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Rochester, N.Y. —
Piranha Sushi Bar and Grill, at the corner of Park and Berkeley in Rochester, recently caught my eye when out for a walk. Looking for an excuse to try it out, sports editor Paul Gangarossa and I recently put our chopsticks to the test at this cozy sushi bar in the heart of the city.
The atmosphere
A friendly crew welcomed us into the restaurant. The inside is decorated with the paintings of one of my favorite local artists, Mark Groaning (the artwork is for sale), and large front windows brighten everything up. Since it was so nice out, we opted to wait for a table outside and sidled up to the sushi bar for a drink. The sushi chef chatted us up about his hometown and the variety of fish available for rolls until we were seated.
The dishes
Piranha has a new chef who is expanding the menu; it will be available in a few weeks. We got a sneak peek at two of his dishes, potato salad and the Salmon Special.
The potato salad was an appetizer, and large enough to share. The potato cubes are served with sautéed leeks and smoked bacon in a light ginger sauce. It’s spicy without being overwhelming, and the chunks of bacon are huge (in a good way). The light pink sauce and mayo-free spin on potato salad is a great choice for the summer.
The Salmon Special was served on a bed of green and white beans with a splash of carrot-ginger vinaigrette. The colorful dish was moist, and the vinaigrette was my favorite part. The beans didn’t add much to the meal, but didn’t hurt it either. The flank size was generous, with enough meat to share (not that I wanted to).
Paul got the Maui Wowie Roll ($7.50), with tuna, mango, avocado and eel sauce. The mango was a sweet, surprisingly complementary, addition to the sushi. The avocado was buttery, and the tuna was fresh.
The drinks
We went on a Thursday, which is Ladies Night, so I got a free glass of wine (Chardonnay). Paul had a Sobe Green Tea ($2.50). There are free refills on all sodas ($1.99) and hot green tea ($0.99).
Next time
The table next to us was served the Crabcake Burgers ($11.99) just as we were finishing our meal. It comes with a side of batatas fritas and looked great. I’d also like to try a Baja Style Fish Taco ($10.99).
Piranha Sushi Bar and Grill, at the corner of Park and Berkeley in Rochester, recently caught my eye when out for a walk. Looking for an excuse to try it out, sports editor Paul Gangarossa and I recently put our chopsticks to the test at this cozy sushi bar in the heart of the city.
The atmosphere
A friendly crew welcomed us into the restaurant. The inside is decorated with the paintings of one of my favorite local artists, Mark Groaning (the artwork is for sale), and large front windows brighten everything up. Since it was so nice out, we opted to wait for a table outside and sidled up to the sushi bar for a drink. The sushi chef chatted us up about his hometown and the variety of fish available for rolls until we were seated.
The dishes
Piranha has a new chef who is expanding the menu; it will be available in a few weeks. We got a sneak peek at two of his dishes, potato salad and the Salmon Special.
The potato salad was an appetizer, and large enough to share. The potato cubes are served with sautéed leeks and smoked bacon in a light ginger sauce. It’s spicy without being overwhelming, and the chunks of bacon are huge (in a good way). The light pink sauce and mayo-free spin on potato salad is a great choice for the summer.
The Salmon Special was served on a bed of green and white beans with a splash of carrot-ginger vinaigrette. The colorful dish was moist, and the vinaigrette was my favorite part. The beans didn’t add much to the meal, but didn’t hurt it either. The flank size was generous, with enough meat to share (not that I wanted to).
Paul got the Maui Wowie Roll ($7.50), with tuna, mango, avocado and eel sauce. The mango was a sweet, surprisingly complementary, addition to the sushi. The avocado was buttery, and the tuna was fresh.
The drinks
We went on a Thursday, which is Ladies Night, so I got a free glass of wine (Chardonnay). Paul had a Sobe Green Tea ($2.50). There are free refills on all sodas ($1.99) and hot green tea ($0.99).
Next time
The table next to us was served the Crabcake Burgers ($11.99) just as we were finishing our meal. It comes with a side of batatas fritas and looked great. I’d also like to try a Baja Style Fish Taco ($10.99).
The specials
Piranha offers different drink specials on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Check out their happy hour (Tuesday through Sunday) for $3 select rolls and hot sake.
If you’re a college student, don’t forget to bring your current ID. You’ll save 10 percent off the bill (20 percent on Saturdays).
Last thoughts
If you’re looking for a casual dining experience on Park Avenue, Piranha is worth a try. The rolls are fairly priced and if you make it in time for the specials, it’s a steal.
And with their expanding menu and other options, you can go with someone who isn’t crazy about Japanese cuisine.
