Issue date: 8/7/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE

Media Credit: Phil Banker The hoola hoola roll is one of many sushi dishes served at Uncommon Ground Sushi Café at 1401 W. Oak St. in Denton.

Serving mainly sushi and Asian dishes, Uncommon Ground Sushi Café offers students dry sushi for a pricey fee.

The Café was not uncommon ground for Phil, but it was for Carrie. They ventured into the spacious restaurant at 1401 West Oak St. and took a seat at a table for two by the door.

The only positive aspect of this restaurant is its spacious interior and clean atmosphere. Uncommon Ground doesn't try to recreate an Asian atmosphere. Instead it offers a sushi bar and a small stage at the front of the restaurant.

Our waiter was a young man who admitted to sometimes forgetting things, such as seating customers and giving the bill. He was friendly, though, and immediately took our orders.

Phil ordered the half-off special, which was an eel roll. Carrie, starving and a fan of sushi, studied the menu and finally decided on the hoola hoola roll. This roll appeared to be satisfying enough, filled with crab, avocado and cucumber and topped with tuna, yellowtail and salmon.

Our food was brought to us quickly and didn't look like a lot of food, considering it was eight pieces. Phil indulged his self-destructive impulses by eating dollops of wasabi between each piece of his roll, cringing each time when the spice hit his sinuses.

While Phil enjoyed his eel roll and found it satisfying, Carrie strongly disagreed.

She thought the sushi did not taste or even look fresh. The rice enveloping the crab meat, avocado and cucumber was overpowering and dry. The sushi roll was not flavorful.

The fish tasted as if it were just caught from the ocean, or maybe a pond out back, and that overpowered the mix of flavors Carrie anticipated.

Our waiter brought us the bill with our meal so he would not forget. The cost was almost as disappointing as the taste. Carrie's single roll was about $11, and Phil's, even with the discount, was about $6.

Uncommon Ground offers half price specials from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, but the catch is the customer can only get one roll half off, and that does not include other specials there might be.

Phil thought the portion sizes are deceptively filling, and though Uncommon Ground isn't the best sushi in Denton, it is a great change of pace from Jack in the Box or Jimmy John's.

Carrie said she would rather eat the typical chain food than venture into Uncommon Ground again.

If students are brave enough to try Uncommon Ground and have extra cash to spend, it is open 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.

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