Vista restuarant serves up surprising flavors

The only thing better than a good pun is great sushi, but at SakiTumi, you can easily have both.

The restaurant brings to Columbia unbelievably good sushi that stimulates consumers' imaginations and taste buds. Everything about the restaurant is representative of Japanese food and culture, but with a distinctive Southern twist. Everything from the menu to the décor incorporates an often literal taste of the Deep South into the dining experience at SakiTumi.

For diners who are 21 and older, SakiTumi offers an extensive menu of 12 different types of saki alone. Beyond that, they offer a variety of original cocktails featuring peach flavoring and South Carolina favorites such as Firefly vodka.

Few things are better to suit one of the restaurant's cocktail concoctions than SakiTumi's Kamikaze Wings. Breaded just enough to offer a slight crunch but no grease, the wings are a favorite with all. Thanks to the assorted spices in the sauce, the wings are spicy enough to satisfy the toughest wing connoisseurs, but come with a distinctly Asian flair. Most innovative is the fact that the wings come without all the mess of your typical game-day fare. The wing sauce has a mildly gelatinous quality, making the wings less embarrassingly messy than other wings. Other appealing appetizer options include the Edamame, Seaweed Salad and Toasted Goat Cheese.

The real appeal of SakiTumi is found in the restaurant's entrées. Although the menu offers everything from tapas to cheeseburgers, the restaurant's best offerings are from their sushi menu. A favorite is the Shrimp Tempura Roll, which combines lightly fried shrimp, cream cheese, green onion and Japanese mayonnaise. The standout ingredient is the eel sauce that accents the roll and tastes nothing like it sounds. Rather than fishy or salty, the sauce is simultaneously sweet and savory.

Those who prefer something with a little more Dixie flavor will appreciate the Charleston Roll, which combines wasabi sesame seeds, vegetables and Southern style blue crab. The combination is true to its Japanese roots, but pushes the limits of all things traditionally Asian by featuring crab almost fresh enough to live underwater.

Anyone slightly too squeamish for sushi will appreciate the Shojin Pasta, which combines the flavors of tofu and shiitake mushrooms with fresh bell peppers, asparagus and sundried tomatoes to add a sweet accent. Blissfully simple, the dish is light and flavorful, and shows off the versatility of SakiTumi's chef.

Using a unique combination of flavors, the staff at SakiTumi combines Southern charm with Pan-Asian flavors. Even the interior is decorated to reflect Asian themes while operating in a small, intimate atmosphere traditional to Southern culture. SakiTumi isn't as budget friendly as the Grand Marketplace, but it is well worth the cost. So, wind down before exams and enjoy a night out at SakiTumi, where the sushi is delicious and the puns are plentiful. After all, what's not to like about a restaurant with a Gamecock Roll?

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