Sushiya You Tease
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| Chef Mathew at Work w/ His Team |
Its one of those pursuits I started not for love but for convenience. Admittedly, I am a dog who makes cheap compromises for sushi. At the time the only sushi delivery and today... still the only decent one. We've been going back and forth since it opened. This flip flopping affair of convenience left me occasionally happy but more often let down.
A couple of years later Sushiya returned to me in a flashier form. No longer a humble little stall but a full fledged restaurant. I ignored it for a while not wanting to settle this time around. Until my nuisance sushi-craving was back in full force. I shamelessly dialed Sushiya, who as always was happy to oblige. I was suspiciously impressed with the sushi, but didn't let myself get carried away because tomorrow could be a different story.
But what I hadn't anticipated was that once the very satisfactory delivery reached my belly word passed around the neural-system and planted a little seed in my brain called curiosity. Oh oh.
Long story short I was at Sushiya's fairly new restaurant at DLF Place a few days ago. And this is how our status changed from "its complicated" to "in a relationship" :
- Spinach Gomai (Sesame Salad) - At one point Sushiya would do boiled beans with the same dressing. I really wish they would bring it back because that fresh crunchiness with the mellowing sweet sesame dressing was such a welcome change from the usual mushy spinach. I usually end up ordering this dish as a compromise to the carnage always taking place on my table. But I can see the interest waining now. This wasn't bad, just a bit too sweet.
- Prawn Tempura Maki - Of course . Despite the rice looking as over-done and mashed up as it does it wasn't. Not only that just look at the rice to filling ratio. I hate it when the "filling" is long gone and you are still left chewing on plain sushi rice! One of the most generous shrimp tempura rolls with two nice juicy bits of prawn. As delicious as it was there were two issues I had one was that the tempura wasn't quite right. It should have been fluffy, crispy, instead it was crisp but a bit too defined. Tempura should be light enough to disappear, but this one obliged you to chew on it a little longer. My second issue was with the over-generous use of shichimi (7 ingredient Japanese spice powder) . The combination of the not-so-tempura like batter and shichimi almost gave the slightest impression of a sweet and salty Indian namkeen. Of course I am just overly finicky, my companion didn't even notice it until I pointed it out. I also asked for an addition of spicy mayo inside the roll. For me a shrimp tempura roll is just not complete without it. With my shrimp tempura roll obsession it goes without saying, this is making its way in to my belly on a very regular basis!
- Salmon Dragon Roll - Yes this has shrimp tempura in it too. But not our fault about 4-5 other dishes we tried to order were unavailable. Hmmmm. What's there not to like, smoked salmon, shrimp tempura and avocado! To be quite honest I didn't think the smoked salmon worked as well as fresh salmon would have. And avocado is just a curse in this city. This one was clearly under ripe. But overall it wasn't a bad eat, but I may just stick to the regular prawn tempura rolls.
- California Maki - Needed a break from my deep fried binge. It was light as angels cheeks, and exuded the amount of fresh healthiness this roll should. Well almost. I didn't realize they put mayo in/on this. Maybe it was mentioned and I missed it but probably the first time I am eating a California roll with mayo in it. Could have almost been ignored if it wasn't oozing out of it. They should scrap it all together because the ingredients in this are so light and subtle that the mayo is like an overkill of makeup on an already pretty face.
- Ginger Chicken - The presentation could be a little tidier for starters, but you can tell from the other dishes they are trying. What I will give them is the chubby little thigh pieces were perfectly cooked, succulent on the inside, the right kind of golden on the outside. The flavour however was a tad flat. I appreciate subtle flavours but this could do with a little bit more.
- Sesame Seared Salmon - I don't quite know what to say. It sounded wonderful but didn't come out quite like I hoped. Firstly, I was expecting to see the flesh a bit seared too but I suppose that doesn't have to be the case. Also the salmon, though fresh, to be given salmon for such affordable prices its understood its not Grade A. Which means it doesn't have that lusciousness that can make your knees tingle. But that can still be overlooked because I wasn't expecting Michelin quality produce. What I couldn't ignore was the sesame. Firstly too much, secondly despite it being toasted and seared it still tasted raw and almost chalky to me. Maybe this wasn't for me, or maybe they are overlooking something.
- Spicy Asparagus Tempura Roll - Oh calm down I did not order yet another fried roll! This is an old delivery picture. In fact now the rolls are perfectly bite sized with the rice on the outside. But I wanted to share this because until I discovered this I never even brought myself near an all veggie roll. This however is surprisingly good and strangely addictive.
A little disappointed to not be able to try the yakitori fish, pork belly, gyozas and a couple of other dishes. Hoping they get on board with all this soon. Overall, however I was very impressed with the new and improved Sushiya. Until Sushiya, sushi at these prices was unheard of in the city, especially for the quality and generosity you receive. It has managed to serve consistently good sushi the last three times I have tried it, twice with delivery and once at the restaurant. Head Chef Mathew and his team are clearly making a difference and was quite attentive to my suggestions after our meal. I guess the final confirmation will show in the food. Now just please stay this way so our affair need not end...
*I was always a bit concerned about raw fish being transported in Delhi's jams and extreme summers - So I had to be sure - I was told the box is filled with frozen gel packs that last up to 6 hrs and ensure a temperature of 3-7 degrees. Pheuf! Nothing stopping us now. *
Deals:
- Sumo Wednesdays - Unlimited Sushi & Appetizers for Rs.499
- CRAZY WEEKEND - FOR Rs.799 - Menu Below
Alcohol: No - But coming soon!
Delivery: Yes
Budget: Moderate
Contact:
Website
CALL +91-9312444086
Take Away Stalls:
- 1st Floor, Near Barista, Select City Walk, Saket, Delhi
- Food Court, 2nd Floor, DLF Promenade Mall, Vasant Kunj, Delhi
Sit- Down Restaurant:
- 1st Floor, M-105 DLF PLACE, Near Monk and Hard Rock, Saket, Delhi