Tasty Food
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P HO T O S B Y T O D D C O O P E R
NU-SHI
Sushi restaurants open just in time for summer
S
ome of us like it saucy and hot, and not frozen
but fresh — some of us like it raw. And sushi is
the food of choice for Eugene’s fish fiends and
raw dawgs. Though there is no shortage of
local sushi joints, this abundance creates a mar-
ket where the law of supply and demand battles with the need for
quality over quantity. Two new Japanese restaurants just hit the
scene, adding to the menagerie of miso and masago that we
Eugeneans are so blessed with.
“I saw one person come in and eat 15 plates,” Sushi Island
waitress Hailey Rose says. “Because it’s buffet-style here, we get
people who really love to eat.”
Rose works a lunch shift at Sushi Island, the hottest new spot
to get your wasabi on if you’re cruising West 11th. Nestled
between Seneca Road and Bailey Hill, right next to Skip’s Records
& CD World, Sushi Island offers the look and feel of a big-city
sushi restaurant but maintains a calm Eugene-ish vibe. The con-
veyor belt of tasty rolls that travel ‘round and ‘round the two main
seating areas will have you thinking you can eat just one more,
even after you’ve had your fill.
But if you desire something a little more adventurous than
the standard fare of spicy tuna and sashimi, Sushi Island boasts
a killer menu with monster-themed rolls that deliver mouthfuls
of satisfaction. The Godzilla roll, a combination of soft-shell
crab, unagi, avocado and masago, is a zingy must-try concoction
that lives up to its name. We are also strong advocates for the
Angry Dragon — a well-proportioned combo of crab and
cucumber, topped with tuna and wasabi tobiko. Oh yeah, then
there’s the King Kong roll, full of lobster, scallop, crab, avocado
and scallion. This island is serious; go there, but mind the
monsters.
Heated Outdoor Patio
Thursday Blues Jam
BY DANTE ZUÑIGA-WEST
The Whiteaker is about to become home to a new sushi spot that
is unlike any other. Mame, named after the sushi appetizer edamame,
is the epitome of fresh — seriously, like, they refuse to own a freezer.
“Frozen is exactly what we don’t want to do,” owner Taro
Kobayashi says. “I’m not here to open a can and feed you. I’m
here to open a restaurant.”
Mame, next to Olive Juice at 541 Blair, will sneak open its doors
on Saturday, June 16. It might be Eugene’s most intimate sushi restau-
rant. Seating only 15 customers at a time, the place embodies the
environmentally friendly DIY nature of the city. Customers are
encouraged to bring their own pair of chopsticks, which Kobayashi
and company will sanitize and store for you at the restaurant.
The folks at Mame are adamant about keeping everything on
the menu fresh. Along with no freezer, Kobayashi says all of his
fish will be shipped in daily. The place also has its own herb gar-
den and, once Mame is in full swing, the restaurant plans to grow
its own edamame as well.
“People might be a little skittish about the no-freezer part, but
that’s OK,” Kobayashi says. “What we offer is a better product.”
Kobayashi, who is also a local Kung Fu instructor, says that
part of why he is opening the restaurant is his connection with the
Eugene community and his support of healthy dieting. He says
Mame will also specialize in bizarrely unique dishes that cannot be
found elsewhere.
“We want to make Asian- and American-inspired Oregon food,”
Kobayashi says. “That sounds weird, but come down and check it
out for yourself.”
We couldn’t agree more. But make sure to bring your adventur-
ous spirit — the menu at Mame changes weekly on account of how
damn fresh things are. ■
770 S. BERTELSEN
541-342-5028
WWW.OVERTIMEGRILL.BIZ
EAT OUT
COME HOME
NOW
GET YOUR
BEAGLE ON,
7 NIGHTS
A WEEK!
Sushi Island is located at 3215 W. 11th Ave. Mame is located at 541 Blair Blvd.
2435 Hilyard St.
Eugene, OR 97405
541-484-3062
www.thehumblebeaglepub.com
open for dinner
sun-thurs 5pm - 10ish
fri-sat 5pm - 11ish
happy hour everyday
5-6pm & 9pm-close
chow.eugeneweekly.com
CHOW! Summer 2012 7