We met with the wife and partner-owner of Sushi Alive, Jennifer Ly, to talk about the couple's move from Carrollwood into the Westchase / Nine Eagles area of Tampa. After ten years serving a loyal customer base north of the City in the Lake Magdalene, Egypt Lake and Carrollwood Village area, Timmy and Jennifer Ly made the move to their new location at 13234 Race Track Rd. in Westchase seven months ago. Nestled between Nine Eagles Drive and Race Track Rd, you find Sushi Alive where Countryway Boulevard meets Race Track, becoming Nine Eagles Dr. Formerly a sports bar, Sushi Alive Asian Bistro and Raw Bar transformed the space into a sleek, upscale bistro with fantastic Sushi, Teriyaki Bowls, and Bento Boxes, during lunch, a Sushi Happy Hour Mon. - Fri. from 5-7 pm, and full dinners including selections like Vietnamese Pho, Tempura, Stir Fry, Steak, and even Raw Oysters. If you are craving sushi in North Tampa, Sushi Alive is the place to go!
Volcano Roll
Craving Sushi? Sushi Alive in Tampa Consistently Satisfies
According to Jennifer, their motto: "Cuisine with Life", derived from a desire, "to deliver the freshest food food in a fun atmosphere," and is, "what makes Sushi Alive unique." As we sat talking in what is decidedly an exquisite space, open, relaxing and elegantly appointed with interesting art that catches your eye, Jennifer dished excitedly about their plans for the future. First, if you have not been, you need to appreciate how BIG this place is! As someone we all know from TV would say, it's HUGE!
Center Sushi Bar
Pull up and you are immediately struck by the beauty of it's location. As you head to the front door you see Zen touches in the garden, at the front door, and again on the side patio (a favorite spot for regulars who during cooler months enjoy sitting outdoors with the fire pit and fountain). The bar opens to the outdoor patio, where you can belly-up and stay the day, enjoying Sushi Alive while catching the game on any one of a dozen big screen TV's. Plans for the future include live bands on the patio!
Inside, center stage, you encounter a large sushi bar seating approximately 24 guests. The heart of the restaurant...the sushi bar is alive, vibrant and where 'beautiful presentation' is the name of the game! I watched as chef expertly crafted a sushi roll aptly named "Godzilla". You see his finished creation in the title picture above. Want something not on the menu, talk with the chef, if they have the ingredients, they will make it for you!
Left of the sushi bar are dinner tables in the main restaurant, each a nice distance from the others, you can have an intimate conversation without your 'neighbor table' overhearing you, and without feeling like guests at the next table are AT your table! To the right of the central sushi bar are more dinner tables, high-tops and a long, fully-stocked bar, where professional bartenders craft clever cocktails, serve delicious Sake, craft beers and more. Happy hour runs Mon - Fri from 5 - 7 pm and includes Sushi specials along with Lychee cocktails and more.
Grabbing a hi-top table in the bar we talked about the new location. Many of Sushi Alive's regular Carrollwood customers drive the short 20 minutes for their favorite sushi, appreciating the spacious new digs. Locals in Westchase, Citrus Park, and Forest Lakes are discovering Sushi Alive's diverse menu and low prices, perfect for families. The $9.95 or less Lunch Specials and Dollar Sushi Happy Hour are becoming very popular according to Ly.
Popular menu items include:
- Braised Sirloin Negimaki, sirloin steak topped with asparagus, shitake mushrooms, carrots, scallions, crispy onions, and teriyaki glaze.
- Sashimi-Tini, generous cuts including Tuna, Salmon, Whitefish, and Krabstick with avocado
- Jade Dragon Roll , A Crawfish salad with avocado and cucumber, topped with tuna, wasabi tobiko, tempura chips, scallions, and an atomic aioli.
- Lollipop Roll - Tuna, salmon, krabstick, asparagus, avocado, scallions, smelt roe, wrapped in cucumber sheet with a sweet vinegar sunomono sauce.
- Pho Bo Vietnamese soup
- Gyoza, the Japanese pork dumplings
- Singapore Lettuce Wraps with diced chicken, water chestnuts, and Shitake mushrooms with a sesame-soy and mustard sauce
- Tempura Appetizer, Shrimp and Veggie tempura with a ginger sauce
We enjoyed the food, the sushi portions were large making sharing simple, there was plenty to go around! If you enjoy fresh sushi in a modern atmosphere, and are in need of a sushi fix, we recommend Sushi Alive where the staff, "believes in forging new boundaries in the culinary arts" and the goal is, "to create unique and dynamic dishes." per Jennifer.
With a combined 30 years experience, the chefs at Sushi Alive incorporate thoughtfulness to their pairings, combining taste and texture with the freshest meat and seafood. They want your experience to be "unforgettable" and for you too, to become a Sushi Alive regular. Stop by today and see why, if you are craving sushi, Sushi Alive in Tampa can satisfy! See and taste the beauty of Westchase's newest, and best, sushi place!
