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Dining Out and About: Sakana
By Ann | March 19, 2008
Took a night off from Martha for a sushi treat at Sakana, a Dupont Circle Japanese place that I found via my friends on Chowhound. Before I describe the meal, I’d like to take a moment to bemoan the state of restaurants in Dupont Circle. Why do people converge on only a small handful of favored restaurants? Take, for example, Sushi Taro — why is it always packed to the gills? The wait there is always an hour or longer — why don’t they start taking reservations? Alternatively, why doesn’t an enterprising restaurateur open up another sushi place on P Street and give Taro — which isn’t that good anyway — some competition?
Stepping off soap box now.
After posting similar disgruntled remarks on Chowhound, I was advised to try Sakana (2026 P St., Washington, DC 20036, (202) 887 0900). The basement place made a favorable first impression, with no wait for a table. We ordered the following:
Wafu salad — Iceberg lettuce (blah) enlivened by shredded carrots, daikon, tofu slices, cucumber, hard-boiled egg. Nice big bowl of salad, good for sharing, subtle dressing, but perhaps too oily.
Sushi entree — Chris’s choice proved to be a large array of sushi (among them yellowtail, salmon, tuna, shrimp (cooked), mackerel, that sweet omelette, a tuna roll). Very fresh, but would have like one more piece of tuna. Egg sushi at end reminded him of Tokyo.
California roll — Very fresh, satisfying.
Spicy tuna roll – To date the best spicy tuna roll I’ve had in Washington (better than Spices, Tono and Taro). Hint of Tabasco, but not overwhelming; tuna filling tasted fresh and didn’t seem to be the reject bits and pieces. Finely chopped scallions a nice touch.
Sakana crunchy tempura roll – A giant roll, topped with shrimp tempura and filled with avocado and tobiko. I usually like this kind of big roll, but the tempura was too greasy and crunchy, like hard nuggets instead of a delicate crisp batter and the shrimp was tough and over-cooked. I would skip this next time, but look forward to trying another special Sakana roll.
P.S. Sorry no photos.
Topics: Dining Out and About |
2 Responses to “Dining Out and About: Sakana”
Comments
« I’m not Irish, but I still like cabbage | Home | When “grosseur” is gross »
March 20th, 2008 at 8:52 am
ooooh, sushi! I really really miss it. Maybe we’ll splash out in London in May for a taste….
March 20th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Kim and Matthew,
Yo! Sushi in London is a chain with fun conveyor belt sushi — I think there’s one right near the South Ken tube.
You know the town as well as I do, but don’t forget other cheap eats like Carluccio’s, Wagamama, Brick Lane Indian joints and if you’re near Earl’s Court, the Iranian restaurant, Mohsen, has some of the most delicious, inexpensive food I’ve ever tasted.