SUSHI BAY
HENDERSON, NVAtmosphere: 2.0
Service: 2.5
Nigiri: 2.5
Rolls: 5.0
I feel like I've been on a sushi eating rampage here lately. While on
my way to Sushi Bay, I was talking to Master White Tiger and he was
reminding me how good I have it in Las Vegas because he's got to go all
the way to Dallas from Shreveport to get a good new review for us
Nomads. As I drive to Sushi Bay I try to build up my excitement. I'd
seen this sushi spot several times before, but nothing every jumped out
at me to say, "I got to try this place next for Play Time." Then I saw
it: $21.95 all you can eat, all day. That's all the motivation I really
need.
When you enter Sushi Bay you notice how small the place really is. It has maybe 6 tables and about 8 chairs at the sushi bar. The sushi bar has space for two chefs, and that's where I take my seat. In terms of decor, this place is very forgettable, and I'd go as far as to say there really was no effort in decorating the place; except for the two flat screen tv's behind the sushi bar.
I did my best not to prejudge the place, it has the whole in the wall kinda feel, but if I was in another country that would probably be a good thing. Then the sushi menu is laid in front of me. I couldn't believe my eyes, it must have had 35 different rolls to choose from and they all seemed very unique. I started off with Nigiri, though, while I studied the menu for a bit. I ordered Salmon, Hamachi, Cajun Albacore, and Unagi nigiri. The Salmon and the Hamachi were the first to come out and I began to realize why this place was only $21.95 for all you can eat.
The sushi to rice ratio although average, was cut very small. I mean the salmon was the width of maybe two chopsticks put together. The Cajun Albacore was even worse.
It was so small I barely noticed the taste and faintly remember eating it. However, the Unagi portion was spot on and was delicious and well simmered.
With such bad sushi to rice ratio I asked who makes the decisions on how thin to cut the fish and how much rice to use. Chase, the head sushi chef and manager, said that the sushi chef makes the decision. Then he said something I found odd: No matter if you order all you can eat or a la carte we keep the size the same. Normally, you'd get bigger cuts when paying a la carte, but I'm not complaining tonight.
Let's go back to the rolls for a minute. After much deliberation I settled on 3, and these 3 choices were hard to come to because there were so many good choices. These three were the What's your Name? Roll, Phoenix Roll, and Paradise roll. After the nigiri experience I wasn't expecting much in the way of rolls, but man was I wrong! The first roll that dropped was the What's your Name? Roll and it had Salmon, cream cheese and avocado, cucumber with yum yum scallops and crab with yum yum and eel sauce.
When I saw this roll, the first thought I had was: How the hell am I going to fit that in my mouth? I mean this thing was gigantic! Just thinking about it now puts a smile on my face. The second roll was the Phoenix roll with deep fried spicy white fish with mixed sauce (called Rainbow sauce) and green onion.
When I saw this roll it looked like this sampler you get at Cheese Cake Factory. It was so good, being that I am a sauce guy, that Rainbow sauce had me from the moment it touched my lips. I can still taste it now. I was 2 for 2, but if this final roll, the Paradise roll - which the chef suggested, was anything like the others. I knew we'd have a 5 Dragon roll restaurant on our hands fellow Nomads. The Paradise roll had coconut shrimp and cream cheese with salmon, avocado and coconut flakes with spicy yum yum sauce.
OH MAN!, that coconut...it was like entering a whole 'nother realm of sushi Play Time. It had the amazing combination of sweet with the coconut, and a bit tangy/spicy with the sauce as well as the added flavor of the salmon, it was awesome! Plus it felt like a light roll, but it was packed with flavor. Chef Chase told me people drive from the other side of Las Vegas for this roll. I believe it!
The service was alright. I had about 4 plates stacked up next to me before anyone grabbed them and she was kinda slow on the refills. There wasn't anyone there, so getting a place to sit and getting my order shortly after I placed it wasn't a problem. It was just an average service experience, but Master White Tiger and I agree, although service can break a place, it doesn't make a place. We're here to rate sushi and tonight, not only do I feel I got my money's worth, I feel like I just adopted a new favorite all you can eat in Green Valley. Especially since KA Sushi stopped doing all you can eat.
Sushi Bay Sushi All Rolled Up
For the cost of 1 and a half rolls at a nice a la carte joint, you can get all you can eat play time at Sushi Bay and experience rolls that are at the level of any a la carte I've ever experienced. If you live in Green Valley or anywhere near, I highly recommend it.
