Amberly's migraine left-overs weren't up for opening night at Harry Potter, so we just went around the corner to Eiji on Sanchez & 16th. Man, that place is good! We've been there before, initially lured by the promise of fresh tofu, but the specials board (and the sushi) keep calling us back.
The place itself is low on frills. A fairly traditional Japanese decor is all this teeny place (22 seats, including the counter where we sat) needs. That, and a killer chef with a singular vision for tofu and out-of-the-ordinary specials, with a light dusting of country and bluegrass music.
We didn't have tofu this time. We wanted a fairly straight-forward sushi experience and, with one exception, we did. You know a place is serious when their miso is good. Fine grained with a slight sweet edge to the rich umami flavors, it was piping hot and absolutely slurpable. Our other starter was the equally scrumptious walnut miso-topped spinach. Rolled into a tight bunch, it's the best spinach presentation going.
Our dinner proceeded apace, with very good sushi. The pièce de résistance, however, was the cooked Tuna Belly steak. Cooked right to the point of flaking, with a just-raw interior, this is the kind of dish that sets Eiji apart from the pretenders. Perfection.
The highlight of the sushi was the hamachi nigiri. I have never had hamachi that disintegrates on your tongue like this one does. Spectacular. Along with the Tuna Belly steak, this sushi changed my mood, my attitude on life, and my week, all very much for the better.
And, of course, there is the strawberry mochi dessert. Best to pre-order, as they only make finite amounts every day. Slathered in red bean paste before they're wrapped in mochi dough, the strawberries are invariably good specimens on their own, but absolutely heavenly in this combination. Don't share yours — you'll regret it.
Satisfies the soul.
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