In my endless quest to find a spot where both my meat-loving buddies and I can happily feast together, I stumbled upon an unexpected addition to our dining list. You see, sushi joints have always been a bit of a challenge for us. Most places offer just a handful of vegetarian options, leaving me and my other plant eating brethren feeling a bit left out. But during the early days of my relationship with my fiancé, we stumbled upon a spot that was a pleasant surprise.

Nestled snugly in the Parkside Town Commons of West Cary, Sushi at the Park caught our eye. It wasn't flashy or extravagant, but there was something about it that drew us in. And boy, are we glad we gave it a shot! We almost opted for our usual Indian spot that day, but thankfully, we took a chance on Sushi at the Park. And let me tell you, I was stuffing my face Goku style with no regrets.

The sense of humor the owners have with their menu adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the dining experience. I couldn't help but literally lol as I read their selection of rolls, each cleverly named after famous songs from the '90s and '80s. It made choosing what to eat all the more enjoyable, and added a playful touch to the meal.

Let's dive into some of their vegetarian sushi options and share a few laughs along the way, below is their menu as of May 2024:

• You Roll My World (gf) - : Picture this: imitation tuna, spring mix, mango, and topped with yuzu miso and green pepper sauce. Come on, you can’t pass up a sushi roll named after one of the King of Pop’s songs.

• Roll Me Baby One More Tim - : Soft tofu, imitation tuna, avocado, and tempura flakes wrapped in soy paper and drizzled with mango sauce. If you're feeling nostalgic for the '90s, this roll will have you singing "Hit Me Baby One More Time" in no time.

• My Roll Will Go On (gf) - Cue the Celine Dion soundtrack, because this cucumber-wrapped roll with imitation tuna, carrots, avocado, spring mix, cilantro, Japanese cucumber, and mango sauce is nothing short of epic.

• I Will Always Roll You (gf) - Whitney Houston was nick named the “Voice” this is “The sushi roll.” The imitation tuna, avocado, radish, spinach, kampyo, asparagus, and Japanese cucumber made this an experience.

• Spice Up Your Roll - For those craving a bit of heat, indulge in avocado, cucumber, cream cheese, and tempura flakes, topped with kimchee sauce, spicy furikake, and jalapeños. It's sushi with a kick—a spicy, delicious kick.

• Rollin Up My Heart (gf) - Asparagus, carrots, cucumber, and kampyo topped with avocado and shiso-ponzu and tamari sushi sauce. I had to get this for my inner teen who fangirled over ‘Nsync back in the day.

• I Roll It That Way (deep fried) - Crispy, crunchy, and super satisfying, this roll is filled with avocado, radish, carrots, cucumber, asparagus, and sweet potatoes, deep-fried to perfection. This rolls back, alright!? (No? I’ll stop…)

I went there on 3 separate occasions. Twice on the weekend when it was super busy, and once on a weekday, where it was pretty chill. All 3 times we enjoyed ourselves, although I will say, despite being busy, service was always way better on the weekend then my one weekday experience (took quite a long time to be served which was a little confusing since maybe only 3-4 other customers were in the restaurant at the time that I could notice) but hey, everyone has an off day. It still overall was a great experience and the food was delicious. Side note their vegetarian sushi menu is separate, so you will have to ask for the menu when you sit down.

On one of my visits, we enjoyed sitting at the bar and I have to give kudos to the bartender—he was fantastic and gave us excellent suggestions on what to try. This place is hands down a great spot for veggie eaters and meat lovers to co-mingle and enjoy a night out together. Plus, they're locally owned, and I love supporting spots that make an effort to cater to the vegetarian community. So if you’re in the West Cary area and looking for a good sushi spot, definitely check this place out. Tell them Too Yummy to Be Leaf sent you and let me know how your experience was! Bon appétit!