That Food Guy
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Teppanyaki Grill and Supreme Buffet - St Petersburg, Florida
Teppanyaki
Grill and Supreme Buffet
St Petersburg, FL 33713
727 327-8886
It is a buffet-style restaurant. The lunch buffet Monday
through Saturday (11:00 am to 4:00 pm) is $7.29 for adults and tiered lower
prices for children depending on age. The dinner buffet (4:00 pm through 9:30
pm) is $9.99 for adults and lower priced for children. Sundays and holidays are
all day dinner buffets (11:00 am through 9:30 pm) adults are $9.99 and children
at reduced prices. We arrived in the late afternoon but in time for the lunch
buffet. With the coupon a filling buffet meal for three, soft drinks and tip
was just about thirty dollars; pretty reasonable for a dinner out.
My first round was a sampler, a little of this and a little
of that until I filled the plate. It included, among other items, a teriyaki chicken
skewer, honey chicken, beef and broccoli, salt and pepper you peel shrimp, some
fried zucchini and some California rolls. First lesson: soy sauce, wasabi and
the like are not table items. They are there at the serving stations but not
always obvious. Also, small dishes or containers are also available; you just
have to look around to see where they are.
Teppanyaki
Grill and Supreme BuffetSt Petersburg, FL 33713
727 327-8886
The Sunday paper had a single sheet, full-color
advertisement for the Teppanyaki Grill and Supreme Buffet.
That was a new one to me and I looked at the ad a bit more closely. It is
indeed a new establishment. It has set up shop in the old Social Security
building and boasts 18,000 square feet and seating for 500. I remember the
Social Security building from a few years ago. There was a tiny, cramped little
waiting room with no amenities and a pass-through window that was mostly
closed. Once inside there was a maze of walkways, a seemingly endless warren of
partitions and office cubicles. I was curious to see what the new occupants had
done in remodeling. Among the other boasts in the advertisement was the phrase,
“…something for everyone” and “The Largest and Most Elegant Chinese, Japanese
and American Cuisine Restaurant.” That covers a lot of ground.
With something for everyone, the wife was amenable to trying
it out if only to humor me. We called Martha. She has a liking for the oriental
style foods. What with the recent closing of one of her favorites, Good Fortunes, she was at a loss for a
new place to occasionally visit and take visitors. It looked like a good bet
for everyone. The fact that the advertisement had several $1.00-off coupons was
an added inducement.
It is a buffet-style restaurant. The lunch buffet Monday
through Saturday (11:00 am to 4:00 pm) is $7.29 for adults and tiered lower
prices for children depending on age. The dinner buffet (4:00 pm through 9:30
pm) is $9.99 for adults and lower priced for children. Sundays and holidays are
all day dinner buffets (11:00 am through 9:30 pm) adults are $9.99 and children
at reduced prices. We arrived in the late afternoon but in time for the lunch
buffet. With the coupon a filling buffet meal for three, soft drinks and tip
was just about thirty dollars; pretty reasonable for a dinner out.
The anteroom, the left over from the Social Security days,
is still there. It is bare, devoid of furnishings or decor. Perhaps it now serves
as an air-lock entry keeping the hot and humid air outside. In the future, if
there is a need, some comfortable seats would transform the area into a congenial
waiting room for overflow guests.
Just inside is a wishing well pool to help set the mood. Opening
the central area and colorful lighting of what was an office complex helps to
transform it to a large, festive arena filled with more than a dozen self-serve
buffet counters. At the far end of the area there is a sushi station and a
teppanyaki grill. Seating for up to 500 customers is along both sides of the
complex. Being new, everything appears very clean and pristine.
The usual in a buffet is to pay at the door; so much per
head and your drinks. Then you are free to roam the floor. Since The Teppanyaki
Grill offers extra cost items, such as beer and wine, the customer is presented
with the bill at the end of the menu.
With so many choices, the best strategy is to walk the
aisles between the serving stations to see what is offered. Even a little dab
of this and a little dab of that can be overwhelming when there are so many options
to choose from. As much as I would have liked to, I knew I could never sample
everything. Most of the stations are of an oriental flair. Others offer
American comfort food items, fruits, salads and a large selection of desserts
and ice cream. Perhaps they do have something for everyone.
My first round was a sampler, a little of this and a little
of that until I filled the plate. It included, among other items, a teriyaki chicken
skewer, honey chicken, beef and broccoli, salt and pepper you peel shrimp, some
fried zucchini and some California rolls. First lesson: soy sauce, wasabi and
the like are not table items. They are there at the serving stations but not
always obvious. Also, small dishes or containers are also available; you just
have to look around to see where they are.
The sushi, layered on top was the first to be sampled. It is
decent sushi, machine made I believe, but the rice is well cooked and the
grains are not compressed into an amorphous mass like some although it may be a
bit stickier than you are used to. The
selection of sushi is makizushi; I didn’t see any nigirizushi. About a dozen
varieties were offered; a small selection If sushi was to be the main course. A
little dip in the soy sauce and the rice holds together (the hashi are also located
at the serving station). Tasty morsels and considering you can make many trips
to the sushi bar, an economical entrée.
The teriyaki chicken skewer tasted fine but it was a bit on
the tough side and a bit overcooked. The fried zucchini was more crunchy than
crispy, as well a bit over cooked although it did taste pretty good; it just needed
to come out of the fryer a minute or two earlier. The salt and pepper you peel
shrimp, one of their signature dishes, had a good flavor, not too heavy on the
spices so you could still taste the flavor of shrimp. It’s just that it is
messy, more suited to a New England Shrimp and crab seafood boil; good but
messy. My favorite of that plate was the honey chicken; small strips of chicken
in a slightly sweet sauce. These were cooked just right, tender and moist and
the sauce slightly sweet and a wonderful adjunct to the chicken.
