Sushi Sam's Edomata

I don't have a lot to say about Sushi Sam's, other than that it is amazing and definitely the freshest sushi I've had in America. On a college budget, it's not cheap, but if you love fancy sushi, then you're going to love that it's a bargain.

We got the eight-piece sushi omakase (they also have a sashimi omakase), which is the chef's selection of nigiri (a small lump of rice with a topping). Ours included shrimp, salmon, lobster, and fatty tuna. For $40, you get eight pieces of expensive cuts of fish on rice and a dessert, which is really an amazing deal, considering bad sweet shrimp can go for $8 a piece on the east coast (boo). The way omakase works is that they do everything for you--they season it where it's necessary--so all you have to do is take pictures and eat. I love that they do everything for you, so you don't run the risk of ruining a quality piece of fish with too much wasabi or soy sauce. Depending on the fish, they'll also put extra toppings and flavorings; for example, the fatty fish go with yuzu sushi rice, which really cuts greasiness, which can be really noticeable when you eat it on rice. They're all great combinations and super fresh, so it's really just a matter of preference. But you'll most likely love all of them.

For dessert, we got the green tea tiramisu and the sakura panna cotta and rice ball (the latter is a daily special, so ask if they have it). The tiramisu was so good--the cake part was moist but not soggy, which is the case with a lot of tiramisus that sit around for a long time. On top they have frozen raspberries (real unsweetened frozen raspberries, not the horrible grocery store kind), which is so good. They add a bit of sweetness and freshness to an otherwise creamy dessert. The sakura rice ball (not mochi) is a glob of sakura-flavored glutinous rice with red bean paste in the middle. It's also wrapped with a sakura leaf, which your server will tell you to eat. It sounds a bit off-putting, the leaf adds a nice woodsy flavor and depth. The panna cotta is nice and milky, just a really basic panna cotta. With both of these desserts, I love how subtle and true the flavorings are. A lot of time, green tea is enhanced to be too bitter, and sakura too sweet. These desserts are as mild and fragrant as green tea and cherry blossoms really are.

There's really not much to say about Sushi Sam's. It's great and fresh and everyone should try it.

218 E 3rd Ave.
http://www.sushisams.com/index.html