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Just a sample of the many rolls offered as part of Magic Sushi 2’s all-you-can-eat special. (PHOTO BY KATHRYNE GRISIM)

We take dining recommendations from everywhere now a day, don’t we? Newspapers, magazines and the internet have all become trusted resources. But I still believe that the best endorsement is made by family members/ After all, they understand our likes, dislikes and the importance of food in our daily lives. So when my nephew recommended "all-you-can-eat" sushi at Magic Sushi 2, we responded immediately.  

My daughter and her beau, who know sushi better than I, cautioned me en route that this place could not possibly serve the exotic maki sushi that we have come to enjoy at its advertised $10.95 "all-you-can-eat" price.  Were we ever delighted to be proven wrong.

Won ton soup started us off and even though the dumpling looked mighty lonely in the bowl, the clear broth was surprisingly rich, likely from the inclusion of a shirred egg.  Edamame beans were tossed in a glistening sea salt and shrimp & vegetable tempura came from the appetizer section of the menu.  The latter included sweet potato, onion ring, and thick white potato slices.  Potatoes done any style are my weakness and these were delicious. The tempura was obviously carefully watched when plunged into the fryer because the cooking was perfectly timed with not a hint of greasiness.

We initially ordered three rolls: Dynamite (with shrimp and avocado), Philadelphia (smoked salmon and cream cheese) and Crunch Sake (salmon and tempura vegetable on the inside and additional tempura crunch on the outside).  The ingredients all tasted sparkling fresh and each portion is rolled to order.  

We might have stopped here but the "all-you-can-eat" challenge was too thrilling to ignore.  So, we chose another three: Totally Crazy (deep fried with cheese and assorted fish), Tuna (our only selection from the ‘regular’ maki sushi section) and the Spider (soft shell crab tempura & veggies).  

By this time we were more than sated. The restaurant interior is calm and clean with lovely, homey touches. This charm is matched by the smiling, courteous servers who take obvious pride in the restaurant’s offerings.

As with all "all-you-can-eat" establishments there are clearly stated guidelines intended to keep the family in business and to ensure that food is not being needlessly ordered and not consumed. Therefore, a leftover charge of $1 per piece is assessed along with the declaration "love food, hate waste".  
 
Kathryne Grisim’s foodmusings.ca blog was named best local blog in Uptown Magazine’s Best of Winnipeg readers’ poll