In the wake of the sushi tsunami that washed over Brisbane a few years ago, it can be easy to forget there's more to Japanese food than chicken and avocado rolls and barbecued chicken on a stick. Sono Portside reminds us that we can sit down, take a deep breath, and spend a few hours contemplating one of the great cuisines of the world. A sprawling riverside space that never feels cavernous thanks to the gorgeously functional bento box layout, Sono enjoys river views across to the green slopes of Balmoral - until a cruise ship ties up in front. Skip through for a quick lunch of super-fresh sushi and sashimi, or settle down into one of the private rooms or at the teppanyaki bar for a multi-course feast. Silken tofu, crisp-skinned snapper with asari clam sauce and soft delicate pink leaves of Kobe strip loin seem to touch down on the table like falling blossoms.