Here at Wake Forest, there are few gems cherished more than our trust funds: Pledge night, Tribble 201A, and our sacred tunnels, just to name a few. Quite possibly transcending all these is the sublime grandeur of Ishi. If you have not yet been, please stop reading my review.

Instead, go now and experience what will become the yin to your flavorous yang. But, if I’ve yet to convince you to visit or revisit Ishi, perhaps this review may make the difference.

What makes Ishi a notch above the competition are the many nuances which make the Ishi experience unique and enjoyable. This “it” factor is first noticeable from the moment my date and I walked in the door. The owner, Haley, greeted us and seated us promptly beneath the peacock painting. This art work, along with the candid photos of patrons (Wake students included), and Jack Johnson music in the background creates a relaxed, casual environment.

With one look at the menu, my date and I soon found it impossible to decide what to order. All of the choices on the menu are delicious, giving both sushi and hibachi lovers alike equally amazing options. Of particular mention are the spider and summer rolls, as well as the hibachi and teriyaki chicken. While Ishi’s competitors boast similar menu selections, that aforementioned “it” factor returns in their hibachi and teriyaki dinners, which are served with sweet baby carrots and an “Ishi sauce” unsurpassed in deliciousness. In addition to this savorous menu is the even more appealing pricing.

Entrees are between the $6-$7 range; sushi rolls start at $3. Consider the coupons that appear regularly in our mailboxes and note that Ishi is merciful towards the budgeted student.

After we finished our meal, we were presented with orange slices to cleanse our palletes, something always appreciated after a night of sushi. In one final display of all that makes Ishi great, we were presented with dinner mints and a friendly “thank you, see you again.”

Throughout the night the waiter was polite, attentive, and the service was excellent. In the words of my date, “it was definitely better than Sakura.” I think my only complaint of the night was the UNC game shown on the television at the sushi bar. No sooner had I left Ishi than I begun to show symptoms of something every Ishi follower suffers from: withdrawal.

Ishi is for Wake students what The Max was to Bayside High. I highly recommend this Japanese cuisine to you all, and hope that Ishi may reside alongside Wake Forest basketball when you look back upon your days as a Demon Deacon.