Greg M.
Yelp
Mediocre food is helped by the great service and swanky location. Yelped, please don't read this as a scathing denial of Tsunami. Read it as an assessment of a reliable neighborhood establishment that quite honestly is just a placeholder for, what I hope, is a wake up call for the chef to flex the same skill that the front of the house has in spades.
When was the last time you went for sushi/maki and took out a pair of reader glasses to see your food? I'm thinking the restaurant must be profitable because each roll is all net and no fish. What I mean is the roll slices are each about the size of a large almond nestled tightly in a bed of rice. The size itself is not a major issue but the amount of rice to fish is just plain insulting to the multiple Benjamin that the bill amounted to for our party of four.
The edamame beans are steamed well and not overly soft but they are overly dressed when you pay the extra $1 for them to backstroke in chili oil and minced garlic.
The potstickers are routine, although again, steamed to perfect softness.
We only ordered Maki (sushi rolls) and no sushi or sashimi.
The Spicy Tuna lacks the "spicy" but, as expected here in MD, the tuna was perfectly fresh and smooth. As I mentioned above, too much rice and microscopic slices leave you feeling like an old lady repeatedly yelling, "where's the beef?!?"
The Annapolitan was a mistake to order. The crab is not as fresh as the other fare and, Im sorry, but enough with the Old Bay...especially in a Sushi spot.
The Cruchy was fresh but we all wanted more after eating.
The Tsunami Roll and Hot House are the stars but only because of the creamy spicy sauce that tops these.
Bottom Line: Sushi/Maki is the perfect medium to showcase daring and flavors. Tsunami is clearly making no compromise on freshness and technique but is seriously lacking in creativity and daring.
The Mustard Miso Glazed Sea Bass has the flavor balance to be a great dish. However, it was overcooked such that the Sea Bass was no longer the flaky and buttery bite that one craves, but rather, a dense medium, closer to firm tofu, that just carried the sauce. Props, however, for presenting the plate over a bed of perfectly blister shishito peppers.
We ordered all three desserts that Tsunami has to offer to split amongst the table. Even with our hearty bar bill accumulated, these offerings were just meh. The Fried Banana (think egg roll with a whole banana as the center) over Vanilla Ice Cream is shallow in flavor. The Creme Brûlée is awkwardly out of place for the restaurant theme and sadly pedestrian. The Nutty Brownie was tasty but again, mediocre.
The Service was attentive and engaging without breaking conversation. The wait staff appear to have a good command of both the menu and bar. Extra star for that alone.
If you live in walking distance, Tsunami could be a reliable spot for a consistent but not overwhelming sushi cravings. If you need to drive, save the planet and your coins and possibly drive elsewhere.