Sushi Neko

Sushi Neko is a Japanese restaurant with the breadth to accommodate several kinds of diner at the same Western Avenue table. Its sushi menu gives considerable space to nigiri and sashimi, including tuna, yellowtail, salmon and scallops, but it also marks cooked, prepared and vegetable selections. That distinction makes the menu easier to navigate for companions with different preferences, rather than treating enthusiasm for raw fish as the price of admission.

There are two quite different routes through the sushi list. One emphasizes individual pieces and straightforward fish selections; another follows the house rolls into sauces, tempura and combinations. The Dragon roll uses tempura shrimp and cucumber with eel, avocado and other toppings, while the Cowboy includes shrimp tempura, cream cheese and crab salad. These are deliberately layered constructions. A diner seeking a restrained fish-and-rice meal can order accordingly, and someone who enjoys a more elaborate roll has a separate set of choices. Seasonal toro and sea urchin belong to the changing selection, rather than a promise that every specialty is available every day.

The warm kitchen makes Sushi Neko more versatile than its name alone suggests. Miso salmon combines bok choy with spicy miso and sweet soy glazes; grilled teriyaki chicken comes with vegetables and steamed rice. Those dishes offer a composed main course for a person who prefers cooked food while others build a sushi order. The restaurant is therefore especially useful for a mixed group or a dinner in which one table wants both Japanese kitchen dishes and sushi. Its strongest practical argument is that range, with clear differences between the menu’s simpler pieces and its more embellished house style.

Sources: Sushi Neko: identity, services and hours · Sushi Neko: sushi menu · Sushi Neko: hot-kitchen dishes · Sushi Neko: official contact · Sushi Neko: Google Maps listing