“Once you decide on your occupation, you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That’s the secret of success.” – Jiro Ono
I adore sushi. I think it’s culinary poetry. The craftsmanship, the tools, the care, the training, the creativity, and the pure joy that follows viewing and consuming a magnificent sushi dish, all combine to make sushi one of the most satisfying of my dining adventures.
There’s nothing quite like ordering and eating sushi, and I jumped at the chance to write an article on what is widely regarded as not only the best sushi restaurant in Arizona, but one of the best restaurants in Arizona – Sushi Roku at the W Scottsdale.
The Entry and The Setting
Sushi Roku is located in the elegant W Scottsdale (Google Maps) on Camelback Road in Old Town Scottsdale. The entry to the restaurant is just to the right of the entry to the hotel in the lower level arrival area. The restaurant is luxurious, grand, and modern. The sushi bar properly showcases the highly talented chefs, and adds gravitas to the dining space.
The Meal
Head Chef Miles Newcomer (Click here for an excellent piece on Miles by the Arizona Republic) was kind enough to craft many special menu items for our experience. We started with Shigoku Oysters with Gold Leaf in a Dashi Gelatin. Wow.
I’ve never had anything quite like it – divinely flavorful, and the texture, just riveting. We next enjoyed one of the tastiest sushi dishes I’ve ever eaten.
Candy Cane Fig, Ponzu, Scallop Sashimi, and Olive Oil – a magnificent confluence of textures and flavors. Chef Miles followed up that work of art with this lovely dish.
New Zealand King Salmon Sashimi with English Cucumber, Shizo Leaf, Sesame Chili, and Pickled Wasabi. Astounding – fresh, textured, and savory. The next dish I adored both the flavors and the presentation.
The dish is Duck, seared in oil and duck fat, accompanied with mustard, honey, and smoldering grape stems. Yes, I said smoldering. I know, right? How amazing it that? And yes, it tasted as sublime as you would think it did. The following dish was I thought the most inventive and daring of the evening.
Japanese Sea Urchin, Alaskan King Crab, and Red Shallots. This dish was serious expert level sushi creativity and preparation. I’ve never tasted anything quite like it, and one of the few instances in my life when I’ve experienced what the Japanese refer to as “Umami“, which translates to “pleasant savory taste.” I like to think of Umami as when flavors perfectly converge and the experience changes how you taste food. That’s what happened to me with that dish. And despite this transformative experience, Chef Miles was not done with his artistic culinary flourish.
A luxury sushi sampler to complete our culinary journey: Goldeneye Snapper, Japanese Razor Clam, Japanese Sea Perch, Spanish Bluefin Toro, and Barracuda. I really enjoyed each of these, but I was most surprised and pleased with the Barracuda – delectable.
Closing Thoughts
I’m fortunate to dine at some of the best restaurants in the world, and I can feel and taste when the cooks and the chefs are passionate about their craft.
I can tell you that Chef Miles and his team of sushi chefs are passionate about the food that they create for their guests. They care about mastering their craft, and you’ll experience this first hand when you visit Sushi Roku in Scottsdale. And I recommend that you just ask the sushi chef to make you something that he likes to makes – it will be one of the best things you’ve ever eaten.
Sushi Roku at the W Scottsdale – Contact and Social Media
Sushi Roku at the W Scottsdale (Website): 7277 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 (Google Maps)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sushirokuscottsdale
Twitter: @idgrestaurants
Thanks so much to Stephen Dean, Chef Miles, and the team at Sushi Roku for making me feel incredibly welcome, and for sharing some of their most delicious dishes with us!!
As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you so much for reading!
#agp
