Nikki's Fresh Gourmet and Sushi

Located at 16 S. Front St. in downtown Wilmington, Nikki’s Fresh Gourmet and Sushi serves primarily sushi and Japanese fare for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Food, drink, and dessert specials change regularly.

After wandering from one packed downtown eatery to another on a Saturday night, my wife and I stumbled across Nikki’s more out of desperation than deliberate intent. As accidental finds go, we could have done far worse.

First, a caveat: it was very busy at the time of our visit. As such, the restaurant was somewhat loud, and the servers, though not rude, definitely seemed a bit harried. Whether or not this is par for the course is something only a local/repeat offender would know.

Moving on, Nikki’s menu defies expectations. Sushi is the specialty here, and the offerings strike the right balance between traditional rolls and more eclectic house specialties. You’ll also find the requisite bento boxes and teriyaki dishes. However, Nikki’s offers poke bowls (Hawaiian), burgers and cheesesteaks (American), tacos and quesadillas (Tex-Mex), and gyros and falafel hummus wraps (Mediterranean) as well. Curious as this is, it makes for a multitude of options.

My wife and I went with a tofu teriyaki bento box and a rainbow poke bowl, respectively. The food came out more quickly than we would have expected given the volume, and while quality ranged from acceptable to outstanding, nothing was a real misfire. The poke bowl (salmon, tuna, white tuna, seaweed salad, cucumber, avocado, and dressing over rice) was bright, fresh, and bursting with flavor. For $13.95, I wished there was more of it, but what I got tasted great. The bento box, on the other hand, provided plenty of food for $11.95: teriyaki tofu, miso, a side salad with ginger dressing, gyoza, four pieces of California roll, and edamame. Few of the items were stellar, but the tofu was flavorful and the miso was comforting.

If Nikki’s sushi rolls are as good as the hype suggests and if the restaurant isn’t always packed, I could see rating it higher. As-is, the varied menu and competent execution make it a solid option.

7.75/10