Arikato - Mountain View

As someone from Texas, I had a hard time finding a restaurant that offered the kind of creative rolls I was looking for. Not the "authentic, fresh Sashimi/nigiri" spots where the chef has formal training in traditional sushi methods and the most adventurous option is a Spider Roll adorned with a single artistic sprig of wasabi—it’s just not what I wanted. I was in search of a place that serves fun, over-the-top American-style maki. ARIKATO is exactly that place! Their rolls are fantastic and the portion sizes are quite generous. While it may not be an upscale venue where you’d wear your Manolo Blahniks, if you’re in the mood for some hearty and inventive rolls, this is the spot to go. (By the way, the Bess Rolls are amazing!)

Specifically, I have a big problem with the Google Roll, which features spicy tuna, tempura shrimp, unagi, crab, tobiko, and avocado. It used to be one of my favorites, but now it's just a source of frustration. If you try it, I hope you have a better experience than I did. Previously, it was amazing, but that's not the case anymore. I've visited multiple times and noticed the absence of avocado, even when it’s supposed to be included. It’s clearly listed in the description and shown in the photos. To make matters worse, tonight, they served me a roll that was only about 1.5 inches long for the entire 6-piece order. Seriously? I really want to love this place again—at least to have the Google Roll look like it does in the pictures. I know you can do better, Arikato!