“I’m not making art, I’m making sushi,” Masaharu Morimoto once said.
Who the hell is that, you ask? The Iron Chef. And as far as all significant culinary creations go, the Iron Chef knows best. C’mon, he’s a pretty intense dude.
If you’re searching for the perfect sushi canvas for your soy sauce paint, look no further.
Morgan’s pick – Tatu
There’s no question about it, there’s only one spot at midtown that allows you to experience excellent Asian cuisine while steady sipping to the sweet basslines of Zedd and Avicii long into the night; that spot is Tatu.
Located just steps away from Gainesville’s premier bar scene, it serves as the perfect place to satisfy your taste buds prior to punishing them with the wrath of $3 doubles OR as a drinking destination itself. With a full stock of domestic, import and craft beers to compliment a treasure trove of sake options, Tatu quickly transforms from mouthwatering dining establishment to BPM-based rage-fest: the best of both worlds. The longer you stay, the louder the bass.
Once you make it to your table (hopefully without taking a 21st birthday sign to the face) start with a round of strawberry sake and Sea Dog blueberry beer. Or if you’re too macho for the flavored variations, stick to the classic hot sake and Kirin Ichiban. But remember: you’re still a grown man getting completely wrecked off of Asian wine. Take it for what it is.
Aside from the killer libations, Tatu’s lunch and dinner menus have a generous medley of options, proving that it is more than just a place to get sake, sake, sake BOMBED.
Via: plus.google.com
The most popular rolls are by far the grouper-filled, panko-crusted Crispy and the eel-topped Head Hunter. Come hungry for both, as the portions are far from dainty. Or treat your bitch right with the spicy lobster roll, bursting with tender tempura shrimp lobster tail that would put any seafood joint to shame.
While all options are worth taking a pair of chopsticks to, my go-to is the Deluxe Futo roll. An exotic assortment of spicy tuna, hamachi, salmon, and seaweed salad hugged tightly by a blanket of rice satisfies my booji, white girl palate without breaking the bank. Oh, and if you aren’t fully submerging all of the above in eel sauce, you’re doing it wrong.
Tatu is the perfect place to enjoy fly beats, flavored saki, and an extensive sushi selection making it the triple threat of Asian dining. Just make sure you call ahead for a reservation.
Matt’s pick - Bento
As time progresses, no matter your age, we’re starting to see a more health conscious world. Ipso facto, when we try and decide what we want for dinner when cooking isn’t an option, we find ourselves on the constant search for a filling option that won’t make us only look in the mirror from the side angle constantly in a state of self denial. I ventured out to Bento on Archer Road near the interstate with the sole mission of finding where the best sushi in Gainesville was hiding itself.
The environment alone in Bento is solid enough for almost any occasion. If mom and dad come into town, it’s classy, cheap and a hefty amount of sustenance to get full and stay full for as long as you need. The dim lighting makes it easy to bring a date there just in case things go south and there’s plenty of TV’s around the joint to stay adequately distracted.
The sushi is great. Affordable, eclectic and down right delicious, the sushi at Bento is definitely an easy purchase you’ll not be regretting the next day unlike the Burger King across the street.
What differentiates Bento’s sushi from other sushi places? Just about nothing, honestly. But like every other sushi joint in Gainesville, they do have a few special rolls that are more expensive. When I visited, I hit a homer with my three choices which are consequently my three recommendations: “Spicy Tuna Roll” (adventurous choice, I know), the new “Rockin’ Roll,” and the “Special Mexican Roll” Three very different rolls, all super-dank.
Oh yeah and if you’re not into sushi, get a Bento Box and have dinner set for the next 3 days; it’s enough food to kill a water buffalo.
Via: tripadvisor.com
Emma’s pick - Sushi Chao
Although the sign may be misleading (it looks like it says Sushi Chad), there’s no confusion when it comes to their food (Okay, maybe just a little when you start to think about how long your imitation krab has been sitting in the glass container on the counter). It’s ridiculously cheap, incredibly fast and decently delicious. You can fill your black little bowl/plate/tray thing with endless amounts of pan asian from the hot buffet or order your sushi at the register. You weigh your heaping dish, get embarrassed at the fact that it’s almost 2 pounds and then process to chow down at your plastic table of choice. The secret to success at The Chad? Timing. The hot food is great if you catch it fresh (I use the word loosely); when the same broccoli dish has been sitting under the scorching lights for hours, however, you’ll need more than a bucket of shrimp sauce to get it down. But then again, if you’re stumbling over from the bars in Midtown, I doubt you’ll mind the day old veggies.
Daniel’s pick - Dragonfly
As we learned in What Would Ryan Lochte Do?, the Olympic swimmer takes all of his first dates to Dragonfly. Every first date might be a bit excessive, but it is that good. Located downtown on 2nd Ave., Dragonfly sits among some of the more high-end restaurants in Gainesville and sets the bar itself.
The atmosphere at Dragonfly immediately sets the mood for your meal. The restaurant is dimly lit and trendy music plays in the background while everyone is dressed up at their tables laughing over glasses of wine and sake. Staff wears all black and could not provide friendlier or more thorough service.
Once you sit down, you’ll be presented with an extensive wine and sake list, the menu and the always-changing sushi menu. Dragonfly specializes in izakaya, the Japanese style of dining similar to tapas. Although plates don’t typically run too high, be prepared to order several plates for yourself or to share, but they will all be worth it.
For those still weary of raw fish, the menu offers plenty of exceptional meat dishes and cooked fish, and tofu as a vegan option. My personal favorites are the grilled meat spears, which come with a teriyaki glaze, and the NY strip negimaki, thinly sliced steak wrapped around vegetables in a unique teriyaki-apple sauce.
The star of Dragonfly and the reason it’s on this list, though, is the sushi. Hands down the best sushi in Gainesville, the menu and the specials change with what fish and vegetables are in season. From the classic California rolls to the less familiar varieties featuring balsamic vinegar and bleu cheese, everything is made to perfection. The fish is fresh and flavorful, and sliced with precision. They even take the time to plate the sushi rolls beautifully for an amazing presentation.
Whether your parents are in town, you’re going on a date or you’re just looking for a nicer night out, Dragonfly will not disappoint. So, ladies, try to get Ryan Lochte to take you out. You can tell him I said it was okay.
Jake’s pick – Publix Sushi
Most dedicated sushi eaters would have a huge issue with buying premade, refrigerated sushi. Actually, most human beings would probably be a little sketched out by any raw meat sitting out for more than an hour or so. But since us college kids are repulsive anyways and have no interest in expiration dates or using forks and knives to eat, Publix sushi is not far off from what we’ve determined to be a gourmet experience.
I’m not going to argue that the sushi here beats any other place in Gainesville, but I can say that, for a quick fix, it gets the job done. The presentation itself is not bad. Sure the rice is a little on the hard side due to the refrigeration, but there is plenty of meat and it comes super easy to eat. As you can imagine there isn’t much flavor, but if you came to Publix for sushi, you probably planned on dumping three packets of soy sauce all over it anyways. Sometimes they have a spicy mayo or gyoza sauce which is a no brainer to grab on your way to the register.
Listen, there are going to be some days where the attendant at the sub counter has their gloves covered in blood with a heinous grin on their face, or maybe just a violent cough. These are the days where its most appropriate to grab your 12 piece tuna roll for 10 bucks and prepare to enjoy a mediocre but clean meal, because nothing says gourmet like imitation crab and wooden chop sticks.
