FIRST LOOK: Sky Asian Cuisine in Kettering impresses


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WHAT: Sky Asian Cuisine

WHERE: 4090 Wilmington Pike south of Stroop Road, Kettering

HOURS: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday noon to 11 p.m.; and Sunday noon to 10 p.m.

INFO: (937) 949-9883 and www.skyasiancuisine.com

Sky Asian Cuisine, Kettering's newest restaurant at 4090 Wilmington Pike across from a Meijer store, adds an exciting new dimension to the region's Asian dining scene.

Two lunch visits uncovered some pleasant surprises from this new restaurant, which offers a variety of dishes from Japan, Thailand and China.

Sushi is clearly one of Sky Asian Cuisine's strengths. A highlight among the signature sushi rolls is the 5th Ave. roll ($14), containing salmon, tuna and yellowtail with asparagus, tobiko (fish roe) wrapped in soybean nori with a drizzle of olive wasabi sauce. The fish was impeccably fresh, and the flavors blended beautifully.

Also impressive was the Pacific roll ($15), consisting of yellowtail, fresh jalapeno and pepper and lobster salad, wrapped with soybean nori and topped with tuna, salmon, black tobiko, drizzled with a ribbon of spicy, creamy sauce. The sliver of jalapeno provided some crunch and a pleasant jolt of heat.

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The Thai Basil with Shrimp ($18) stir-fry also was a winner, chock full of fresh vegetables, including broccoli, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, onion, yellow squash and zucchini, with tail-on shrimp and, of course, Thai basil leaves. The dish packs enough heat to please those who embrace spicy Asian dishes.

Consider the Lemongrass Seafood Soup ($5.50) as a starter, with its complex, moderately spicy broth.

The menu invites further exploration. Dinner entrees include Filet Mignon with black pepper sauce served over asparagus, sweet peas, yellow squash and carrots, and Char-Grilled Chilen Sea Bass, with sauteed asparagus, bell peppers and king oyster mushrooms. There are multiple sushi bar entrees, Fried Rice options, Pad Thai and Udon fried-noodle dishes, and “Big-Bowl Noddle Soups.”

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Sky Asian Cuisine has a full liquor license, and offers an extensive sake list as well as specialty cocktails with Asian flavors.

The space was extensively renovated prior to opening, and the interior is unrecognizable from its previous incarnations, giving the restaurant an upscale atmosphere. The building previously housed Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill, which shut down in August 2014. Before that, it housed a Starlite Diner, and was originally a Perkins restaurant.

Asian-food enthusiasts owe it to themselves to check out this new option.

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