The Weird and The Wacky Meet

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Yoshida:  Delectable Sushi for the Poor Student

Looking at the quiet and unassuming grey building on Boston Post Road in Milford, it would be hard to guess that there’s anything special about it.  A peek inside reveals Japanese décor that’s clean and stylishly sparse, but nothing truly impressive.  All this makes it hard to believe that tucked away in a landscape dominated by a police station and a Toyota dealership is a hidden Asian jewel of New England, where you are treated to sushi that would be more than fitting for the snootiest Manhattan restaurant.

                 Fresh fish and properly spiced rice are all it takes to make edible sushi, but to make truly great sushi, the chef has to manage the way the four basic flavors combine when they hit the palate.  A top-notch sushi roll must blend the sour, sweet, spicy and bitter in perfect harmony, without ever being bland or cliché.  The half dozen rolls I sampled at Yoshida all succeeded admirably in this regard.

                 By playing with different flavor combinations, every roll was a uniquely delicious original.  Even their Dragon Maki managed to be different from the standard formula, featuring the salty crunchiness of shrimp tempura inside. 

                 The best sushi roll that I tried was the Volcano Maki.  On the inside, it had tuna, avocado and a sesame-seaweed salad.  On top of that, the sushi chef laid salmon, spicy sauce, tobikko and a thin wedge of lemon.  All the different flavors of this roll melted together, yet retained their individuality.  This reviewer is hard pressed to think of a better sushi roll anywhere.

                 A fine example of their creativeness is the River Maki.  This is a play on the ingredients of the traditional Dragon Maki, with the eel, avocado and sweet eel sauce complemented by a block of egg omelet.  The egg adds a new layer of creaminess to the roll, working perfectly with the eel.

                 Yoshida is a Japanese restaurant and carries more than just sushi.  The tempura is some of the best I’ve had.  It’s crispy, light, and sweet and literally melts in your mouth.  It’s served warm and fresh and with a traditional dipping sauce.

                 The service is quick, friendly and attentive.  The waiters and waitresses are knowledgeable about the menu, and are very open to questions.  Even though I went on a busy Saturday night, my water glass was never empty.

                 Perhaps the best thing about Yoshida was the price.  My husband and I ordered six different deluxe sushi rolls, an appetizer and shared a hot sake, yet our bill only came to $60.  This is almost unheard of for good sushi.  Entrees ranged from $10 to $20, and lunch specials are available.

                 Yoshida is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9:30 from Tuesday to Thursday, and open until 10:30 on Friday.  On Saturday they are open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday hours run from 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.  They are closed on Monday.

                 Yoshida is located at 439 Boston Post Road in Milford.  Just take exit 37 off I-95.

 

5 out of 5 stars

Copyright 2004

Yoshida Sushi Chefs Make Sushi

(Note the rare female sushi chef)

By Amanda Evans

Original Publishing Date: 05/06/04