Ariyoshi's family-friendly ambiance

Saturday evening and Ariyoshi, a Japanese restaurant located steps away from SOPAC, is bustling.

With a total capacity at 58, all the wooden booths and tables, as well as the two Tatami rooms, are occupied. Couples and families with young children alike are enjoying the cuisine. The waitstaff hustles to accommodate customers, and the sushi bar is very active, filling both in-house and take-out orders. Running through the center of the restaurant is an approximately 20-foot fish tank, which is especially entertaining for the very young and restless.

Our family of four sits at a wooden booth. My preschoolers order their usual rice and miso soup. They call Ariyoshi “April’s restaurant,” after April Lium, partner and manager of Ariyoshi. They are warmly greeted by a couple of other members of the waitstaff, who recognize the children from our days of occupying a Tatami room for early dinners.

My husband and I order Sushi & Sashimi for Two—10 pieces of sushi, 24 pieces of sashimi, spicy tuna and eel rolls, miso soup, and salad. The sushi and sashimi arrive at our table on a wooden boat, attractively displayed to tempt the palate.

Freshness matters to Lium. All fish arrives at the restaurant fresh and is only frozen once. My favorite piece is the cod, which simply melts in my mouth.

While sushi generates the most business for Ariyoshi, the teriyaki is another bestseller. Linda Chia, also a partner, is the only one to prepare teriyaki and spends about nine hours on it. Lium prepares the ginger dressing, which requires 13 pounds of ginger and three hours of preparation. From my numerous Ariyoshi experiences, I can vouch for the consistent quality of both. The ginger dressing is mild, and some customers order it to take home.

Being sushi fans, my husband and I generally order sushi and rolls. However, the noodle dishes are notable as well, as the Yaki Soba is among the best we’ve had.

Ariyoshi is family-friendly. Lium attempts to strategically seat customers to promote harmony and create a comfortable ambiance, often challenging on a Saturday night. Families may consider arriving early to occupy one of the Tatami rooms for more privacy. While Ariyoshi does not offer delivery, they will run orders to your car if you call in advance with your purchasing information. Ariyoshi also offers catering and can deliver for parties. Alternatively, they can prepare food in the client’s home.

Chia and Lium expect to open a restaurant in Morristown, Citrus & Spice, in March. It will offer a variety of Asian cuisine with a slightly more formal atmosphere to also accommodate business meetings. Chia’s brother, Steven Chia (owner and chef of Chatham’s Taste of Asia), will help in the kitchen while they're getting off the ground.