February's Taste - Rikki Rikki, Kirkland, Wa

Last night we tried Rikki Rikki in Kirkland. We were seated relatively fast for a Saturday night around 6 o'clock. The seating itself was a bit strange though. Instead of the host leading us to our table she said "OK, your table is ready right over there," pointing toward a nondescript corner of the room. So we lead the way to a corner booth, near the kitchen, all the while looking back to see if we were indeed going to the correct table.

Seconds after we were seated we were greeted by our server who promptly asked if we would like anything to drink. "Wine maybe?" We hadn't even had a chance to look at the food menu let alone a drink menu. We decided to split a large Asahi ($6.75). The beer arrived cold and quick along with 2 cold glasses.

Once she set our drink down she was ready to take our order. We had barely had time to look over the menu so I ordered a Gyoza ($8.50) and then just spit out the names of a few rolls and went with it. I chose the roll on special, the Pirates Roll ($13.75) and the Spicy Ninja Roll ($12.95). C, was a bit flustered but managed to order his traditional nigiri of 2 salmon ($5.50) and 2 ebi ($4.50) and a Tekka maki roll ($6.50). The nigiri is sold individually instead of by the pair which was different than we were used to. We had to almost beg her to let us hold onto one of the menus just in case we wanted to order more.... Most sushi places are happy to let you keep a least one menu, right?

The atmosphere at Rikki Rikki is kind of neat. The walls are painted and stamped in a Dragon Ball Z'ish motif (according to my anime loving better half). The sushi bar is surrounded by a beautiful rough cut wooden shelf where dinners can watch the chefs at work.

The gyoza came out about 10 minutes after we ordered it. It was a bit crunchier than I like it and C thought it could have been a bit warmer. The dipping sauce was subtle but when combined with the gyoza the result was slightly too salty. Overall not a bad gyoza and I would order it again. I have yet to meet a pork dumpling that I wouldn't eat again...

Our sushi arrived just after I had finished the last piece of gyoza. The presentation was beautiful on all of the rolls. The ratio of ginger and wasabi was perfect, not too much and not too little.

The nigiri is served on a bed of wonderfully seasoned sushi rice and a smear of wasabi. The salmon was tender and fatty but C said he would have liked just a little bit more rice to balance out the large slice of fish. The ebi was tender and moist, not overcooked or dried out.

The Pirates Roll was made up of tempura shrimp and avocado inside the roll and beautifully sliced deep red tuna on top. The tuna was sprinkled with wasabi tobiko and bits of chopped mango and lime zest. Along side the roll was a trail of sweet chili sauce. I tried my first few bites with the sweet chili sauce but in the end found myself liking the roll better with out the sauce. This roll had a very fresh and bright flavor.

The Spicy Ninga Roll was by far my favorite and will be the roll that brings me back. It is made up of tempura shrimp, avocado and jalapeno inside the roll. On top is a mixture of chopped scallops, fake crab and mayo. The roll is drizzled with a spicy mayo. The only thing I would love to change about this roll is the fake crab. Though the price would go up too if real crab was used. Either way, if or when we go back to Rikki Rikki this roll will be my go-to.

Against our better judgement we both ordered one more roll each. I tried the Spicy Scallop Roll ($9.95) and C went with the Tempura Shrimp Roll ($8.95).

Tempura Shrimp Roll (top), Spicy Scallop Roll (bottom)

I was not impressed with the Spicy Scallop Roll at all. Even the presentation was lacking in comparison to the last rolls and the taste fell flat. It was made up of green onion, cucumber, chopped scallops and masago in a spicy sauce all in the center of the roll. The scallops were tender and silky just the way I like them but the overall roll was very one noted with a touch of heat.  So disappointing.

C's Tempura Shrimp Roll on the other hand was light and very well presented even if it was simple. The sushi cuts were superb and each piece held together well.

Rikki Rikki's fish quality is wonderful but in the end we decided that the things that might keep us from going back to Rikki Rikki in the future is the price, our bill was $92.31, and quite possibly the rushed service. Who knew that too fast of service could make you not want to go back? I don't want to be ignored but having adequate time to look over a menu is a big plus in my book.

Rikki Rikki

442 Parkplace Ctr, Kirkland, Wa 98033

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