Disappointment is a common occurrence for a dining critic. You get all psyched for a meal, only to be let down.
It happened recently at Niwano Hana, a Japanese restaurant at 3602 Kirkwood Highway. (Some may remember it as the site where Mikasa had been.)
The atmosphere is cute and clean - no fishy smell at all, which, unfortunately, is not always the case at some sushi restaurants. I thought I was in for a real treat.
But the sushi was lackluster and didn’t seem all that fresh to me, an immediate appetite killer. A hot salmon soup I ordered had a lot of bones in the broth - choking to death in a sushi house seems so “Six Feet Under” - as well as a fish tail. The restaurant had advertisement cards on the tables for sparkling sake, but when I tried to order a glass, they didn’t have any in house. I wasn’t crazy about the shumai, which tasted pasty and flavorless. The saving grace was the salads - they were really good, especially the sesame dressing.
Right now, I’m not eager for a return visit.
2 comments:
The best sushi by far in the area is Okura, out in Hockessin. The fish is always fresh and I love the variety. Ask anyone in the biz and they'll tell you to skip Mikimoto's and head to Okura- when we go the restaurant is chocked full of restaurant people. Kailon, the sushi chef, is amazing.
Okura! I always forget Okura. I also like Kyoto in Pike Creek.
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