restaurant of the month - september 2009

Wasabi Sushi • Lounge offers
Relaxed dining experience

STEP INSIDE Brookfield's Wasabi Sushi • Lounge and find an atmosphere that is as calming as it is inviting.

The clean, uncluttered lines of the dining room are warmed by dark red and warm gold accents. As you savor the sophisticated decor, you'll also be impressed by the friendliness of the staff who greet you.

Seating options include a sushi bar with plush upholstered stools that allow a "ringside seat" to the maneuvers of the highly skilled sushi chefs. For a more secluded dining experience, choose one of the comfy booths.

During the day, shaded sunshine spills through the restaurant's windows to brighten the interior. At night, the glow from carefully placed lighting enhances the dining experience as well. But the food at Wasabi is so beautifully presented there should be spotlights shining on each gorgeous plate.

The knowledgeable wait staff is happy to provide recommendations from the menu, and options for that non-seafood person in your group always are available.

Lunch provides a great opportunity (and value) for enjoying to Wasabi's cuisine. The Lunch Box employs a cleverly sectioned porcelain plate. Feast on California rolls, sweet sour chicken, fried rice and miso soup, plus your choice of chicken teriyaki, grilled salmon teriyaki, tofu steak or steak. Other combos put miso soup and salad plus rolls, sushi or sashimi in front of you.

At dinner, choose from small plates to signature rolls to entrees. The "Monkey Brain" appetizer gives an indication of the fun approach to dining here. Savor every bite of mushroom stuffed with snow crabmeat and spicy tuna, then topped with a lacy drizzle of sauce.

Wasabi signature rolls give the option of raw or cooked ingredients. "Crunch" combines shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado crunch powder and BBQ sauce. "Flaming Dragon" earns the name with seared tuna over spicy crabmeat and cucumber roll, drizzled with tataki sauce then served with flaming Bacardi 151.

If you are a hardcore sushi or sashimi fan, you'll join the chorus of Wasabi devotees who describe the seafood as "the freshest they've ever tasted." The staff manning the sushi bar includes a head chef from Tokyo, and the expertise is evident.

Full bar service includes an extensive sake menu. Japanese beers, wines, cocktails and Sake-Tinis - all are described in tempting detail. The "Wasabi tini" combines vodka, Asian pear juice, triple sec and a splash of lime juice, while the "Ozeki" is Wasabi's sake mai tai, made with fresh-squeezed juices and served with a dark rum float.

Wasabi is located at 15455 W. Bluemound Rd. in a row of businesses just east of the corner of Bluemound and Moorland Rd. Open seven days a week, hours are 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-11 p.m. Fri., 1-11 p.m. Sat. and 3-9 p.m. Sun. Catering and carryout also are available via telephone at 262-780-0011, or online at www.wasabisakelounge.com.