Sushi is our go-to choice for date night. My wife and I share a deep passion for Japanese cuisine, and when deciding where to dine, we are often choosing between half a dozen locations across Cambridgeshire.

Sticks n Sushi is arguably the most popular sushi spot in the city, favoured by locals and foodies alike. It is conveniently located on Wheeler Street, right next to the Corn Exchange in what I consider the heart of Cambridge’s food district. The brand is well-known for its high-end sushi and its distinct Danish-inspired aesthetic. I haven’t visited since it first opened back in 2016, so I was keen to see how it had changed.

Japandi aesthetics

The restaurant is designed in a style known as “Japandi” – a harmonious blend of Japanese minimalism and Danish functionalism. This is rooted in the company’s heritage, being founded in Copenhagen back in 1994 by two brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek and Thor Andersen, who drew this inspiration from their dual Danish and Japanese backgrounds. While this aesthetic may appeal to those with a taste for modern refinement, I personally found the atmosphere a bit cold and clinical, reminiscent of a sleek, modern train station.

Drinks

The drink menu is vast and diverse, featuring a selection of cocktails, Japanese whiskies, wines, and beers. You won’t have trouble finding something to suit your palate here. I opted for a Prime Time lager; at first, it was a practical choice as the only beer under £6 (with some pints reaching nearly £10 😱), but its light profile also paired perfectly with the sushi. Interestingly, it is a low-calorie option, which was a welcome change after an indulgent Christmas.

See their full menu

Starters

We started with a variety of small plates:

• Chicken Gyoza: Dumplings topped with okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, chives, and bonito flakes.
• ​Grilled Broccoli: Served in a supreme soy sauce with spicy goma.
• Hotate Kataifi: Scallops with miso aïoli, trout roe, and shiso cress.

I absolutely loved the chicken gyoza. They were served directly in the pan they were cooked in, though they had stuck to the bottom quite firmly. It was a bit awkward to scrape them loose with chopsticks, but once we managed the initial faff, it was worth it. We were rewarded with a deliciously soft shell and bonito flakes which added a mild crispiness. This all came together nicely with juicy chicken and a sweet yet savory okonomiyaki sauce. It really hit the spot.

The hotate kataifi was my favorite dish of the entire night. These little crispy balls of joy gave way to scallops that literally melted in my mouth. The contrast in textures was exciting and was only improved by the trout roe, which brought the dish to life with a subtle salty pop and a vibrant dash of colour. The miso aïoli acted as an earthy mayonnaise, adding a creaminess that made every bite feel complex and layered. It was utterly amazing!

Main course

For our mains, we ordered a selection of rolls: California, Spicy Tuna, Ebi Panko, and Chirashi. These were beautifully presented on a bamboo leaf atop a rounded charcoal plate, perfectly mirroring the restaurant’s modern style.

The Spicy Tuna was my personal favourite. It had a wonderful texture thanks to the fried kataifi on top, which added a satisfying crunch. It was juicy and came packed with a carnival of flavours. I honestly think I could have kept eating these all night non-stop.

While the Chirashi offered a big juicy mouthful, with a variety of subtle flavours that I genuinely enjoyed, the other rolls felt fairly ordinary given the reputation of the kitchen.

Sticks

We also sampled the “Sticks” side of the menu, specifically the Aigamo Tsukune (grilled duck meatballs with egg yolk in supreme soy).

I wasn’t sure what to expect after ordering this dish but it was larger than I had anticipated, offering a pleasant surprise on arrival. The supreme soy sauce that was liberally glazed over the duck and was absolutely sublime, offering a sweet and sour flavour with a thick syrupy texture. Despite this, the grilled duck had a weird texture, likely due to being minced and reformed. Personally, I don’t think this works with meat like duck and it didn’t quite hit the mark for us. We both found ourselves leaving half of it.

Stylish sushi

I don’t want to sound overly harsh, but considering the hype, the price point, and the emphasis on a sophisticated dining experience, we both left feeling a little underwhelmed. To make matters worse, a rather presumptuous 12.5% service charge was automatically added, pushing our bill well over £130 for two people. The staff were very good, but they didn’t necessarily do anything extraordinary to warrant this premium. As we didn’t feel like we had received true value for money, we asked for the charge to be removed – something the team was happy to oblige without any fuss.

With that said, if you are a fan of Japandi design and want high-quality sushi beautifully presented in a unique setting, Sticks n Sushi remains a reliable and conveniently located choice. There is no denying that premium ingredients are used here, and an almost artistic level of care is put into the creation of the dishes. Many sushi purists argue that such quality is always worth the extra cost, and since so few places in the city center can match this standard, I tend to agree.

However, for those willing to trade a slight drop in quality for significant savings, it is worth looking at other local spots like Japas. Both Japas and Kibou offer a much warmer, more lively atmosphere than the clinical feel here. On a personal level, while some dishes were genuinely impressive, others left us feeling a little flat too. I like to think I won’t wait another ten years to visit again, but I am in no hurry to return; it simply feels like a place putting too much emphasis on style over substance, with a hefty bill along with it.

Thanks for reading