While it isn’t hard to find a sushi place, it can be tiresome to find one that offers variety and quality at a reasonable price. Ginza offers both traditional flavors with creative twists. Though the restaurant has been around for quite some time, it is underrated
and should be recognized for its impeccable food.

Ginza opened its doors in 2000 and has since entertained diners with their hibachi and creative take on classic Japanese dishes. According to its website, Ginza’s food is Japanese with a “French flare” that is apparent in some of its presentation and flavor undertones. It currently has two locations in Bloomfield and Wethersfield, Connecticut.

The low-lit restaurant and decor pay homage to its Asian roots, giving guests the ambiance they would expect from a traditional Japanese restaurant. Its Bloomfield location features several tables and booths for diners, hibachi grills, and a sushi bar towards the back, providing diners seating options. During my visit, I sat in a booth and ordered a Shrimp Shumai, a Spicy Salmon Roll, Out-of-Control Roll, and shared a Beef Pad Thai.

Personally, I am a big fan of sushi and appreciate a place that offers not only a variety of rolls, but also the freedom to customize rolls. A fan of “fresh” tasting meals, I often like to switch out the rice for a cucumber-wrap. Luckily, I was afforded this option on any roll of my choosing, which to me, was worth the additional $2 to my Spicy Salmon Roll.

The Out-of-Control Roll was filled with salmon, white tuna, lobster salad, avocado wrapped with soy nori and topped with sliced mango, mango sauce and tobiko. The fish taste was not overwhelming in the slightest and was balanced nicely against the
creaminess of the lobster salad and sweetness of the mango. The Spicy Salmon Roll also did not carry an overwhelming fishy taste, and the heat was well paired with the coolness of the cucumber wrap.

While spice is an element of many Asian cuisines, I am personally not a huge fan. So, I appreciated that the Beef Pad Thai was not too spicy and made up for that with delicious toppings on the noodles that were not sticky, hard, or mushy. The steamed Shrimp Shumai was a decently-sized appetizer that did not overly fill my stomach before the meal.

Although I did not try the hibachi during my visit, it was hard to ignore the family close-by who was struck by laughter as their chef created an interactive dining show for them: creating three-foot high flames, “volcanos,” fast-cutting techniques, and challenging diners to catch food in their mouths. It was nice knowing that this experience would be available to me for special events in the future.

So if you are looking for some well-seasoned, filling, quality Asian food, check out Ginza. Its 19-year tenure is a testament to its amazing cuisine that brings people back to dine.