Here at YCB, we can never resist a sushi night. A glamorous evening with friends, laughing over cocktails and California rolls and a welcomed excuse to show off our practise of chopsticks. What’s more, a sushi restaurant is also the perfect setting for an intimate date-night. The pristinely-packed rolls of grade A salmon and avocado aren’t exactly the easiest dish to re-create at home. As a result, amongst the flavours of deliciously fresh fish and sweet, sticky rice, each bite tastes of a unique skill. However, one qualm of a sushi restaurant is that no matter how chic the interior, outstanding the view, and tasty the cocktail- the thought of raw fish must appeal to your entire party. Otherwise, you’ll likely have some hungry, disappointed guests around the table you booked. And of course, despite the international popularity of sushi, raw fish will always be a controversial ingredient. Luckily, there is a restaurant that understands this, and has gone the extra mile in ensuring their menu caters to all. Of course, we’re talking about Sticks’n’Sushi- a self-proclaimed “sushi restaurant- even for those who don’t like fish”.
The other week, we headed up to Angel, Islington to discover the fuss for ourselves. This branch is one of the recent additions to Sticks’n’Sushi’s extensive catalogue of restaurants in carefully chosen, beautiful areas of London.
Something we initially noticed is the style of this restaurant differs entirely to those we’ve visited previously. This is because each Sticks’n’Sushi location has a unique aesthetic to complement the neighbourhood in which it’s situated. Therefore, unlike the dark, eclectic interiors of Soho or Covent Garden, the Islington branch has a calming, spacious yet cozy finish with a sleek cocktail bar and flatteringly low lighting. Another thing that struck us was that despite its relatively new status in Islington, the restaurant was full to the brim. The atmosphere was lit with the unmistakable buzz of a Friday evening, yet hushed enough to easily hear those around your table.
If you’re unfamiliar with Sticks and Sushi, their menu is based on a unique combination of classic and creative sushi along with sticks from the grill (hence the name.). That’s why this restaurant is such a popular choice for large groups and date-nights alike, with a selection of chicken, pork, beef and vegetable skewers as well as gluten-free and vegan menus, there’s truly something for everyone. After refreshing our hands with the invigorating mini towels served to us by our waiter (a classy touch), we were ready to begin.
To start, we opted for a dish of crisp cauliflower served with creamy black truffle goma and broccoli char-grilled in supreme soy and served with spicy goma. Each bite was savoured and washed down with a sip of our refreshing concoction of choice- the ‘Japanese Spring Punch’. Next, it was the Kani & Ikura Temaki- four sheets of crispy, salty nori topped with airy snow crab in a light yuzu mayonnaise, sake-tamari-marinated trout roe and sushi rice. This was immediately followed by the Tuna Tartare Bites- six crispy flat breads topped with tuna, avocado, sesame, miso, yuzu and spring onion, a medley of flavours that bounced off eachother wonderfully. Paired with a crisp Pinot Grigio to effortlessly complement the fresh fish, it’s needless to say that at this point, we were in our element.
Saving the best until last, we finished with the infamous sticks and sushi. For our selection of sticks, we opted for the Gyu Habu- a succulent beef filet- and Hotate Bacon- juicy scallops and tasty bacon- both with a miso herb butter.
Following that, we devoured the miso-marinated black cod with artichoke chips and pickled red onion, a dish that exceeded all expectations. The cod was unmistakably fresh, and combined with the crisp artichoke and sweet onion, each bite was heavenly. By the meal’s end, we were left with that perfect feeling of sufficiently fed and satisfied, yet light enough to continue on to enjoy the rest of our night.
To conclude, we can confirm that Sticks’n’Sushi is Islington’s latest and greatest addition. However, the fresh, top quality dishes on offer combined with the chic interiors and relaxed atmosphere mean that despite their twelve restaurants across London, you’re best booking in advance! Secure your table today at https://www.sticksnsushi.com/.