My second sampler plate consisted of some fried rice (I
know, it’s a filler but fried rice is definitely one of my favorite foods),
sweet and sour chicken (more about that to come) some shrimp, egg foo young and
skewered meatballs. The fried rice was, as you might have guessed, a filler
dish. Not bad just pedestrian, uninspired and needs some work to be a good
dish. The shrimp were shelled and deveined 40 - 50 shrimp cooked in a slightly
spicy sauce although I can’t remember the name. They tasted like shrimp in a
slightly spicy sauce. Not bad but nothing exceptional. The egg foo young, hard
to find in most buffets, was a bit over cooked but with a bit of the gravy top
moisten the patty it had a pleasant flavor. The skewered meatballs were a bit
of a disappointment. They looked very good. If they had been cooked on the
skewer someone would have had to tend them very carefully to get them to cook
so evenly although a bit overdone. The flavor was okay but a bit dry. A sauce
or dip would be of great value. That brings us to the sweet and sour chicken. New
York, or whatever style it is, is merely breaded and fried chicken nuggets with
a red sweet and sour sauce on the side. So it is with every other local take
out or buffet I have tried. For me,
sweet and sour chicken (or pork) is a much more involved dish that combines
stir fried onion, Bell peppers and pineapple with the sweet and sour sauce and
breaded meat morsels. A trip to the salad bar provided some raw peppers and
some pineapple tidbit from the fruit bar. Although the chicken tid-bits here
tasted okay (I suspect they are purchased pre-breaded and fried, just heat and
serve) and the sweet and sour sauce was also tasty, I can’t rate the overall
dish very high because it isn’t complete; a short coming shared by many restaurants.
Many restaurants that claim to be Mongolian have a raw bar
where you select the items you want the chef to cook on the grill. This
restaurant also has a raw bar where you select the items you want and then the
chef will cook them on the grill while you watch. In this case the grill is
rectangular instead of round and perhaps that is why it is called the Teppanyaki
Grill. There is a nice selection of vegetables, onions, peppers, sprouts,
mushrooms and such. The meat selection is limited to chicken and beef. The buffet
counter is well iced and the selections seemed to be fresh (the meat is put out
in small batches to preserve freshness).
To try out the Teppanyaki grill, I make a small selection of
chicken and vegetables. The chef was very amenable even smiling so I could take
his picture as he prepared my food. You are offered a variety of flavoring
sauces for you food. It was small plate and I neglected to get a picture. However,
fresh vegetable and fresh chicken cooked in front of you, to your order, is
certainly better than previously prepared foods, kept warm while waiting to be
served. In my case, the meat was cooked through, the vegetables had mouth feel
but were cooked through and the sauce was quite tasty.
My dining companions, my wife Janis and our friend Martha,
we all look favorably on the Teppanyaki Grill and Supreme Buffet. It does have
its deficits but overall it is as good as or possibly better than other buffets
in the local area, at least meeting that standard. My next visit I will probably spend more time at the sushi
bar and teppanyaki grill although I will seek out some of that honey chicken
and, well, I have to admit it, some fried rice too.
The local Teppanyaki Grill and Supreme Buffet seems to be
part of a larger chain with many stores in the North and Midwest. I can’t seem
to find a web presence for the parent company although many local TG&SB’s
have web presence. Check your local facility’s inspection record.
Labels: Chinese, Florida, fried rice, grill, Japanese, St Petersburg, sushi, sweet and sour, teppanyaki
¶ 3:54 PM 0 Comments
Monday, June 17, 2013
Maki Yaki - Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Maki Yaki – Albuquerque, New Mexico
11/3/2012 Maki Yaki 36
https://www.facebook.com/makiyakirr
4300 Ridgecrest Dr. SE, Ste 0, Rio Rancho,
New Mexico (505)892-3554
http://maki-yaki.com/web/index.html
As luck would have it,
Maki Yaki also features my favorite, the bento box. It is a great way to sample
a lot of different food items in one dish. They offer six varieties of bento
boxes; I chose the basic and out of seven choices chose the beef teriyaki
($9.95 Beef Teriyaki Bento Box served with salad, 5 pieces of California roll,
steamed rice, mixed tempura and miso soup. Between the three of us we ordered a
lot of different things. Nonetheless, our order was quickly prepared and it was
time to eat.
Maki Yaki is convenient, close
to Larry and Vickie’s home. The food is excellent and there is a wide variety
to choose from. The shop is clean and well cared for. The prices are
reasonable. It is little wonder that Makin Yaki has become one of Larry and
Vickie’s favorite places to go when the sushi urge strikes.
 |
| Larry and Vickie in front of the Rio Rancho NM Maki Yaki |
11/3/2012 Maki Yaki 36
https://www.facebook.com/makiyakirr
4300 Ridgecrest Dr. SE, Ste 0, Rio Rancho,
New Mexico (505)892-3554
http://maki-yaki.com/web/index.html
This was my second
encounter with a store-front takeout serving sushi and Japanese themed foods.
The first was OEC Japanese Express in St Petersburg, Florida and now this one
in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Whereas OEC Japanese Express seems to be a unique entity,
Maki Yaki would be part of a larger franchise headquartered in California, this
being store number 36. Established in 2004, most of the stores are located in
the Southern California region but apparently the store plans expansion through
the rest of North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Ambitious since one
of the proposed sites is Tokyo, Japan.
The best that I can come
up with for the name is Maki – rolled (as in makizushi) and Yaki – grilled
broiled or fried (as in teriyaki or teppanyaki). ,Maki Yaki or Rolled and
Grilled would seem to be an appropriate name considering the fare offered. What a fun way to learn to speak Japanese.
  |
| Clean and bright |
Arriving in the late
evening, the store was brightly lit. It had a clean, bright appearance. Even in
the dark, with reflections, the windows were clear and not a smudge to be seen.
The inside was spartanly decorated. The tiled floor had recently been swept and
mopped as there were few signs of traffic on its shiny surface. The store,
roughly divided in half, featured a dining area with basic tables and chairs
for eating in up front and the rear half with the counter and kitchen area.
