A Wonderful Experience at Pola Poke Bowl in Reno
An Affinity for Fish
For anyone who knows me, it’s no secret that I’m a sushi lover. Scratch that… a sushi addict. No joke, I used to go 3–4 times per week during my worst times. I don’t really know why or what was so amazing about it. Maybe it was a lack of protein that attracted me to the raw fish. Maybe it was the huge selection available. Or maybe it was the stunningly low prices available in Reno.
Alas, as time went on, I had to change what I was doing. Weight gain was causing a problem for me… again. But this time it wasn’t stopping. And I knew it was all the carbs associated with the rice, not to mention all the other crap they put all over the rolls. Finally, after making the choice to go on a protein-heavy keto diet, I had to give up sushi. And it was tough.
I knew there were other options out there in Reno, but I had tried to make sushi at home before and I knew how expensive it was. Sashimi-grade fish is pricey! And speaking of that, sashimi was simply off the menu as well for me, for that exact reason. I just couldn’t justify paying $40 for a meal. As a result, I weened myself off of raw fish and left that part of my life behind.
However, it would not be the end of my love affair with raw fish. Earlier this year, I found out about a little hole-in-the-wall poke bowl restaurant off of Plumb and McCarran in Reno. That place was Pola Poke Bowl. And only having had sushi 2 times in the previous 18 months, it sounded like an amazing concept, especially for someone avoiding empty carbs. After all, when you’re at all-you-can-eat sushi places in Reno, skipping the rice is not a choice. In fact, if they catch you trying to do it, you can be asked to leave or they may even charge you extra for wasting food. The idea of a poke bowl was extremely appealing to me.
My First Poke Bowl
So, with visions of tuna fish dancing in my head, I made my way over to Pola Poke to give my first poke bowl a go. I had tried poke one time previously while visiting Hawaii about 15 years before, however, it was just a small container of fish. And trust me I’m not complaining, but it was pricey and for someone like myself, a light snack at best. I can handle a pretty solid serving of food, so I needed something more substantial. And this is exactly what Pola Poke provided.
Part of the appeal of going out to all-you-can-eat sushi is the selection you have at your fingertips. And this is exactly the reason I don’t like making it at home, not to mention all the prep and cleanup. It just doesn’t do it for me. However, upon entering Pola Poke, I was pretty stoked to see just how much they have to offer.
So Much Food!
When it comes to the bowl size, a large is enough for two meals for me and that was pretty shocking, considering how much I can normally eat when I’m at all-you-can-eat sushi. The meats they offer include sashimi-grade tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, deep sea crab, shrimp, and even octopus! And crazy as it is, they actually cut everything fresh, right there in the restaurant. Call me a pessimist, but that’s not what I expect from a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Finding that out totally elevated my experience at Pola Poke Bowl.
They also offered an array of sauces. Possibly like 10 in total and I’d guess that at least half of them are low-carb keto-friendly options. It’s rare to have options when you go out on a diet. There are some places I go with friends and I literally just have to order a burger patty because that’s the only thing on the menu I might be able to have… and it sucks. Pola Poke was a breeze when it came to staying on my eating plan. I was also able to add scallions, purple onions, cucumbers to my base meat, and load the bottom with fresh greens and kale.
Then came the toppings, and this is where things got really great. Again, as I said earlier, the selection is what makes the all-you-can-eat sushi experience so great in Reno. And Pola Poke did not disappoint. Out of their vast selection of additional ingredients, I was able to add tofu, edamame, tobiko, avocado, imitation crab, macadamia nuts, ginger, nori flakes, and a few tasty shakers at the end of the line. The bowl was freaking massive, fresh, flavorful, and totally worth the price. As I said, it somehow ended up being enough for two meals for me! And considering that even an all-you-can-eat sushi lunch is about $20 with tip these days, this bowl cost $5 less and gave me enough food to enjoy later that night.
My New Poke Obsession
Needless to say, I’m a fan for life now. In fact, I go there at least once a week and have been for about 3 months now. I can’t get enough. Hell, I almost stopped by when I left from housesitting right before heading home. But I decided I would skip it for today (since I already had poke on Monday AND Tuesday this week), and tried to get home to have dinner with my girlfriend. She wasn’t even home. Speaking of which, I should really give her a call and find out where she is!
Anyhow, it appears my raw fish addiction has returned, but this time, I’m not bothered a bit by it. After eating at Pola Poke, I always feel full and fulfilled. But never stuffed or uncomfortable. And because I’m able to skip all the carb-heavy ingredients, I feel like my body is loving these protein-packed, veggied-filled meals. No carbs, no guilt.
If you’re ever in the area or you’re just a huge fan of raw fish like I am, give Pola Poke a try. It’s definilty my new favorite dining spot in Reno and I’ve been recommending them to everyone since I found them. I’m a pretty firm believer that anyone on any diet can probably make a delicious bowl for themselves at Pola Poke and stay within the guidelines of their program. If you don’t believe me, take a look at their menu and see if I’m right. You might just find it to be your new favorite spot as well.
PS: Try their coffee! Holy crap it’s delicious!
