Boston: Samurai

Location:

827 Boylston Street  Boston, MA

www.samurai-boston.com 

After the Zoora launch at the Apple Store on Boylston, and after the recommendation of Samurai from some of the Apple employees, we ended up there, a tad daunted by it's basement entry and dimly lit interior.

However we were in the mood for Japanese and gave it a shot. 

Once inside, we realized the interior was rather nice and cosy and were warmly welcomed.

A disclaimer, we are not sushi conoisseurs; in fact, our tempura heavy selections may reflect that, anyway.  

Delicious miso soup, and splendid tempura sushi - I've never had this type of sushi before, where the whole roll is tempura-fied. Not realizing that it would be as such, we also ordered a massive tempura dish (also not realizing it would be so massive!). 

Great portion size and wonderful food. Our server was also top-notch.

Samurai is highly recommended by me, but see above. 

Tokyo Bay

Location:

125 Kerr Street
Oakville, ON

Since when are you not allowed any substitutions at a Japanese restaurant?

Isn't everything made fresh?

It's not like the sushi is pre-made and stuffed with something else beforehand?

And worse, this wasn't even a sushi substitution but rather a bento box substitution.

Instead of CHICKEN, I requested SALMON.

"No."

"No? But why?

"It doesn't come like that. "

"Can't I get salmon even if I pay extra? "

"No. But you can order salmon terriyaki that comes with soup and salad. "

"Er...Okay...Fine. Does it come with any tempura?"

"NO, JUST SOUP AND SALAD, I SAID"

Ouch.

And for $20 it didn't even come with tempura?

So rigid.  And what for?

At least the salad was tasty.  We were hopeful.



But alas, the sushi wasn't great.



And then, the salmon wasn't even fresh after all that. The chicken in N's bento box was disgusting.  Only the tempura was good.  The spring roll you see here, was nasty!



And since when do the Japanese use CELERY in their vegetables? And zucchini?

So weird.



The miso soup was overly seaweedy and fishy smelling.  With mushrooms.  Is that common?  Let me know.



The dessert that came with each of our orders was good, at least.  But how to you screw up friend bananas and ice cream?



And we were freezing in our booth.  Those curtains don't do anything to ward off the cold from the entrance.  Put some heat on, would you?  Even the people in the booth next to us were cold.





Tokay. Bay.  Never.  Again.