Local Sushi Spot Rolls Out 'Kids Menu' For Kids To Try Fish Dish

Popular Brewer Sushi restaurant, Yoshi, is about to launch a new 'Kid's Menu' with the hopes of gently introducing their youngest customers to the idea of eating the Japanese culinary delight.

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Yoshi's Assistant Manager Lauren Jacobs says they've been considering creating a special menu, just for tiny tots.

"We'd started the idea a couple of months ago. We were talking about how we had some items on our menu that would translate well to a 'Kids Menu'."

Kid Sushi 4, Cori Skall

"We had a lot of younger kids coming in with their parents who didn't want to try Sushi or were scared to try it for the first time or they weren't necessarily familiar with it, so they were a little hesitant to get anything besides maybe an appetizer. We wanted them to be able to try a wider variety of things in smaller portions so they didn't have to order adult-size portions."

Kid Sushi 3, Samantha Casella

"We started opening on Friday and Saturday for lunch, so we're opening at 11:30 now instead of 2. That 11 to 2 time is showing us a lot more of the kiddos coming in with their parents, especially on the weekends."

Samantha Casella works at Yoshi part-time, but she and her 5-year-old daughter, Carmen, has been a regular at the restaurant since she was 2."

Sushi 5, Samantha Casella

"I think this new menu is a great way to introduce kids to sushi. Parents can let their children explore new food without breaking the bank."

"I didn't let Carmen do raw ingredients until she turned 5. The menu items are mild with fully cooked ingredients such as tamago nigiri (cooked egg). "

Kid Sushi 1, Samantha Casella

The menu will include some traditional "kids" options like Dinosaurs and Mac (chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese) and a mixed fruit bowl. But it will also include options like Kids Ramen, Japanese Stir-Fry Noodles, a kid's Sushi Sampler and there's even a dish named after Miss Carmen herself, Carmen's Dragon Maki.

"She helped design the 'Carmen's Dragon Roll' when she was 4 because it doesn't contain any raw ingredients, isn't too much food for a kid to eat, and the presentation is fun."

Kid Sushi 2, Samantha Casella

Jacobs says the response to the idea of a Kid's Menu has been very positive.

"They're so excited. Everyone's really excited."

Jacobs says Yoshi expects to launch the new Kid's Menu the first week of March.

Keep tabs on other new things happening at Yoshi by checking out their Facebook Page.

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The answer to that often asked question will be top of mind for a lot of Mainers this season, as thousands of tourists, relatives, and friends drive hundreds if not thousands of miles to take in the sights and eat what our state is most famous for, lobster.

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