Around lunchtime yesterday I heard my stomach growl. That may sound pretty standard to most, but this time my empty stomach rumbled specific orders: “Feed me sushi, great sushi.” Luckily, Katana Sushi in Elkridge was very close by.

At the time I arrived, there were plenty of available tables and the dim lighting accompanied by decorative hanging lanterns provided a peaceful atmosphere. Following the hostess to our table I was quickly distracted by a very large and beautiful fish tank, hosting an abundance of brightly-colored fish and sea creatures.

I was greeted by a very friendly and hospitable server who was very helpful throughout the dining experience. While sushi is typically not known to be the cheapest of eats, Katana provided a lunch special for a fantastic price. For around $13 I received a house salad, and three rolls. The veggies in the salad were satisfyingly crisp and topped with a dollop of a tangy, bright orange-colored dressing (I wasn’t brave enough to use the chopsticks for this part of the meal!).

The rolls offered in the special were simple, but nonetheless, tasty, fresh and filling. When the plate of food arrived, you could tell that the chefs took their time with the appearance of the food, as each roll was displayed in a unique pattern. The Philly Roll was filled with tender, smoked salmon and just enough cream cheese to create that perfect texture. I really enjoyed the sweetness of the Eel and Avocado Roll, it was topped with a dark glaze and was definitely a favorite. While I’m not big on spicy foods, I gave the Spicy Tuna Roll a try and was not disappointed. It was topped with toasted sesame seeds that gave it a crunch similar to that of tempura. The service was so spot-on that I felt as if my glass of water magically refilled itself the entire meal while I was immersed in the food in front of me and good company I came with.

When all that was left of the platter was a small dab of wasabi, the waitress returned and asked we were interested in one last roll. I couldn’t help but think back to the Chef Specialty menu that I glanced at earlier and ended up choosing the Volcano Roll. Although a bit pricey, it was worth every penny. When the roll arrived, simply put, I was speechless. This thing was a pure work of art and equally as delicious as it was visually appealing. Six pieces of deep-fried sushi were arranged in a star shape and a bed of crumpled tempura and kani salad (shredded crab stick) filled the space in-between. The roll itself was stuffed with spicy tuna, eel, avocado and cream cheese. Each piece was so intimidating in size that I had no choice but to carefully slice each one in half with my chopsticks like a sushi surgeon; needless to say, this was no problem.

Between their atmosphere, friendly service, cleanliness and out-of-this-world sushi, Katana was a real treat and offered some of the best rolls I have had in a long time for a great price.