Fingerlickin' Ribs and Sushi

On lazy Sundays like today, cooking was out of the question. Besides, I also had a huge sushi craving that had to be met. So what's a hungry girl and her carnivorous boyfriend to do? During the day, David had snagged a menu for Lucky Mojo from a delivery guy who happened to be making a food run in his building. Both of us were immediately intrigued by the unusual combo that the restaurant was offering: bbq, sushi, Cajun and Tex-mex. The restaurant was also conveniently located on 51st Ave, just a few blocks away from David's building in Long Island City, and close to the Vernon-Jackson Ave train stop on the 7 line.

I was a little skeptical about whether bbq and sushi could coexist under the same roof, but we decided to give Lucky Mojo a try.

When we walked into Lucky Mojo, I noted that the decor is just as random and unexpected as the food it serves, with mounted paintings done up in warm hues of red, orange and yellow, high vaulted ceilings, a chandelier and even a statue of a bodhisvatta perched atop the wood-paneled bar. It wasn't very crowded, so we were seated immediately.

According to a New York magazine review, the restaurant is "the reincarnation of a shuttered Upper West Side offshoot of Jacques-Imo’s, a New Orleans institution."

The New Orleans influences can be noted in the menu, which featured Cajun dishes like cornmeal-crusted catfish fingers and some interesting options like crawfish etouffee and shrimp and alligator sausage cheesecake. But David and I were eager to try the BBQ and the sushi. We opted to share three dishes, ordering two sushi rolls--the Stevie Ray Roll and Mama's Favorite Shrimp Roll, along with the Chicken and Ribs combo. The menu also featured some other creative sushi rolls like a Spicy Crawfish roll, a Magic Mushroom roll with avocado, mushrooms, sprouts and "rocket sauce" (no idea what that is), a Coconut Shrimp roll and a Softshell Crab Deluxe roll with crawfish mayo.

Our food came out fairly quickly. We started off with the sushi. Both rolls were delicious and devoured in roughly five minutes. The rice and fish were fresh, and the shrimp tempura in Mama's Favorite Shrimp Roll had just the right amount of crunch and tempura batter. The Stevie Ray Roll, wrapped in white seaweed, was equally as tasty.

Next up: the bbq. I skipped the bland mac and cheese and headed straight to the ribs, which were dressed with a sweetish honey glaze and were literally falling off the bones. They were tender, moist and nicely flavored throughout. In my opinion, they were far superior to the dry, disappointing ribs I had sampled at Blue Smoke during Restaurant Week two months ago. The chicken, slathered with the same sweet glaze, was very tasty and moist as well. The roasted Cajun corn that accompanied our entree had a nice, spicy kick to it, and was a great complement to the chicken and ribs. David, a big meat-eater, also raved about the ribs, declaring them to be better than the ribs he tried in Texas two weeks ago on a business trip.







Live music adds to the eclectic mix at Lucky Mojo. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that Sunday nights feature an open "jam session" where musicians perform on a small stage set in the back--we were treated to a great half hour of blues and jazz towards the tailend of our meal. Our lovely waitress rattled off some desserts like pecan pie and a warm chocolate brownie sundae, but we were too full to partake in any of it.

If you're looking for a place in LIC with low-key sports-bar appeal, but food that rises above the typical greasy fray, then Lucky Mojo will do the trick. The restaurant also has several flat-panel TVs--including a small one in our booth. David vowed that he would return with his two roommates on a Saturday to watch NCAA games or football--Lucky Mojo was advertising unlimited draft beer and rib tips for just $16.95 per person. A Daily News review also raved about Lucky Mojo's corn fritters, so I'll have to try that next time.

Damage: about $62, including tax, tip, and two beers (Bypass the Pork Slap ale for a draft of Abita Purple Haze, which is similar to a Belgian ale). Casual, unpretentious atmosphere, and quick, friendly service.