Sushi is mastered at Sake Café

 If you’re looking for an exotic alternative to the delicious nuggets and pizza served in the campus center, then visit Sake Café at 273 New Scotland Avenue in Albany.

  For the last seven months Sake Café has been serving authentic Asian cuisine and sushi. But don’t expect happy hour here because Sake Café doesn’t own the liquor license required to serve alcohol.   

   The restaurant is located on a busy street but once inside, the dimly lit space is welcoming and intimate.

   “On the weekends the line is out the door and they have to make reservations,” a Sake Café employee said. 

   Each wooden table is set with chop sticks, soy sauce and small white glass plates. The setting is traditional yet modern. Tea is served in large black teacups, romantic yet unfamiliar Japanese music plays in the background while ESPNs SportsCenter plays on the flat screen TV’s.

   In the back of the restaurant is an authentic sushi bar replete with fresh tuna, salmon, shrimp and a sushi chef from Japan.

   Sake Café serves up fresh sushi and tasty entrees seven days a week with separate lunch and dinner menus. From 11 am to 3 pm they serve up familiar dishes like Beef with Broccoli, Teriyaki with Shrimp and General Tso’s Chicken on the lunch special menu for either seven or eight dollars. The lunch special also comes with a bowl of rice, soup or salad.

   The prices are fair but expect to spend minimum $10 if you’re brave enough to select from one of their many sushi creations. Sushi can be bought individually for $2.50 or in a regular roll of eight for $4.50.  One Sake Café employee recommended trying the Tuna Dumpling appetizer.

    Although priced at $12 for three, the tastes of Tuna Dumplings is worth it. The tender-tasting tuna is shaped like a large teardrop with sweet crunchy crabmeat and shrimp stuffed inside and served on a bed of three sauces.

   “Usually I don’t like spicy but it was good. And the flavors mixed well.” Antonia Morris, a freshman at Nassau Community College, said.

   Sake House Special Rolls range from $11 to $18 but with names like Crazy Dragon Roll and Godzilla Roll, you’re in for a treat. If you’re feeling adventurous Sake Café serves sea urchin, octopus and grill eel.

    In a city that can be feast or famine in terms of finding quality Japanese cuisine, put Sake Café at the top of your list of places to visit if you enjoy fish with a Far East twist.