Shokudo

Description:

• Shokudo means "dining room" in Japanese, and this large, beautifully designed dining room is the first U.S. outpost of this very popular Japanese chain. You may not see a lot of tourists here, but you will see local families and hip, young, and slick 20-somethings in this casual eatery that is a cross between a sushi bar and an izakaya (Japanese pub where people eat appetizers and have a beer or two). The place is huge and looks even larger with the high ceiling, tiered seating, and central bar. Food is served as small plates so bring a crowd to taste several items. The 60-item menu (complete with vivid color photos and an English translation of each dish) includes appetizers, tofu, salad, fish and meat, rice, soup, sushi, sashimi, nabe, ishiyaki, noodles, and desserts. The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable, but during the busy dinner hours, their numbers are too few and service suffers. Here are my picks: deep-fried battered tofu ($5.75), grilled herb-spiced chicken ($8.75), garlic tuna seared on a hot plate ($7.75), and the honey toast dessert ($6.75), a sumo-sized serving of soft, toasted bread drizzled with honey and topped with vanilla ice cream.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010