A dramatic, Asian-inflected dining room with theatrical lighting, paper lantern light fixtures, bamboo trimmings and blood-red walls, this sushi nightspot has ventured where no other venue has gone before: the very southernmost tip of the South Loop. While renowned establishments like Gioco, Opera and Saiko have colonized Wabash, the rest of the area near Dunbar Park has been largely ignored. But better late than never: Triad has already made a splash with its extensive menu of traditional and specialty maki rolls (the Kenju, named after the chef, is marinated blue fin tuna with shiitake mushrooms), nigiri and sashimi, and inventive signature items like prawns in a green tea-infused sauce and salmon marinated in Sapporo beer. A "rookie" sushi plate consists of a California roll, a cucumber roll and shrimp and omelet nigiri.

After 11 p.m., you can head back to the karaoke lounge and choose from 1,000 pop, classic and hip-hop favorites. A VIP dining room features a large plasma screen, DVD player and a state-of-the-art sound system: bring in movies, borrow Triad's or direct staffers to the video store (reservations are required). Takeout and delivery available.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jean Kwon