East of NYC - The Buzz

Merrick Sushi Bar & Tea

Our sister-site Eating Long Island just posted an overview of their experience at Merrick Sushi Bar & Tea.  To check it out, follow the link.

WEST EAST BISTRO in Hicksville

WEST EAST BISTRO stands alone in a somewhat new commercial strip on Rte. 107 in Hicksville and we are sensing that it has risen above the area's restaurants to become the best Asian restaurant for miles.  The brainchild of Danny Wu, a technology expert-turned restaurateur, this shining star has been open for about a year now and seems poised to take charge in this ever-expanding and slightly bloated market.

Mumon Japanese Restaurant in Garden City

Tucked neatly in the back lobby of a Winthrop Hospital building in Garden City lies Mumon Japanese Cuisine.  Open for the better part of the last three months, Mumon is a bright star in the local asian cuisine arena on the island. Owned by a distributor of seafood up and down the east coast, it seems a likely fit and an assurance that Mumon will receive the finest seafood available on a continual basis.

Our visit was early on a Friday night, around 6pm.  Because it was so early the restaurant was mostly empty with a few tables scattered throughout with small parties.  The dark bar/lounge area in the front of the restaurant was mostly vacant as well.  The design of the restaurant is glamorous, with reds and dark woods strewn throughout.  You certainly feel as though you are in the middle of a elegantly designed asian restaurant and many of the interior spaces feel very private as a result of the different wood dividers and hidden spaces.

Flickr Set: Mumon in Garden City

We've just had dinner at Mumon in Garden City, a newly opened asian restaurant.  While we type up our review, click here to view our Flickr set in the restaurant.  Hope you enjoy the pics!

Naru Sushi in Great Neck

This post is from our sister-site, Eating Long Island.

I know plenty of people who either live in Great Neck or near this quaint little village on the north shore.  Countless times I've heard them speak of Naru Sushi and the great sushi that they have.  It took about three years of listening to finally try it.  Thank goodness I did.

Out to dinner with my dad, we took it upon ourselves to branch out from our familiar Great Neck haunts and try Naru, which is located on Cutter Mill Rd. just opposite the Inn at Great Neck.  It was rainy and cold, even for April's standards so we exited the car and ran inside.  We entered the restaurant and were the only two people in the small establishment.  We looked at each other cautiously and decided to still go for it, seeing that even though there wasn't anyone dining in, the sushi chefs were furiously making rolls to be sent out into the rainy night.  Great Neck is such a small town that most of their business is from take-out and delivery so we we really had no worries.

An interesting aspect of this restaurant is that their sushi is available in white, brown or black rice varieties. I went for the usual white rice but as soon as I got home later that night my wife yelled at me for not having the black rice, which is her favorite from when she went to Naru.  There's always next time.

The sushi was great.  I ordered a Princess Roll which consisted of spicy tuna on the inside with tuna and avocado on the outside (topped with tobiko and scallions as well).  I also ordered a shrimp tempura roll which was warm and crunchy at the same time while the eel sauce on top brought a great sweetness.  My dad, who has no need to venture into the sushi world past cooked shrimp and crab rolls decided that he would instead opt for a dinner Bento Box which housed chicken terriyaki, shrimp and vegetable tempuras, fried dumplings, a california roll and rice.  I was surely impressed by the freshness of the sushi and the sheer variety of special rolls that were offered.

Verdict: I'll visit again, and this time, I won't wait 3 more years to return.

516-504-4462

Naru Sushi
25-5 Cutter Mill Rd.
Great Neck, NY 11021
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Upcoming Event: Sushi Seminar at Mumon Japanese Restaurant in Garden City

I love sushi.  In fact, I love it so much that I could probably eat it every single night of the week and never tire of it.  On May 4th at 6:30pm, Mumon in Garden City, a new(ish) restaurant hitting its stride in the great town is having a one-night Sushi Seminar that will be hosted by Executive Sushi Chef Tomoyuki Takasu. 

With Tomoyuki Takasu having worked along side Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto in Philadelphia's Morimoto, this is surely to be an informative, creative and worthy experience for all that attend.  Signature appetizers, including yellowtail ceviche and red snapper carpaccio, will be served and students will also receive a glass of premium sake.  The cost for this rare class will be $40 per person and seating is limited, so hurry and make your reservation today. 516-747-3388

Bonsai Japanese Restaurant in Port Washington

Our sister-site EatingLongIsland.com has just posted a review on Bonsai Japanese Restaurant in Port Washington.  You can find that review by clicking here. 516-883-0103

Benihana in Westbury

We've probably all at one time or another been to Benihana to experience their hibachi (I actually prefer Shiro for hibachi as it is a less-commercial experience.)  But I'm not going for the hibachi at this meal, I want to experience the great lunch special.  In what I could only describe as one of the largest lunch specials that I have ever had, Benihana in Westbury had me almost waddling out of the door.  I sat down in the sushi-bar area and ordered the Chicken Teriyaki lunch boat.  First to arrive were my salad and soup.  Then came the real food.  A wooden boat sailed into my table and on it had a real variety of treasures.  The chicken was there is one corner while edamame, salmon and tuna (sushi) sat in the other.  Also on the boat was shrimp and vegetable tempura and rice.

In this location (there's another in Manhasset with a larger sushi area) the sushi-bar is in the front of the restaurant, and although small, it is just right to have a great experience.  The sushi chefs will often send over a small crabmeat salad that has cucumber, red pepper and fish eggs while you are waiting for your meal, so that is a great perk.  516-222-6091

Notable Opening: Merrick Sushi Bar & Tea in Merrick

As if Merrick doesn't have enough sushi bars already, another is jumping into the action on Merrick Ave.  Sushi and Tea is open for business.  Hopping onto their website, you can point and click to your heart's desire and load up that cart full of raw goodness.  Or, if you're in the mood to leave the house, you can make your away over to their location and dine-in.  It's the best of both worlds if you ask us.  516-868-0882

46 Merrick Ave.
Merrick, NY 11566
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Notable Opening: Mumon Japanese Restaurant in Garden City

With sushi all the rage these days, it seems fitting that the quality of Japanese restaurants on the island is at an all-time high.  The bar is raised once again with the opening of Mumon in Garden City.  Located on Franklin Ave. (the area's main strip for great dining), Mumon boasts an elegant decor marked with plush couches, dark woods and accents and an atmosphere that will have your date thanking your profusely.

We hope to get there soon to check out the new cuisine as well, and will offer that review to you at that time.  516-747-3388

1300 Franklin Blvd.
Garden City, NY 11530
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