"Phoenix Express has the best sushi in the area, hands down. It may primarily be a takeout place, but the prep and flavor are a step above. The guy who runs the place worked in a high-end sushi restaurant in NYC, and the quality shows. They even started giving you your order in a bento box, which is a really nice touch and is the only place I’ve seen do that around here. It’s a tad expensive, but the lunch special (3 rolls for $16) is worth it for the quality of food you get. If you’re here just for the sushi, it’s 5 stars, no question. The only reason I give it 4 stars is that a few months ago they installed a huge TV behind the counter that started running 24-hour news any time I’ve picked up my order. So now if you’re in line waiting to pick up your food you have to deal with the horrors of the world while you wait. The TV is faced towards the restaurant and away from the workers, so this ostensibly is for the customers’ benefit. In a world where the news is shoved down your throat on every device and screen you come in contact with to drive engagement, this feels like a bizarre choice and an ambiance killer. Everyone has a smartphone these days, and if you want to catch up on current events while waiting for your food you can easily do that. I doubt I’m the only person who finds this to be a major irritation, which is a shame because the food is incredible. When I see a TV at a sushi restaurant, they usually show something like a fishtank, or foreign music videos, or a street cam, something passive and relaxing. If they switch the TV over to something like that, it would be a huge improvement."
