A NEW sushi takeaway has opened in Andover and it is already getting rave reviews.

Aliona Viarenich has opened Rice and Roll, based at the Station Inn, in Bridge Street.

The takeaway also offers delivery throughout Andover, the surrounding villages and Tidworth.

Aliona, who has plenty of experience at making sushi, said: “I came to England in 2020, a week before lockdown. I started thinking about doing sushi but then I became pregnant.

“When I gave birth I said to my husband ‘I am ready to open a sushi takeaway’, I said that I would do it in my dining room but I found out that I couldn’t open it with a baby, it wasn’t so easy.”

Once lockdown eased Aliona began to search for a job as a sushi chef.

“I tried that for a long time, maybe months, but I couldn’t find anywhere near Andover.”

She said her first experience of making sushi in a restaurant was in Belarus, before working in a number of different restaurants.

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Aliona, who has lived in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, found a Ukrainian couple who were willing to open up a sushi takeaway with her.

She said: “In my country pizza and sushi is everywhere, sushi is very popular.”

The trio began looking for a place where they could set up the takeaway. Alex Gillies, landlord of the Station Inn, stepped forward and offered the pub’s kitchen.

Aliona said that she feels “very lucky” to have opened the takeaway.

“So far, people have given us very good feedback. Our kitchen is a little different from the Japanese style, we are making more European-style sushi.

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“A lot of people are trying sushi for the first time. We made a presentation to some customers in the pub and some said they don’t like sushi but when they tried ours they said it was fresh and we changed their opinion.”

One review said: “The food itself was incredible. Fresh and well balanced flavours, beautifully presented and so incredibly tasty. We got the California selection as well as one of the hot rolls and, though we were full to bursting, we craved more. We hope your business booms so that we can sample your delicious menu for years to come.”

Aliona said the takeaway’s most popular sushi is filled with cream cheese and salmon.

The takeaway also offers a ‘hot set’ which is warm sushi.

For more information and to see the menu, go to riceandroll.co.uk.

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