Very trendy, dim lighting, cocktail bar, sushi bar, waitstaff in black, etc., etc. You know the look. It's located just a block away from La Mar Cebicheria, and I have no doubt that there's a hope for catching some of the overflow when La Mar is fully booked. Then again, this place was packed to the gills too. I can't say I was enamored of the way that fish is just sort of piled up somewhat haphazardly at the sushi bar - it just looks sloppy.
The spot is more a specialist, like La Mar, in Nikkei cooking rather than traditional sushi, or Peruvian food. Ordered up a gin and tonic to start the eve - it didn't arrive until after I'd finished my appetizers (which arrived within five minutes of ordering them - relax people, we're all here to enjoy the evening, not eat fast food). A quartet of "tacos" made out of deep fried wonton wrappers that puff up. Tasty, creative - each one a different kind of fish, toppings, and seasonings - two different white fish, salmon, tuna - all quite good. Once I got my drink, I was happier.
Decided to just get some of the more creative sounding nigiri sushi (plate of 10, 2 each of 5 different types from the menu, a flat 250 pesos), plus some fresh tuna. The fish nice and fresh, the flavorings excellent, but two drawbacks: they're really small, especially for the price, maybe 2/3 the size of traditional sushi; and, the rice is way, way, way too sweet - it tastes like it's drenched in mirin with nothing to balance it out. It was like candied rice. I don't know if someone just screwed up that night or if that's their way, but it really skewed the flavors off the rails. Left to right, top to bottom - octopus with black olive, salmon with salmon roe (those aren't salmon roe, and had there been more than two little beads atop each, I might have complained - they're using these jarred fake fish eggs made from algae and flavored to taste like different fish eggs - but either way, they shouldn't claim them on the menu as salmon roe), seared salmon with lime and truffle oil, steak with anticucho sauce, and another salmon one that I've forgotten now.
Overall, fun place, I could see it more of a trendy date night out (if Henry ate sushi). It's good, but not as good as La Mar, just a block away. Pricey, plus they have a 40 peso cubierto. All told - cocktail, tacos, 12 pieces of sushi, bottle of water, cubierto and tip and it came in at 825 pesos, or about $53. I think that's probably as expensive as it would be in NYC for the quantity and quality of food! read more