For years you’ve smelled it. The drainage vents outside of Larkins Hall have never been shy about spreading it around. Every now and again in Buckeye Country, you open your nostrils to the invigorating smell of raw fish. Last week I finally broke down and decided to try some – but readers be warned – the sushi at Shoku, located at 1312 Grandview Ave. tastes decidedly different than the fish smells you’re used to. It’s absolutely delicious.
My dad, co-Masticator and veteran of Columbus bars – sushi or otherwise – came along on this excursion to guide the way for the sushi novice.
He wrote, “When I recall my first experience with sushi, the experienced people I was with made sure I stayed away from the ‘hard core’ items. With this is mind, I started with a California roll which is mild, tasty and easy to eat with chopsticks – even for invalids like Hank. The rice was light, yet it stayed together. The shrimp pieces and yellow tail were very fresh and flavorful. My favorite was the smoked salmon, as it really had a distinctive smoky flavor.”
Dad added, “All of the above were shared with greenhorns who were amazed that they were not only eating raw fish but loving it too.”
Another item he liked was the salmon roe wrapped in seaweed. For really fresh, tasty sushi, Shoku will be hard to beat.
Dad concluded his comments with, “Although the merchandise is a bit pricey, Shoku is very reasonable when compared with other Columbus sushi spots.”
I tried the phad thai and was thoroughly pleased. The noodles were prepared just right and the big, juicy shrimp mixed well with the crisp strips of carrot. The sauce was quite mild and though I prefer mine a bit spicier, it was still very good. The portion was well above average and all said, the dish left me feeling as light as my wallet. A strong performance.
My mom co-Masticated that evening too, and wrote, “I ordered the combination tempura. It came with rice, which was totally unnecessary because the tempura acted as finger food. The combo consisted of red pepper, squash, sweet potato, shrimp, lobster and soft shell crab – with a side of onion rings. The tempura was light, crunchy and tasty but without a good dipping sauce it was a bad choice. It was just too much tempura for a meal and would’ve made a better appetizer. Next time, I’ll get phad thai or sushi. But there will definitely be a next time.”
Masticating is always more fun with the lovely April. She sampled the Teriyaki tofu and commented, “It was yummy. Plenty of green beans and other vegetables sautéed in a light, yet surprisingly spicy sauce. When I ordered it, I expected little pieces of tofu. Instead, I was shocked to find two huge slabs of tofu wiggling on top of the vegetables. While the tofu was perfectly cooked to suit the dish, two pieces was protein overkill. One piece of tofu would have been more proportional to the amount of vegetables and rice.”
“I also had an vegetarian egg roll,” she continued, “and it was the best I’ve ever had. Stuffed full of veggies, it still maintained its shape and didn’t fall apart. The wrap was perfectly crisp, not too greasy, but just greasy enough to let me know it was doing its best to clog major arteries.”
We all tried an amazing appetizer of calamari before our meals arrived. It came hot, greasy, chewy and juicy. Each squid was battered in tempura sauce and fried. The zesty sauce made for excellent dipping.
The green tea and raspberry tea were both refreshing companions.
The atmosphere is quiet; perfect for carrying on conversations and the lighting and décor make Shoku an impressive location for a dinner date. Most entrees run between $10 to $12. Choosing a couple items to accompany an entrée could serve experimental masticators with budget constraints. All in all, dinner at Shoku was a memorable experience and I highly recommend it.
