Though the North Shore seems to breed sushi spots, Sushi Kushi Too (an offshoot of Sushi Kushi Toyo in Lake Forest) still manages to stand out. From the reggae music floating in the background, the near-perfect feng shui decor and the delicious mouthfuls of refreshing sushi rolls, it all just works here.
The two appetizer menus, one for hot starters and one for cold, offer a wide range of Japanese delicacies with a characteristic Highland Park flair. Specialties include the avocado salad, which features tuna and white fish over avocado and special sauce, and the salmon carpaccio, with slices of salmon drizzled with olive-oil citrus sauce. Bigger eaters will find a diverse menu of entrees such as rice balls, shish kabobs, pan-fried noodle dishes and teriyaki and tempura dishes, like the sabo shio, broiled mackerel with salt or teriyaki sauce.
Sushi Kushi Too's more than 30 sushi rolls highlight the restaurant's North Shore locale. The Lake Forest roll features tuna, salmon, avocado, cucumber and tempura flakes, while the Cubbie pleases fans with fried spicy tuna, wasabi and eel. Unfortunately, the prices also reflect the location; specialty maki range from $4 to $14; appetizers and dinner entrees average $15. Keeping the price in check isn't impossible, but it means ordering $3 edamame instead of the $19 lobster tail for a starter and ordering off the lunch menu when possible. In any case, the prices don't appear to discourage diners; a crowd nearly always fills the room for dinner.
Centerstage Reviewer: Katie Chelminski
