Tiger Belly

Good thing Tiger Belly isn't any closer as I would move in! The food here is terrific. This was my first visit but not my last. The Gyoza were the best I have ever eaten. The crisp edge of the outer shell makes it different from any other I have had and the filling is delicious. Tongkatsu is my favorite so I skipped the Ramen which is a fan choice. The Gyo-Dong features some exquisite braised beef over rice. The Bangkok Blend tea served by the 'kettle-full' is aromatic and goes well with the food. 

bloginfo: no website yet

MIZZU

I have been waiting to try out this new Japanese restaurant, Mizzu, and was taken out to lunch here today. Very nice room and good service.

There were several lunch specials and I ended up having a mix of good tastes.

The ginger tea is very good and the hot water refills do not stop! An appetizer of Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Garlic Crumb, Peanuts, Shallots and Tamarind Dressing was delicious. I ordered the Sushi 2 piece special which came with Miso soup. My choice for the sushi was Eel Avocado and Spicy Tuna. The eel was full of taste and the spicy tuna could have been a lot spicier. The rice was not a typical rice that I am accustomed to but more of a moshi rice. There is the possibility of sushi without nori and using cucumber. The cucumber has a very delicate taste and needed to be sauced or with soya to complete the taste. A dish of chocolate ice cream ended the meal on a sweet note. One of the guests had the bento box lunch special and it looked very good. Next time!!!

Crispy Broccoli

Eel and Spicy Tuna Sushi

Cucumber Wrapped Sushi

EDO ICHI

After a long meeting we stopped in at Edo Ichi where I had once ordered sushi to go. This time we ate at the Sushi Bar. The menu is extensive but we managed to have the great choices of an Eel Special Roll and a Dancing Dragon Roll. The eel was excellent and is one of our favorites. The dragon roll had surimi instead of real crab but was actually very good. Both rolls were fresh and appeared in a floral landscape which made the night even more fun.

We started with mugs of good hot green tea and enjoyed bowls of Miso soup. This got us ready for the two sushi rolls. We definitely will return to this *hidden little place [see note below].

blognote: When you first spot the restaurant it looks tiny with just two parking spaces in front. I parked the first time and entered through the door to only find a concrete stairway down to the kitchen area. After looking around I found the door to the restaurant. I was greeted with 'First time here?" and found out that you park in back in a large parking lot and enter through the patio to the main door of the restaurant!

ICHIBAN

Have been here in between these two dates but haven't blogged anything. So went last night for a very successful after two gallery openings and then started to blog this morning. Had exactly the same thing and it was even better than ever. Maybe it was the company! Started with a small order of Yaki-Gyoza [$5.95] which was delicious.

10/11/2015

What's with all the Korean food all of a sudden. It is just a coincidence as we had planned to go elsewhere today and ended up at Ichiban. Two of us ordered the same thing, isn't that a no-no. It was the standard Stone Pot Bibim-bap [$14.95] which I have not had for a long time. Started with a good miso soup with tofu. There were various dishes of differing degrees of success with the kimchi being the winner. The bibim-bap came in a stone pot [as described] rice sizzling and covered with yummy vegetables and a raw egg on top to mix into the mix. After adding the whole dish of gojuchang sauce, it was a delicious spicy mess.

EDO ICHI RESTAURANT

On my way home from somewhere that I didn't get to...stopped at Edo Ichi for some sushi takeout. Turned out to be a good decision as I had been wanting to stop here for a while. The menu is huge but I had an idea of what I wanted: Eel Avocado Roll and a Spicy Tuna Roll [both @5.50]. This was really not very innovative but it hit the spot.

The sushi was good and fresh but presentation at the bar looked a lot better. Loved the eel!

Next time I will look more carefully at the menu. I thought that this was just a takeout place but it is a full fledged sushi and hibachi steakhouse. It is on the lower level so parking in the back takes you right into there. I parked in front and ended up walking down steep steps to enter into the bar.

