Desperately Seeking Sushi

Well it had just been too long. The sushi cravings were back. So desperate sushi seekers headed for the local place -- Amimoto. With its lantern-adorned sushi bar, neutral walls decorated tastefully with Japanese prints and symbols, a stunning encased kimono and crayon landscapes done by the owner, Amimoto brings you as close to Japan as any place in Punta Gorda Florida can. And then, of courrse, there is the sushi.

Amimoto's sushi is fresh, generously sliced and delicious. It is our favorite Japanese restaurant within a 50-mile circumference of our home town. Daruma in Naples is a close contender --- more on this restaurant in another blurb to come.

The restaurant has about 10 tables and 9 seats at the Sushi bar so in winter month's it is usually hard to get a seat. However, last night there were openings -- an unfortunate sign of the economic times. Nonetheless, there were plenty of hard-core sushi lovers wolfing down the earthly delights.

In addition to a full slate of nigiri, Amimoto also serves the standard and some of their own maki. Plus, it is a full service restaurant with offerings for the sushiphobic. The appetizer list is delightful with offerings such as tuna and beef tataki, katsu, takitori, fried oysters and gyoza. Last night we tried the shiitake which is sauteed mushrooms in a teriyaki type sauce --- it was very flavorful and not rubbery like some mushroom dishes of this sort.

The full menu, which I confess we have never been to -- unfortunately Japanese restaurants with great sushi are a bit like ice cream parlors with great vanilla ice cream, i.e. it's hard to get by the specialty, is extensive. Nonetheless, I've been told by others who have accompanied us here that the cooked food is excellent. Some of the dishes include teriyaki of various sorts--fish, chicken and steak. Grilled fish including grouper, mackerel, and sea bass, soft-shell crab tempura and standard tempura are also on the menu. I saw the later arrive at a neighboring table, and its the real deal not that fake fried stuff and an enormous portion.

All and all Amimoto is worth a visit if you are in or near Punta Gorda.