We took that road trip to DC last week and didn't eat nearly as
much sushi as I thought. First stop along the way was in
Portsmouth, NH at a restaurant called "Sake." It was in town which
is to say in some old architecture. Each booth had been closed in
so that you stepped up to get into it which invited you to remove
you shoes, but you still got to sit in normal fashion and not on
the floor. Food was good with the emphasis on their maki
creations. But the Shime Saba had no garnish on it and I had a
chance to try Striped Bass.

In DC, we saw many fusion places in Chinatown including one in
Zagat's called Sushi & Tapas. But where we ended up eating was in
a little stall in the bottom of Union Station called Kobuki Sushi.
What made this place stand out were the prices. The sushi neta
seemed to have been pre-cut which made service very fast, but
their Sushi Deluxe which had one Cali. roll and 5 pieces of nigiri
was $6.95. Their 'chirachi' was the same price, but I didn't have
it. With prices like that, my expectations weren't high - but it
was perfectly acceptable. - Buddy

Buddy wrote:
> We took that road trip to DC last week and didn't eat nearly as much
> sushi as I thought. First stop along the way was in Portsmouth, NH at a
> restaurant called "Sake." It was in town which is to say in some old
> architecture. Each booth had been closed in so that you stepped up to
> get into it which invited you to remove you shoes, but you still got to
> sit in normal fashion and not on the floor. Food was good with the
> emphasis on their maki creations. But the Shime Saba had no garnish on
> it and I had a chance to try Striped Bass.

The private rooms are called tatami rooms. They are usually reserved for
large private groups, though I have been to a place that had them for smaller
groups as well.

They should have topped the saba with chopped green onion. Striped bass is
excellent. I don't usually order it, since I catch (or have caught) my own
and prepare it fresh.

> In DC, we saw many fusion places in Chinatown including one in Zagat's
> called Sushi & Tapas. But where we ended up eating was in a little stall
> in the bottom of Union Station called Kobuki Sushi. What made this place
> stand out were the prices. The sushi neta seemed to have been pre-cut
> which made service very fast, but their Sushi Deluxe which had one Cali.
> roll and 5 pieces of nigiri was $6.95. Their 'chirachi' was the same
> price, but I didn't have it. With prices like that, my expectations
> weren't high - but it was perfectly acceptable. - Buddy

Sushi and Tapas.. sounds trendy, which doesn't appeal to me. I've seen some
places that have to pre-cut the nigiri neta and never pre-roll many maki for
the lunch rush. Its a bit of a turn off knowing it was made hours before..
but it does speed up service in very busy places. When you order A La Carte,
they should use freshly cut neta.

--
Dan

Hello, Buddy!
You wrote on Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:00:59 -0400:

B> In DC, we saw many fusion places in Chinatown including one
B> in Zagat's called Sushi & Tapas. But where we ended up
B> eating was in a little stall in the bottom of Union Station
B> called Kobuki Sushi. What made this place stand out were the
B> prices. The sushi neta seemed to have been pre-cut which
B> made service very fast, but their Sushi Deluxe which had one
B> Cali. roll and 5 pieces of nigiri was $6.95. Their
B> 'chirachi' was the same price, but I didn't have it. With
B> prices like that, my expectations weren't high - but it was
B> perfectly acceptable. - Buddy

I don't know the situation in DC very well but there are
numerous rather good and reasonably priced places in the
Maryland suburbs. Ones I am familiar with are the Matuba and the
Tako Grill (it really *is* a rather good sushi place) in
Bethesda, Hinode (especially their buffet in the Congressional
Plaza) and Niwano Hana (Wintergreen Plaza) in Rockville. There
is a small chain called Momo Taro whose little place in the
Cabin John Mall in Potomac is quite good even if they don't have
an alcohol licence. I often buy sushi there for take out because
of that.

Except for the Hinode buffet where you can see the chefs
actively preparing the choices, all the rest make their sushi to
order, AFAICT.

I don't touch the regular grocery chain sushi stands but two
"gourmet" groceries have edible sushi with Japanese-looking :-)
chefs even if they make stuff in advance: Balducci's and Whole
Foods in Rockville.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not

James Silverton wrote:
> Hello, Buddy!
> You wrote on Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:00:59 -0400:
>
> B> In DC, we saw many fusion places in Chinatown including one
> B> in Zagat's called Sushi & Tapas. But where we ended up
> B> eating was in a little stall in the bottom of Union Station
> B> called Kobuki Sushi. What made this place stand out were the
> B> prices. The sushi neta seemed to have been pre-cut which
> B> made service very fast, but their Sushi Deluxe which had one
> B> Cali. roll and 5 pieces of nigiri was $6.95. Their
> B> 'chirachi' was the same price, but I didn't have it. With
> B> prices like that, my expectations weren't high - but it was
> B> perfectly acceptable. - Buddy
>
> I don't know the situation in DC very well but there are numerous rather
> good and reasonably priced places in the Maryland suburbs. Ones I am
> familiar with are the Matuba and the Tako Grill (it really *is* a rather
> good sushi place) in Bethesda
I have dined at the Tako Grill before about 13 yrs. ago when we
stayed just down the block from it. It was busy,, but very good.
, Hinode (especially their buffet in the
> Congressional Plaza) and Niwano Hana (Wintergreen Plaza) in Rockville.
> There is a small chain called Momo Taro whose little place in the Cabin
> John Mall in Potomac is quite good even if they don't have an alcohol
> licence. I often buy sushi there for take out because of that.
>
> Except for the Hinode buffet where you can see the chefs actively
> preparing the choices, all the rest make their sushi to order, AFAICT.
>
> I don't touch the regular grocery chain sushi stands but two "gourmet"
> groceries have edible sushi with Japanese-looking :-) chefs even if they
> make stuff in advance: Balducci's and Whole Foods in Rockville.
>
> James Silverton
> Potomac, Maryland
>
> E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not