ARIYOSHI:
41-13 Queens Blvd.,
Sunnyside, NY 11104, 937-3288

CUISINE: Japanese

PARKING: Metered parking under #7 bridge

CREDIT CARDS: All major cards

SPECIAL FEATURES: Free local delivery, spacious party room

HOURS: Open 7 days a week. Lunch 11:30am until 2:30pm all days. Dinner 5:30pm until 10:30 pm (11 Sat.), Sunday 4:30 until 10:30 pm.

In a tranquil setting, this restaurant has been serving classic Japanese food to the local clients for 20 years. There is even a sushi roll named "Sunnyside." The two, long narrow rooms are simply decorated and offer comfortable seating at large, blonde wood tables and either can easily be used as a room for private parties.

Start with your favorite beverage (we chose sake) and your freshly made Sushi or Sashimi. Or, you might opt (as we did) for a shared Dinner Special "Bon Voyage Boat" — a large boat-shaped tray containing sushi, Sashimi, Chicken Teriyaki or Beef Kushiyaki (chunks on skewers with peppers & onions) along with Soy Bean Soup and rice as well as orange slices for dessert ($28 for 2 persons, $57 for 3).

The Sushi was excellent, and included, salmon, yellowtail and tuna as well as California rolls and a house special that is a winner: thin cucumber strips wrapped around crab meat and avocado. Other Sushi included a hot and spicy Cajun Special ($3.75 for 6) and the Sunnyside ($6 for 6) comprised of salmon, yellowtail, cucumber, avocado, flying fish eggs, tempura flakes and a special house sauce. You might also want to try the Spicy Spider ($7.50 for 5) made with soft shell crab, spicy tuna, avocado, mango and cucumber.

Other Japanese favorites on the menu included beef, pork or chicken Teriyaki ($11.75 to $8.25). Then there is the "Donburi" offerings for $7.50. That translates to "something on rice" and includes deep fried pork & egg, chicken teriyaki or tempura. For a treat, order the Donburi with barbecued eel ($13.50). On another part of the menu you will find offerings for the vegetable eater: Vegetable Tempura or Vegetable Sauté for $6.50. Noodle dishes are popular offerings running from those mixed with seafood or seaweed to a meat addition- $7.50 to 7.75.

The dinner special called "Bid Eye Tuna" is barbecued with a ginger-radish sauce and Japanese Nameko mushrooms. We found it well worth the $12.50.

The young servers are eager to please and are helpful in making your selection from the menu. This is the right place to relax and enjoy the picturesque and the edible.