Uzu Sushi

Uzu Sushi has been one of my favorite BYOs for some time. Even though it is located on Market Street in Old City, it is quietly tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the area restaurants, making it a convenient hidden gem. I frequent this restaurant, sometimes on a weekly basis, because since I discovered it, no other sushi place is able to satisfy me. From their sashimi to their creative rolls, everything is light, fresh, often spicy, and leaves me smiling. As you enter, the owner greets you with a warm smile as he shows you to your table. He is attentive, but never rushes you through your meal. As he presents you with your dish, his smile always widens with pride at his carefully constructed masterpieces. While the restaurant is tiny, it is a cozy haven where you can bring your favorite bottle of wine, and leisurely relax and enjoy a top notch meal.

When ordering, I generally skip the bound menu altogether and go straight for the paper strip that lists the sushi items available. To be honest I've really only had a few items from that menu (despite the countless times I've been there) because the sushi is really the star.


Here we tried (clockwise from top) the Spicy Scallop, Rainbow, and Devil's Delight rolls. The Spicy Scallop is one of my husband's favorites. The scallop is sweet, and the spicy sauce is a careful balance of creaminess and spiciness that highlight the scallop. The Devil's Delight is one of my favorites. The meaty sweetness of the tuna, the spicy jalepeno, combined with the tempura crunchies give you spice, sweet, and crunch all in one delicous bite.

On the left we have the Fireman Special (top) and the Raising Arizona (bottom). Similar to the Devil's Delight, the Fireman Special combines tuna and crunchies on the inside with more tuna on the outside and spicy sauce. The Raising Arizona has yellowtail, masago, scallion, and jalepeno on the inside with spicy sauce. The light, firm yellowtail with the bursting beads of the masago and the fresh spice of the jalepeno are a perfect combination.

I saved the best for last-just looking at this makes my mouth water! Pictured here are the Toro, medium fatty tuna (top left), Hamachi or yellowtail (bottom left), and the Spicy Scallop (center line). The Toro is a luxuriously rich and meaty piece of tuna that is worth the splurge. The yellowtail is a more lightly flavored, tender yet firm fish. Finally, our favorite of all rolls/sushi is the Spicy Scallop sushi. Mouthfuls of melt-in-your-mouth sweet scallop tossed with masago, that dances around your tongue and pops at just the right moments, are bathed in the creamy and spicy sauce, and presented on top of a bed of lightly vinegared sticky rice and surrounded by the seaweed wrapper that somehow manages to delicately secure everything on the trip to your mouth. This is what you MUST have when you go here. This is also what will keep you coming back.

There are items on the menu, like the Spicy Scallop sushi that are outstanding and deserve an A+. Most items fall into the A category with very few, mainly because they are the more common rolls, that I would give a lower rating. Rolls range from $5-$15 with most hovering around $9. The Sashimi will cost you around $6/2 pieces. While its not the cheapest sushi you can find (do you really want to eat the cheapest sushi you can find?) it is still a bargain for the quality. Every experience here has been pleasant. In fact, this is my go-to restaurant for out-of-town sushi-friendly guests and every single one of them has left happy. My guess is, you will too.

Overall: A

Uzu Sushi

104 Market Streeet

Philadelphia, PA 19106

215-923-9290

www.uzuphilly.com

Franklin Fountain

Whenever I'm having dinner in Old City, I usually head over to The Franklin Fountain for dessert. Although the design is based on and old soda shop, most people visit the for the ice cream. On any given summer evening the line stretches far onto the sidewalk meandering past tables, chairs, and the passersby. It gives you just enough time to decide, or debate, what you should get. I'm a big fan of the "College Ice" where you can choose one scoop and one topping. But realistically there's no choice for the topping because the hot fudge is the chocolaty-est, gooey-est, most delicious item on the menu. Once you've had it, you won't consider any other options. If I'm on the mood for a walk, a cone is the way to go. After all, what says summer better than strolling around aimlessly with an ice cream cone as you try to strategically slurp it all up before it drips down to your elbow.

But sometimes, my husband and I will split a sundae-usually a Mt. Vesuvius. If you ask, they'll let you choose two flavors instead of the standard chocolate and vanilla (we like hydrox cookie and rocky road). The generous sundae comes in a bowl spilling over with brownie chunks, malt powder, whipped cream and the piece de resistance-hot fudge. Excuse my cheesiness but it does make you want to erupt with joy. And while the sundaes may seem pricey at $8-$10, they are a bargain considering the heaping portion, that is probably enough for 4 people but, sigh, somehow we manage to devour it with only two of us. We are troopers. If this doesn't make you drool then, I'm sorry, but there is no hope for you.

Overall: A-

The Franklin Fountain

116 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

215-627-1899

http://franklinfountainphilly.blogspot.com/2009/03/energy-and-persistence-conquer-all.html