If you haven't noticed a trend by now, I have been going back and forth between Buenos Aires and New York City for the past few months. This week, I am in New York eating sushi with my eating buddy, Dan. You may remember him from my previous sushi entry. This time we went to check out Bozu in Williamsburg, the decidedly less pretentious of our two experiences.
Bozu (296 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY, 718- 384-7770, www.oibozu.com) $$- Walking in from the extreme cold I was immediately wrapped up in the physical and atmospheric warmth of Bozu. The place appears small, with an almost overwhelmingly large bar and little space for tables. However, if you keep walking through there is another room with a sushi bar and beyond that the patio. We sat near the first bar, which felt the liveliest. Immediately we asked for the drink specials. Dan got a glass of wine, I got the daily mojito. It was a mango mojito and while it tasted fruity without being overbearing it packed a lot more alcohol than I thought. I was quickly experiencing the dilemma of wanting another but not wanting to, well, be on my ass. At least not before the appetizers arrived.
For our meal I began with a miso soup and a hotate punch. The hotate punch, a scallop sashimi with wasabi stems, seemed like the perfect way to start the meal. It was refreshing and spicy in the clean way that only wasabi can accomplish. An almost perfect amuse-bouche. But for seven dollars I was expecting an actual appetizer as opposed to a palate cleanser. It was, fortunately, the only overpriced item of the night.
I was curious about the "bombs," round balls of rice with raw fish on top. I ordered the Mexican Bomb which was salmon, avocado, and cold green tomato sauce. I could not believe how filling the three rice balls were compared to regular sushi. I had originally contemplated getting The Party Bomb which is 12 assorted pieces. While it may not sound like very much I would suggest that two people split the hefty bombs. Though they are heavy they are worth trying. There is a hotate bomb which is the same as the hotate punch I got. It may be the cheaper and more filling way to go.
I had the guacamole salmon roll (guacamole, cilantro, salmon, and spicy sour sauce). I was curious to try sushi with guacamole and though I liked it, I kept forgetting that there was guacamole. I wish that it had been on top of the roll instead of in the middle. The taste of the avocado was too delicate for the spicy sour sauce. It was just too similar to a spicy salmon roll.
Two mango mojitos (I ended up going for it), one miso soup, one scallop sashimi appetizer, one order of bombs, and one roll: $37. For great quality and innovative sushi in Williamsburg? It could certainly be worse.
