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| - I don't get it.
Sen has 4 1/2 stars with over 100 reviews. It's Michelin rated. What it doesn't have is food to match.
Our party of five was eager to try what was purportedly one of the best sushi restaurants in town. We drove all the way from Hendo - in rush hour traffic - just to eat here. On the way, we decided that we should do the omakase and let the chef put his best foot forward. Here's what was served:
1. Yellowtail with peppers and garlic chip - the presentation was wonderful, but the flavors were overpowering. The ponzu was too strong for such a subtle fish. The addition of garlic and a spicy habanero (or jalapeno?) just kills any chance you can taste the fish, let alone feel the texture of it while your mouth burns.
2. Mizuna salad with salmon, tuna and albacore - This would have been a nice dish, had it come before the spice of the yellowtail. In fact, this is how good, fresh fish should be served: with very little detraction. As an individual dish, however, I'd rather just have thick cuts of sashimi instead of thin cuts of fish with a salad on the side.
3. Soy Miso Block Cod - really good execution of one of my favorites. Only downside was that I didn't have a bowl of rice to go with it. By itself, it was supremely tasty and buttery.
4. Fliet Mignon tataki - this was good and tender, but lost in sauce. Fliet has zero flavor profile, so covering it with any sauce really just makes the meat a sauce delivery vehicle. Chalk it up to personal preference. Also a personal preference: I would really have liked it to be medium RARE rather than medium well.
5. Miso soup with clams - delicious. This was the highlight of the meal. The combination of clams and miso just hit the rights notes or flavor and smell. Really good stuff. I could have just had a couple bowls of this with miso cod and called it a night.
6. Nigiri - The fish looked and tasted fresh, but the texture of the salmon was slightly mushy. The rice was really good, with just the right about of koshi that makes me happy. +1 for the rice.
7. Chocolate souffle with green tea ice cream - I love green tea ice cream and this didn't disappoint. The souffle, however, was another matter. It was hard and nowhere near as fluffy or light as it should be. IMHO, if you offer it on your menu, you need to execute it well or don't bother.
Being hungry after all that, we ordered two additional rolls:
8. #24 (Shrimp tempura with tuna on top with pineapple wasabi) - This is one of my least favorite rolls...ever. The sushi itself probably was good, but the sauce killed any chance me wanting to take another bite. It was too sweet and too much of it all over the roll.
9. #25 California roll with soft shell crab - this one at once pretty good and also fairly standard. I'd probably choose this if I didn't know what else to try.
I liked this place, but it's a tough sell at 4 stars. Out of 9 items, only 2 stood out as things I would make it a point to order again.
I've read the reviews. I've heard the raves. I finally tried Sen. I just don't get what the fuss is all about.
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