Forgive my boldness, but I must admit I've got a bit of a crush on you. At the risk of coming on too strong, you might even say I'm infatuated with every aspect of your establishment from the mouthwatering sushi plates, to the airy, zen-like decor.
I mean, honestly – I don't drive as far south as the DU neighborhood for just any sushi restaurant. We have sushi further north, of course, but now I doubt if I ever truly tasted sushi before I tasted yours. But the food is far from your greatest attribute. Let me explain.
It's the details that do it for this girl; the attention to the little things, like crisp, bouncy spring mix, sliced radishes and tangy vinaigrette in even the simplest of side salads. A salad so perfectly saucy, that I do believe I saw it wink.
It's a well-known fact that women, especially this one, are choosy. How better to win favor than to provide seemingly endless options? Sushi and japanese were both strongly represented, but for a twist, you also offered European influenced plates and tapas from your "Ranch" menu. There's nothing I like more than having my cake and eating it too, so I gladly selected a few sushi dishes and a dish from the Ranch menu. If you were a person, you would have smiled, winked, and remarked – "Anything for you, my dear."
Now, I'm not one to go all the way on a first restaurant date – you have to save something for the second visit. I attribute my actions at Izakaya to the heady glasses of wine, the sumptuous atmosphere, the overall magic of the evening – whatever it was, it caused me to go all the way, order a complete stunner: the Chirashi Bowl ($28). Assorted – i.e. shrimp, octopus, salmon, tuna, eel, even Japanese omelet – fish, layered lovingly and over-flowingly atop cured rice, which is was tangy, textured, and delicious on its own.
An offering from the Ranch menu – one of many delicious sounding dishes: Den Short Ribs ($16) with grassed beef, sweet housemade marinade, jalepenos, haricot verts and mushrooms; and the Kara-Age ($12), potato starch dusted chicken thighs, marinated in soy, garlic and ginger and flash-fried.
The whole meal, in fact, satisfied my appetite and my taste for adventure and exoticism. It left me sated – yet somehow, wanting more.
Izakaya? I think I'm in like – perhaps even in love.
My only question? When can I see you again?
xoxo
Maggie