Strangely, it did lack the traditional sit-at sushi bar; perhaps a manifestation
of the restaurant’s bare-bones appearance. All of the food preparation was done
in the back kitchen. The walls were decorated with a large lighted picture menu
board and some poster art depicting “pretty as a picture” foods; the art work a
standard corporate supplied item.
 |
| From Top Clockwise: Eel Special Roll, Baked Scallop Roll, and Spicy Tuna Roll |
Tables are in two sizes,
small for two people and larger for four persons. The three of us were quite
comfortable at a larger table but if there had been a fourth person it would
have been quite cozy. Tables are set with a napkin, disposable chopsticks and a
bottle of soy sauce.
 |
| Left: Boston Roll Right: Spicy Tuna Roll |
We were warmly greeted quickly
on arrival and shown to a table. Menus were passed and a beverage order taken.
Most of the beverages came from the self-serve style refrigerator cabinet against
the far wall; a back to basics touch. Our order taken, we could see a flurry of
activity behind the partial curtains setting the kitchen apart. It seemed that
the courteous woman who greeted us took care of the dining room, the counter
and the register. I could only discern a single male in the kitchen. It was
slow at the time we were there and the two of them were able to handle the
traffic effortlessly. I would think, however, that they would need additional
help for busier times. While waiting, we were all served a bowl of miso soup.
It is an extensive menu
featuring many Japanese dishes other than sushi. With so many good things
offered it was hard to finally decide on what we each wanted. Larry and Vickie
do a little mix and match across the table and can sample many items with a
minimum order; sometime an order just to share. Vickie ordered an assortment of
sushi items. These included a spicy tuna roll (Spicy Tuna Roll $5.95), eel special
roll (Eel Special Roll $10.95 in: crab meat, cucumber, avocado out: baked fresh
water eel) and baked scallop (Baked Scallop Roll $9.50 in: spicy tuna,
cucumber, avocado out: baked scallop).
 |
| Combo Plate: Chicken and Beef Teriyaki |
Larry ordered some sushi
items. He chose a spicy tuna roll (Spicy Tuna Roll $5.95) and a Boston roll
(Boston Roll $8.50 in: crab meat, cucumber, avocado out: shrimp tempura). He
also ordered a Teriyaki Combo Plate ($7.95 Chicken and beef teriyaki served
with steamed rice, vegetables and miso soup).
 |
| Bento Box: Mixed Tempura, California Roll, Salad, Steamed Rice, and Teriyaki Beef |
Larry and Vickie both
thoroughly enjoyed their selections. Suffice it to say there was no need for
any take-home container. My bento box had a lot of good things. The salad was
made of crisp lettuce mostly, a cherry tomato and some pickled onions. The
salad was good but the pickled onions would not be my favorite. There was an
inverted bowlful of steamed rice with a toasted sesame garnish. Rice is rice
but this rice was cooked to just the right consistency to pick up with chopsticks.
With the bento box that is important because you can’t just raise the bento box
under your chin like a small bowl of trice. The California roll was good, the
ingredients fresh. The artificial crab picks up flavors very quickly and if the
crab has been sitting around any time it will take on some of the surrounding
fish flavors Even with a dunk in the soy sauce you could taste the crab, avocado and cucumber; a
good roll. The tempura selection was good, the batter the classical thin and
crispy. It was very good. Even though my favorite is the bento box for its varied
selection, I almost wished I had chosen a tempura platter instead. The tentsuyu sauce was excellent, just the
right saltiness to accent the flavor of the tempura. There was a nice serving of teriyaki beef. It
was quite tender and lean beef in teriyaki sauce with toasted sesame seeds
garnish. The sauce had cling without being too thick; you could coat with as
little or as much sauce as you liked each bite. The sauce had a good flavor,
slightly sweet, slightly soy that did not interfere with the taste of the beef.
All in all, I enjoyed my bento box very much - well, perhaps the pickled onion
I could do without.
 |
| Maki Yaki Wall Menu |
Labels: Bento Box, Boston Roll, Californiaq Roll, eel roll, Japanese, maki, miso, rio rancho, scallop roll, spicy tuna roll, sushi, tempura, yaki
¶ 12:51 PM 0 Comments
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Shine's Asian Fusion Bistro
Shine’s Sushi
12400 Old Glen Hwy #3
Eagle River, Alaska 99577
(907) 622-8889 http://www.shinessush.com/
Shine’s has long been a favorite place. I was therefore surprised when there was another café in its old storefront place. I had just returned after a two year absence and was looking forward to sharing my favorite haunt with my sister and nephew when they arrived in a few days for their Alaskan adventure. I was fortunate enough to locate Shine’s in its new location a few blocks away on the opposite side of the main street through town. The new banner, Shine’s Asian Fusion Bistro, beckons you onto a larger facility but with the same delicious offerings.
I picked up Pattie Sue and Ron at the Anchorage airport after their late morning arrival. We stopped in Eagle River for lunch at Shines before heading home to Chugiak. After all, the airlines haven’t done an adequate job of feeding and caring for the passengers for a long, long time…
We ordered from the Lunch Special Menu. Pattie Sue chose the Sesame Chicken (Chose 1 Item from A List Below, $9.00, Most dishes served wth Miso Soup, Salad). Nephew Ron ordered the Lunch Box (Choose Three Items Below, 1 Each from A to D, $11.00). He chose the Tempura, California Roll, and the Teriyaki Chicken. I also chose a Lunch Box. My choices were the Tempura and California Roll but I chose the Sesame Chicken for my final choice.
We all started off with a bowl of salad and a bowl of miso soup. The salad was a mix of greens with some shreds of carrot and purple cabbage for color contrast and eye appeal. The dressing was light, had a slight tartness but underneath was a sweet component; very tasty. The miso soup was hot, savory and whetted the appetite for the meal to come. We had to reassure Ron that drinking the soup from the bowl was acceptable table manners.
Pattie Sue’s Sesame Chicken was am ample serving of nicely cooked breaded chicken morsels, sprinkled with sesame seeds and drizzled with sauce. There was a serving of steamed rice and a small salad of finely cut greens and radishes. She said the chicken was cooked through, was tender and had good flavor; delicious. The rice and salad made a nice accompaniment. The serving was large enough that some of her meal went home in a “doggie bag.” It made a delicious snack the next day.
