The Spot: Sushi Brokers in the Arcadia area of Phoenix 4419 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix 602-515-5000 http://www.sushibrokers.com
The Hours:Happy hour is everyday from 3 to 6 p.m.
See also: Earnest: Happy Hour Report Card
Interior: Once a tile and flooring store, the building looks a little less than friendly from the outside, but inside the space makes good use of its limitations. High boys, booths and a large bar were all quite full when we stopped in about 4 p.m. on a Wednesday. Our server was enthusiastic and recommended drinks to suit our tastes. Nothing overly fancy here, but comfortable and while crowded but yet not too loud -- a plus in our book.
The Food: This place has an extensive menu for happy hour. One piece items, rolls, warm appetizers like edamame and tempura are all available and range in price from $2.25 to $15 for the special "lollipop" roll. We got set up with calamari ($4), crab rangoon ($5), and two rolls: California ($4.50) and a "Cowgirl" roll ($8.50). Nothing too adventurous. The calamari came out first and being hungry we scarfed it down even though it wasn't as crispy as we would have liked. The crab rangoon was not really memorable, just kind of.... there. Not insulting but certainly not a standout.
Onto the real deal, the sushi. Sushi at Sushi Brokers is nothing if not consistent. The cowgirl was actually spicy, which we appreciated and we asked for some ponzu sauce for our California roll. Both rolls came out quickly but seemed freshly prepared. With this trip we discovered you can always count on Sushi broker to deliver solid sushi, no matter the hour.
The Drinks: The majority of the cocktails at Sushi Brokers are tropical in nature, but if that's not your thing, they also offer $2 off all bottled bombers, wines by the glass and cocktails. Shots are also heavily discounted during happy hour. We tried the "drink of the day," which featured tequila, grapefruit and lime juice and the Tokyo Colada. (Malibu Rum, Coconut Lemongrass sake, pineapple juice and cucumber) Usually not a fan of any drink that is too sweet, I was very surprised by the Tokoyo Colada. The cucumber cut the sweetness just right and we thought about ordering another one.
Conclusion: While we normally think "sushi" for "happy hour", Sushi Brokers was a nice deviation from the usual pub fare- if you're going for sushi and drinks-you'll enjoy yourself. But non sushi lovers will likely not be impressed by the other appetizers offered. Sushi Brokers happy hours is a great way to enjoy solidly-good sushi at good prices. We would have enjoyed deeper discounts, but with a packed house, Sushi Brokers has found an offering that suits their audience. Grade: B-
