Bistro Taiyo Japanese Restaurant

Sushi Showdown.

From the moment I walked through the tiny doorway at Bistro Taiyo I was in love. Greeted by every member of the staff with a formal "Konichiwa!" as we entered, what must be called a hidden Japanese pearl. Seated instantly our (adorable) waitress brought menus and beverages in the time it took to take off my coat. Sipping green tea we dove into the elaborate menu full of familiar faces and authentic Japanese dishes. Since sushi was the name of the day, we ordered a massive communal platter supplemented with some of our favorites: Miso soup and broiled Unagi for me, extra dynamite rolls and tempura for my friends. The miso was everything expected of a good soup, piping hot, full of tasty additions like diced green onions, tofu and nori. light and wonderfully satisfying the perfect opening to a great meal. As the bowls were cleared our sushi arrived stacked artfully, like only something from japan can be. Digging in with chopsticks and fingers alike (sushi is finger food after all!) we devoured our meal. Everything was wonderful. The tuna and salmon were both wonderfully fresh, light and delicious, the tempura so hot you had to be careful not to burn your mouth as you were reaching for another bite. Dynamite rolls that had HOT (not luke warm) tempura prawns inside. The unagi (broiled eel for those of you who are courageous enough to order it) was incredible! hot, perfectly seasoned and not at all oily like it sometimes can be. Sharing a bottle of warmed sake and lamenting the demise of our meal, we had to order an additional dynamite roll in lieu of a more traditional dessert, it was just that good. The atmosphere of the restaurant is what you might expect from a small hole in the wall shop, a mix of Japanese style block prints and Chinese artwork but don't let the online photos fool you, the interior has been altered since the photos have been taken to give the whole place a more trendy vibe. Even if I could criticize the decor, I cannot say enough about the staff, friendly attentive and definitely aware which side of the nigiri the tuna is on, if you catch my drift. There may be closer sushi bars, better known, or cheaper sushi bars but for me, I'm going back to Taiyo and getting exactly what I'm looking for. Hopefully sooner then later.