Sakura Restaurant

     Providence is filled with "hidden gems." Small, independently owned operations that aren't quite as popular as the competition, yet more enjoyable, and more affordable. I've lived in Rhode Island all my life, so I've heard about and tried many of these hidden gems, and they're usually pretty good. Most recently, I was told about a unique sushi and Japanese restaurant on Wickenden street called Sakura Restaurant, and after trying it, I can't believe I've never been before. The experience I had at Sakura was like no other restaurant I've ever been to.
     It was a Thursday night when Adriana and I went to Sakura, which was a good choice. On Thursdays, restaurants in the city are busy enough to be operating at full speed because Thursday night marks the beginning of the college weekend, though they're not busy enough to be slowed down by an overwhelming amount of customers like some Friday nights. Upon walking in, we were immediately tended to and seated. We were seated in their traditional tatami room (a room in which you take off your shoes, sit comfortably on tatami mats, and eat on a table which stands about a foot and a half high) which was very unique, and equally relaxing. Due to the location and affordable prices, a pretty big portion of the customers here are college kids, which makes for a very comfortable atmosphere. The wait staff here manages to always be available when needed, yet never be overly present during your meal. It can be really difficult to tend to all of a customers needs without being pestering by checking up on them every few minutes, and they've found a perfect balance of presence and absence.

      The menu at Sakura was nicely sized. They have a good selection of both sushi and Japanese cuisine, but the menu isn't so large that a glance through becomes overwhelming. After looking over the menu for a while, we placed our perfectly planned order: two miso soups, one order of spicy salmon sandwich sushi, chicken maki, and yaki udon. The food started coming surprisingly fast. In just a few minutes, our soup came out. Miso soup is made from a traditional Japanese seafood stock called dashi, mixed with miso paste, which is made from fermented soybeans. The miso soup at Sakura was one of the best that I've ever had. The broth was rich and flavorful, and the soft cubes of tofu were completely saturated with flavor from the broth, each one bursting with a mouthful of robust, salty goodness. When we were about half way through the soup, our sushi came. It was made with thick layers of sticky rice, nori, and spicy salmon blend.

     The presentation of the sushi was quite a bit nicer than what you'd expect for only $8.25, and so was the quality. The salmon tasted very fresh and was just spicy enough without being overpowering. The rice was cooked perfectly, and absorbed all of the delicious flavor from the wasabi and soy sauce. After having miso soup to get our appetites going, it took all of five minutes to chow down these delicious morsels. Five perfect, blissful minutes of sushi-induced euphoria. Having the cold sushi between the two hot courses was a perfect way to cleanse our palates and break up the meal. Almost as soon as we finished our sushi, it was taken away, and the next course was on its way.

     When our entrée course showed up, and it looked amazing. The chicken maki was filleted chicken breast rolled with seaweed, breaded, and fried. It was sliced and laid out on the plate at if it were a sushi roll, surrounded by piles of cold bean sprouts, cabbage, and noodles. On the side, was a sauce which looked like soy sauce, but tasted much sweeter, with a hint of sesame oil. The sauce complimented the chicken perfectly, and the cabbage and bean sprouts on the side were crisp and refreshing which contrasted the deep fried maki excellently. The yaki udon was a traditional Japanese udon noodle stir-fried with vegetables and chicken. The noodles were a bit dense and heavy, which filled me up pretty quickly, but the flavor was delightful.

     After a pretty big three course meal which left us both unable to eat another bite, our bill came to only $40 which was impressive considering the high quality of both the food, and the atmosphere. Everything about our experience at Sakura left me pleasantly surprised, and I would absolutely go back (many times). If you're looking for a cool place to take a date, or a friend, with fresh sushi, great food, and affordable prices, you should seriously consider giving Sakura a visit. It's like a little slice of Japan right in the heart of the east side. You can check out their full menu at http://sakuraprovidence.com/