Home > The M.O. > Archives > 2007 > February > 02 > Entry
Musashino? More like MusashiYes! (ok)
You might potentially file this information under the category of common knowledge, but after an amazing dinner last night at Musashino, I had to say a little something about sushi in Austin. The names that seem to get most of the play with the downtown set are Uchi and Kenichi. While both of these restaurants offer rather delicious sushi and a nice ambience for dates, business meetings, and situations where you may want to impress upon out-of-towners that Austin is indeed a cosmopolitan town, I’ve always found them to be overpriced and too pretentious for my taste. Of the two, I prefer Uchi, but probably go about once or twice a year, and am even beginning to feel those trips a little pointless. Especially after last night.
Musashino, located on Greystone Drive, just off of the MoPac feeder offers a lively and dimly-lighted atmosphere for some of the best sushi in town. Sitting in one of the tiered sections of the restaurant, you get the feeling that you are eating in one of the themed dining rooms of Norwegian Cruise Lines (nonexistent) S.S. Junk or maybe in the bowels of the Pequod. After a 15-minute wait in the back hallway (you can opt to wait in the upstairs bar), we were seated at the sushi bar. From that vantage point we got to watch the mastery of sushi chef Tetsu, as he stoically and masterfully prepared our dinner with his razor-sharp blade.
An amazing feast of hamachi kama (yellowtail cheek) sake toro (fatty salmon), spicy scallop, negitoro (fatty tuna with scallions), spicy lobster rolls and spider evo rolls left us stuffed and happy. The hamachi kama and spicy lobster rolls were the highlight of the night; in fact, the buttery smoothness of the hamachi kama demanded we order a couple of more pieces after we thought we were done. And though we went fairly traditional in our choices, one of the great things about Musashino is that they offer a wide array of a la carte options, such as live aoyagi clam, monkfish liver and NW oyster, that you won’t generally find at midlevel sushi places.
When the bill came, the sticker shock so prevalent at the aforementioned posh sushi joints was nowhere to be seen. We got out of there for less than $40 a person. ‘Tis but a pittance compared to the $200 bill we received last time at Uchi.
Look, those expensive, pretentious, posh restaurants have their place, and for those who see money as no object, that place may be in their weekly dining out agenda. But honestly, we prefer to eat at Musashino for pretty much any occasion. It is classy enough for a nice date (as the young couples scattered throughout the restaurant could attest); fun enough for a group of friends looking to get loaded up on fish and sake (as the table to our right could attest); and family-friendly enough for a couple to bring their eating-with-hands 9-year-old for a delicious and healthy dinner (as the table to our left could attest).
Of course, there are a slew of sushi options around town, and one of the best online resources for said gastronomic delight is AustinSushi.com, which offers a map of restaurants across the entire town, replete with descriptions, ratings and links. So, if you’re always on the look out for a (relatively) new place (think on Maiko on Sixth St.), or looking for the best sushi happy hour (see the lines at Kyoto) or special deals (all-day happy hour Mondays at Silhouette), head over to AustinSushi.com for all your fresh fish needs.
Musashino
3407 Greystone Drive [map]
795-8593
Hours:
Lunch: 11:30a.m.-2p.m. (Tuesday-Friday)
Dinner: 5:30p.m.-10p.m. (Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday)
5:30p.m.-10:30p.m. (Friday and Saturday)
Image from Musashino Web site
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Food
Comments
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By Bre
February 2, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
Have I ever told you that you’re my favorite blogger?
MusashiYes. Oh, you.
By Aaron
February 2, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this
Way to go AASMO! It truly is the best Sushi place in town, no doubt.
By Sammy
February 2, 2007 11:50 PM | Link to this
I’m with you … Uchi is good, but it tends to be a little conspicuous consumption. XO
By JennyJenny
February 4, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this
I completely agree about Mushashi(Yes). That monkfish liver appetizer is the best thing! I probably never would have tried it myself (fish liver?), but I once ate there with a Japanese friend who did all the ordering. Mushashino was where he went when he got homesick for Japan.
By Ginie
February 5, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this
Matthew - What a good writer you are. I enjoyed your easy style, natural flow and well, just good writing.
I also enjoyed your self-deprecating humor of the man-without-a-plan, a likable and unique label.
Made me hungry!- Ginie