The restaurant industry is a tough business, and there are so many elements that contribute to the success of a new establishment. There’s location, experience, atmosphere, and most importantly, good food.
Naomi & Robert Liu, the owners of the new restaurant Wild Ginger on 116th, have managed to balance all these elements perfectly with delicious results.
We live in Hamilton County, so we were drawn to this location because of the proximity to where our home is, comments Naomi Liu, as this location is perfectly situated between Carmel and Geist, and, right in the middle of Fishers, so it is perfect for attracting foot traffic.
Positioned on the corner of the Fishers Town Commons on 116th Street, the dining room of Wild Ginger has a very modern and clean vibe, decorated in rich reds and calming tans with the outlines of giant wild ginger blossoms adorning the walls. The newest addition to the space is a large vibrant chandelier handmade by the Lius from origami cranes.
We started our lunch with a crisp green salad and miso soup. The peanut dressing for the salad was tangy and tart, which set off the cool greens. Fans of the menu at Wasabi, which the Lius previously owned, will be very pleased to find many of their popular rolls on Wild Ginger’s list, including the mistake roll ($7) which Liu often describes to customers as Sushi 101. This spicy tuna roll pairs the crunch of tempura with the heat of the spicy sauce and is a terrific introduction to sushi for a novice. My order of the chicken teriyaki combination platter ($10) arrived with a generous portion of chicken, tempura vegetables, and a California roll. The chicken was aromatic and the roll was fresh and beautifully plated. However, the highlight of the meal can be summed up in two words: Spiderman roll. The Spiderman roll ($15) contains softshell crab, hot peppers, and ponzu sauce. It is indeed the superhero of sushi rolls! The subtle smokiness is delicately layered over slightly sweet and savory flavors, and the crispy crab is an excellent partner to the soft rice. Our meal ended with a dessert treat called banana tempura with ice cream ($8), two scoops of ice cream with your choice of ginger, mango, plum, green tea, coffee, or red bean nestled on top of crunchy banana tempura drizzled with honey.
Our goal was to have people walk in here and have no memory of what might have been in this space in the past, says Naomi Liu. With the excellent balance of great food and a pleasing atmosphere, the Lius have already far surpassed this goal.
Wild Ginger on 116th
8235 East 116th
Fishers, IN 46038
