I finally decided to splurge at Pubbelly Sushi, and I say "splurge" because it's definitely one of…read morethe pricier lunch options on Clematis. I honestly thought they didn't even have a lunch special!
Their menu was displayed outside the restaurant to entice passersby, and boy, was I curious. So I decided to give it a try.
When I walked in, the space immediately caught my attention. It's bright, vibrant, and beautifully decorated, with a fun, trendy atmosphere. I was greeted by one of the servers behind the bar area, Michelle, who was absolutely sweet--and had the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen! She told me I could grab a seat anywhere, so I found a table.
Once I was seated, another server brought me the menus: the regular menu, drink menu, and, to my surprise, a lunch menu! Apparently, Pubbelly Sushi does have lunch specials, and there are three different price options: $19, $22, and $25.
Each combo includes miso soup, ginger salad, a drink, a protein, and a sushi roll. The price depends on which protein you choose. The drink options include Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, iced tea, lemonade, and strawberry lemonade.
Since I had already decided to splurge, I went with the $25 combo and chose the small tuna poke and spicy tuna roll for my protein and sushi.
Michelle started me off with a strawberry lemonade, and it was perfect for lunch--light, refreshing, and not overly sweet.
Next came the miso soup. Honestly, I've never had a bad bowl of miso soup. This one was piping hot, just the way I like it, with a few pieces of diced tofu and scallions.
Then came the main event: small tuna poke, spicy tuna roll, ginger salad, and sauces. Michelle asked if I wanted any additional sauces and mentioned that she could bring me some eel sauce. I obliged and also asked for sriracha.
Now, did I need all those sauces? Absolutely not. But did I use every single one? Absolutely!
The tuna poke and sushi roll were fresh, flavorful, and delicious. Chef Jorge did a wonderful job with my meal. He was even kind enough to come over to my table afterward and ask what I thought. I told him it was delicious--and I meant it!
When Michelle brought me the bill, my total came to $31.12, and the 18% gratuity was already added to the amount.
Was lunch pricey? Yes. But I really enjoyed the entire experience. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was vibrant, and the staff--Michelle, Chef Jorge, and the other server whose name I didn't get--were all warm, welcoming, and hospitable.
One thing I really appreciated was that the lunch special includes a drink. From my experience dining on Clematis, that's not something every restaurant includes with their lunch specials, so I thought that was a nice touch.
Would I come back regularly for lunch? Probably not, because I'm on a budget. But would I dine there again? Absolutely! The service was excellent, the food was delicious, and I left there STUFFED.
Honestly, I had NO business eating all that food, but I enjoyed every bite!
I understand that the prices reflect the location, and, well... inflation is inflating. So while Pubbelly Sushi may be a splurge for me, I definitely understand the pricing for the area.
My Ratings
Ambiance:
Service:
Food:
Overall: 5/5!
Sometimes you just have to treat yourself--and this splurge was worth it!