Took a little spa trip out of Vegas for a mother/daughter getaway; we always stay at the Casablanca. Planned to go to Katherine's one night and Samurai 21 the first night. After reading the recent YELP reviews for Samurai 21, we were a little worried. However, all the spa techs we spoke to during the day recommended the Habachi here.
The inside was much nicer than I expected; guests are greeted with an indoor Koi pond and bridge over it. The restrooms are beautiful, the place is clean, at least on the sushi side. Didn't get to see the hibachi side, this trip. Well, once we arrived, we liked the look of their fresh fish...beautiful. Their fish looked A++ in the sushi display. So, we sat down at the sushi bar and so began our Fun Samurai 21 experience!!
The server (I think also the manager/owner) stopped by to grab our drink order. We ended up talking with her a having some good laughs. She suggested their sake martini for mom and I had hot sake. It was the normal hot sake and a good size for the price. The Saketini had a wine flavor to it.
We watched the sushi chef Sunny at his art, he was into his work and not into our questions but he did quickly warm up to our questions once his station died down. We watched him make a Samurai 21 sashimi platter special. Our mouths were watering at the yellowtail tuna and the white tuna. Oh my! He then made a Samurai 21 roll that looked amazing. We settled in on a roll with lobster tempura & avocado. It was crispy, cooled just enough. It was expertly rolled & sliced. It was tender! Oh so yum!
We had to try that yellowtail tuna, so,we had the sashimi, 2 pieces. Served with daikon. It was succulent and beyond fresh. By this time I was impressed by this restaurant. This was beyond sushi experiences I am used to even in Vegas. The only thing I can compare that lobster roll to was the lobster roll that Little Buddha had, before they closed.
Last, Sunny suggested the basic California Roll, and we tried it with cream cheese, no cucumber for an allergy. It was rich with the cream cheese, good way to end the meal. We bought Sunny a drink for later, one difference than the Vegas places- no buying the Sushi chef drinks on the line! I was supposed, but respected their professionalism, the manager explained, no cutting off fingers during service! LOL. Anyway, we sat and talked with them for a long time, laughing and telling stories. It was a great time.
The funniest part of Mesquite businesses...closing time. "When we are no longer busy." It's a great concept! But arrive by 8pm for dinner so you don't miss this gem
Being from Vegas, we have the best restaurants in the world, best chefs, freshest flown in fish. The experience we had was better than at most sushi houses in Vegas.
Their sushi rolls are creative and just loved reading the flavor combos. They've really worked hard on making a menu of appetizing rolls. It was hard to pick just a couple, but we were full from 2 rolls and one sashimi each! Bill was $60 including a drink we bought for the chef after work. So really, just $50 for the two of us, including alcohol, the FRESHEST sashimi, delicious rolls, and seriously good hospitality, the kind you find in small towns but not in Vegas.
We left very happy...and will be back next time! Hey, maybe even drive up from Vegas for dinner! For these reasons and the fact that there was NOTHING I could find to take a star away, 5 stars. read more