crash_davis
250+ Posts
i know sushi restaurants are a dime a dozen now. they've become the like fast food joints of haute cuisine in that there is almost one in every corner. and for the most part, they all taste the same, which is to say the are all just OK. nothing spectacular.
but it's with great pleasure that i recommend Maru Japanese restaurant off of 47th and Burnet.
aside, i am an admitted sushi snob. i've eaten sushi all over the world from not so well known but AMAZING restaurants in Encintas by the Sea to overpriced bait at Nobu in Miami and Dallas. from china, japan and sydney, to london, paris and prague, i've eaten enough sushi to know that the one of the keys to getting really good sushi is knowing well or at least befriending the owner and chefs. more often than not, that insures that you will at least be served the freshest, fattiest and best tasting pieces. and the other keys to getting good sushi is a good chef and good rice, but i digress. and rarely do i ever eat rolls. i consider that akin to eating well done prime aged steak. it's just not something you willingly do, unless the situation calls for it.
so when venturing to a new sushi restaurant, and Maru is new only being opened 3 months, i am leery of ordering gobs of sushi and shashimi and err to the safer, albeit blasphemous, side of the menu which are rolls.
and here is where Maru shines. the rolls are good to great. but the spider roll. AMAZING. i've never had a spider roll like this, but admittedly, i usually stick to tuna, spicy tuna or cucumber rolls.
first visit, the rolls were superb. unsurprisingly, the sushi was OK. tasted just like every other corner sushi joint. but i introduced myself to the owner (moved from San Diego) and chefs.
so on 2nd visit, rolls were again superb. we actually got 2 orders of spider roll. but the sushi was better this time. fattier and tastier pieces. that was a direct result of getting to know the staff.
and best of all, it's priced right. in other words, it's not trying to fool the sushi novice by charging an arm and a leg for 2 pieces of fish and rice with the hopes that you'll think it's something spectacular because it's expensive.
if you're in the neighborhood, or if you intend to eat at mandola's but find that the line is too long or there are simply not enough seats indoors (that's another gripe), then make your way 1/2 mile farther to Maru. order some ok to good sushi and some amazing rolls. you'll be glad that you did.
but it's with great pleasure that i recommend Maru Japanese restaurant off of 47th and Burnet.
aside, i am an admitted sushi snob. i've eaten sushi all over the world from not so well known but AMAZING restaurants in Encintas by the Sea to overpriced bait at Nobu in Miami and Dallas. from china, japan and sydney, to london, paris and prague, i've eaten enough sushi to know that the one of the keys to getting really good sushi is knowing well or at least befriending the owner and chefs. more often than not, that insures that you will at least be served the freshest, fattiest and best tasting pieces. and the other keys to getting good sushi is a good chef and good rice, but i digress. and rarely do i ever eat rolls. i consider that akin to eating well done prime aged steak. it's just not something you willingly do, unless the situation calls for it.
so when venturing to a new sushi restaurant, and Maru is new only being opened 3 months, i am leery of ordering gobs of sushi and shashimi and err to the safer, albeit blasphemous, side of the menu which are rolls.
and here is where Maru shines. the rolls are good to great. but the spider roll. AMAZING. i've never had a spider roll like this, but admittedly, i usually stick to tuna, spicy tuna or cucumber rolls.
first visit, the rolls were superb. unsurprisingly, the sushi was OK. tasted just like every other corner sushi joint. but i introduced myself to the owner (moved from San Diego) and chefs.
so on 2nd visit, rolls were again superb. we actually got 2 orders of spider roll. but the sushi was better this time. fattier and tastier pieces. that was a direct result of getting to know the staff.
and best of all, it's priced right. in other words, it's not trying to fool the sushi novice by charging an arm and a leg for 2 pieces of fish and rice with the hopes that you'll think it's something spectacular because it's expensive.
if you're in the neighborhood, or if you intend to eat at mandola's but find that the line is too long or there are simply not enough seats indoors (that's another gripe), then make your way 1/2 mile farther to Maru. order some ok to good sushi and some amazing rolls. you'll be glad that you did.
