Inside Mudpuppies, a sports and sushi bar opening in Arden
ASHEVILLE - Sports and sushi may seem an unlikely pairing, but a local entrepreneur who’s brought the two together under one roof begs to differ.
"It's so unique, and that's what draws everybody," said Marty Brooks.
On Aug. 11, Mudpuppies Sports and Sushi Bar will make its grand debut at 5 Andrew Way in Arden.
The hours will be 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday.
Brooks, Mudpuppies owner, said the restaurant bar will make a one-of-a-kind addition to the city’s dining and entertainment scene, and here’s five reasons how:
Sports bar views
Mudpuppies, named for the species of salamander that lives in the Western North Carolina stream, has been transformed from a standard commercial warehouse and storage facility into a spacious entertainment hub.
Renovations have consisted of pouring a polymer layer over the former concrete floor as well as on the bar top to create a colorful, glossy finish.
Two counters were erected and designated for the full beverage and sushi bars.
The 58 televisions installed overhead and along the walls in the sports bar ensure guests don’t miss a single play whether in the dining room, entertainer green room or in the men’s restroom.
"I've never found a place where I can go and watch a football game and eat sushi," Brooks said. "That's a unique draw."
Sushi chef specials
Mudpuppies will operate with table service, but guests may get a closer look at the sushi-making process by pulling up a seat at the sushi bar.
Chef James Dubose will flex his years of expertise in the menu of traditional and specialty seafood and veggie rolls.
"He's the real deal, and he does a real great job with sushi," Brooks said.
Appetizers are squid salad, seaweed salad, crab salad, yellowtail jalapeño and starfish.
Nigiri and sashimi-style sushi is prepared with options including tuna, snapper, fish roe, octopus, mackerel, eel, fried tofu, scallop, sea urchin and more.
There’s a long list of small seaweed-wrapped rolls, as well as regular rolls that feature Cali-style, eel, Alaska, spider, spicy tuna and other combinations rolled inside the rice.
The even longer list of specialty rolls includes:
Yaya’s Yum Yum Roll. Soft shell crab with onion, avocado, cucumber and kaiware, topped with tuna, avocado, jalapeño and special sauces.
Mudpuppy roll. Tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber and crab served with a tempura crunch, cream cheese and special sauce.
JD roll. The chef-inspired tuna, salmon, yellowtail, crab stick, cucumber and avocado with a crunchy tempura coating and topped with fish roe and special sauces.
Also, several rolls are named and customized for locals, such as the Arden, Fletcher, Mills River and Asheville rolls.
More bar bites
Mudpuppies’ design to offer something for everyone is seen in its dining menu that extends past the extensive sushi spread.
"We have a little bit of Asian flair to it," Brooks said. "We hired a chef consultant to come in and tweak our menu and make it special. It's not just bar food. We do wings and smash burgers and flatbread, and it's unique. It's not what everybody else is doing."
Shareable appetizers, salads, burgers and sandwiches are in the mix.
Menu highlights include:
Marty’s Philly Cheesesteak. A hoagie stuffed with onions, peppers, American cheese and mayo.
Sushiburger. A crispy rice bun encasing zesty tuna, spicy crab, avocado, kimchi slaw and house-made pickles and served with house aioli.
Tuna tacos. Crispy wonton tacos stuffed with zesty tuna, avocado, jalapeño, green onion and topped with sesame seeds and house aioli.
Pouring at the bar
The chair-lined beverage bar will be stocked with beer, cider, wine, sake, signature cocktails and nonalcoholic options.
"We have a nice bar menu that pairs well," Brooks said.
Local partners adding their splash of flavor to the bar menu include Ben’s American Sake and Two Trees Distilling
Mudpuppies’ bar features about 30 taps that will pour local craft beer and from breweries including Green Man Brewery will be available alongside mainstream domestics – with some available by the can or bottle.
Signature cocktails highlights:
Hana-Awaka Sparkling Yuzu. A flavored sake cocktail is described as a “refreshing, mildly sweet blend perfectly balanced with citrus flavor.”
Lychee Cauldron. A cocktail made with lychee sake, Sailor Jerry rum, freshly squeezed lime and honey.
Mudslide. Two Trees Distilling’s salted caramel whiskey and Baileys Irish Cream and Kahlúa liqueurs served over vanilla ice cream.
Entertainment for all
The entertainment calendar will feature trivia nights, deejays and live music that includes acoustic nights. Plus, an Astroturf area will invite guests to engage in games and activities, like cornhole.
"There will always be something fun going on," Brooks said.
Mudpuppies is aimed to be a destination for friends and families to hang out, as well as a spot for date night.
A handicap-accessible ramp leads to a wooden deck that was constructed off the parking lot.
The roomy area will allow for open-air seating and dining for about 50 guests, and it will be upgraded with umbrella coverings to protect from weather elements, rain or shine.
Mudpuppies is family-friendly and the patio is dog-friendly.
Mudpuppies Sports and Sushi Bar
Where: 5 Andrew Way, Arden.
Grand opening: Aug. 11.
Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday.
Info: For more, visit mudpuppiesavl.com and follow on social media @MudpuppiesAVL.
Food and brew news you may have missed:
Mudpuppies Sports and Sushi Bar announced for South Asheville. Read here.
Take a look inside The Tiki Easy Bar, Hi-Wire Brewing's new tiki bar in Asheville here.
Late-night tacos, vineyard dining, ASAP Farm Tour, more: What to know. Read here.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Mudpuppies Sports and Sushi Bar opening. Here's what's on the menu.
