| by Kacie Galloway | photography by Alex Lepe |A relaxing respite from the bustling atmosphere of the West 7th shopping center, The Fish Sushi & Grill is a great destination for a flavorful and unpretentious lunch. With their ample and affordable bento boxes ($6.99), I was surprised to find only a few tables filled inside the restaurant during the usually busy lunch hour. It was pleasant to get away from the crowds and relax to the jazz music and shaded interior.
With a nearly identical menu to its sister restaurants, The Fish offers a variety of sashimi and rolls, as well as plenty of options for those who prefer cooked meat or vegetables. We started with the Gyoza Pork Dumplings ($6.50), served fried with a slightly tangy, savory sauce. Although a little greasier than I prefer, they were delicious and wonderfully crispy with plenty of filling. Next time I will try the Heart Attack ($9), a crab and cream cheese-stuffed fried jalapeño.
Being fish lovers, we ordered a couple of rolls and sashimi. The Pretty Woman Roll ($13), which had asparagus, cucumber, salmon, tuna, yellowtail, rice and soy paper, was fresh and beautifully displayed, but a little bland. Our favorite was the Central Drive Roll ($12), which had cucumber, creamy avocado and crab, red and white tuna on top and two spicy sauces.
The sashimi was also tasty, each plate having six large slices of fish. We tried the spicy Pepper Tuna ($12.25), served with a light brown sauce and Sriracha for an extra kick. The savory Smoked Salmon ($11.50) had a bold flavor and was wonderfully fresh.
The chefs did a great job of timing our dishes, so we never had more than three plates on our table at one time. I have been to many sushi places that just bring everything at once, and I was glad that we were not overwhelmed at The Fish.
We also sampled a side of Fried Rice ($3), which was flavorful and nutty but could have used more vegetables. Although I am not a fan of miso soup, I gave the complimentary bowl a try and was happily surprised when I found it to be better than many others I have tasted. Overall, The Fish Sushi & Grill delivers a solid meal with fresh seafood and several affordable options for lunch.
Location: 2801 W. 7th St., Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Price Range: $-$$
Hours: LUNCH: Mon - Fri 11.00 a.m. - 2.30 p.m., DINNER: Mon - Thu 4.30 p.m. - 10.00 p.m., Sat 12.00 p.m. - 10.30 p.m., Sun 4.30 p.m.- 10.00 p.m.
What we like: The casual, relaxed atmosphere and affordable lunch deals
What we don't: The Pretty Woman Roll sounded great, but it was a little bland.
Our recommendation: The Central Drive Roll and Gyoza Pork Dumplings
