The first place I tried sushi in Chattanooga was Fuji Steak & Sushi. Appropriately, I had the Chattanooga Roll and I have been partial to the hip Japanese steakhouse ever since. Fuji's sushi is as fresh as its décor, its dimly lit dining area as trendy as its employees and its craft cocktails as fun and colorful as the funky streaks in the waitress' hair. Rousing the holiday spirit, at the restaurant's entrance there is now a large white Christmas tree bedecked with red tinsel and shiny red balls.
"Last year, Christmas was pretty busy," manager Geng Chen told me. "We had a big lunch crowd but lots of people just came in for a drink too."
Fuji will again be keeping regular hours on Christmas Day this year when the restaurant will also be featuring all-day drink specials like two for one well drinks and a variety of $4 cocktails. There is the festively colored Washington Apple made with whiskey, sour apple schnapps and cranberry juice, and the Mango Christmas made with mango-infused vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and a splash of lime.
On Christmas Day Fuji will also be featuring half-price sushi. That means you can try the sweet and savory Mango Crunch Roll made with shrimp tempura, salmon, mango and topped with avocado and tempura flakes - normally $13.99 - for $6.99. The spicy salmon roll - normally $5.99 - will be $2.99. Likewise, the half-price Chattanooga Roll will cost $2.99, which, in my opinion, is such a great deal it makes me wonder how much my family might miss me if I opted out of our holiday dinner this year...
Lucky for my family, Fuji's half-price sushi is not exclusive to Christmas Day. In fact, Christmas has come early at Fuji for us sushi-lovers. For the month of December, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the Japanese steakhouse is offering half-price sushi. For example, on Saturdays you can try the famous deep-fried Fuji on Fire Roll made with white fish, crab, cream cheese, jalapenos and hot sauce for $3.99.
The full sushi menu as well as anything fresh off the hibachi grill is available to order at the bar. If you order at the bar you will receive a punch card, and each subsequent order you will receive a punch. After six punches you will receive a free hibachi chicken meal.
There sure is a lot of potential to eat a lot of sushi for a great price at Fuji this season. When I was a child my grandmother used to teasingly tell me that if I ate too much of a good thing, I would turn into it. So if you see a giant sushi roll driving around town, don't be frightened.
FUJI STEAK AND SUSHI
LOCATION: 2207 Overnite Drive
PHONE: 893-1993
HOURS: Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.