Located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, Yume Sushi has a quiet, understated presence. Blending in with the rest of the storefronts the restaurant, it can be easily overlooked. But outside appearances are deceiving. Upon entering the seemingly small restaurant, one is immediately impressed with the size, the authenticity and the simple, understated Asian décor. Yume offers a large dining area separated into smaller sections with a prominent sushi bar, creating a cozy dining experience.
The menu is extensive, with a wide selection of Japanese specialties, beef, chicken, seafood and, of course, sushi. Since sushi is in the name, we started there and then worked our way around the menu. For our meals we chose the following:
- Tako: Octopus. $2.25 (per piece)
Firm and fresh, with just the right amount of resistance in the bite.
- Spicy Sake: Spicy salmon. $1.95 (per piece)
Melt-in-your-mouth tender, with just a touch of sweet and subtly spicy flavor.
- Ika: Squid. $1.75 (per piece)
Pearly white color; chewy with the slightest crunch when bitten. As it should be!
- Hamachi: Yellowtail. $2.50 (per piece)
Full disclosure, I'm a big time Hamachi fan. This morsel was fresh with a creamy texture and slightly sweet … delicious.
- Spicy Tuna Roll: Tuna, cucumber, spicy mayonnaise. $5.50 (6 pieces)
A slightly spicy, kicked-up tuna roll.
- Amazing Roll: Tuna, salmon, white fish, yellowtail, asparagus and scallion wrapped with soy paper --- no rice. $8.95 (6-8 pieces)
A brightly-colored presentation; visually appealing with just the right balance between crunchy and smooth. The combination works very well.
- Fresh Spring Rolls: Special spring rolls stuffed with lettuce, tofu, carrots, avocado, bean sprouts and noodles wrapped with soft rice paper. (Served cold.) $4.50
Very light and refreshing, with a little crunchy pop in each bite.
- Wakame Salad: Precious wakame seaweed with sesame dressing. $3.25
A strong sesame taste with just a hint of brininess.
- Yume Pizza: Tempura fried rice, spicy mayo, crab stick and your own choice of toppings. We chose tuna and yellow tail. $10.95
Very creative dish and presentation; a balanced mixture of sweet and spicy in a large serving.
- Mango Salmon Sashimi: Mango salsa topping salmon sashimi over Asian slaw. $8.95
Beautiful presentation; cool, sweet and very refreshing. A definite summertime dish.
- Bento Box: All Bento Box dinners come with a choice of two items (we chose vegetable tempura and chicken teriyaki), and are served with rice, soup and salad. $17.95
A classic Bento presentation. The tempura provided a sweet crunch complemented by the briny teriyaki.
- Grilled Fish: Freshly-selected fish are grilled to perfection and served on top of steamed vegetables with your choice of ginger, teriyaki, garlic pepper, basil or combination sauce. All meals come with a side of steamed Japanese rice, soup or salad. $13.95 (We chose grilled shrimp with the combination sauce.)
A complete meal offered at a value price.
- Jade Dragon Roll: Spicy tuna, white fish and cucumber, topped with mango and avocado. $10.75
Cool and refreshing on the tongue; spicy and sweet with a buttery texture.
The waitstaff was friendly, fast, efficient and accommodating. Yume offers a wide selection of Japanese beers and sakes as well as wine and soft drinks.
Sushi has become ubiquitous today. Just about any restaurant serving Asian cuisine offers sushi; supermarkets have some, and even grab-and-go convenience stores are offering selections. However, finding creative sushi can be a bit more challenging; that is, unless you know about Yume Sushi. Their innovative combinations of sushi, coupled with their understated, simple décor, make Yume a stand-out from the crowd.
Yume Sushi
1537 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-363-0604
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yume-Sushi-Restaurant/170850432948186