ICHIBAN Restaurant

After two art gallery openings and a shopping spree, we stopped for dinner at a restaurant I have frequented in the past. Our meal at ICHIBAN was very good. We started with the Golden Calamari ]$9.95] which was really more tempura than deep fried. Then two orders of Sushi Regular Dinner [$16.95] which came with salad/ginger dressing or an excellent miso soup. These came with eight pieces of sushi [the unagi was terrific] and a California Roll.  Two beer Kirin Ichiban [$4.50/6.00] helped out with the meal.

The other diner had the Stone Pot Bibim Bop [$14.95] beef, rice and vegetables with an egg to mix it all up and be yummy.

blognote: There was a Groupon for $40 [$17] so we made out quite well.

bloginfo: Our server was terrific but didn't get his name [born in India of Tibetan descent].

MOONLIGHT Sushi Bar and Grill

Quick afternoon nosh at the new owner Moonlight Sushi Bar & Grill on Main Street in Middletown. Started with a Vegetable Tempura [$5.95] which was fresh and crunchy. Then on to sushi with one order of Sunshine Roll [$11.95] with salmon and avocado topped with salmon, spicy mayo and scallions. This was deemed delicious and the crunch on top turned out to be tempura chips. My order was the already recommended Dragon Roll [$9.95] with eel and cucumber topped with eel sauce and avocado. This was extremely tasty with the taste of eel still lingering on my lips.

Dragon Roll

Sunshine Roll

Ginza [CT]

Dinner tonight 'twixt Christmas and birthday shoppings. Here at Ginza we always find something good to eat!

Started with an order of Edamame [$4] and Fried Vegetable Gyoza [$5] which were excellent. Then on to an order of Ginza Special Roll each [$15]. The first order [top] was a Seasons Roll with tuna, yellowtail, salmon and avocado inside with multicolored tobiko on top. Very well executed and harmoniously tasty. My roll  [bottom] was the Angry Dragon with shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, sliced papaya [not ripe enough], with king crab salad on top in a nuta sauce.

blognote: excellent service but we were the only diners at this hour [6:00pm]

Asian Bistro

October 25, 2011

Was I in Tokyo or Manhattan? No, I was in Rocky Hill at the newly opened Asian Bistro. What a gorgeous establishment; the decor is stunning. Aside from the dining room where I sat in a comfortable booth, there is a sushi bar, a lounge and a hibachi room.

I had the Sushi Lunch special which included salad or a good bowl of miso soup. There are four choices: sushi [$12], sashimi [$13], sushi/sashimi combo [$15] or my Signature Roll of the Day [$10]. Today's roll was the Volcano Roll the contents of which vary by sushi chef. Mine contained salmon and salmon skin, white tuna and rice with a nori wrapper then deep fried. There were various other veggies and sauces with just enough spice to make it a perfect lunch! This was accompanied by a glass of unsweetened iced tea [$2] with lots of lemon. There are many other lunch options but I will have to go back for dinner and try the Pork Katsu and/or the Yaki Soba.

bloginfo: Asian Bistro is located at 396 Cromwell Ave [very near Jake's Wayburgers] in its own little plaza. Telephone 860.563.8886. There are three earlier versions in Mansfield and Shelton, CT and in NY at Portchester.

blognote: I hope they will heed my request and get rid of the present music and use some soothing dinner music [perhaps from Japan].

October 27, 2011

Night and Day!!! What a difference a [the] day makes. What was subtle and calm and pleasant during the day became brash and loud and unappealing during the evening. Visited tonight with three friends looking to show off my new find.

Started with an order of Edamame [$5] and the Thai Calamari [$9] for appetizers. Both were good but not special. Two orders of Chicken Pad Thai [$11] which were good [I tasted some] then an Unagi Don Combo [$18] which should have been sushi but because of the request for brown rice [$1 extra] it came plated. My Hong Kong style pan fried Noodles with Vegetables [$8] was subpar and edible only after much scrambling to wet the noodles. 

