Sticky Rice

I love Sticky Rice, Its my favorite!

What can I say about Sticky Rice? It's a mixed bag. Despite the food itself being borderline meh, I've probably gone there more times than any other restaurant in RVA just because of everyone else I know: coworkers want to meet up after work for a cheap beer and some "sushi" (let's not kid ourselves), someone wants to watch Game 4 of the Stanley Cup on the big screen while having a cheap beer with some sushi, someone could go for some happy hours drinks and some sushi, a friend is aching for some Tots, and, now that they think about it, they could also really go for a cheap beer and....you get the idea.

To call the stuff they serve at Sticky Rice sushi is a bit indulgent. Drowning in cream cheese, fried tempura, and spicy mayo, there is rarely a speciality sushi roll that doesn't feature some form of inevitable fattening Americanization. I get that a lot of sushi places do that now, but for some reason it seems particularly prevalent here. However, that's not to say the stuff is bad: it's food, and it tastes good, and I'm just as guilty of getting an occasional Godzirra roll as the next twentysomething you pass on the street in Richmond and yet....I just can't bring myself to be endeared to it like so many other people I know in the area. Also, their presumed crown jewels: the Sticky Balls, the tots? Not that good.

This isn't to say I vehemently dislike Sticky Rice in any way, it's just not for me, and not for anyone out looking for an authentic sushi experience.

I don't understand...how this place does so well.
Perhaps it's the catchy name, or the location where there are an abundance of hipsters, or maybe it's because they can handle loud drunk kids who I love so very much =). I'm fine with the atmosphere, but the food, I don't get it.
When you go to their website, you see a huge picture of tator-tots. You know who has good tator-tots? Mojos, chik-fil-a for breakfast, cookout, everywhere that has them. It's hard to f-up these overpriced love-handle-formers.
So I only had their sushi because it's a "sushi restaurant". I agree with people who commented how they are creative, but being creative doesn't always mean a good thing. For example, "Well.... he is creative...."
The descriptions are long and it makes the sushi sounds incredible, but that's because if it wasn't there, no one would be brainwashed enough to think that they are pretty good. I understand the city lacks good sushi in general, but for expensive a$$ tacky little units, I rather go to a sushi buffet and eat as many of them as I can.
This place is absolutely amazing at how they make people say they have good sushi. I cringe every time my roommate says her bf is taking her on a date there to eat their delicious sushi, which is once a week. Saying they have a great atmosphere, now that would better hide the Pinocchio noses.