A Facebook post in a local food group from July 30 asked for “A restaurant that everyone seems to love but you think is actually not that good.” Hot takes abounded: a brunch place named “The Buttered Biscuit” was accused of having bad biscuits. The region was accused of not having a single good Mexican restaurant. One comment sparked a conversation: someone thought my favorite sushi spot, Sushi House, was overrated. And multiple people recommended going to BLU DTR instead.
As a sushi lover and one of Sushi House in Bentonville’s biggest fans, I couldn’t let this go without at least trying the alternative.
BLU DTR is in a revitalizing (or gentrifying, depending on your worldview) part of downtown Rogers and located in part of a repurposed fire station. The space is small and intimate, using what feels like just one of the former fire truck parking spaces. They can accommodate a few tables and a bar. It’s got a real big city hole-in-the-wall feel for a place that’s stand alone.
The poke lettuce wrap ($18) is a generous helping of raw salmon and tuna plated with red cabbage, tobiko, crunchy garlic, and wasabi aioli. They come stuffed to the brim, so you actually need to eat a little bit before you can pick it up and eat it like a wrap. The sauce they use is pretty heavy, but the wasabi aioli really balances it out.
For rolls, I chose the Blu Maui Roll ($23) and then asked for staff recommendations. The Shaggy Dog Roll ($16), a shrimp tempura and avocado based roll with shredded crab and eel sauce on top, is their most popular. The waiter recommended the DTR Roll ($18): a spicy tuna/tempura shrimp roll wrapped in soy paper then topped with tuna, wasabi aioli, eel sauce and crunchy jalapenos.
All three rolls taste alike, probably because you mostly taste the sauce. BLU DTR’s selection, especially for regular rolls, is limited, and many of their special rolls have a bit of a kick to them. It seems like a lot of the flavor for those rolls relies on wasabi aioli, spicy mayo, and/or jalapenos.
But is it better than Sushi House?
Short Answer: no. Sushi House has a wider selection and is known for their fast kitchen. You can get in and out in 20 minutes, which is why it’s a popular choice for office workers on their lunch break. Even if there’s a line, you know you’ll make it back on time.
BLU DTR is a sit-down place, and I waited 30 minutes for my sushi. On the day I went, the raw fish wasn’t as fresh as Sushi House’s. It has a weird fishy taste.
What is good sushi in Arkansas? In an aggressively land-locked state, you’re not gonna have fish as fresh as on the coast.
BLU DTR mimics the vibe of a big city sushi place (and big city prices), but doesn’t quite stick the landing in their raw seafood offerings. It makes a lot of sense why the Shaggy Dog Roll is their most popular roll –– it’s good and doesn’t have any raw fish in it.
On Tuesday, I returned and had the filet mignon soup udon ($21). It was one of the best bowls of udon I’d had in the area. The broth was rich, the meat was tender, and the noodles were cooked perfectly. If you’re looking for your next date night downtown, I’d skip the sushi and order the udon instead.
What I’m covering next: The Firelei Baez exhibit at the Momentary.
