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The Sushi Review
Jade Asian Fusion

Cool Spot - Good Sushi

Following in the urban trends of popular theme restaurants, this scenic Ballantyne hot-spot often doubles as a nightclub after hours. That was the circumstance by which I familiarized myself with the entire area. I attended a Russian party there that was topnotch. As per usual, I decided to go back to try the sushi with my divochka (baby-girl). I thought we were in a little trouble at first because of the slightly inadequate service and my mojito which contained so much mint it resembled a glass filled with sprite and collard greens.

But we quickly got past that when the sushi arrived because it was hitting and sticking on point like as if we had been wishing for collard greens and chicken outdoors at a barbecue. The "soundboy" roll (tempura philly) was adequate but the spicy yellow-tail was first rate. Sit outside if it is warm and order a California red, they have a pretty good selection. It's not cheap, but what is in that neighborhood. Overall I say check it out. And if they start moving the tables for a party - stay. You will thank me.

The Sushi Review
Yama Asian Fusion

Good Sushi and Service, but You Are Paying for Atmosphere.

I was impressed by this establishment, mostly because there is no reason I should not have been. Located in the SouthPark area of Charlotte, it is near both shopping and nightlife. The atmosphere is cool, very LA in that it has all the trendy benchmarks of what you would expect from a modern sushi bar. The service was very good for dinner and the Hibachi lunch menu is pretty straightforward, but as we say at Soundboy America, it's always about the Maki, baby.
If you want to avoid the after work drink-pounding office crowd, check them out for lunch - the crowd is a bit more diverse: from corporate types, shoppers, hipsters to merchants with the day off. The dinner crowd by comparison is vibrant and up-tempo, but keep in mind that you run the risk of being next to a co-worker birthday celebration.
Both the import and domestic beer selection is above average, just like the sushi prices. They did a pretty good job on the "Soundboy" roll (salmon Philly tempura) but overall I would definitely take a date there that I was trying to impress. Just know what you are doing in advance and be ready to drop a hundred bones including wine and tip. But that is all about location which is reflective in the bill. Overall I would recommend it.

The Sushi Review
The Buddha Lounge

I ran across this place while my girlfriend and I were looking for some Night Life in Myrtle Beach. I saw a TV spot that said they featured a good sushi menu, so we decided to go out early. It was so worth it. This place should not be confused with the "Buddha lounge and grill", which is probably nearby. We also heard some people talking it up around the resort, so I thought it would be a pretty safe bet.
This hot spot for local nightlife is probably best known for being an after-hours party destination, but after hearing how good the sushi was, I had my doubts that it could be both a hot club and a good sushi bar. I stood corrected. Right away, I was attracted to the décor and the atmosphere. They took a page right out of downtown Las Vegas nightlife and adapted it to the southeastern hipster crowd.
The sushi was great and very reasonably priced. They did a good job on the "Philly tempura" AKA soundboy roll and the rest of the maki selection was very good. The service was average for the size of the dinner crowd, which was pretty crowded, but the staff overall was very accommodating and friendly. The restaurant featured a live piano player singing pop tunes by request. This greatly contributed to the relaxed atmosphere. The appetizers were good and the drink selection was first rate. We did not stay very late for the DJ and the late night crowd, but something tells me that it was hot. It's a really cool scene. I would easily recommend it.

The Sushi Review
Ru San's

Despite the fact that this secluded corner-style-deli type sushi restaurant
Has become the trendy place to "see and be seen"; this spot is still hands down my favorite sushi place in all of Charlotte.
Even before a much needed renovation in the dining area this locally owned hangout spot was notorious for hosting gatherings of local "D List" celebrities, DJ's, filmmakers and underground multimedia kingpins (AKA the F List) such as yours truly. I'm not even going to try to deny it, the first time I went there I was trying to "hang face" and see what the entire buzz was about. Well, I soon found out. You have to understand, most actors are servers, most DJ's live with their moms and most indie filmmakers are starving artists. This isn't exactly the disposable income crowd. The prices on the sushi menu reflect that need for value. The quality at such a low price is unmatched. They have a great selection as well. Try and remember that these reviews are all about the "Maki", baby. This was the first place I tried the now infamous "tempura philly" (soon to be known as a soundboy roll); a maki roll with salmon and cream cheese that is battered and flash fried in peanut oil. If you don't see it on the menu, ask for it - you will thank me.
Ru sans is the best affordable sushi I have had thus far, including some trendier hipper spots in LA and Miami. Don't get me wrong, I was as shocked as anyone else to find great sushi in Charlotte, regardless of the price. They are centrally located on the upper end of Park Road so afterwards you can take the long stroll over to SouthEnd for drinks or maybe catch the train uptown. In any case Ru Sans gets a total thumbs up from me and I would recommend it to anyone. Just remember that it is small, so get there early. The service could be little better, but "this aint the ritz" so to speak. Go for the sushi, go BACK for the price.