The Shine’s Lunch Boxes are actually Bento Box plates. That presentation has long been a favorite of mine. The five-compartment tray has a place for the sushi roll, the tempura, the rice and the entrée. A final and a smaller compartment for the beni shoga, pickled ginger, and the wasabi. The pretty presentation does belie the amount of food in the serving.
The new facility features booths along the walls and appropriate space between the tables for a lower noise level and a bit of privacy. As usual, the serving staff was quick, polite and thorough. He food was fresh, tasty and well presented. It is easy to see why Shine’s will continue to be one of m favorite places to go for a bite to eat when I am in Eagle River, Alaska.
12400 Old Glen Hwy #3
Eagle River, Alaska 99577
(907) 622-8889 http://www.shinessush.com/
Shine’s has long been a favorite place. I was therefore surprised when there was another café in its old storefront place. I had just returned after a two year absence and was looking forward to sharing my favorite haunt with my sister and nephew when they arrived in a few days for their Alaskan adventure. I was fortunate enough to locate Shine’s in its new location a few blocks away on the opposite side of the main street through town. The new banner, Shine’s Asian Fusion Bistro, beckons you onto a larger facility but with the same delicious offerings.
I picked up Pattie Sue and Ron at the Anchorage airport after their late morning arrival. We stopped in Eagle River for lunch at Shines before heading home to Chugiak. After all, the airlines haven’t done an adequate job of feeding and caring for the passengers for a long, long time… We ordered from the Lunch Special Menu. Pattie Sue chose the Sesame Chicken (Chose 1 Item from A List Below, $9.00, Most dishes served wth Miso Soup, Salad). Nephew Ron ordered the Lunch Box (Choose Three Items Below, 1 Each from A to D, $11.00). He chose the Tempura, California Roll, and the Teriyaki Chicken. I also chose a Lunch Box. My choices were the Tempura and California Roll but I chose the Sesame Chicken for my final choice.
We all started off with a bowl of salad and a bowl of miso soup. The salad was a mix of greens with some shreds of carrot and purple cabbage for color contrast and eye appeal. The dressing was light, had a slight tartness but underneath was a sweet component; very tasty. The miso soup was hot, savory and whetted the appetite for the meal to come. We had to reassure Ron that drinking the soup from the bowl was acceptable table manners. Pattie Sue’s Sesame Chicken was am ample serving of nicely cooked breaded chicken morsels, sprinkled with sesame seeds and drizzled with sauce. There was a serving of steamed rice and a small salad of finely cut greens and radishes. She said the chicken was cooked through, was tender and had good flavor; delicious. The rice and salad made a nice accompaniment. The serving was large enough that some of her meal went home in a “doggie bag.” It made a delicious snack the next day.
The Shine’s Lunch Boxes are actually Bento Box plates. That presentation has long been a favorite of mine. The five-compartment tray has a place for the sushi roll, the tempura, the rice and the entrée. A final and a smaller compartment for the beni shoga, pickled ginger, and the wasabi. The pretty presentation does belie the amount of food in the serving.
The Shine’s shrimp tempura is always a treat. The skewer holds several shrimp together making a large serving something resembling a super jumbo shrimp. The batter was nice and brown, crispy fried; perfect as usual. The California roll, an inside out makisushi roll, was well made. The rice was sticky and held together
even with ham-fists manipulating the hashi. The delicious crab and avocado filling was tasty and the coating of sesame seeds seemed to get lost in all the other succulent flavors. The chicken serving was ample. Ron felt there was a bit too much of the teriyaki sauce on his but otherwise the taste and texture was excellent.
The sesame chicken was very good. The chicken morsels were nicely breaded, fried a nice brown and
coated with a tasty sauce and, of course, the sesame seeds.
Even for travelers with ravenous appetites, the luncheon special meals were more than ample servings to quell the hunger; a successful introduction into the food chain of wilderness Alaska. The new incarnation of Shine’s Sushi is an improvement in spaciousness and diner comfort. The old featured tables and chairs all in close proximity to one another. When busy the ambient noise level was high; something usually overlooked.
Labels: Bento Box, California Roll, chicken, Eagle River, sesame, Shines, shrimp, sushi, tempura
¶ 1:13 PM 0 Comments
Sushi Family
Sushi Family
415 Yellowstone Ave Pocatello, Idaho
(208) 233-4400
On a whim, sister Pattie Sue and niece Jennifer decided it was time to tryout a fairly new sushi restaurant in downtown Pocatello. I was invited to come along. The Sushi Family restaurant offers a menu to order from and it also offers all-you-can-eat sushi but with a twist from the ordinary.
What we learned was that all of the sushi orders, including the all-you-can-eat, are made at the time of the order. There are no trays of pre-made sushi. The house menu is used for both regular dining and all-you-can-eat patrons, the all-you-can-eat comes at a bit of a premium price. Be wary, though, because if you order more than you can actually eat there is a surcharge for the wasted food. It is certainly a different way as both styles of eating are the same product ordered from the same menu.
Pattie Sue ordered the House Special 1 ($8.50 Spicy crab, topped with tuna, salmon and yellowtail). A large serving served alone on a decorative plate, it was ample for a meal. She said it was very good and the three different surimi toppings made for an interesting variety of flavors. She was satisfied with her choice. Regular and low sodium soy sauce are at the table. A side dish provided the de rigor beni shoga and wasabi.
Jennifer ordered the Teriyaki Salmon ($12.95 Comes with miso soup, house salad, steamed rice and four pieces of tempura vegetables). The plate was full with an about 3-ounce teriyaki salon filet, a mound of steamed rice and a selection of tempura vegetables. A tentsuyu-style dipping sauce was also provided. Jenifer enjoyed her meal saying that the salmon was very good, very tasty. A light eater at times, her meal was just a bit too large for a single sitting but the take home would be scant for a later meal. She ordered an additional nigiri sushi, Octopus Tako ($3.00 Two pieces per order) to supplement her left over meal to take home.
