Cannibalism? (Shogun Sushi)

Does the fact that I'm a Pisces who eats fish (occasionally) make me a cannibal? I sure hope not, because sometimes there's nothing better than some good sushi. And when I want some fresh fish, I'll often hit up Shogun Sushi on Central west of Carlisle.

Here's a quick disclaimer: I don't really understand or appreciate the nuances of good fish...in fact, most of the time I don't care for it. Sushi has become an acquired taste for me, and as such, I'm still learning. Most of the time I will stick to shrimp, scallops and squid. But my motto (both in food and in life) is to try anything (yes, ANYTHING) once. So you'll notice that my sushi reviews are probably lacking...even so, I think these places are worth mention.

Ok, back to Shogun. The restaurant is split in two: an area of separate tables and a community table. The community table surrounds the sushi chefs, and between the chefs and the customers runs a little circle of water and boats. Yes, boats. These boats float counterclockwise, are the size of a small plate, and carry wasabi/ginger to diners. The chefs will also launch your sushi to you on said boats. I honestly don't understand why people bother with the individual tables when they can play with the boats.

I generally only visit Shogun for sushi, but I have had a couple things off the menu, including the tempura shrimp and vegetables. The tempura batter is light and the tasty morsels are not at all greasy. For people who really can't do sushi, the tempura is a great alternative.

When I'm in sushi mode, I start with some edamame and order one or two rolls. My all time favorite is their crunchy roll- featuring tempura shrimp, avacado, a spicy mayo and tempura crunchies. This is a roll to share as it is both large and rich. I'm also a fan of their New Mexico roll and the classic spider roll. I have no idea why I can eat whole crab in the latter case, but it's delicious...and I'm a girl who follows her taste buds. As for their more fishy options, what I've tried has been off of dining companions' plates. Not what I would order often, but fresh and (for fish) quite good. I think those sushi options tend to be lost on me, but I continue to try bites here and there. Those who do enjoy fish tell me that Shogun has some of the best. And I trust that.

I suspect Shogun offers comparable sake to accompany their tasty sushi, but I can't recall that I've ever ordered any there (that said, I will have to soon remedy that). They do offer other alcohol, but I think that beer and sushi just aren't as compatible.

Shogun Sushi has been my destination for good sushi for many years...and with their fresh food and amusing boats, I imagine this trend will continue.