Latest in a mini trend of hotel lobby sushi bars

The Rosen Centre Hotel is the latest in the area to install a lobby sushi bar, joining Royal Pacific, JW Marriott and Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. Not sure how this mini trend started, but I don’t mind it.

Especially when the sushi bar has a chef who takes pride in his or her craft. That seems to be the case with Banshoo at the Rosen Centre where Yoshi does the slicing and rolling.

Yoshi, whose full name is Tadayoshi Kohazame, received his sushi training in his native Okinawa and has worked as a chef for over 20 years. His resume includes Ran Getsu, just up the road a bit from his new gig.

The name Banshoo means sunset, which is the time of day the sushi bar opens. Located adjacent to the less romantically named Lobby Lounge, Banshoo features a granite-topped bar that seats six and a large communal table for 12.

Tuesday was the official grand opening of the bar with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. It also featured a ceremonial sushi rolling conducted by Yoshi with hotelier Harris Rosen and Gary Sain, president of Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Yoshi and fellow chefs put out a beautiful spread of nigirizushi, sashimi and norimaki. You know how when you go to a sushi bar and order a sample and it comes in a miniature boat? This could have filled an actual boat. And everything I sampled was delicious. Can’t wait to go back and enjoy a more leisurely dinner.

Rosen Centre Hotel is at 9840 International Drive, Orlando. Banshoo is open at 5 to 10 p.m. nightly. And guests dining at any of the hotel’s restaurants -- Banshoo included -- receive complimentary valet parking (take advantage of that). The phone number at Rosen Centre is 407-996-9840.