I ordered something a bit different. I chose the Chicken Bento ($11.95 Comes with miso soup, house salad, tempura shrimp and vegetables, four pieces California roll, four pieces crystal shrimp roll and steamed rice).
ingredients as well as a small bowl of tentsuyu-style dipping sauce and a small serving of beni shoga and wasabi. The California roll was good. The crystal shrimp roll was served with a drizzle of sauce, soy or teriyaki I believe, but it was still a bit lackluster, not up to the promise of the name. The tempura shrimp and vegetables were excellent. The batter coating was well browned and cooked through without overcooking the inte
rior ingredient. The chicken was all white meat, spiced and grilled and the sliced for serving. It was tasty though a bit tough. All in all, I was very
satisfied with my selection of the bento box meal
and would seriously consider ordering it on a future visit.
415 Yellowstone Ave Pocatello, Idaho
(208) 233-4400
On a whim, sister Pattie Sue and niece Jennifer decided it was time to tryout a fairly new sushi restaurant in downtown Pocatello. I was invited to come along. The Sushi Family restaurant offers a menu to order from and it also offers all-you-can-eat sushi but with a twist from the ordinary.
The restaurant is in an unassuming store front on Yellowstone Avenue. Signage is minimal and you have to look closely to find it. There is adequate parking adjacent and the main entry faces the parking area. Inside the facility is minimally decorated in Oriental style. Booths and tables are available but all are well separated so that even when fully occupied the diner density is low. There were a few other diners when we entered but the noise level was very low, always a plus. We were quickly seated in our choice of a booth that was comfortable.
What we learned was that all of the sushi orders, including the all-you-can-eat, are made at the time of the order. There are no trays of pre-made sushi. The house menu is used for both regular dining and all-you-can-eat patrons, the all-you-can-eat comes at a bit of a premium price. Be wary, though, because if you order more than you can actually eat there is a surcharge for the wasted food. It is certainly a different way as both styles of eating are the same product ordered from the same menu.
Tea and sodas were the beverages of choice. Sushi Family features Coca Cola products. We started off sharing a platter of the Tempura Combo appetizer ($8.95). The dish has four pieces of large tempura shrimp and five pieces of tempura vegetable. It is served with a tentsuyu-style dipping sauce. Nicely browned, the batter was cooked through. The shrimp was not over cooked and sill had the slightest little snap to the bite. The vegetables were tender but not mushy. We were also served bowls of miso soup and a house salad with dressing. The soup was a nice hot bowl of a tasty miso soup. The salad was a mixture of finely cut slaw with a mild dressing and what I believe were toasted sesame seeds. It was a tasty interlude while we waited for the entrees.
Pattie Sue ordered the House Special 1 ($8.50 Spicy crab, topped with tuna, salmon and yellowtail). A large serving served alone on a decorative plate, it was ample for a meal. She said it was very good and the three different surimi toppings made for an interesting variety of flavors. She was satisfied with her choice. Regular and low sodium soy sauce are at the table. A side dish provided the de rigor beni shoga and wasabi. 
Jennifer ordered the Teriyaki Salmon ($12.95 Comes with miso soup, house salad, steamed rice and four pieces of tempura vegetables). The plate was full with an about 3-ounce teriyaki salon filet, a mound of steamed rice and a selection of tempura vegetables. A tentsuyu-style dipping sauce was also provided. Jenifer enjoyed her meal saying that the salmon was very good, very tasty. A light eater at times, her meal was just a bit too large for a single sitting but the take home would be scant for a later meal. She ordered an additional nigiri sushi, Octopus Tako ($3.00 Two pieces per order) to supplement her left over meal to take home. 
I ordered something a bit different. I chose the Chicken Bento ($11.95 Comes with miso soup, house salad, tempura shrimp and vegetables, four pieces California roll, four pieces crystal shrimp roll and steamed rice).
A classic Japanese presentation, the ancient working man’s lunch has become an art form of food service. Mine was served in a compartmented tray or serving dish. There were individual compartments for the listed
ingredients as well as a small bowl of tentsuyu-style dipping sauce and a small serving of beni shoga and wasabi. The California roll was good. The crystal shrimp roll was served with a drizzle of sauce, soy or teriyaki I believe, but it was still a bit lackluster, not up to the promise of the name. The tempura shrimp and vegetables were excellent. The batter coating was well browned and cooked through without overcooking the intesatisfied with my selection of the bento box meal
and would seriously consider ordering it on a future visit.
Labels: all you can eat, Bento, box, California Roll, chicken, Family, Pocatello, shrimp, sushi, teeriyaki, tempura
¶ 12:52 PM 0 Comments
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Azuma Sushi and Teppan
Azuma – Sushi and Teppan
4701 San Mateo Blvd
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 880-9800
This was to be a father and son day, a boys’ day out, a day at the museum, a rekindling of bonds. The morning chores completed, we started off and, and as it was nearing midday, we decided to stop somewhere for an early lunch. Larry took us to one of his favorite places. It was to be Azuma’a for a sushi lunch. Open daily at 11:00 am. When we entered we found that A
This was to be a father and son day, a boys’ day out, a day at the museum, a rekindling of bonds. The morning chores completed, we started off and, and as it was nearing midday, we decided to stop somewhere for an early lunch. Larry took us to one of his favorite places. It was to be Azuma’a for a sushi lunch. Open daily at 11:00 am. When we entered we found that A
zuma opens at 11:30 on the weekends. We were a bit early, about 15 minutes. Larry
told the receptionist that we would wait in the car. She bade us to have a seat in the lobby, “It is nice and cool inside.” Already a nice touch… We were soon seated in a comfortable booth adjacent to the sushi bar. Besides being a comfortable booth, the little glass dividers make a cozy open personal area with very low noise. Although several couples had followed us into the restaurant the noise level was pleasantly very low. The sushi chef from his station was able to ask my son about his order from across the room. With soft lighting, well appointed fixtures and a quiet atmosphere, the stage was set for a good meal without distractions. Your visit to Azuma is started off with a nice bowl of miso soup. Well. Miso soup is miso soup 
