Meshi is a new sushi spot in the space that was, going back a decade or so, Uptown Sushi at 11/11 SW across the street from Co-op.
I was really impressed at the renovation (it's taken many, many months) that moved the entire kitchen and provided seating where none existed before. It's cozy and interesting. Great job there, but it's small and tight so this isn't a place to bring a big group, not more than say 6 persons.
I ordered a spicy tuna roll and spicy chicken rice bowl. The spicy tuna roll was just superb- and it looked familiar. I recognised the squared shape of the fish inside the roll and the way the cukes were thinly pared and flared out of the roll, and then the taste with a gorgeous sweet-spicy sauce, as from a great sushi hole in the wall in the west end called Sushi and Co. Well there's a reason for that- same sushi chef! It's great to see him here at his own place with a bigger menu and more seating (Sushi and Co has almost no seating). Anyway the roll was nothing but fantastic: perfect fish, PERFECT rice, great marriage with sauce but not too saucy.
The spicy chicken bowl was also excellent although I'd order without the romaine (I just don't like ribbed lettuce in a bowl like this). Decent portion and more perfect rice too. Beautifully presented in a wooden bowl that looks a bit like a dim sum steam basket.
Prices are good- my lunch was $20 and that without my partaking of their opening week specials. And with that we finally have good, inexpensive sushi in the beltline- well here and at Nami. Great addition to the area!