Sushi Box
2433 University Ave.
Sushi Box provides an array of sushi, in the forms of rolls and individual pieces. One way to start the sushi-tasting journey is by ordering one of the combos and sharing with friends. Sushi C ($28) is the largest combination, enough for three people. It consists of Tekka (tuna) and California rolls, and 12 pieces that include tuna, salmon, red snapper, fluke and shrimp.
The California roll ($4.75) is the best choice for first-timers. The initial taste of seaweed is complemented by the avocado texture, as well as the rice, crab meat and cucumber. Shrimp ($2) and egg ($1.50) are light, cooked pieces of sashimi with a hint of sweetness.
A stand-out menu item is the spicy tuna roll ($4.75) which contains tuna, hot sauce, scallions and fresh cucumber.
Sushi Box is not limited to serving sushi, though, and has soups, noodles and entrees. No matter how adventurous you are as an eater, Sushi Box satisfies all types of tastes.
—Eunice Abraham
Restaurant Muramoto
106 King St.
Restaurant Muramoto is anything but ordinary with its atmosphere and original menu. It has a wide variety of sushi, with rolls ($10 each) cut into six or eight pieces.
The more intriguing options are the shrimp tempura roll with shrimp, cucumbers and eel sauce, and the duck and mango roll with avocado. The menu features other sushi items, like the grilled miso black cod ($10), crab coquettes ($9) and a wide variety of salads and soups. Muramoto is also well known for its desserts and extensive sake menu.
The atmosphere is memorable, with dramatic mood lighting and intimate tables. Diners can also choose to sit on low stools around tables, or at the bar, which offers a view overlooking the open kitchen area. The feeling is that of a small, private restaurant with streamlined decor and imaginative cuisine.
The staff was courteous and informed about the menu, making Restaurant Muramoto a good spot for sushi beginners.
—Sarah Nance
Wasabi
449 State St.
For the sushi lovers, Wasabi offers 22 different types of sushi and 29 types of rolls. The best sushi was the spicy tuna rolls ($6)—the tuna was not extremely fiery, but it still had a pleasant aftertaste of spice.
For people who don't like sushi, there is an alternative in the chicken Sukiyaki ($15). The hearty stew is perfect for the cold weather and has generous portions of tofu, chicken and vegetables in a sweet, soy sauce broth.
Wasabi offers many items that taste simple, look delicious and are stuffed with ingredients, including the tempura ($6.50), miso soup ($2.25) and California rolls ($5.50). However, these basic dishes lacked distinct flavor. If you have the courage, try enjoying the more obscure items.
The highlight of the menu was the Mochi ice cream ($2), made with strawberries or mangos. The rich dessert's rice coating has an excellent texture to make it a perfect finger food.
Wasabi's setting makes diners believe they are inside a simple kitchen, with the sushi bar as the main feature. The restaurant gets busy, but the sushi comes quickly. While eating there might be expensive, there are large servings to fill you up.
—Jeff Grimyser
Ginza of Tokyo
122 State St.
Located in an office building, Ginza of Tokyo is easy to miss. However, with large selection of sushi and a welcoming atmosphere, it's worth the hunt.
Every meal comes with complimentary miso soup, and there is a large selection of appetizers. The seaweed salad was tasty, but had an intense sweet and sour flavor that made it hard to finish.
Ginza of Tokyo's hand rolls and specialty rolls are massive and carry unusual names like the ""Japanese tarantula roll"" ($11) or ""red dragon roll"" ($11). The rainbow roll ($9.50), which is a California roll with strips of tuna, salmon and yellow tail on top, tasted fresh and mild—perfect for the less adventurous sushi eater.
Ginza of Tokyo also serves a number of cooked entrees. However, when dining there, it might be best to stick with sushi. The yakisoba ($10), which is pan-fried noodles with beef or chicken, ended up tasting like regular noodles covered in barbecue sauce with pieces of grilled chicken mixed in.
The service was excellent—the waitress was friendly and stopped frequently to refill water glasses. The atmosphere was pleasant, cozy and the sushi bar and traditional Japanese dAccor gave it an authentic feel.
—Adina Klein
