Sushi Cruise

CLAREMONT—On Foothill Blvd in Claremont, not far from the Claremont Colleges, is a blue and white boat-shaped building with a red and white lifeboat on its side. Step up onto the dock from the small parking lot outside and you're at the doorstep of Sushi Cruise, a Japanese restaurant specializing in what is probably America's favorite Japanese dish.

At the entrance, the waiters, almost all bilingual-Japanese, offer the choice to eat at the bar or at a table.

The menu includes a variety of Japanese specialties, and several normal-sized sushi meals, most of which range from $7 to $12. Some of the sushi dishes, however, can become rather expensive.

The specialty of specialties, while not the most expensive item on the menu, is the all-you-can-eat sushi bar. Guests may choose up to 10 items on the list of sushi options, which includes anything from California rolls to salmon egg sushi.

Options on this menu may also be ordered separately. If the guest finishes the first round, they may choose up to 10 more. Normally, the first 10 are more than enough.

Sometimes all-you-can-eat guests will unwittingly come in and order some of the largest sushi there, but when this happens, the waiter is there to advise them of the various kinds of sushi and how much to take of each. The staff offers friendly advice, even when guests know a little more about sushi.

The large amounts of sushi available in this option have also given rise to a few rules. First, there is absolutely no sharing. In many cases, even the first 10 could easily feed two people.

Second, the first ten must be finished before ordering the second round—including all the rice. This second rule is also extended in part to other dishes, where guests are encouraged to be polite and eat the rice that comes with the meal.

All all-you-can-eat guests may also have their photo taken. These pictures can be seen near the restaurant's entrance.

I would recommend Sushi Cruise for its friendly staff and (of course) for its sushi. Although quieter than most of the restaurants a mile south in the "Village" so popular among the nearby college students, or perhaps because of this atmosphere, it can be a good place to talk with friends while finding out more about Japanese cuisine.

Sushi Cruise
962 W Foothill Blvd, Claremont
Lunch: 11:30 am-2:30 pm;
Dinner: 5:00-10:00 pm
Open seven days a week.
(909) 398-4415