Louise B.
Yelp
Umpteen options for our Lunch stop, served 11:30-2:30, with more unusual options for their Bento Boxes including agedashi tofu, saba shioyaki/grilled mackeral, spicy pork or chicken, King Salmon teri, Ginger Tofu, all with organic salad and checking in around $15, bar the 9 pc Sashimi $17.95, + option add-on 6pc sashimi $8. Many featured items come as a lunch entree for about same price, Udon & fresh Yakisoba menu, Sushi & Omakase sets, as well as a special market fresh fish menu.
Greeter grabbed menus and just disappeared around the corner when she asked us, how many lol. She not like my mask? She never asked us to follow her and got the feeling she was checked out as we entered in the last hour of lunch service. She eventually returned and asked us to come around, was sorta relieved she wasn't our waitress, though she did clean our dishes off and run our card, it seemed she was very task oriented and not into talking much. On a first visit, thankfully our waitress had a much nicer tableside demeanor.
--Salmon Misoyaki Karaage Bento $15.95 leaned much more sweet than salty miso we were hoping for, and while the skin was nice and crisp, the salmon was overcooked, flaking solid firm; would request a softer medium next time. Karaage, bite size was nicely moist inside with crunchy exterior, no oily residue , creamy sriracha mayo type dip was spicy hot. Dressing on side salad was thick and sorta flavorless, like an orange mayo. Accompanying miso with both lunch sets was a full bowl but barely warm, and again more bland, no smoky dashi and missing pronounced miso saltiness.
--6pc Nigiri, 9pc Sashimi $30.95 had a lovely selection of fish but only really loved the fiery red tuna sashimi which was amazing, smooth and tender, striped bass texture was a gelatinous crunch like biting into gristle, scallop with a yuzu oil was butterflied and also too firm of a mouth feel for my liking. Nicely presented on a live edge wood board, garnished with shredded daikon & fresh shiso leaves where most would send away untouched, made a much better salad than the Bento one! No extra rice with the sashimi so I would need an extra bowl to be full were it not for sharing the Bento with hubby and brown rice is available $2.50/side.
Pot of green tea $3 served in nice white porcelain cup and teapot had no leaves inside or bag? so pre-brewed, came hot but unsure how it is prepared. Bottom had nice green sediment but gimme some leaves, I like to see the leaves! haha
Sidewalk seating out front was stacked and not in service, maybe because its below 50 deg. No Vax check but door sign, masking required. Smaller Dining Room with about 10 tables and Sushi Counter. Largest Sake selection I've seen especially given the smaller dining room but the namesake, "& Sake Bar" is no joke: note monthly 1st Thursday is Sake Tasting though no other details online as to cost/hours. As yet not a sake fan, may need some more 1st Thurs understudy haha, we stuck to the bottles Asahi & Sapporo (no draft, sigh) @$6 a pop. Dinner Hours 4:30-9PM.
While -Presentation, -Fresh Fish (with a whole online page on their seafood sustainability), -Not too thick or thin sliced fish, -Decor & Ambience is pleasing, -4 Japanese sushi chefs on a lunch shift was highly impressive, lunch was just okay, left with an overall deflated tasting today. Fingers crossed, with one of the most varied menus esp at lunch, will keep on the list to try something else, in hopes of converting the tasting experience to a 4* next time.