Sasaki

Reviews

• ★★★★½ Fried Oysters Garlic Stem Tempura Miso Soup Visited Mar 9, 2022

  Traditional Japanese - Entrees & Decor

  This was my first time dining here, and instead of ordering an entrée, I decided to go with an assortment of appetizers so I could try several different things. I started with a bowl of miso soup, followed by an order of tempura-fried oysters and tempura-fried garlic stalks.
  
  The portions were on the smaller side, but that worked well for what I was doing. They were good sizes for sharing or for trying several different items without getting full on one dish.
  
  I wasn't really sure what to expect from the garlic stalks. They ended up being a lot like fried asparagus, with a crispy tempura batter and good flavor. I could have easily eaten a whole lot more of them.
  
  The oysters arrived hot and were served with a sauce that, as best as I could tell, tasted like a combination of Worcestershire sauce and eel sauce. The tempura coating was crispy and had a nice crunch when you bit into it. I received four pieces, although they appeared to be clusters, with each piece containing what looked like two or three oysters.
  
  Unfortunately, the oysters were the weakest part of the meal for me. They had a very strong fishy flavor, and one of them was almost unbearably bitter. Since this was essentially the only meat I had ordered, I ate most of it, but I was still disappointed with the flavor.
  
  The service, however, was excellent. Both our waiter and waitress checked on us regularly, the food came out quickly, and our drinks were refilled before they were empty. That level of attentiveness made for a good overall dining experience.
  
  Prices were a little high on meat items, but decent on vegetables and soup. It wasn't unusually expensive for a Japanese restaurant. Despite the disappointing oysters, I enjoyed most of what I tried, particularly the garlic stalks, and I'd consider coming back to try some of the other items on the menu.

  — Paul