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T Sushi

Saturday, August 25th, 2012

By my count, you can order sushi in at least six restaurants downtown–Osaka House, Red Sushi Grill, Restaurant Muramoto, Soga, Takara, Wasabi and T Sushi, which opened in March. With so much competition, these restaurants really need to stand out from each other.

T Sushi attempts to distinguish itself by selling the bar/lounge atmosphere. In fact, the first time I walked in, I was reminded of my old favorite watering hole, Crave, except it’s brighter inside. More on that in a bit.

I sat for lunch the day after T Sushi revamped its menu. I started with the miso soup. The broth seemed slightly saltier than other miso soups, but I did appreciate the large chunks of tofu vs. the little bits you usually get.

Sushi is divided into special rolls and regular rolls, so I of course chose from the former list. The delicious Volcano roll ($12) is made from tempura spicy tuna and generously topped with red tobiko. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a roll this beautiful. The spicy mayo was a nice touch.

I had high hopes for the Surf & Turf ($16), especially after the super-friendly waiter recommended it, but I was disappointed. The tempura asparagus overwhelmed the mild flavor of the Maryland blue crab, and the seared beef tenderloin was too chewy.

On a Saturday night, my friend and I were two of just eight people in the entire place (extra surprising since the special was $5 martinis). The lounge in the back seems like it would be a fun place to enjoy drinks with friends, but it’s too brightly lit (the white couches don’t help, either), and there aren’t enough tables on which to set your drink.

Like Crave, T Sushi does have a robust martini list. I have yet to encounter a bad lychee martini, and the Lily’s lychee martini here is no exception, although it didn’t come with a full lychee in it. A warning that the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake martini is like drinking pure sugar.

I’ll definitely come back to T Sushi to eat, but I’ll probably hang out at other bars at night.

Tags: downtown, martinis, sushi
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Paul’s Club

Sunday, June 17th, 2012

Earlier this month, Paul’s Club–tree and all–moved a few yards up State Street to the former Jack’s Shoes. The new space is much bigger; it’s still narrow but has more depth and couch space.

Besides the fact that the layout is the mirror opposite of its previous incarnation, with the bar on the left side as you walk in, I couldn’t help but notice how bright it was inside (bring your sunglasses to the bathroom). To me, this disappointing feature gave Paul’s Club less of a bar feel. I can only hope that management comes to its senses and returns the darkness version 1.0 had.

Also lost during the change was the coziness the couch areas previously had. It’s almost as if the seating areas were an afterthought. I think moving the seating areas closer together and adding some decor would be a helpful start.

Still, it’s the people who make the bar, and on a recent weekend night, even with school out for the summer, Paul’s Club was packed. With its prime location across from the Overture Center, it makes for a nice pre- and/or post-show watering hole.

Paul’s Club is open daily. The nearest parking ramp is on the same block; enter on Dayton Street.

Tags: downtown
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Dim sum at Hong Kong Cafe

Sunday, May 20th, 2012

Every now and then when I’m in a big city with a Chinatown, I’ll look for a dim sum restaurant. I love seeing the cart of small plates wheeled around; all you have to do is point at what you want, and the server places it on your table immediately.

We don’t have that kind of service in Madison, but Hong Kong Cafe is a good substitute. On weekends when dim sum is served, you get a picture menu to aid you in your selection process. I’ve been here enough times that I have usually have my base items, followed by whatever I’m in the mood for.

Those base items include the fried turnip cake, which is my absolute favorite. There are small pieces of pork inside to add to the flavor, though newbies may want to add soy sauce until you’re used to the taste. I usually also get the shu mai (big portions here) and the steamed pork buns (not homemade, but tasty nonetheless).

Items I order on a rotational basis are the fried sticks (almost like a churro without the sugar), the congee (a soupy rice with either chicken, pork or beef), the dumplings (steamed or fried), the shrimp-stuffed tofu (good, though I don’t care much for the chopped water chestnuts) and the hot and sour soup.

Other items include the won ton soup, shrimp dumplings, cold noodles and fried taro.

Serving sizes are meant for 2-4, though with certain dishes, like the two-portion pork buns, you’ll have to order a second plate. Depending how hungry you are, five or so plates should feed two people. Dishes are brought out the moment they’re ready, and I like that feeling of knowing another plate is coming soon.