Nice extras were the warm hand wash set-ups and the hot tea. The only Japanese beers were Sapporo and Kirin but BIGBOTTLE ONLY shouted by the waitress. She was aggressive to say the least. It seems like everyone was having first night jitters or something. 

blognote: Music was the same loud radio station.

Sakura Garden [CT]

Lunch here today was a real bargain [$14.95] and we left very full! Started with sushi and ordered more midmeal: Eel, Shrimp Tempura, Peanut/Avocado and a Tiger Roll which was crab, spicy sauce and a marbled seaweed wrap.

Tiger Roll and Peanut/Avocado Roll

The highlights of the meal were the Kani salad, spicy calamari salad, shrimp scampi and fried dumplings. Service was great and the place was getting real busy as we left.

July 22, 2011
Had a fantastic dinner tonight [with the aid of a $35 coupon] at Sakura Garden in West Hartford. The concept seemed a little daunting at first but with the help of our server Melissa we soon figured it out. You pay a flat fee depending on lunch or dinner and day of the week. Our price was $28.95 a person [the highest category: dinner/weekend]. With this fee you get access to a wonderful buffet and any [as much as you can eat] sushi/sashimi from a menu with no prices. The row of sushi chefs was awesome. 

We started with an order of Fried Lobster Sushi, an order of Sweet Potato Tempura and a piece of Niguri White Tuna [for me]. You can see that the other two diners were not into 'raw' fish. The choices of sushi were non-ending and included favorites such as traditional rolls [we later ordered a Philadelphia Roll] and Sakura Maki Creations [Shrimp Mango Roll, Dragon Roll, Spicy Tuna Sandwich, etc.].

The buffet was loaded with every great Japanese delicacy you could imagine. There were Kumamoto Oysters, Edamame, Kani Salad, all sorts of Tempura, Shrimp prepared several ways, Chicken Yakitori, Gyoza, etc. The only 'fillers' were a Chicken Fried Rice and Noodles with all the rest of the entrée level.

There was fresh fruit in abundance and cakes, pies and cheesecake. We even had Green Tea Ice Cream from the kitchen.

bloginfo: Scout out the best time for your culinary needs in the website.

blognote: Some of the items could have been a little hotter.

Ginza [CT] update...

Celebrated a son's 50th birthday today here at Ginza and had a great meal. Started with an order of Edamame [$4] and then had the Lobster Roll Sushi special of the day [$18]. This was a luscious combo of lobster tempura, asparagus, avocado with a sesame rice wrapper over two sauces and topped with a wonderful seafood arrangement.

There were two Hibachi entrées: Chicken/Scallop [$22] and my Salmon [$20]. These included soup, salad, vegetable rice, fried noodles and two grilled shrimp. What a great assortment of delicious food. The other entree was Teriyaki Chicken [$16] with white rice and vegetables [beautiful asparagus] and Miso soup.

blognote: Signed in with YELP and got a 10% discount!


4/2/11

My second visit tonight; this time for dinner. Started with a California Roll and a Shrimp Tempura Roll; both very good especially the shrimp. 

An entrée of Steak Teriyaki [$18] with a terrific piece of steak cooked to order at medium well and accompanied with fresh broccoli and asparagus. My choice of Yaki Soba [$14] with beef was tasty and just the right amount after the salad and sushi. 

bloginfo: Joined the Feng/Ginza VIP Club

blognote: Service by Fiona was charming!

3/23/11
Went to Ginza for a 'Christmas Lunch' today thanks to my lovely neighbor! This is the restaurant in Wethersfield, one of five under the Feng flag; three Feng restaurants and two Ginza. It was very successful for the four of us, each with a different meal.

