My favorite sushi spot in the Midwest.
Last night was my third visit to Minami, and each time was an absolute joy. First and foremost is the quality of the food -- outstanding. The fish is of amazing quality, the cuts are generous, and the rice is superbly seasoned. They have the best Sushi I've had since I lived on the West Coast. The sushi menu ranges from classic and traditional, to adventurous and unique. The Negihamachi Roll I had on my first visit (chopped Yellowtail w/ Green Onions for $6) was a stellar example of a classic roll -- simple, yet executed to perfection. Last night, we were given a number of more complex, non-traditional rolls as part of the Chef's Special Dinner ($35 per person for appetizers, Udon Noodle Soup, and Mixed Sushi -- Sashimi, Nigiri, and Maki). The standout to me was the Wasabi Lemon Tuna Roll. The buttery, sweet White Tuna on top of this roll, paired with Wasabi Mayo was killer -- and the thin slice of lemon topping it all off enhanced the experience with an additional burst of freshness.
But that's just their Sushi... I found the non-Sushi portion of their menu to be of equal caliber. The variety of this part of the menu is a pleasant surprise. The only downside is that it is hard to decide what to order. The Bento Boxes ($22 - $27 for the dinner versions) are generously portioned and showcase some of this variety. My second visit was with my aunt, who is what I call a Vegaquarian -- a vegetarian who will sometimes eat fish and seafood. She ordered the Salmon Katsu Bento Box ($24) and I, of course, nibbled on it as well. We were very pleased to find out that we could chose between vegetarian and non-vegetarian Gyoza with all the Bento Boxes. This Box put the kitchen's skill with a fryer on full display -- the Salmon Katsu's breading was fried to a perfect dark gold, while the fish inside remained moist and delicious. Yet the Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura was fried in a way that kept the breading delightfully light and flaky. Their Bento Boxes are so good, I might order one next time, rather than sushi -- and that is normally unthinkable for me!
The atmosphere at Minami is great. It is a medium-sized place with a bright and clean aesthetic. I noticed a few long tables hidden in a room towards that back that I assume are for larger parties. The staff has been exceptionally friendly, and have given me free samples at times (I had a fabulous piece of Sea Urchin Nigiri one visit, on the house). During last night's visit, we were attended to by a new staff member who was in training. Our order was lost and we waited longer than expected for our food. It was long enough for us to start wondering what had happened, but not yet long enough for us to complain. Everything turned out well in the end -- The food was great, several members of the staff apologized sincerely for the delay, and my dinner companion and I were both gifted $25 each in store credit for a future visit. Mistakes are going to happen. How a place deals with mistakes shows their character -- and Minami came through looking great. read more