Genki: CWPR Restaurant Week
I
love a good restaurant week. A chance to try something new for as little as $15
for an entire meal? Sign me up!
Naturally,
I was extremely excited to learn that CWPR Restaurant Week was coming back this year! I love this particular restaurant week for a couple of
reasons: Most of the participating restaurants are some of my favorite eateries
in town, it’s put on by the geniuses at the CWPR office, and the deals are actually worth
leaving your house for.
CWPR
Restaurant Week runs from June 22-29 and features prix-fixe menus for $15, $25,
and $35.
Choosing
a place from this list of restaurants really is hard, but I finally decided on Genki Noodles & Sushi. I went to the Virginia Highlands location, which was a wise choice because they have not one but
two adorable patios and complimentary valet.
We
started off with a couple of cocktails. Ninja juice for the hubs, Shiso Naughty
for me. I liked that the drinks were refreshing and not overly sweet. We also
ordered tuna tataki as our appetizer. It wasn't part of the CWPR menu, but it
looked too good to pass up.
The
dinner menu during CWPR Restaurant Week features a three-course menu for $35.
For the first course, you get a choice of ginger salad, miso soup, or
portabella mushroom, and I highly recommend the latter. The hubs and I shared
the ginger salad and the ‘bella, which comes over a bed of crispy spinach and
sweet soy sauce, which I am still drooling over today.
You
get lots of choices for the second course: A number of noodle bowls, sushi
rolls, or chicken and beef dishes. We went with the rainbow roll, which was
perfection, and the genkatsu — thin slices of beef stuffed with cheese and katsu
fried. It was ridiculous. It’s served with rice and a delicious, thick sauce.
And
for dessert, you get a choice Japanese Napoleon or tempura fried Oreos.
Obviously, we had both. I absolutely loved the Napoleon: House-made wanton chips layered with whipped cream and strawberries. It wasn't too sweet and was
the perfect ending to our meal.
THE
VERDICT: Next time you’re in VaHi, pop on over to Genki for a quick cocktail or
a full meal. If you’re not a big fan of sushi, do try their noodle bowls (I
love the beef, spinach and mushroom one or the Unatama Don). Afterwards, you’re
walking distance from rows upon rows of bars, shops, and a delectable gelato
place, so who knows where the night will take you (especially after a couple of
Shiso Naughtys!).