SATO

On Thursday, February 13th Dan and I kicked off our Valentine’s Day weekend by trying out a new “Modern Japanese Cuisine” restaurant on Elmwood called SATO. One of Dan’s good friends AJ works as a server/bartender/manager there and was very eager to show us what SATO has to offer. Dan, being the lovely boyfriend he is, decided to take me for dinner there even though my love for Japanese cuisine far exceeds his moderate tolerance for it.

SATO’s location previously housed O3 Organic Cafe, which has another location in Williamsville. When you walk into SATO you will notice similarities between how O3 looked, but I think a Japanese restaurant muck better suits the multi-level space. Upon entering guests will find the bar to their right which is stocked with a plethora of sake bottles to choose from. The bar also features a few draft lines and a generous wine selection available in bottles and by the glass.

The dining room can be found at the top of a small staircase leading up from the bar. The restaurant is small, but in traditional Japanese style features many tables set for two in an intimate setting. The dining room also has three tables that will accommodate four guests each.

AJ greeted our table promptly and suggested we start with a sake flight to begin our evening. The flight is very affordable and a great option for those who would like to try sake before committing to a glass. Each flight consists of three different sakes.

The first sake (at the bottom of the picture) was Koshi No Seki (Junmai Ginjo). The menu described it as “Subtle aroma of lemon pops. Refreshing entering, and well-balanced sweetness and acidity come in with a hint of bitterness. In after taste, refreshing nose of citrus fruits leads to the calm finish, with the lingering of Umami.”. This sake was served cold and tasted just like a lemon drop martini!

The middle sake, which I have yet to find out which brand it was, was my personal favorite. The sake tasted like honey when it sat in the front of my mouth, but as soon as it began to travel down my throat it stung like Sriracha! It had such an interesting complexity of flavors that I really enjoyed!

The last sake we tried was Kagatobi Yamahai (Junmai Extra Dry). The menu stated “Extra dry with a full body and sharp finish. Brewed in the traditional Yamahai method. Drink cold or warm.”. We were served this sake warm and it resembled a smooth tea with hints of honey. I would really enjoy this sake as dessert.

For an appetizer we ordered the Pork Gyoza Dumplings. These homemade pan-fried dumplings are made with ginger and garlic and served with dipping sauce. It was a nice change to be able to taste fresh homemade dumplings! these were executed flawlessly and the perfect start to our meal. Our only complaint was that we wish we had ordered more!

For Dan’s entree he decided to order the daily soup which was a Pork and Tofu Egg Drop and the Kara Age Chicken. The soup was good, but lacked a little salt. We had no problem seasoning it ourselves though as it was then delicious.

The Kara Age Chicken is Japanese-style fried free-range, all-natural chicken thigh which has been marinated in a soy/ginger sauce. Dan really enjoyed this dish and had mentioned ordering several orders of it during our next visit.

When I saw the Chirashi Zushi on SATO’s menu I instantly knew this entree was the perfect choice for me. When there’s sashimi involved I’m there! This dish layered salmon, tuna, tamago egg, radishes, snap peas, cucumbers, and roe over a bed of sushi rice garnished with micro greens. I’ll explain this dish this way: I had it less than a week ago and have craved it everyday since. I have a feeling I will be visiting SATO frequently just to order this again and again.

Unfortunately we were too full between the food and sake to order dessert, but the Coconut Honey Rice Pudding is at the top of my list to try next time we dine at SATO. I am looking forward to seeing what SATO evolves into and have no doubt it will become a staple in my restaurant selections.