Ever wonder where to dine before a Sens game or a concert at Scotiabank Place? Look no further than Kanata Centrum’s Thi Fusion. Opened just over a year ago, Thi (pronounced ‘tee’) Fusion is the third area restaurant owned by Executive Chef La Lim and his brother Thi Lim. Chef Lim delights in fusing Asian culinary traditions with North American delicacies. From his native Vietnam to Thailand, China and Japan, the best of the east is represented at Thi Fusion.

Freshly-prepared sushi and other fare from the First Impression portion of the menu, such as a ceviche-style hamachi carpaccio and southwestern crispy rolls, are delightful introductions to Chef Lim’s talents. His La Flair dishes include a soy-dijon rack of lamb and the pistachio-crusted, wok-seared tuna steak with pineapple sauce. The Excite portion of the menu consists of a variety of stir-fry offerings, carefully constructed to tantalize all the senses, and in an east-meets-west style, available with either jasmine rice or linguine noodles. I personally couldn’t resist a treat from the Sweet Temptations selection – the crispy banana rolls with mango ice-cream and coconut sauce.

Thi Fusion’s artfully presented food, made with the freshest ingredients, is even more appealing given the chic, contemporary décor featuring both cozy banquettes and small tables. Blown-glass pendant lights add elegance to the stone-filled space which feels instantly soothing. Although it might seem deliciously ironic to be eating sushi beside an aquarium, the tank-side tables are among the most requested.

Thi Fusion is a welcome upscale addition to Kanata’s dining scene. It serves as both a great introduction to the flavours and textures of Asian cuisine, but is also thoroughly enjoyable to those already familiar with this healthy, satisfying fare. Written by Paula Roy