Since opening in 2004, Boathouse Sushi in Rohnert Park CA (right off Rohnert Park Expressway) has become one of the most popular restaurants in town, and that success has led to the opening of another Boathouse Sushi in Santa Rosa CA on Mendocino Avenue.   Their reputation has been built on fresh sushi prepared in a creatively playful way that appeals to western tastes plus a fun atmosphere and full bar equally perfect for dates, large groups, and Rohnert Park's youthful set.

While it's true that this restaurant is family-friendly, with a kids menu for coloring, it's hard to deny that local 20-somethings, (and those that still feel like one), have helped make Boathouse Sushi a hit, drawn by its fun atmosphere, specialty cocktails, plenty of room for big parties, and young attractive waitstaff (some of which have a loyal customer following who ask for them by name).

The driving creative force behind the achievement of Boathouse Sushi to become a popular destination restaurant in so short a time is owner Catherine Do, a graduate of Sonoma State University, whose travels in Asia continue to inspire a pan-Asian menu combined with western influences for a broader allure than other local sushi restaurants.

Catherine shares, "We're proud of how Boathouse Sushi is a favorite for so many people who initially thought sushi was something they couldn't enjoy. We get comments all the time from people saying they never liked sushi until they had it here."  Boathouse Sushi accomplishes this by enhancing otherwise plain sushi with complimentary ingredients and gourmet sauces.  For example, you can order traditional tuna sashimi here, or you can have the Truffle Albacore, which is seared albacore sashimi with daikon sprouts and freshly shredded daikon radish paired with a truffle ponzu (citrus-soy) sauce.  Had your heart set on spicy tuna roll? You can get that here, or you can upgrade to the Train Wreck Roll, a monster in both size and popularity, which features spicy tuna and shrimp tempura with avocado, unagi, tobiko caviar and topped with creamy-spicy yum yum sauce.

The cooked seafood here is good too. One of the most popular recent menu additions is their grilled Atlantic salmon with macadamia nuts, topped by a creamy celery sauce and served with asparagus and carrots.  Had lunch in mind? Try the spicy ahi tuna burger which is cooked using fresh chopped sushi tuna served with avocado and sautéed mushroom.  There's also lots of noodle items on the menu so your vegetarian friends can come along.

The food pedigree here has a solid foundation in Japanese tradition. The sushi bar is overseen by Miho Akasaka, a sushi chef originally from the Osaka area, and she brings to Boathouse Sushi the high Japanese standards for freshness and presentation. Combined with this are Catherine Do's culinary travels in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam making for a broader pan-Asian menu which can include crowd-pleasing items like fresh spring rolls.  Then add your own culinary recommendations to their menu. Catherine says, "We really listen to our customers, whether it's with surveys we do a few times a year, or their spontaneous suggestions on what they'd like to see. That's helped us do really well."  For example, it was a customer's suggestion that led to one of their most popular appetizers, playfully named ‘chips and salsa', which is a slice of fresh tempura fried carrot topped with avocado, generous amounts of spicy tuna, and a spicy aioli sauce.

The hip, lively scene here with its full bar with seating at the front window has proven a worthy heir for fans of Tex Wasabi in Santa Rosa CA which closed down.  In addition to top brand spirits, Boathouse Sushi customers come to have fun with creative cocktails like the "Explosive Pineapple Bomb".   But true to its Japanese roots, Boathouse Sushi also has a selection of fine sakes, the traditional Japanese rice wine. Always wanted to know more about sakes and how to really enjoy them? Or just want to impress your friends with your superior knowledge of sake the next time you're out for Japanese? Boathouse Sushi gives sake lessons and tastings.  For just $25 you get to sample every sake they carry and it comes with complimentary appetizer finger foods. Each tasting is limited to 15 or 20 people so call or email them to get in.

So if it's traditionally prepared sushi you crave, or their fun culinary twist on it, their large space which can easily accommodate your group, or to be part of the festive turnouts of Sonoma County's young and beautiful, then you can get what you want at Boathouse Sushi in Rohnert Park CA just off Rohnert Park Expressway, or their second location in Santa Rosa CA on Mendocino Ave.  They're open until 9pm (10pm Friday & Saturday), with happy hour specials 3pm-6pm on weekends.