Sinobi HQ brings delightful Asian fusion to Valley
The Lunch Bunch is pleased the Alle-Kiski Valley's limited choices in Asian eateries has expanded to include the Korean-Japanese fusion restaurant Sinobi HQ.
Located in the Pittsburgh Mills mall next door to Borders, Sinobi took over the storefront previously occupied by Italian restaurants Rafaelle's and Chef Steff's. We hope Sinobi has more longevity than the previous tenants.
The restaurant kept the colored-glass windows from Rafaelle's while adding tasteful Asian accents inside and out.
The menus were printed on lovely cloth-covered scrolls, but we wish they would have included more informative descriptions -- such as whether an item included raw fish. Luckily, our server was extremely helpful and patient.
Sushi (rolls of rice and seaweed that don't always include raw seafood) and sashimi (a more basic preparation of raw fish fillets) are on the menu, but there are plenty of fully cooked options available.
From the "Sincerity" and "Innovation" categories -- Sinobi's appetizers -- we tried several soups and salads. Most were great starters -- full of flavor, but not heavy; there was plenty of room left for a main course.
The cup of Miso Soup ($2.99) included chunks of tofu and green onion; Green Onion Soup ($2.50) had a simple chicken-based broth with thin onion and mushrooms slices.
The Seaweed Salad ($4.99) was a small serving of vivid green seaweed strips topped with a light dressing, sesame seeds and red pepper flakes.
The Hime Salad ($7.95) was more substantial, including shredded lettuce, beets, yellow squash and grilled asparagus with a tangy balsamic vinegar-based dressing.
Sinobi Tempura ($9.99) is an Asian-style fried appetizer platter, but one buncher found it to be a filling dinner. It contained three large shrimp, two large onion rings, a couple of chunks of squash and two slices of sweet potato -- all coated in a light but crispy batter and drizzled with a soy-based sauce. The fried items were arranged around a small salad of shredded lettuce, carrots and a light dressing.
We tried three of the sushi rolls from the aptly named "Bravery" section; only one of our selections included seafood, and it was cooked. All the sushi featured rice and dried seaweed wrapped into a roll, then sliced into eight pieces.
The French Roll ($13.99) included crab meat, shrimp, cream cheese, cucumber and avocado -- how could you go wrong⢠The pieces were drizzled with a sweet soy sauce and topped with tobiko -- crunchy fish eggs.
The Americanized BaCorn Roll ($12) also included cucumber and avocado, but the slices were topped with smoked bacon and a mild, creamy corn-and-cheese sauce. This roll could appeal to anyone leery of unfamiliar Asian ingredients, but we found it a tad bland.
The Fried Vegetable Roll ($7.99) was filled with a mix of vegetables, the most prominent of which was asparagus. The slices were battered and deep-fried, then topped with a dark soy-based sauce.
From the "Optimum" menu category, we tried two teriyaki dinners. Both were served with a side of steamed white rice and reminded us of more familiar Chinese dishes.
The Bulgogi Teriyaki ($11.99) is billed as Korean barbecue. Neither the cut of meat nor the flavor resembled any BBQ we ever ate, but the dish was tasty nonetheless. Grilled strips of beef were mixed with shredded cabbage, green onions, sesame seeds and a teriyaki sauce.
The Vegetable Teriyaki ($9.99) featured a mix of green onions, mushrooms and sprouts.
If you want to try a bit of everything and don't mind opening your wallet, Sinobi offers several sampling menus that include multiple courses of some of their selections. Prices start at $30 for one and top out at $70 for two.
Compiled by Liz Hayes, Michael Aubele and guests. Meals are paid for by the Valley News Dispatch and are unrelated to advertising.
Additional Information:
Sinobi HQ
Address: Pittsburgh Mills, 121 Pittsburgh Mills Circle, off Route 28, Frazer
Phone: Hours: Handicapped accessible:
Credit cards: All major cards are accepted
Smoking: No
Prices: Soups and salads, $2.50-$9.99; appetizers, $4.99-$9.99; sushi rolls, $5.99-$15.99; meals with rice or noodles, $8.50-$19.99
