Sushi Groove

If we didn't have friends living around the corner from Sushi Groove, we may never have found this sake bar and sushi restaurant. The sushi itself is as modern and inventive as the name, with a twist of fresh vitality lacking in many traditional sushi restaurants. It's an East meets West approach at its sophisticated best. Our first time there was only for a drink, but we sat at the bar to watch the making of a foie gras nigiri. That told us enough about this restaurant to bring us back. They offer specials along with their regular menu every night and that makes it enticing for repeat business. I'm hoping to find the foie gras again on another visit.

The first dish ordered this time around was an Eel Salad reasonably priced at $7.25. The unagi was beautifully dressed with the traditional sweet sauce that usually accompanies it, sitting on a bed of pickled cucumbers. One could make a meal in itself of it. Next was a platter composed of sushi of varying complexities and prices.

Spicy Tuna Maki in the lower range of complexity and priced at $6.75 was still more complex than at most other restaurants. It came with avocado, a nice creamy foil to the heat of the hot sauce employed on the ahi. California Maki for $5.75 was equal to any other and the crab was very fresh. West Coast Roll at $13.00 was particularly good and may be a regular on the menu. It is basically a California Roll topped with ahi tuna and a dollop of hot mayonnaise. It was rich, creamy and hot, just delectable. The Lahaina Roll priced at $13.00 may have been a special for the night as I believe it was topped with Hawaiian Ono. I'm sorry to admit that I don't recall the other ingredients, but I could easily order it again because it was delicious. Judging by the photo, I might guess it was ahi, cucumber and avocado inside, but it very well may have been spicy tuna and not ahi.

1916 Hyde St
San Francisco CA 94109
415)440-1905