Last week I found myself one year older and enjoying a sushi lunch at Koi, the new sushi place at 175 2nd ave that took over when Iso closed down. Going to a place that just opened (6 days earlier) is usualy frowned upon because the kitchen and staff haven't gotten all the kinks out yet. But really it can be a lot of fun. It was about 12:30 on a sunday and i was the only person in Koi. I met most of the waitstaff - a hodge podge of women and men. They were talking about old jobs and crazy schedules. One waitress said "I think I will come here for lunch soon - yup I will." It was a pretty up beat feel for a sunday lunch.
I started the meal with a glass of the special "grand opening" sake. It was ice cold, which i love, and very subtle. And at $5.00 a glass pretty cheap too. Then came the highlight of the meal (it just started!) - Chopped Raw Horse mackerel (Aji Tataki). I saw the sushi chef take out a whole fish from among the many already cut fish. He then cut the middle of the fish out saving the head, skin, and tail. The appetizer was served chopped, placed on a lemon with sesame seeds and green onions scattered through out. The fish that gave up its life for my lunch was artisticly displayed behind. The chef had given me a small lesson on how to prepare aji.
The texture, taste, and appearance melded together to make such a satisfying opening to this meal i would give up 20 mediocre sushi rolls for it in a second.
Luckly i didn't have to. Next came the sashimi lunch special. Fluke with mosago, yellow tail, salmon, and tuna. The fluke and the tuna stood out. Tuna is so simple and yet probably my favorite - and this was very fresh.
To finish off the meal I had a Blue Fin Toro sushi piece (hey why not it was my birthday). Like nothing I have ever had, though the fattiness was a bit too much to end the meal with.
The sushi chef use to work at Iso and recently bought it and re-opened the restaurant as Koi. He was a real nice guy and you should say hi to him when you go there.
