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| - I saw the other two reviews of this place from 2010, and I feel like I was in a totally different restaurant. I don't know if there were problems with the launch of the restaurant or if something changed for the owner / chef, but I am being serious when I say I think I just had one of the best meals of my life, let alone one of the best sushi experiences.
At the urging of a friend we went to have dinner at The Dancing Beta, and ordered the Chef's Choice (omakase). When asked to set a dollar amount, I told him $60, and expected to receive three or four rolls.
What we got started with an appetizer of fried crab rangoon balls and a sweet soy dipping sauce, then a brilliant and simple maki roll combining fresh tuna and and thin slices of temple orange that was bursting with flavor, the sweet acid of the orange working amazingly against the fatty tuna.
After that, we had an inside out roll with crab and cream cheese, topped with tuna, sliced chiles, and soft roe, then finished with warm wasabi infused oil. The texture and flavor contrasts were excellently balanced, and provided a wonderful mix of flavors and spice without becoming too hot.
Next up was an inside out philly roll, then a "crab rangoon" roll - but the crab rangoon roll had been breaded, fried, and sliced! Amazing crunch and the filling was still cool, creamy, and tasty.
The daily special roll was a "Jersey devil", combining fried shrimp, crab, and Sriracha.
The final two rolls were a smoked salmon roll with fresh kiwi slices, a surprising but really pleasant combination, and an edamame, grilled unagi and shredded seaweed roll.
To our surprise, though, Chef Paul wasn't done. To finish our meal, he provided us with a complimentary slice of delicious cheesecake - made in house! - drizzled with warm honey. A perfect and unexpected finish to the meal.
The operation is small - it's Chef Paul, a server, and one runner in the kitchen - but you can tell they are working hard on attention to detail and taking care of the customers. I noticed as we were eating that one table had ordered a tempura banana dessert, and a few minutes later I saw the kitchen runner come out of the back and run up the Acorn Alley street. Then the server came to the table and explained that they had run out of bananas, so their runner had called one of the other nearby restaurants and was going to go pick some up for them!
The willingness to go out and get the bananas, rather than simply saying "Sorry, we're out", says volumes about how they want to take care of you.
Seriously, if you are in Kent and want something amazingly good at this tiny, hidden gem, go to the Dancing Beta. Put yourself in Chef Paul's extremely capable hands, and be prepared to be surprised.
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