and our Azuma serving was as good as any other miso soup I have ever had. Hot with a tasty dashi broth it set the stage for things to come. For openers my son ordered the spicy tuna roll and I ordered the California roll and a cucumber roll. Strange as it may sound, Larry and I both don’t care at all for surimi but we do like a lot of other sushi offerings. Larry ate his spicy tuna roll with gusto and said that it was very good, very tasty. Freshly made sushi can sometimes be crumbly, the sushi rice not congealed. That was not the case here. The rice cake was firm enough to hold together when picked up with the hashi and dipped into the soy sauce and still be soft and tender to the bite. The Azuma sushi chef has the sushi master’s touch. The California roll and the cucumber roll were excellent. The rest of our order was soon served. Larry had ordered the Boston roll without the cream cheese. I ordered the nabeyaki udon soup. The Boston roll is a large serving of to inside-out filled rolls with an olio topping of vegetables and lightly drizzled with a succulent sauce. It took some time to assemble. My souvenir 
take-out menu copy didn’t list that sushi selection so I am at a bit of a loss to remember all the ingredients. That was not a problem for my son as he enjoyed all of it in short order. He considered it an excellent selection. Years ago I first encountered udon soup in the international passenger quarantine area at the Anchorage International Airport. Most of the passengers were on Asian carriers making a refueling stop before flights over the old Soviet Union were possible. The small snack bar’s menu reflected the clientele. It was not an elegant serving. A package of fresh udon noodle was placed in a tall Styrofoam cup, then the cup was filled to the rim from a kettle of hot dashi stock and something dead placed on top. It was served with the disposable hashi for a typical in-airport rip-off price. Not knowing what it was, the first thing I did was dispose of the dead thing floating on top into the nearest trash can. Then I sipped the dashi and developed a liking for the taste of the hot mild broth. The fresh udon noodles are not Italian pasta but a whole new world of noodles. They were delicious. Since then 
I have tasted udon soups in many places and was about to see if Azuma’s offering was up to par. It was a large soup bowl serving; a meal in itself. Considering that I had already eaten my California and cucumber rolls, it was a bit too much. It was served with two very large tempura shrimp on the side. The broth was hot and savory. The fresh noodles were excellent and the bits
and our Azuma serving was as good as any other miso soup I have ever had. Hot with a tasty dashi broth it set the stage for things to come. For openers my son ordered the spicy tuna roll and I ordered the California roll and a cucumber roll. Strange as it may sound, Larry and I both don’t care at all for surimi but we do like a lot of other sushi offerings. Larry ate his spicy tuna roll with gusto and said that it was very good, very tasty. Freshly made sushi can sometimes be crumbly, the sushi rice not congealed. That was not the case here. The rice cake was firm enough to hold together when picked up with the hashi and dipped into the soy sauce and still be soft and tender to the bite. The Azuma sushi chef has the sushi master’s touch. The California roll and the cucumber roll were excellent. The rest of our order was soon served. Larry had ordered the Boston roll without the cream cheese. I ordered the nabeyaki udon soup. The Boston roll is a large serving of to inside-out filled rolls with an olio topping of vegetables and lightly drizzled with a succulent sauce. It took some time to assemble. My souvenir 
take-out menu copy didn’t list that sushi selection so I am at a bit of a loss to remember all the ingredients. That was not a problem for my son as he enjoyed all of it in short order. He considered it an excellent selection. Years ago I first encountered udon soup in the international passenger quarantine area at the Anchorage International Airport. Most of the passengers were on Asian carriers making a refueling stop before flights over the old Soviet Union were possible. The small snack bar’s menu reflected the clientele. It was not an elegant serving. A package of fresh udon noodle was placed in a tall Styrofoam cup, then the cup was filled to the rim from a kettle of hot dashi stock and something dead placed on top. It was served with the disposable hashi for a typical in-airport rip-off price. Not knowing what it was, the first thing I did was dispose of the dead thing floating on top into the nearest trash can. Then I sipped the dashi and developed a liking for the taste of the hot mild broth. The fresh udon noodles are not Italian pasta but a whole new world of noodles. They were delicious. Since then 
I have tasted udon soups in many places and was about to see if Azuma’s offering was up to par. It was a large soup bowl serving; a meal in itself. Considering that I had already eaten my California and cucumber rolls, it was a bit too much. It was served with two very large tempura shrimp on the side. The broth was hot and savory. The fresh noodles were excellent and the bits
of vegetable, including asparagus, were delicious. It was as good as, if not better than any udon soup I have ever sampled. Even though it was more than I should have eaten, it was too good to leave any behind. Father and son enjoyed a quiet interlude in comfortable surroundings. We were catered to by a most courteous staff. We were served delicious food that charmed the eye as well as the pallet. Even the clientele, ma
ny of whom filled the dining room while we were there, were respectful of the surroundings and we were hardly aware of their presence. Surely the Azuma deserves high marks for quality of food, service and atmosphere; a place to go. It will surely be on my agenda for another visit on my next trip through Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Labels: Albuquerque, cheesecake, Nabeyaki, New Mexico, soup, sushi, teppan, Udon
¶ 1:42 PM 0 Comments
Friday, September 09, 2011
Super Buffet - Seminole, Florida
Super Buffet – Seminole, Florida
11227 Park Blvd. North Seminole, Florida 33772
(727) 320-9888
The wife’s and my birthday are quite close. In fact they are just separated by just one week by day and month although the years are quite a bit farther apart. It does make it easy for friends who like to take you out to eat on your birthday. It is sort of like getting two for the price of one.
As our birthdays for this year approached, family friend called us and asked to take us out to dinner. A date and time was set and all that remained was where.
We do what married couples do and refrain from voicing a preference to allow the other the choice. As the date grew closer Martha suggested a Chinese place she knew and liked. Neither of us knew about it so it would be a new and novel experience, a broadening of our horizons. Janis and I drove over to pick up Martha just as a Florida thunderstorm began to unleash its fury. By the time we arrived at Martha’s house the squall line was sending gusting winds and rippling waves of rain racing across the streets. After picking up Martha I was the last one back in the car and as a result became sopping wet from the rain. I hoped that would dry before reaching the restaurant.
