Wild Ginger on 116th Street

I can finally say I'm a sushi fan thanks to Wild Ginger. Many of my friends boast about their love for sushi, and I could never relate. Now I'm in the mix! Ha! This establishment is certainly relaxing. The white, red and sprinkles of black decor made it sophisticated and alluring. I adored the usage of glass doors everywhere. One even hung from the ceiling. My favorite was the beautiful origami chandelier, which hosted an array of colors. Wild Ginger is swanky and polished.

I was fond of the bar setting upfront towards the middle, which had chefs decked out in Japanese attire whipping up everyone's meals.

I ordered the shrimp, octopus and crab sushi's ($3-$5 each). I also ordered a main dish Stir Fried Sob Udon Noodles with chicken, which came with miso soup, salad, peanut dressing and rice ($14).

The waiter recommended all this and was right on the money. The only thing I could've done without was the octopus. You're probably wondering why I tried it in the first place. Hey you only live once. But it was just too slimy for me, and I couldn't grasp it.

The shrimp and crab was simple, yet appetizing. The miso soup was interesting. I couldn't decide what was happening there. I mean it was good, but odd tasting. Hmmm... Next up was the salad accompanied with peanut dressing. Doesn't that sound gross? It was far from unpleasant though. I quickly was caught in its web of scrumptiousness. The dressing was everything. It was creamy and zesty. I couldn't get enough of it.The Stir Fried Sob a or Udon Noodles with chicken was a nice portion size and loaded with delicious veggies. It was full of flavor and came alive with each bite. I enjoyed the sushi while my boyfriend said, "I'm not a fan!"

So I'm excited to return with the ladies. Ha!

Prepare for fresh Japanese-style cuisine in a crisply modern decor.  More than a fun sushi bar, Wild Ginger's menu offers multiple types of nigiri, sashimi, and rolls while including non-sushi options like tempura, skewers and buckwheat noodle/udon  combinations.

The dining room's design is crisply modern and clean.  The Friday night we dined was busy - a large party filled the back dining area.  (Popular plaza offers many dining choices, so lot was packed with some spots open in very back.)  We chose an outdoor table, but expected to flag down staff since indoors was keeping them on their toes.  Despite the crowd and summer heat, we were served promptly and with smiles.

Started with excellent Gyoza (fried dumplings), Guinness and Stella.  I think we really missed out not trying the Plum Flight:  four 2oz. samples of chilled plum wines.  Or at least a glass from the extensive saki list with fun names like "Beautiful Young Man" and "Drunken Heart".

No complaints when we split a Dinner Combination 2.  A small, fresh salad with peanut dressing arrived first. Tasty miso soup arrived in a small, lidded bowl.  Dinner was served on a traditional zen tray accompanied by a medium bowl of white rice. Condiments included shaved ginger, wasabi, and soy.

Hubby enjoyed the California roll.  I liked both the Chicken and Beef Teriyaki and would choose the Chicken Teriyaki again because it was so wonderfully tender.  Two potato croquettes with a light panko breading and a tiny spring roll nestled in the corners of our tray as we debated how to split them.

If you're a more daring diner, try the Unaju (eel).  More traditional diner?  Try a twist on the pork tenderloin:  Wild Ginger's Tonkatsu specialty is battered and deep-fried.

Wild Ginger is our go-to sushi bar close to home. The specialty rolls are creative, the traditional rolls are familiar and I enjoy the plum wine flight offered. On busy nights, it's best to make a reservation or call for take out.

We waited 40-45 minutes without a reservation and we were in a bit of a rush to get through our meal to make it on time for the second half of our date.