| rev:text
| - Quick Breakdown:
+ Amazing sushi
+ Grilled items are tasty
- Slow service
Recommend: Yes
Full Review:
A feeling of melancholy and nervousness filled my head weeks prior to my adventure here. I only realized later the sadness originated from my nostalgic feelings of stomach pains. My previous sushi experience led to a sick bag and a week of bed rest. Thus far, my journey towards the unexpected food greatness has led my perpetual hunger to a wide array of cuisines and has yet to disappoint (or induce sickness). During my latest venture, I visited Kiku, an AYCE Japanese restaurant. After reading great reviews on Yelp, I assured myself my worries were not troublesome. The sole purpose of my visit at Kiku: a dull family gathering (perhaps a review for Yelp as well).
Arriving at Kiku a waiter greeted us and led us towards our table- an alcove near the side of the room. Our table was specially designed as a traditional Japanese sitting. A waitress informed us that our shoes were required to be removed. The floors were furnished with carpet and the traditional Japanese cushions replaced the normal westernized sitting chair. Silver circle balls hung behind the table booth chairs. The walls were painted with pink flowers within a black background. The usage of the IPads to order food, exemplified the constant theme. The décor foreshadowed the menu and upcoming food, modernized and futuristic yet maintaining its Japanese roots.
Slowly, as each family member arrived, I was beset from all sides with waves/hellos (not particularly great for a person who has social anxiety problems). A fearful time, but I endured, and I live to write the review.
Perusing the menu, I picked each item to my desire. The touch screen was easy to navigate, obeying my every command. Cooked items were ordered indecisively. My first order consisted of: miso soup, seafood ramen soup, grilled squid, and other grilled items.
The miso soup tasted delicious, which was seasoned perfectly. The seaweed complemented well with the other ingredients. Although the soup itself does not innovate, the steamy, watery dish provided an amazing start to my meal.
The grilled meats (chicken, beef, etc.) were grilled to perfection, with perfect char marks. The grilled octopus tasted amazing. The squid was layered with a spicy and sweet sauce, which balanced the flavors together perfectly. The texture was perfect for my preference. Despite my praise, some of the meats lacked flavor.
The shrimp tempura was fried crispy and steaming hot. The texture was crispy, and soft on the inside. The sauce complimented well with the shrimp tempura.
The seafood ramen soup arrived nicely plated and designed in the bowl. Excited and hungry for noodle soup, I indulged into every ingredient, eating any item placed between my chopstick and mouth. The noodles were perfect texture and the seafood ingredients were fresh. Yet, the soup and flavor itself was bland, lacking any seasoning or seafood taste.
As the night progressed, the service slowed. Our ordered food items were late to arrive and created a disarray of who ordered what. The waitresses often gave us food that was not ordered from our table. Great food, yet I was greatly disappointed with the service.
Throughout the night, my mother frequently urged me to eat sushi and sashimi. The fear inside prevented me. However, in reality, I scornfully wanted to eat a piece and be rid of my distaste. Against my better judgment, I ordered an assortment of maki rolls and raw salmon.
And alas, I encountered my greatest fear! Using my chopsticks, I grabbed the closest piece to my plate. Scared stiffed from a raw fish, I put the saggy, watery piece near my mouth. As my hands shook in fear, I pondered... contemplated if the raw piece of fish would affect my health. Would my precedence of my past repeat itself? And... I ate and swallowed the raw fish. The fish was fresh and tasted nice. Eating the fish instilled a sense of relief, battling and defeating my fear. Satisfied with the first piece of raw fish, I continued to eat sushi and sashimi throughout the night.
Each bite of maki rolls and sashimi reminded me of fond memories, of my past addiction to sushi. The maki rolls were nicely wrapped and the sashimi was soft in texture. Each plate of sushi was designed beautifully. The art represented the culture of the Japanese.
My venture to food greatness resulted in satisfaction. Once considered a Sisyphean task, Kiku allowed me to unequivocally remove my fears of sushi. Food greatness, lies within Kiku. Service is slow, the ramen is disappointing but the journey here is worthwhile. Heed these words, go forth in haste, and let thy hunger instincts be satisfied.
Update 1: Maki rolls are not wrapped properly, breaking apart when you grab a piece.
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