards top of the list (Shokitini is still #1 in my heart). And Sakura’s second location, conveniently located just down the road from campus, is a nice treat for a college student like myself.