Sushi Lounge: Hip, Fun, Tasty ... Overpriced?

We come here not to condemn . Rather, we come to question America's obsession with sushi.

I, personally, don't quite get it. Don't get me wrong, I like sushi. Sometimes, I even crave it. There is definitely something comforting about the soft rice and raw fish (not to mention sweet ginger and spicy wasabi) that comes with a couple tuna rolls at lunchtime.

But, there are some that are just crazygonuts over the stuff. Why? Of course, it's not for me to question someone else's tastes. I just can't quite relate.

Which is why I said at the beginning that this review is not a condemnation of Sushi Lounge. I finally got a taste of this Schuyler Place dining destination on Nov. 6, when all three of their locations (Morristown, Totowa and Hoboken) celebrated the end of by rolling their prices back to half on almost everything. That's right. Finally, those $16 rolls I see in the other section of sushi menus but never order–because I could never validate spending that much on so little food–could be sampled and, ultimately, judged.

I convened for this food summit with Brett Wilshe, editor of , who also was more than happy to sample from the usually pricier section of the menu. Like Wilshe, I always go for the hand rolls section. You know, eel/avocado, tuna, etc. The rolls that cost between $4 and $5. To me, that's a better value.

The pricier options tend to be a lot fancier, with more specialized ingredients. On this day, I ordered the Motown Roll, Alaskan King Crab, masago, cucumber and tempura flakes topped with Yellowtail and wasabi mayo. Normal price: $14.50. I also ordered The Lobster Lover ($16): Fresh Maine lobster, edamame, house made guac and house made lobster sauce.

Mr. Wilshe opted for a Spider Roll (normally $10), with soft-shell crab and avocado, and the Seven Spice Roll, which for some reason, I couldn't find on the online menu.

While we sat and chatted, funky music played and young 20 and 30-somethings munched on various Japanese dishes. The lights dimmed slightly and a football game was aired silently on a television at the sushi bar. This is definitely a nice place to bring a date, or to show your college friends how hip you have become after being such a square in your formative years.

Shortly after nibbling on a not-terribly-special appetizer of Crab Shumai, our sushi arrived. Immediately, I could tell these were not your usual $5 rolls I always get when prices aren't slashed in half.

Wilshe set-to immediately and noted his particular fondness for the Spider Roll, its bits of crab reaching out of the top of the pieces, as if to grab you.

I quickly became a fan of The Lobster Lover. True to its name, this was packed with tasty, moist, cold lobster meat. The Motown, on the other hand, had a hard time differentiating itself from any other sushi roll. Yes, there are two types of fish. Yes, it's a very pretty roll. Would I have enjoyed one of my usual, less-expensive rolls just as much? Probably.

On this day, my Lobster Lover was $8, and totally worth it. At $7.25, the Motown also was worth it, for what I got. Would either be worth their full price? I'm not so sure. I could go to a decent restaurant, pay $25-$30 for a lobster meal that usually includes steak, and feel like I totally got my money's worth. $16 for considerably less lobster is a hard sell.

So, this once again falls on my opinion of whether sushi itself is worth the price one pays. While Sushi Lounge is slightly more expensive overall (a spicy tuna roll should not cost $7), it's generally comparable to most sushi joints. Plus, you are getting a cool, hip vibe (if you're into that sort of thing).

If you can justify $16 for a roll of lobster and rice, then Sushi Lounge should definitely be on your list of dining options. If, however, you tend to stick with the basics–and you're looking for substance over style–you may want to explore your many (this is Morristown, after all) other options first.