Shio Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Many Asian Restaurants are cookie-cutter operations. The menus appear all the same. The same sushi and maki roll selections appear with slightly different names. Freshness is key, of course, but most sushi chefs have the skill to wrap a roll. If you are looking for something different, try Shio in Portsmouth. The maki (rolls rapped in rice or seaweed) list is long and each day there are daily specials. They say, "The chefs like to get creative." Consider the Appuru Maki – tuna, apple, sea salt and chili pepper topped with avocado and caviar and drizzled with creamy sauce.

Kitchen specialties are served with soup or salad and white rice. The salmon entrée is served with a garlic-y tomato sauce. ($15)

All the other Japanese favorites are here, too – tempura with shrimp, chicken fish, crab and vegetables ($18), salmon teriyaki ($15), yaki udon noodles ($12), suki yaki soup ($14) and their special bento box ($19).

Service is prompt and courteous and the space is large and includes tatami rooms.