Mizuno - Vying for My Sushi Heart

I’m a lost puppy ever since Sushi and West on Great Neck Road closed. It was my favorite sushi joint. Not because the space was cool or the service unreal but because they made the Caviar Rainbow Roll. It was AMAZING. Inside the roll was salmon and on top a beautiful, colorful array of yummy caviar. I can’t find anyone else who makes this roll and it saddens me, deeply. So I am now a seeker for my new favorite sushi joint.

I do my best to not judge a sushi joint based on the presence (or lack there) of the Caviar Rainbow Roll but it is hard. I have enjoyed Mizuno’s in Virginia Beach on several occasions prior but I was more excited to check out what they have done in their new space in La Promenade in Hilltop.

When you walk in the first thing that strikes your visual sense is the new, glowing bar set at the front half of the restaurant. It’s very modern and trendy making you think you may be in Miami or New York. But that wasn’t the most impressive bar in my opinion and I’m a fan of modern design. The sushi bar is wrapped in an amazingly impressive piece of wood. It looks like one majestic tree was transformed into an ornament to showcase the talents of the sushi chefs. Gorgeous.

 
We started our meal with edamame because what sushi meal doesn’t start with edamame. (Can I please get this tasty little snack in the movie theaters?) I also wanted veggies so I ordered an appetizer of tempura vegetables. I’m addicted to these and Mizuno surprised me with onion, sweet potato and acorn squash. In addition to a few pieces of salmon sushi we enjoyed spicy shrimp tempura roll (my go-to), Louisiana roll with crawfish, Mizuno roll (I didn’t try this because it has eel in it, eek) and a Tuna Crunchy Crunchy.

We even ended the meal with dessert. Our waitress told us about the offerings and I asked if any were homemade. She laughed and honestly answered, “Maybe somewhere but not here.” During some point of our laughing she took us to ask for the chocolate madness cake. I don’t remember the actual name but it was a massive mound of chocolate which shockingly wasn’t bad.

Mizuno is a great restaurant serving really good sushi in a far superior environment than your traditional sushi establishments. If I could get them to make me a Caviar Rainbow Roll they’d own me.



Which one do you think is low sodium? A fun debate for us.
Also, just a glimpse of the wooden bar I mentioned.