Lucky Robot is my go to spot on South Congress when I need to grab a bite before a show at the Continental Club or C-Boy’s. It’s a casual Japanese restaurant with a varied menu including sushi (including daily tsukiji market choices), rolls, hot and cold apps, salads, starters and hot bowls. The location can’t be beat…it’s on the corner across from the Continental Club and Continental Gallery and is next door to Amy’s Ice Cream. It doesn’t get much better than dinner, ice cream and a fantastic show for a memorable evening. Most any seat in the house, especially window side at the sushi bar or at the outdoor picnic tables offers some great people watching on SoCo. The service is always friendly and fast and the food is fresh and healthy. The Brussels Sprouts are my favorite hot app. I really think these are perhaps the most perfectly cooked Brussels sprouts I have had. Crispy, but not overdone, they are tossed with a hint of a lemongrass soy and really don’t need much else to impress. Spicy edamame tops the list of “greens” with soybean pods tossed in a spicy soy marinade. They are served with a little bowl of togarashi, a Japanese spice mixture which kicks the spice up even more.
For a hearty meal after the apps, I usually choose a bowl, with the Schoolgirl being my favorite. A bowl of fluffy white rice is topped with tender chicken breast, shiitake mushrooms, crispy broccoli, red bell pepper, yellow onion, chili garlic, serrano aioli & ginger scallion. It’s spicy, full of veggie goodness, and has a nice zing from the ginger. On this particular trip, I was wanting to be a bit restrained in the calorie department so opted instead for a cold app as my meal. It was a tough choice given the six options from salmon to escolar to yellowtail, all prepared with fresh, complimentary ingredients. I landed on the Sake Nashi this time which layered tender pieces of smoky salmon on top of razor thin plaintain crisps. Slices of crisp Asian pear provided a nice acid and subtle sweetness, pepitas added an earthy crunch, and tiny dots of goat cheese brought creaminess and tartness to the party. This tasty dish paired very nicely with their Edna Valley Sauvignon Blanc.
Lucky Robot has a great happy hour Monday through Friday 4-6PM with sushi, maki, hot and cold apps for $2 to $6 and sake, wine and beers specials. Don’t miss Lucky Robot next time you head down to SoCo.