Trolling: Tim Finds Sushi At Katana In Clarksville, Nudges Me To Find Nicki's Foster's Country Store

Tim's sushi at Katana in Clarksville

Urbanspoon lead Tim to Katana in Clarksville, and I get a "trolling" post out of the fun.

Trolling on Tuesday is my attempt at a series where readers share three things with other HowChow readers -- favorite restaurant dishes, food to buy, food experiences, etc.  Click here for all the Trolling posts.  Click here for the explanation and the rules.  Anyone can submit.

This is a great way for people to hear about places where we have not eaten.  We eat out way less than the blog seems to make people think.  We hadn't been to Katana, so I appreciated Tim's report on Katana and on Maiwand Kabob -- along with reports on the new restaurants coming to Turf Valley and his nudge that lead me to discover another new place Nicki's Foster's Country Store in Ellicott City opens over the next two weeks.

But first, Tim on sushi in the western county:

We stumbled upon Katana in Clarksville, and I have to say we were impressed with the sushi.   Was not very impressed with the Pad Thai from the Thai menu, so next time we will try the Drunken Noodles.  We have still not made it to Sushi Sono, but it's high on the -- list, just not as convenient to get to from Western HoCo. 

At Katana, we started with a Negimaki Beef. One of my Japanese favorites, theirs was barely average. Then we shared a pad thai and three rolls; 8 piece Tim Rolll (from the special board), six-piece Hot Summer Roll and I think an eight-piece Sweet Heart Roll.  All three rolls were excellent.  Pad Thai was just okay. 

We have been really digging the Afghan pumpkin appetizer at Maiwand Kabob, in Columbia.  That is pan fried baby pumpkin topped with yogurt sauce and ground beef. Many Afghan places have this dish but it's truly amazing at Maiwand. 

We are anxiously awaiting the opening of Red Parrot and Mimi's Kabob at Turf valley, they both look really close to opening. I will say I was sad to hear that Mimi's will not be offering pizza at the Turf Valley location, according to someone at the Clarksville location, hopefully that will change. 

I mentioned to you last summer about the old Foster's country store on Rte 144.  They have been doing a lot of work on the inside, looks practically finished to me.  Maybe someone else knows something?

I didn't know anything about the new country store, but Google did.  I found a Facebook page for Nicki's Foster's Country Store on Rte 144 in western Ellicott City.  I can't tell the details there, but there is chatter about homemade donuts and fountain drinks.  Tim says they put a sign outside Monday that says: Quiet Opening, February 19; Grand Opening, March 1.

Katana Sushi -- New Management, New Menu?

Has Katana Sushi in Elkridge changed management?  I received one comment saying there was new management, and an email from kam saying that the menu had changed.

Katana is a standard pickup place for kam, and someone who answered the phone Monday said that the restaurant was closed that day, but would re-open with a menu that included both Chinese and Japanese food?

Does anyone know the details?  Has anyone tried the new menu?  Does anyone know if this affects the Katana in Elkridge?

Katana Sushi Opening In Mid-June In Elkridge

Katana Sushi is aiming to open in mid-June next to the Pazani Trattoria in Elkridge, according to the Pizza Blogger who sent me an email last night with this and news about a new Indian market replacing Julie's International Supermarket.

The PB checked out Pazani for his blog, and he saw construction at the shopping center for Katana. The owner (James?) told him that they're waiting for final electrical inspections and some finishing touches before opening. The PB sent the photo of the inside. I haven't seen the new sushi place, but it may be a branch of the Katana Sushi in Clarksville.

Pazani is one of my favorite pizzas in Howard County. I'll link to the PB's review once he posts.

This shopping center is just north of Rte 100 and just east of Rte 103. To visit, exit from Rte 100 onto Rte 103 North. Turn right at the light for Marshalee Drive and look for the shopping center on the right. Pazani is in the section past the Giant. This is the same development as the new hotel that overlooks Rte 100.