Started with an appetizer order of Edamame [$4] and then the ordering went on: Two Ginza Lunch Boxes [bento box] which included a California Roll, Shrimp Shumai, Salad and Miso Soup. Then the main additions were: Chicken Teriyaki [$9] and my Sashimi [$12, guess I am an expensive date!]. Ginger salad dressing was very good as were the shumai. The miso soup was a lighter base than I am used to but delicious. My box with sashimi had four pieces: two Fluke, one Tuna and a fantastic Salmon. One order Woki Special for the hostess with Basil Chicken and Mushroom Soup [$9] and a Maki Special [$9] with salad, California Roll and Sweet Potato Tempura Roll. Two of us finished with cups of hot green tea.

bloginfo: beautiful simple dining room, good service

blognote: next to Fresh Pickings' [see their review] 

Tokyo Sushi [CT]

With a coupon from the Hartford Courant this morning for a free sushi roll, I had lunch today at Tokyo Sushi with a dear friend. 

Aside from the California Roll [value $4.25] we ordered the lunch specials: Maki Special [$8.95] and my Lunch Bento Box [$7.95]. These both came with salad [great dressing] and miso soup.

The maki chosen were tuna and salmon. The bento box had rice, shumai [3] and my choice of Tonkatsu [fried pork cutlet with tonkatsu dipping sauce].

All in all the meal was good and the atmosphere was very authentic. The sushi were not that interesting however and when the nori doesn't even wrap all the way around, you know that they are scrimping on the details. The picture shows the leftovers which went to the other house.

bloginfo: parking can be a little difficult at some times
blognote: the iced green tea was delicious but I spilled it all over the counter [but they didn't charge me for it!]

Feng Asian Bistro

Ate here tonight after the Hartford Stage production of 'Noises Off!' [great show].

The wine was a half-off bottle promotion so we ordered a nice Argentine Malbec $34 [$17].

One entrée of Lemon Pepper Roasted Duck with a Japanese peach and plum chutney [$20] which was good except for the small leg portion.

Two Special Rolls [$18 each]: Ultimate Lobster Roll with tempura lobster, lobster, mango, avocado with mango, kiwi and strawberry sauces; and a Surf and Turf with lobster salad, asparagus and topped with seared filet mignon and a cilantro jalapeño sauce.

One dessert of Green Tea Cheesecake [$8] which was lightly flavored and creamy.

bloginfo: 93 Asylum Street, Hartford, CT; phone 549-FENG (3364)
checkout the website here
blognote: This was where Song Hays was located [shows my age!]

Royal Buffet and Grill

To finish off my weekend of gluttony, I ate at Royal Buffet in Manchester. I was invited to a private birthday party for a one year old Vietnamese baby from our church. Now who would pass up that opportunity?

Lots of Asian food, seafood, noodles [pancit canton], rice and sushi. The oysters were a big hit as were the crab legs. My favorites were the General Tso's chicken and the boneless spareribs.
Also saw a turkey being carved, grill to order, pizza, mac and cheese.
Desserts were abundant but I gorged on fresh mango and elephant ear cookies.

bloginfo: Royal Buffet website and menu here.

Genji Express [revisited]

Genji Express at Whole Foods in West Hartford has an eat-in sushi bar.

And I visted there again alone today. I had the Grilled Salmon and Avocado Outside Roll. It was, of course, very fresh and it made a great 'dietetic' quick lunch. [$7.95]


Previous visit:

Nice meal there today with Green Tea, Miso Soup and an Avacado Roll. They make the sushi to order. Also have sashimi and nigiri. Very extensive menu. The take-out items looked great.

Whole meal came to $6.26; they include tax and tip. Also got a free sample of a piece of crunchy spicy tuna sushi.

bloginfo: Genji Express in located inside the West Hartford Whole Foods store on Raymond Road. The hours for eat-in are 11 to 2 and 4 to 7.
www.genjiweb.com

blognotes: the store is located at the very site of 44 Raymond Road where my grandmother, Cornelia Mary Shea Mills, lived and taught piano. She was a vaudevillian and played ragtime and boogie-woogie