RoobiFood

Location: 2232 W. Main St.
Richmond, VA 23220

So a trip to Richmond to visit my sister came to a close with a trip to Sticky Rice. This restaurant/bar is definitely what one could term “unique” and although this was my second visit, there were still hidden treasures yet to be discovered.

The outside of the building is simple, large windows and a black canopy running the length of the front facade. It looks like every other pan-Asian, American bistro/cafe. However, as you step inside you find that the exterior is somewhat deceiving. On the left are some tables up against the windows, and a section of seating at the sushi bar. To the right, more tables against the windows, some tables against a low, divider wall in the middle of the room, and then a full blown bar. Decorations include your standard Japanese lanterns, a large painted mural against the side wall and other Hollywood based Japanese design cues. The crowd is what really struck me though. Since the restaurant is right near VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) there are tons of college students. However, also in attendance were some bikers, as well as what looked to be affluent adults.

We were seated immediately, and began to wade through the menu. First and foremost, it was entirely re-designed since the last time I was there, both aesthetically as well as the content. After much deliberation, I chose the chicken sesame (with buckwheat noodles) and the sushi starter combo. Annie selected several assorted sushi rolls, and my sister ordered the Mongolian beef (with udon noodles) and shared some of my sushi.

At this point, I want to point out that my sister noticed an incredibly annoying buzzing/shaking sensation in the vicinity of where we were sitting. We could for the life of us figure out what it was, but it made everything on the table (as well as our body’s) vibrate. It was unsettling and quite bothersome.

The sushi itself was well constructed with perfect rice bases and fresh, well cut fish on top. The started combo came with 5 very large pieces, although I could have sworn I counted 6 on the menu. Annie’s rolls were also well made, and the sweet potato roll was especially good. My chicken sesame was fairly good. The meat was grilled and tasted good, but the buckwheat noodles were thin and floppy, just the way I DONT like them. Also included was a variety of vegetables, ranging from onions and peppers to tomato and bean sprouts. The portion size was very large and I ended up taking about half home with me.

The service, although certainly nothing fantastic, was adequate and left my with very few complaints. The only thing that bugged me was having to put my own leftovers into the plastic container. Call me crazy, but I typically regard that as part of the service experience. The best part? With 2 waters and a coke, the check only came to 40 bucks. Not bad, all things considered.

So, all-in-all, not a bad place to eat. The food is pretty good, the service is satisfactory and you are sure to leave full, without breaking the bank!