Why: The Sushi Joint opened for business in October in Washougal, further broadening dining options for local residents. The Sushi Joint’s motto is “to use sustainable and traceable ingredients to ensure quality.” The restaurant also offers take-out and catering.
What I tried: My dining companion and I tried the Washougal Roll, the chili ponzu roll, the California roll, the spider roll, the jalapeno popper roll, and the house salad.
The Washougal Roll consists of spicy tuna and shrimp tempura with cucumber, rolled and topped with salmon and albacore tobiko.
The ponzu roll is made with layers of salmon over a crab salad and avocado cucumber roll with chili ponzu sauce. Each piece is garnished with a sprout sprig.
The jalapeno popper roll is comprised of deep-fried jalapeno, cream cheese and crab salad, and each section is topped with a dot of spicy-and-sweet sauce.
Of these rolls, I especially enjoyed the jalapeno popper roll for its impressionable flavors, and the Washougal Roll for its more complex flavor and textures.
The house salad is a mix of mainly seaweed, cucumber and squid. I thought it was a smart house salad choice for a sushi restaurant and found that it set the tone for the sushi meal that followed.
The California roll, made of avocado, crab salad and cucumber, was very light on the cucumber so it did not have quite the impact I have found it to have elsewhere, and the spider roll, made of deep-fried, soft-shell crab, avocado, crab salad and cucumber, was very similar to what I have sampled elsewhere. It was defined mostly by the deep-fried crab.
Atmosphere: Occupying the former space of a juice bar, the square footage of the Sushi Joint is on the smaller side, with seating at the bar as well as at a few tall bistro tables. The walls still sport the turquoise, orange and white of the former tenant, but are void of decorative items. White-washed, rough wood siding topped with granite makes an attractive bar and lends a touch of upscale to restaurant. Lighting consists of spot and pendant lights with white shades, and TVs provide some entertainment.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: The nigiri sushi selections include salmon, tuna, snapper, river eel, yellow tail and salmon belly. The avocado roll is layer upon layer of avocado, cucumber, radish and sprouts. A veggie roll is made with cucumber, shiso leaf, avocado and carrot. The Philly roll is made with smoked salmon, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese. The Chef Choice Sashimi is nine pieces and the Chef Choice Nigiri is eight pieces. Beverages include soft drinks, hot green tea and sake.
Other observations: The table service was attentive and knowledgable about menu items. The presentation was more straightforward than artistic. The Sushi Joint is comparable to other Clark County sushi restaurants of similar size in quality and selection. Limited seating fills up fast during evening hours.
Cost: Appetizers cost $3 to $7. Nigiri sushi is $3 to $4.25. Sushi rolls range from $3 to $13.75. Specials are $9.75 to $11. Desserts are $3.75.
Hours: Noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Where: 1887 Main St., Washougal.
Contact: 360-954-5383. The Sushi Joint also may be found of Facebook for more information.
Health score: The Sushi Joint received a score of 10 on Nov. 20. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
