There are lots of great sushi joints in NYC but I must say... Taro is a game-changer.
We strolled in with a couple friends this weekend and the place was packed – a very good sign. The specials were posted outside the door – Uni Special, a taste test between California sea urchin and Maine sea urchin, $9.50. It's like they knew I was coming! I could not contain my excitement.
We were seated 30 mins later and the food & service was impeccable from start to finish. Our waitress was efficient and never missed a beat – even with a full house to deal with.
All the seafood here is hyper-fresh and you can really taste the difference. It was especially apparent when I ordered the
Uni Special. I've never tried two different sea urchins in one sitting but I noticed that the Californian uni was more dense and creamier in texture while the Maine uni was more plump, juicy and sweet. I don't discriminate, they were both amazing.
We shared a bottle of sake and enjoyed some
toro tartare as well. The toro was buttery soft and melted on the tongue. Chewing was unnecessary.
The toro tartare was so fresh that I ordered a
toro scallion hand roll as well as a
deep-fried oyster hand roll. It wasn't the most beautiful presentation but man, they sure made my tastebuds happy. My mind exploded right after the oyster roll, it was pure perfection; plump, fresh oysters breaded in crispy panko, lightly fried then rolled in shredded cabbage, kewpie mayo and katsu sauce.
I usually have to prepare to spend top dollar at Morimoto's or Blue Ribbon Sushi to get this quality of fish and service. The prices here are extremely reasonable, the fish selection was impressive, it's completely unpretentious and the service rocked. I'll be back for the omakase for sure.
