Rolls 'n' Bowls

3117 Southwest 34th Street


2 thumbs up (Not bad. I would think about trying somewhere else first if I had the choice. Eat here rarely.)

Price Range: About 10 bucks per person for a meal

The owners of Dragonfly Sushi (who we all know this blogger isn't too fond of) had the idea to combine pan-asian/sushi with a fast food format, giving us Rolls 'n' Bowls. As with their downtown location, the restaurant's decor is uber-asian-chic and modern. The menu features predetermined dishes as well as a build your own feature that is pretty unique when it comes to this type of cuisine. Basically, you can get a sushi roll or rice bowl comprised of a variety of items of your very own choosing. For one fixed price, you are allowed 4 vegetables (from a selection of nearly 20), 3 "elements" (fish, tofu, tempeh, avocado, and other more substantial items), and the sauce of your choosing.

Details aside, let's start dissecting the place.

One of the first things I try to pinpoint about a restaurant is their target market. Rolls 'n' Bowls is deliberately catering to the large student population that lives south of Archer and off of 34th. In other words, it's main goal is to impress 19 year old girls. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, but it's just not that great. Part of the problem is my own fault: when I'm given too many choices, I invariably screw things up. I've often joked how at places like this, without hesitation, I'll go for smoked salmon, avocado, and jelly beans. So, I'm well aware that my own choices may taint the quality of the build your own dishes. I'm a sucker for teriyaki sauce, so that's what I invariably choose. Rolls 'n' Bowls teriyaki, however is a bit too syrupy sweet for me and always leaves me feeling gross after I leave.

One highly respectable feature is their commitment to eco friendly practices. They are actually certified as a green restaurant (http://dinegreen.com/) as they use plastic made out of corn (which still needs petroleum products to be grown), reusable plates, and napkins made of recycled paper.

All in all, it's a decent place, but not amazing. I'd caution you to learn from my mistakes and choose ingredients that go together when you're building your own bowl or roll. If you're in that part of town, it's not the worst place, but I'm hard pressed to go out of my way to eat there.