Collegiate Times

Related: Tataki restaurant review

The exterior of the building -- not impressive. The location -- in the middle of North Franklin Street between gas stations. Does this combination sound like it would concoct a delicious Japanese restaurant? Not particularly, but I was proved wrong.

For all those sushi lovers out there, Tataki offers an extensive selection of raw and cooked rolls, sashimi, and cooked Japanese entrees for those who aren't into the raw fish scene.

Located on Merrimac Road off of North Franklin Street, Tataki is a hidden gem in the mines of Christiansburg dining.

Upon entering, I found the restaurant to have a quaint atmosphere. Decked out in black wooden furniture, it had a very art deco feel to it. The music choice was interesting, as Jack Johnson's CD was playing throughout the entire dining experience.

The menu has tons to offer for both sushi and for cooked entrees. I tried the Sakara roll, which was a combination of salmon, tuna and yellowtail with scallions. Delicious choice, and one I never had before. I also got my favorite: the spicy tuna roll. Both were excellent.

Prices for the sushi rolls vary extremely. For a simpler roll, say your average spicy tuna or eel roll, you're looking to spend about $6 for each. The list ranges though, with chef's specialty rolls that can cost you up to a whopping $12 for just one roll. You better not be too hungry if that's the case.

That said, the specialty rolls did seem to be delicious, with variations such as the Volcano Roll (spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail, spicy salmon and tempura flakes inside with masago outside) or the Sun Rise Roll (shrimp, crabmeat and cucumber inside with smoked salmon and avocado on top).

For a night out, maybe a possible date for two who enjoy sushi, check out the sushi bar entrees that they have to offer. Served with miso soup and salad, you have a variety of choices, and if you are feeling particularly romantic there's a Love-Boat-for-two option.

What I thoroughly enjoyed about their menu was how varied it was. Tataki offers three different soups, four different salads, and twelve different appetizers from both the sushi bar and the kitchen -- and that's just to get you started.

Another plus to Tataki was that service was very friendly. Our server made a point to check up on us and make sure we had everything we needed. We even had our chef stop by our table.

To end my meal, I tried a dessert I have never had before -- Mochi, a Japanese ice cream wrapped in a rice cake wrap that reminded me a lot of fondant used around the cakes you would see on "Ace of Cakes." The texture was different, but I really enjoyed it. The green tea ice cream on the inside made it a delectable treat.

Overall, I paid about $20 with a tip for my meal. A little on the steep side, which was one of the only downfalls I saw to the restaurant. However, with that said, it does offer a fantastic lunch special in which you can get two rolls with miso soup and a salad for only $7. Now that's a deal.

If you're interested in hitting up Tataki, it's located at 50 Merrimac Rd., just off of North Franklin Street in Christiansburg.