As the first semester draws to a close, the three of us — all food enthusiasts — decided to take a break from school to discover good restaurants in the area. After examining Japanese restaurants, we decided to try Sushi Heaven, located at the intersection of Saratoga Sunnyvale Road and Prospect. It boasts an impressive four and a half star review on Google Maps. We set out to see if it deserved that high rating.
We entered the restaurant around 10 minutes after 1 p.m., the latter half of the lunch rush. Expecting a crowd, we found that there was no line and we were lucky to be seated instantly at a large table.
The coziness of the restaurant was immediately noticeable. Compared to other sushi restaurants with more modern architectural styles, Sushi Heaven features dim lights that imitate traditional Japanese restaurants.
Upon sitting down, our server approached us with three menus, each containing all lists of appetizers, beverages, lunch combinations and sushi rolls. On average, appetizers were around $10 while rolls were ranging from $15 to $20. Considering Ethan’s contempt towards vegetables and Seabert’s indifference when choosing, ordering was difficult, especially with nearly 100 items on the menu. We eventually ordered the California roll, Unagi roll, Alaskan Crispy roll, Tuna combo and the deluxe Nigiri combo.
We were grateful for the server, who kindly served two sides of miso soup and Caesar salad alongside three iced waters on the side. The miso soup arrived soothing and warm, with its dusty and powdery look adding to the traditional Japanese feel of the meal. The salad was extremely fresh, with crisp lettuce. The Caesar sauce had a strong sour taste while the rest of the salad was mild.
First, we tried the Tuna combo, which included three types of rolls: California, Cucumber and Tuna. The tuna roll was almost too moist, and the smooth texture made each bite slightly slippery in an unpleasant way. The cucumber roll wasn’t much better. The rice overpowered the cucumber flavor. Ethan opted out of the cucumber rolls as he still hadn’t gotten over his hatred of vegetables. The California roll consisted of avocado and crab; despite its simplicity, the avocado’s richness paired up well with the miso crab, both contributing to the overall flavor.
Next, we tried the Unagi roll, essentially an elevated version of the California roll with eel on top. The rich and savory flavor of the eel blended quite well with the creamy interior, making it one of the standout dishes of the meal.
In contrast, the Dragon roll felt short in flavor but offered a crispy taste, making the roll satisfying to eat. However, as the texture could not compensate for the flavor, we unanimously favored the Unagi roll over the Dragon roll.
The final roll we tried was the Alaskan Crispy roll, made with deep-fried salmon and cream cheese, finished with additional eel on top. Unfortunately, the roll was disappointing. The baked cream cheese in the center completely overpowered every other ingredient. The roll was extremely warm, making it mushy and nothing like sushi.
To round out the meal, we ordered a Nigiri Deluxe combo, which came with 12 pieces arranged neatly on a large plate. The first piece featured yellowfin tuna. Despite its appearance and freshness, the flavor was fairly standard. As we continued through the assortment, the platter offered a variety of menus, but they felt repetitive after two or three pieces.
As we received a check, we were surprised to end the meal with two scoops of matcha ice cream on the house. Right after the waiter put down the bowl, Seabert immediately scooped off the top scoop and put it in his bowl. Ethan and Enzo had to share the remaining scoop of ice cream. The moment it hit our tongue, it instantly melted and the matcha flavor exploded.
Overall, the dining experience was warm and inviting, with food that, while not always exceptional, delivered several memorable highlights. Combined with the restaurant’s convenient location and cozy atmosphere, the meal offered a comforting and satisfying way to end the evening, completely worth the $100 for three people.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Falcons
