I love rock n' roll. It's even etched into my back, and I drew it on my arm for nearly two years before that. So it stands to reason that I would be drawn to Rock N' Roll Sushi for more than sushi. The booming brand was started just down the road in Mobile, AL and has spread throughout the southeastern United States. The Slidell and Kenner locations proudly serve the greater New Orleans area, but don't be surprised if you see more pop up as time goes on.
I swung by Kenner's Rock N' Roll Sushi on a sunny Saturday to indulge in some new and limited time offerings. Entering through the doors feels like stepping into a concert venue before the show starts. Most of the walls are black which highlights the pulsing neon signs around the room and the glittery grey leopard-print wall festooned with colorful guitars. Even the bathrooms are cool with a pink glowing "Girls Girls Girls" sign that you'll be taking selfies with. Stage lighting cascades colorful beams on the tables, and several TVs play the music videos of the songs playing over the speakers. The roped-off VIP table sits affront the biggest music video-streaming TV.
The last bit of information is important: music videos are a lost art. Since the dawn of MTV until streaming services demonetized music, music videos were an art form, telling their own stories to accompany the song lyrics or be completely separate from them. Videos were so important that they "killed the radio star," as the song goes. Those who remember them will be in awe as the songs play, recalling the good ol' days of music videos from the '80s, '90s, and '00s. Those who were born after their heyday may learn about this nearly deceased visual art. I was shocked to see that Kid Rock's "Only God Knows Why" video was filmed in New Orleans!
Back to what brought us here, the vinyl album-shaped menus are bejeweled with cool, rock-inspired items. Headbanger Shrimp sounds perfect for a metalhead, for example (which I am). But I really needed to see what the Spicy Tuna Rockstars were all about. Five star-shaped crisped rice patties are topped with spicy tuna, jalapenos, and very flavorful drizzles of ponzu, spicy mayo, and house-made hot honey (one of my favorite tastes right now). The Rockstars were hotter than I anticipated in a satisfying way and were perfect for holding up to take pictures.
The Twisted Tuna may have been more forgiving heat-wise, but it was still a very fulfilling dish in that you probably can't finish it on your own. The generous scoop of finely chopped yellowfin tuna tartare is framed with fresh slices of avocado. A topping of tobiko, eel sauce, and crunchy flakes adds a bit more complexity, but the real magic happens when you heap a spoonful atop the large wonton chips. The freshly-fried wontons have an awesome texture unlike I've had elsewhere. They have some give to them still making for a better mouthfeel.
I needed a sweet drink after this course of decadence and the Girl Band seemed like a good choice for that. At first, the combination of tequila, muddled strawberries, and prickly pear and coconut syrup seemed a little sweet for me, but with the summer heat still lingering into fall, the fruity flavor and purple sugar rim felt refreshing.
The headliner is finally coming on stage, and it was so much more fun that I imagined it could be. Rock N' Roll Sushi has some special offerings during CrabFest which ends on October 25th. The two extra-special rolls feature fresh lumps of blue crab that pair so well with the goodies they're rolled up with. It was beyond my expectations.
Appearing on the sexiest guitar plate that took up a large part of the table, the California Dreamin' was a sophisticated taste of blue crab, avocado, crisp cucumber, and sesame seeds in a traditional sushi roll. It tastes like kissing the sea. Conversely, The Firecracker Roll packed a punch of flavor. Based with blue crab, tempura crunch, and green onion, the roll is generously topped with smoked salmon, jalapeno, togarashi pepper, Sriracha, and Headbanger Sauce. I love this roll, and I'll be sad to see it go in a month. The fresh crab flavor is immediately apparent, and then that smoked salmon wanders in and sets it off perfectly. The heat is the last thing you'll notice, and it lingers beautifully.
Along with these two rolls, CrabFest offers a sweet drink to complement the flavors. The Mango Lemonade pushes MInute Maid lemonade further with real diced mango and syrup that makes it look like a tropical sunset. I was in soosh/rock n' roll heaven about this time, but the show wasn't even close to being over. A few bites of the Ginger Salad saturated with palate-resetting ginger-sesame dressing, and I was ready to dive into the three other rolls.
The Classics sat upon the awesome guitar plate included my selection The Japanese Bagel Roll. While this is one of the few rolls without a musical name, this take on a Philadelphia Roll is made even better with smoked salmon alongside the cream cheese. Some hate it, but I adore cream cheese in sushi.
The VIP Roll (which can come either baked or fried) and the Axl Roll which rounded out the meal also have cream cheese, so they must have seen me coming. The VIP Roll combines it with shrimp tempura and krab meat inside, and several spicy selections atop: Cajun crawfish, baked krab meat, jalapeno, spicy mayo, sweet chili, and eel sauce. This roll is definitely a meal on its own. You'd think the Axl Roll is named for Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses, but it's named for the son of the restaurant's founder (though I'll bet that his son's name is inspired by Axl Rose). The fried masterpiece mixes cream cheese, shrimp tempura, and salmon with spicy mayo, eel sauce, and crunchies.
Rock N' Roll Sushi is more than just another sushi joint. The immersive, exciting atmosphere, the parade of nostalgic music videos, and, finally, the incredible sushi, ramen, and more make it a show like no other.