Review by Master Dragon
Suggest a Restaurant
Want to see more pictures of Play Time at Sushi Bay Sushi Click Here
When you enter Sushi Bay you notice how small the place really is. It has maybe 6 tables and about 8 chairs at the sushi bar. The sushi bar has space for two chefs, and that's where I take my seat. In terms of decor, this place is very forgettable, and I'd go as far as to say there really was no effort in decorating the place; except for the two flat screen tv's behind the sushi bar.
I did my best not to prejudge the place, it has the whole in the wall kinda feel, but if I was in another country that would probably be a good thing. Then the sushi menu is laid in front of me. I couldn't believe my eyes, it must have had 35 different rolls to choose from and they all seemed very unique. I started off with Nigiri, though, while I studied the menu for a bit. I ordered Salmon, Hamachi, Cajun Albacore, and Unagi nigiri. The Salmon and the Hamachi were the first to come out and I began to realize why this place was only $21.95 for all you can eat.
The sushi to rice ratio although average, was cut very small. I mean the salmon was the width of maybe two chopsticks put together. The Cajun Albacore was even worse.
It was so small I barely noticed the taste and faintly remember eating it. However, the Unagi portion was spot on and was delicious and well simmered.
With such bad sushi to rice ratio I asked who makes the decisions on how thin to cut the fish and how much rice to use. Chase, the head sushi chef and manager, said that the sushi chef makes the decision. Then he said something I found odd: No matter if you order all you can eat or a la carte we keep the size the same. Normally, you'd get bigger cuts when paying a la carte, but I'm not complaining tonight.
Let's go back to the rolls for a minute. After much deliberation I settled on 3, and these 3 choices were hard to come to because there were so many good choices. These three were the What's your Name? Roll, Phoenix Roll, and Paradise roll. After the nigiri experience I wasn't expecting much in the way of rolls, but man was I wrong! The first roll that dropped was the What's your Name? Roll and it had Salmon, cream cheese and avocado, cucumber with yum yum scallops and crab with yum yum and eel sauce.
When I saw this roll, the first thought I had was: How the hell am I going to fit that in my mouth? I mean this thing was gigantic! Just thinking about it now puts a smile on my face. The second roll was the Phoenix roll with deep fried spicy white fish with mixed sauce (called Rainbow sauce) and green onion.
When I saw this roll it looked like this sampler you get at Cheese Cake Factory. It was so good, being that I am a sauce guy, that Rainbow sauce had me from the moment it touched my lips. I can still taste it now. I was 2 for 2, but if this final roll, the Paradise roll - which the chef suggested, was anything like the others. I knew we'd have a 5 Dragon roll restaurant on our hands fellow Nomads. The Paradise roll had coconut shrimp and cream cheese with salmon, avocado and coconut flakes with spicy yum yum sauce.
OH MAN!, that coconut...it was like entering a whole 'nother realm of sushi Play Time. It had the amazing combination of sweet with the coconut, and a bit tangy/spicy with the sauce as well as the added flavor of the salmon, it was awesome! Plus it felt like a light roll, but it was packed with flavor. Chef Chase told me people drive from the other side of Las Vegas for this roll. I believe it!
The service was alright. I had about 4 plates stacked up next to me before anyone grabbed them and she was kinda slow on the refills. There wasn't anyone there, so getting a place to sit and getting my order shortly after I placed it wasn't a problem. It was just an average service experience, but Master White Tiger and I agree, although service can break a place, it doesn't make a place. We're here to rate sushi and tonight, not only do I feel I got my money's worth, I feel like I just adopted a new favorite all you can eat in Green Valley. Especially since KA Sushi stopped doing all you can eat.
Sushi Bay Sushi All Rolled Up
For the cost of 1 and a half rolls at a nice a la carte joint, you can get all you can eat play time at Sushi Bay and experience rolls that are at the level of any a la carte I've ever experienced. If you live in Green Valley or anywhere near, I highly recommend it.
Review by Master Dragon
Suggest a Restaurant
Want to see more pictures of Play Time at Sushi Bay Sushi Click Here
2603 Windmill Parkway
Henderson, NV 89014
Henderson, NV 89014
by MASTER TONSTA STRUDLE on March 16, 2010
by MASTER IRON STOMACH on August 09, 2010