Have you ever traveled all the way to Chinatown only to realize, "aw, man. I slightly misinterpreted the geography of my cravings! I wanted Japanese food, not Chinese." Well hey, good news, the good people at Ichiban have apparently foreseen your dilemma and have opened a classy Japanese cafe in the heart of Chinatown, just in case your state of mind suddenly changes from kung pao to sushi.

Ichiban's interior has "yuppie" written all over it: sleek, clean and modern, with mirrors all over the wall (because who doesn't take satisfaction in watching himself eat?). Naturally, Ichiban specializes in combining a no-nonsense staff with kick-ass sushi, ranging from exotic flavors (octopus, anybody? How about squid?) to slightly less adventurous, less rubbery flavors (the smoked salmon is classic and unbeatable). And while there's a deluxe tray that includes heaps upon heaps of sushi for $90, the much more popular option for a hearty lunch seems to be a tray of sushi, the spicy tuna maki, a soup and a salad for $7.95. And if, upon further consideration, your ever-waffling stomach decided it wasn't in the mood for Japanese or Chinese after all, the Thai-style curry chicken offers a solid alternative.

Oh my, the sushi didn't fill you up (it never does)? Try a scoop of red bean ice cream or its green tea equivalent, a dessert that proves that just because it's green tea doesn't mean we can't throw in a couple of grams of fat here and there for the benefit of our taste buds.

Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert