Bites Nearby: Dao Sushi and Thai's Presentation Will Be a Feast for the Eyes

The Mission: A quiet anniversary dinner.

The Location:   (200 Burr Ridge Parkway, Burr Ridge.)

The ambiance was interesting to say the least. Upon entering you’re greeted by a 10 foot Buddha. There’s a bar with a couple of flat screen TV’s as well as a flat screen above the sushi bar…kind of a sports bar feel.

The night I visited, there was live entertainment. If you’re thinking Geishas performing ancient Japanese dances, you’re wrong. It was a 50’s rockabilly trio. At first, I thought this place was having some sort of an identity crisis, but the band was infectious and I decided to rock and roll with it.

For starters, we had warm sake and later switched to a large bottle of Sapporo beer, which we shared like a fine wine. Although our server was a tad on the quiet side, he paced himself with our instruction and we never felt rushed or ignored. Everything we ordered was recommended by him and he was right on target with our palate.

When the first plate arrived, it was a feast for the eyes. For sushi connoisseurs, you know that half the dining experience lies in the presentation. Dao Sushi and Thai's use of glasses and stemware to accent the garnish was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

They have some hometown signature rolls on the menu like the Burr Ridge and the White Sox Roll, but we could hardly ignore the Dao’s Boat for Two that was served at the table next to us: a Titanic-sized wooden boat covered in sushi. A show stopper!

The sushi rolls and sashimi are as inventive as any city joint. The fish was fresh and the flavor combinations were delicious.

I’m always amazed when a strip mall in the burbs can provide great food. Check out the Dao Sushi and Thai website’s gallery for some amazing food photos.