Calling Sushi Mito a sushi restaurant doesn’t really do it justice. Their menu consists of everything from tsukemono and kushiyaki to ramen, bentos and of course sushi. There are so many umami wonders I don’t even know where to begin. The service is fantastic and the atmosphere delivers a serene dining experience-even on the busiest of nights. Evidently I am not the only one that knows how fantastic they are, and that’s just fine by me, as long as it keeps their business prosperous and their noren open!
The food…lets start there, because lets be honest, that’s what really matters right? The food is wonderful. It is fresh, the selection is extensive and everything I have ever tasted has been perfection. They always have the fatty tuna, which every other sushi place has on their menu, but never seems to actually HAVE. Ohhh how the unctuous buttery silk of fatty tuna makes my heart and taste buds sing. In my humble estimation, it is second only to pork belly in the grand hierarchy of fatty deliciousness. If you have never had the fatty tuna you should stop what you are doing right now and go find some. Now…go now!
If you ignored my suggestion to run towards the fatty tuna, and you are still reading this nonsense, you should know that they also have two full pages of crunchy, briney tsukemono to sink your teeth into. So whether you are vegan, or just a lover of all things fermented like myself, there is an array of deliciousness to prime your taste buds and heighten your appetite.
Mito also does kaiseki ryori, which is a traditional Japanese course meal artistically designed with seasonal and local ingredients. The seasonality of the ingredients is an integral part of the menu; the theory being fresh and local is going to be aces without the need for a lot of tinkering. That level of freshness combined with the ceremony that is a Japanese dinner makes for a very memorable evening. The Japanese truly elevate the art of dining with their predilection for ceremony. Kaiseki ryori is a perfect example of this, with it’s delicious and beautiful all encompassing sensory spreads. This is a foodie bucket list entry for sure!
Now let me be clear on something, if Mito’s glory were served in shitty styrafoam take-out containers, by a rude waitstaff, in a loud dirty shit stain, hole in the wall, it would still blow your f’ing mind. In most cases I would say that I would probably like it more if it were said shit hole. My friend Matt and I always joke that you shouldn’t eat any place that gets a health inspection rating over 75 points, but that is for the Buford Highway joints that fully cook their food. Raw fish does not apply to this rule. Please for the love of all things tasty, and the lining of your viscera, make sure your sushi place gets a high score!
That being said, Mito has impeccable Japanese service in a traditional and pristine environment. I haven’t seen a tatami room yet, but they do have private rooms that may be tatami adorned. The staff is wonderful and polite, and the environment is set-up so that no matter how crowded the restaurant is, you never feel overwhelmed. Mito is a class act and shouldn’t be missed!