The Super Buffet is but one store in the massive Seminole Mall. Except for the sign there is little to tell what lies within the particular storefront. By the time we pulled up in front of the restaurant, the rain had subsided to a light sprinkle. I was only half dry. We entered through double doors trimmed with brass. The foyer in subdued lighting features the cashier, the hostess and a decorative fountain. Off to the sides are two dining areas. In brighter lights ahead was the food service area. There were several serving bars featuring cold foods on ice and hot foods in steam trays. Just a note in passing, at most other restaurants of this type, self serve, all you can eat, customers pay first and then are seated. Here you are seated, you have your meal and you are presented the check. For the buffet, lunch (11:00AM to 3:30PM) is $7.39 per person. For dinner (3:30PM to 11:00PM) and all day on holidays the cost is $12.99 per person. There is a re
duced rate for seniors and children
We were seated in less than a minute. The waitress took our beverage orders and bid us to begin making our selections for dinner. One serving bar is labeled Italian. There are is eclectic mixture of dishes there including some that appear to be Italian inspired, even a small pepperoni pizza. However, I am afraid that much was lost in the translation. Other serving bars are labeled salad, seafood, Chinese, and dessert. Of note, not found in most other oriental buffets, there is at the end of the food service area a grill station for Mongolian barbecue. We started off together but wended our individual ways through the aisles between the food service bars.
I started down the Chinese/Oriental aisle. There were a few signs missing but most offerings are labeled. To sample as much as possible, I took a bit of as many items as my plate would hold.
There was teriyaki chicken, General Tso’s chicken, a mushroom and seafood delight, fried rice, yakitori chicken, sweet and sour chicken, an egg roll and some tempura. On the way back to the table I passed the sushi section and stopped for a few pieces as well. And lastly, the salad bar beckoned with some stuffed green olives.
I did notice that there was copious ice under the cold foods and the sushi. All of the hot foods were indeed hot and to touch the surface of the table was painfully hot. I also noted that the presentation trays were shallow and did not hold a lot of food. They had to be replenished often. During dinner I noted that the staff members were frequently busy stocking and replenishing the food items. The food would appear to be f
resh from the food preparation area.
I will preface my critique with this: The food served at the Super Buffet is certainly on a par with the other local restaurants of this type. None of the foods are spectacular but on the other hand none of the foods are really bad. I think many of the items are mass prepared outside and then heated or cooked to completion before serving. As such they suffer the same ailment as other mass produced foods – designed to offend as few people as possible, they truly please even fewer.
The chicken selections were tasty but I really had to look close to see rather than taste if it were chicken teriyaki, General Tso’s chicken or chicken yakitori. The sweet and sour chicken is what is called the New York style, I believe. It is breaded and fried chicken morsels. Alongside is a
container of red sauce that you ladle over your chicken morsels. This presentation certainly pales in comparison to the traditional Chinatown version with peppers, onions and pineapple. The New York style, although done well as far as it goes, really suffers in comparison because of the lack of the traditional accoutrements. The egg rolls are the smaller variety and nicely crispy fried. The filling is basically cabbage and they benefit from a dunk in hot mustard or chili sauce. The tempura selection was limited to slices of zucchini and sweet potato. They were very good, the batter fried light and crisp and the vegetables tender but not soggy. Enjoyment would have been enhanced if there were some additional tempura selections. The fried rice was more a saffron-style yellow rice and didn’t have any particular significant taste. Personally, fried rice is one of my favorite oriental-style comfort foods but I found the Super Buffet example lacking in breadth of ingredients and seasoning.
Personally I don’t care for sashimi. Therefore, my selections from any sushi bar are very limited. On this visit I selected some California rolls and avocado rolls. They were both the inside-out makizushi rolls. Each selection had a rolled coating of tobiko. They were well made, the avocado still a lustrous green without any darkening from air exposure. They tasted good and seemed quite fresh. If I eat a California or avocado roll and taste fish I know there is a problem in the kitchen. In this case there was no taste of raw fish, just the taste of the ingredients. I did notice the service area was well iced and there was not a lot of product on display. There is more than adequate portions wasabi and gari awaiting the diner.
The true gourmand can’t go to an all you can eat restaurant and eat but one serving. For my next foray I decided to try the Mongolian grill. There is a nice selection of ingredients including vegetables, (such as sprouts, green peppers, onions, broccoli florets, etc) meats (chicken, beef and pork) and seafood (white fish, shrimp). The ice table is cold. They stock small amounts of food in the trays which I guess would help to insure freshness. I made my selections of some bean sprouts, mushrooms, green peppers, broccoli, chicken and shrimp. They use flat plates instead of bowls that I have encountered elsewhere. I handed my selection to the chef and he went to work. The grill is not the round Mongolian grill of myth. It is a rectangular flat grill with an at
tached open flame grill that any short-order cook would instantly recognize. I would miss the flourish of the serving, a swish off the edge of the grill into the awaiting bowl. The grill was hot; I could feel the heat even through the sneeze guard. But I noticed the chef used a spritz of water and a dome for much of the cooking – steaming more than frying. The food is cooked with less caramelization than is done on the traditional Mongolian grill and the presentation is more colorful. There is a list of four sauces available and I chose the teriyaki. It was a tasty dish, the vegetables cooked to tender with just a bite. It was an enjoyable conclusion to the main courses.
I tried some samplings of the desert bar. They had a nice selection of melons, strawberries and lots of petit fours style cookies and cakes. The fruit was firm and fresh and refreshing after the heavier fare of the main courses. It was a nice sweet ending to a dinner with loved ones and friends.
Their take home menu features a list of combination plates and traditional Chinese food choices in small and large containers much like a traditional Chinese take-out shop. As well, the menu lists the majority of the buffet items for take home at $3.75 per pound lunch and $4.95 per pound dinner. Sushi and sea food have a different pricing schedule. You can have it your way; eat in or take out.
Super Buffet – Seminole, Florida11227 Park Blvd. North Seminole, Florida 33772
(727) 320-9888
The wife’s and my birthday are quite close. In fact they are just separated by just one week by day and month although the years are quite a bit farther apart. It does make it easy for friends who like to take you out to eat on your birthday. It is sort of like getting two for the price of one.
