Frequently, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s always-hungry reporter has lunch at a local restaurant and tells you about the experience.
By ANON E. MUSS, Journal Services
I’m not much on new year’s resolutions. I make them, fall short of them, then feel like a failure.
But as 2025 began, I promised myself I would try and be more open-minded. You know, listening to others, and maybe – maybe – believing them.
For example, a friend has tried many times to get me to join her at Sushi Gen (2300 Airline Drive, Bossier City), a restaurant she enjoys. My answer has always been a firm, “No.” Why? I hate Sushi. No, I’ve never eaten sushi. But its look and smell – and knowing sushi is raw fish – has always been enough to make my stomach turn.
So why would I eat at a place with “Sushi” in its name?
Well, my friend told me Sushi Gen offers more than sushi. Hmmm. I looked at the menu online, and sure enough, I saw a few things I’ve had and enjoyed at other restaurants. So, on a recent Thursday and with an open mind, I said, “Yes”, and joined my friend for lunch.
Arriving just after 12:15, we were immediately greeted and seated by a hostess. Sushi Gen is clean and modern-looking, but isn’t particularly large. I would describe it as cozy. I counted eight booths and two booth/table combinations in the main dining room, two booths toward the back of the restaurant, and another dining area with a few tables. There were two televisions in the main room, in case you want to catch a glimpse of a ball game or a news channel.
Within three minutes of sitting down, our drink order (two waters with lemon) had been taken and delivered.
Sushi Gen offers plenty of – as the front of its menu reads – Ultimate Japanese Cuisine. But what immediately caught my eye was the bright green, laminated insert. My Sushi Gen-educated friend told me that was a list of all the types of Sushi one could order. My heavens. The choices seemed endless. But since I wanted Sushi as much as I wanted a root canal, I soon found my way to the back of the menu, which featured the restaurant’s Lunch Menu.
The number of lunch choices paled in comparison to the sushi choices. There were seven types of “Plates”, four types of a “Bento Box”, Lunch Sushi, and a Roll Combo. The Bento Box includes sushi, so I focused on a “Plate”. They all seemed “safe”, so I went with the Shrimp & Chicken ($17.95). My “Plate” was promised to come with my choice of soup or salad, fried rice, and mixed vegetables.
My soup choices were Miso, or Clear. I didn’t know anything about either, but clear soup sounded boring. So, I stretched myself and went with Miso. Upon arrival, the soup with a dark roux was, well, not bad. I can’t really describe its taste, except to say it tasted unlike any soup I’ve ever had. It was warm, which was welcomed on a chilly day. Only after I saw the bottom of my bowl did I ask our server what I had eaten. He said the soup had Seaweed, Tofu, and Green Onion.
Okie Dokie. Had I asked in advance, I would have gone with Clear soup. But again, my selection was all part of being open-minded.
Before long, our meals were served. My plate had generous portions of everything. However, I prefer quality over quantity. I ate a piece of chicken. Cold.
A shrimp. Cold.
A bite of mixed vegetables. Cold.
A bite of rice. A little warmer, but clumpy.
Knowing I like food which is supposed to be hot, to be hot, my friend asked if I wanted to send back my plate. I thought about it, and decided yes, I did. If I’m going to pay for a meal, the least I should expect is that the meal be hot. Unfortunately, our server had disappeared. I kept looking for him, but didn’t see him. Finally, I got the attention of another server and told her of my issue.
Several minutes later, our original server brought back my food, which was supposedly now hot, and apologized for the inconvenience. However, there was less food on my plate than when I sent it back. And, the chicken, shrimp, and vegetables weren’t much warmer, if any. Plus, the rice was colder than it was, which led me to believe it wasn’t warmed up.
My friend chose the Teriyaki Steak Bento Box ($14.95). She also had a choice of soup or salad, along with friend rice, mixed vegetables, a two-piece cali, a two-piece tempura, and an orange. Her salad was nothing special – a small plate with lettuce. Her dressing were choices homemade Ginger, and homemade Ginger. All or nothing. It’s a good thing she enjoyed the Ginger dressing.
As for her entrée, my friend said her food wasn’t hot, but it wasn’t cold enough to send back. She liked everything, especially the tempura shrimp. She said she was served a “good amount” of steak for a lunch special. My friend thinks Sushi Gen serves some of the best fried rice around.
When our server brought the check, he said a discount had been given, in light of me sending back my food. I told him that wasn’t necessary, but I appreciated the gesture. The cost of our meal, before tax and tip, was $29.61, which reflected a $3.29 discount.
I was less than impressed with Sushi Gen. Cold food, and it took a long time before finding our server to send back the food. Not the best ingredients for a favorable review. So, I give Sushi Gen Two Forks. I would return, but only if someone else is paying.
However, my experience wasn’t for nothing. I learned that just because a restaurant has one type of food in its name, doesn’t mean the restaurant doesn’t offer other types of food.
It’s called being open-minded.
1 Fork: Would rather eat a box of dirt
2 Forks: Will return, but only if someone else is buying
3 Forks: Will return and look forward to it
4 Forks: Will return and go out of my way to do so
Is there a restaurant you would like the Journal to visit for lunch?
Email SBJRestaurantReview@gmail.com.
