I Love Sushi Restaurant, Denton, TX (near Dallas/Fort Worth)

I love sushi at I LOVE SUSHI!

by Ellen "EJ" Sackett

Good sushi? In TEXAS? Check out I Love Sushi, the Japanese restaurant in Denton, north of Dallas and Fort Worth. The place could use a renovation, and the name and Korean owners have changed several times, but never fear: as of January 2008, I Love Sushi will make you love sushi too.

To be honest, I like their sushi rolls the best. I just can't get enough of 'em. I ought to know, since I eat here at least four times a week.

Let me explain: A sushi roll is made for Americans, who tend to like food on the sweet side--it's definitely not a Japanese creation. If you want to eat real Japanese sushi, stick to what's called Nigiri. That's a bite-sized piece of fish, often times raw, draped over a clump of compressed rice with a little wasabi dabbed in between. If you're not sure you like Japanese food, first try the ever-popular California roll, made from (sometimes artificial) crabmeat. It's good. Really!

My favorite is called the Alaska Roll. (The name changes, depending on the restaurant.) At I Love Sushi, the Alaska roll is a California roll topped with raw salmon and avocado. Delish! I also like the Denton Roll (again, named as such at I Love Sushi) made with raw tuna, avocado and cream cheese. But the best of all is the Spicy Tuna Roll, made with, yep, you guessed it! I like it better than it likes me, if you know what I mean, but doesn't stop me from ordering it every time I go to I Love Sushi.

If you aren't into raw fish, that's okay. Order the Chicken Teriyaki or the Chicken Yaki Udon for the best chicken noodle soup ever. The tempura is mighty fine too. Order a traditional Bento box for a variety and to save a few pennies. Otherwise, bring plenty of Yen.

Fortunately, Dallasites don't have to pedal to Denton because another, more upscale version of I Love Sushi is located in North Dallas on Preston Road at Frankford Road.

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I Love Sushi, 917 Sunset Street, Denton, TX (940) 891-6060
I Love Sushi, 18101 Preston Road, Dallas, TX (972) 248-2100

Wisteria Restaurant, Atlanta, GA

WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT WISTERIA?

by Ellen "EJ" Sackett

Wisteria Restaurant, located close to the Carter Center near downtown Atlanta, is the kind of trendy that never goes out of style. Dress up or don't bother, this affordable, understated restaurant has its priorities in the right place. The hardwood floors, brick walls, and simple but elegant lighting and décor are a mere backdrop for the main event—the meal. Owner and Chef Jason Hill chose his nouveau-southern-style menu and wine selections carefully for pleasing popularity. I had the to-die-for homemade Pumpkin Ravioli and a garlicky Caesar salad, and my husband chose the lightly-breaded fried calamari and the All Natural Iron Skillet Half Chicken, which he pronounced "the best chicken he'd ever had."

We left room for dessert, but only after we found out that they were small. Ah, but we could order three for only $10—how could we resist? We opted for the carrot cake with bourbon sauce (too sweet), the dark cherry and port wine tart (too tart) and the traditional vanilla crème brulee (just right!).

We went on a Sunday night, perfect for a romantic dinner out, but we hear this place is noisy on the weekends. Make a reservation if you want a guaranteed seat.

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Wisteria, 471 North Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA (404) 525-3363
Sunday thru Thursday, 5:30 – 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 5:30 – 11 p.m.
www.wisteria-atlanta.com

Okefenokee Restaurant, Folkston, GA

LOOKIN' FOR HOME COOKIN'?

by Ellen "EJ" Sackett

On the way to the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, my husband and I had a hankering for some southern cuisine. It was lunchtime on Saturday, and as we drove through Folkston, we spied a restaurant with a parking lot crammed full. "Either this restaurant is the best in town, or it's the only one in town!" I said. We took our chances and stopped at the aptly named Okefenokee Restaurant.

We weren't disappointed. Here we found plenty of friendly folks and good eats. We chose the buffet ($7.50) over the menu and chowed down on melt-in-your-mouth breaded porkchops, killer fried chicken, traditional biscuits and cornbread, savory stewed tomatoes, brown-sugar sweet potatoes and perhaps the best coleslaw I've ever had. That's not all the Okeenokee Restaurant offered up, just what I could fit inside my right leg. And I made sure to pick up the last two jars of pumpkin butter on the way out.

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Okefenokee Restaurant, 103 S. 2nd Street, Folkston, GA (912) 496-3263
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.