Some compromises, but YUM!
Boasting the most amazing menu of any sushi restaurant I've ever been to, Ru San's is simply something that you need to experience for yourself. If you like the old traditional nigiri and maki, that's fine. But if you're up for something a little bit unusual (call it Southeastern U. S. style), Ru San's will not disappoint. The fried calamari appetizer was the best calamari I've ever tasted in the States, but that's not what's important--the sushi is. Rolls you've never even thought of fill the menu . . . and, may I add, dozens of them. And if you're looking for the ultimate in east-meets-west cuisine, try the first item on the menu: "Gone With the Wind"--a sushi roll more resembling a wagon-wheel than anything else, with seven sections, each bearing its own specific taste treat . . . then DEEP-FRIED (!!!!) and sliced into three serving sections so its composition can be seen and appreciated. Sure, the restaurant is loud, it's crowded, and maybe a health inspector could find a few problems with the cleanliness in some areas, but the waiters are almost all top-notch, the manager is fun and chatty, and the sushi chefs (not all of which seem to be from the traditional sushi-eating countries) actually do know what they're doing. Overall, this place gets at least 4 stars out of 5, and depending on your ability to withstand loud music and loud crowds, you may knock it up a notch higher. If you love sushi, or if you're looking to try it in an atmosphere that makes it fun and doesn't force the "raw fish" ideas on you, Ru San's is as close to perfect as you'll find.