As our birthdays for this year approached, family friend called us and asked to take us out to dinner. A date and time was set and all that remained was where.We do what married couples do and refrain from voicing a preference to allow the other the choice. As the date grew closer Martha suggested a Chinese place she knew and liked. Neither of us knew about it so it would be a new and novel experience, a broadening of our horizons. Janis and I drove over to pick up Martha just as a Florida thunderstorm began to unleash its fury. By the time we arrived at Martha’s house the squall line was sending gusting winds and rippling waves of rain racing across the streets. After picking up Martha I was the last one back in the car and as a result became sopping wet from the rain. I hoped that would dry before reaching the restaurant.
The Super Buffet is but one store in the massive Seminole Mall. Except for the sign there is little to tell what lies within the particular storefront. By the time we pulled up in front of the restaurant, the rain had subsided to a light sprinkle. I was only half dry. We entered through double doors trimmed with brass. The foyer in subdued lighting features the cashier, the hostess and a decorative fountain. Off to the sides are two dining areas. In brighter lights ahead was the food service area. There were several serving bars featuring cold foods on ice and hot foods in steam trays. Just a note in passing, at most other restaurants of this type, self serve, all you can eat, customers pay first and then are seated. Here you are seated, you have your meal and you are presented the check. For the buffet, lunch (11:00AM to 3:30PM) is $7.39 per person. For dinner (3:30PM to 11:00PM) and all day on holidays the cost is $12.99 per person. There is a re
duced rate for seniors and childrenWe were seated in less than a minute. The waitress took our beverage orders and bid us to begin making our selections for dinner. One serving bar is labeled Italian. There are is eclectic mixture of dishes there including some that appear to be Italian inspired, even a small pepperoni pizza. However, I am afraid that much was lost in the translation. Other serving bars are labeled salad, seafood, Chinese, and dessert. Of note, not found in most other oriental buffets, there is at the end of the food service area a grill station for Mongolian barbecue. We started off together but wended our individual ways through the aisles between the food service bars.
I started down the Chinese/Oriental aisle. There were a few signs missing but most offerings are labeled. To sample as much as possible, I took a bit of as many items as my plate would hold.
There was teriyaki chicken, General Tso’s chicken, a mushroom and seafood delight, fried rice, yakitori chicken, sweet and sour chicken, an egg roll and some tempura. On the way back to the table I passed the sushi section and stopped for a few pieces as well. And lastly, the salad bar beckoned with some stuffed green olives.I did notice that there was copious ice under the cold foods and the sushi. All of the hot foods were indeed hot and to touch the surface of the table was painfully hot. I also noted that the presentation trays were shallow and did not hold a lot of food. They had to be replenished often. During dinner I noted that the staff members were frequently busy stocking and replenishing the food items. The food would appear to be f
resh from the food preparation area.I will preface my critique with this: The food served at the Super Buffet is certainly on a par with the other local restaurants of this type. None of the foods are spectacular but on the other hand none of the foods are really bad. I think many of the items are mass prepared outside and then heated or cooked to completion before serving. As such they suffer the same ailment as other mass produced foods – designed to offend as few people as possible, they truly please even fewer.
The chicken selections were tasty but I really had to look close to see rather than taste if it were chicken teriyaki, General Tso’s chicken or chicken yakitori. The sweet and sour chicken is what is called the New York style, I believe. It is breaded and fried chicken morsels. Alongside is a
container of red sauce that you ladle over your chicken morsels. This presentation certainly pales in comparison to the traditional Chinatown version with peppers, onions and pineapple. The New York style, although done well as far as it goes, really suffers in comparison because of the lack of the traditional accoutrements. The egg rolls are the smaller variety and nicely crispy fried. The filling is basically cabbage and they benefit from a dunk in hot mustard or chili sauce. The tempura selection was limited to slices of zucchini and sweet potato. They were very good, the batter fried light and crisp and the vegetables tender but not soggy. Enjoyment would have been enhanced if there were some additional tempura selections. The fried rice was more a saffron-style yellow rice and didn’t have any particular significant taste. Personally, fried rice is one of my favorite oriental-style comfort foods but I found the Super Buffet example lacking in breadth of ingredients and seasoning.
Personally I don’t care for sashimi. Therefore, my selections from any sushi bar are very limited. On this visit I selected some California rolls and avocado rolls. They were both the inside-out makizushi rolls. Each selection had a rolled coating of tobiko. They were well made, the avocado still a lustrous green without any darkening from air exposure. They tasted good and seemed quite fresh. If I eat a California or avocado roll and taste fish I know there is a problem in the kitchen. In this case there was no taste of raw fish, just the taste of the ingredients. I did notice the service area was well iced and there was not a lot of product on display. There is more than adequate portions wasabi and gari awaiting the diner.
tached open flame grill that any short-order cook would instantly recognize. I would miss the flourish of the serving, a swish off the edge of the grill into the awaiting bowl. The grill was hot; I could feel the heat even through the sneeze guard. But I noticed the chef used a spritz of water and a dome for much of the cooking – steaming more than frying. The food is cooked with less caramelization than is done on the traditional Mongolian grill and the presentation is more colorful. There is a list of four sauces available and I chose the teriyaki. It was a tasty dish, the vegetables cooked to tender with just a bite. It was an enjoyable conclusion to the main courses.I tried some samplings of the desert bar. They had a nice selection of melons, strawberries and lots of petit fours style cookies and cakes. The fruit was firm and fresh and refreshing after the heavier fare of the main courses. It was a nice sweet ending to a dinner with loved ones and friends.
Their take home menu features a list of combination plates and traditional Chinese food choices in small and large containers much like a traditional Chinese take-out shop. As well, the menu lists the majority of the buffet items for take home at $3.75 per pound lunch and $4.95 per pound dinner. Sushi and sea food have a different pricing schedule. You can have it your way; eat in or take out.
Labels: barbecue, buffet, Chinese, eat in, fried rice, grill, Mongolian, Seminole, super, sushi, take out
¶ 5:30 PM 0 Comments
