Sushi comes to downtown Brooklyn

Ever have one of those "not in Kansas anymore" moments? That's exactly how I felt recently when I discovered the newly opened Metro King Sushi, located at 538 Fulton St. Anyone familiar with this area knows that when it comes to food choices, downtown Brooklyn is pretty much a fast food and greasy spoon mecca, so a sushi/Japanese-themed restaurant is the last thing you'd expect to open here. Yet open it is!

As upscale as a foreign restaurant sounds, keep in mind that given the location, Metro King Sushi is more in the vein of a food-court style restaurant than a place to dine in and get served by waitstaff. Although it has a seating area, its emphasis is on self-service and carry-out: customers have a choice of either grabbing a container of sushi, creating their meals at the salad bar, or ordering one of a number of entrees at the counter.

So make no mistake: Metro King isn't exactly upscale. However, in terms of food offerings and presentation, it is definitely a step up from the usual fare. The restaurant has the style and cleanliness of an establishment you'd find in the more touristy areas of midtown. Effort is made to make it feel authentic (staff members are dressed in Japanese-style outfits). The prices are very reasonable, and there's a large number of items to choose from. So not only is Metro King Sushi attractive and affordable, it has something for everyone.

Japanophiles and purists will most likely scoff at the restaurant as nothing more than a fancy Asian takeout with a gimmick. But for people who can't afford to dine at an authentic Japanese restaurant or just don't want the hassle of commuting to the city for some sushi, Metro King Sushi is a fine alternative.