Wheeler’s: The Place To Go When You Don’t Want Sushi

(Photo by Ray Johnson)

Assuming that there would be some funny or interesting anecdote behind the sign placed so prominently in the window of Wheeler’s Restaurant at 1707 Sheepshead Bay Road, Sheepshead Bites decided to investigate. The sign we’re referring to is bright neon pink and simply states “NO SUSHI”.

We imagined streams of late night revelers intending on a binge of sushi and Bass Pale Ale (do these two make a good match?), entering the dark lounge and screaming over the jukebox, “Gimme some tekkamaki”.

But, no, because according to the bartender, it was just a lighthearted effort by management to call attention to the fact that there still is at least one local watering hole where you can sit down and say, “I’ll have a Bud with a burger and fries.” Not only was there no sushi, there was also no story. Wheeler’s, being the old kid on the block, has to have some way to stand out from the crowd.

This “NO SUSHI” sign is putting Wheeler’s on the map, with diners writing about it (the burgers, too) on food review sites such as Yelp and Urbanspoon. Okay, our hungry raw-fish-cravers, you’ve just ordered your drinks with your Wheeler’s server and she broke the bad news that you won’t be able to get your California Rolls. (What? You missed the sign?). Just finish your round of drinks and stumble on over to the right, to the left, or just across the street – where on the main Sheepshead drag there are at least five — count ’em, five — Japanese places serving sushi.

Kudos to all the Sheepshead Bay sushi restaurants for being able to stay in business despite Jeremy Piven’s publicity about too much sushi.