Sam’s Sushi Bar & Grill
521 Queen Anne Ave. N
Seattle, WA
(206) 282-4612
Very rarely will I say a sushi place is a dud. At Sam’s Sushi, not only was the rice tasting flat, but the late night service was terrible. I arrived about 45 minutes before closing and while the other couple here was able to take their time to finish their meal, I was being rushed.
Osaka Sushi
1951 Oak Bay Ave.
Oak Bay, B.C.
250-590-6650
J: It was a day revisiting old haunts like the Penny Farthing Pub. It was just an indecisive day as Ed and I traveled to Oak Bay, then to downtown Victoria only to turn around and make our return. During our journeys via B.C. Transit bus, to learn we had the same driver twice and the same bus 3 times that day was a little weird. It was the bus I now dub Phantom 8035.
Ebizo Sushi
604 Broughton St.
Victoria, BC
250-383-3234
J: Nothing says hungry like a magazine launch party at Belmiro’s Restaurant & Lounge when Ed and I show up too early. To be honest, I ate very little in expectation of us consuming mass quantities of hors d’oeuvres and fine wines at the Niche Magazine Red Carpet Gala.
My back up plan was to wander the streets of downtown Victoria using our eyes and noses to locate good eats.
E: And that usually means trouble for two hungry walruses like us. We were not quite the blokes tonight. I pointed out the nearest place was a Japanese restaurant that we often pass by, but always arrive at the worst possible timing.
We finally arrived at Ebizo, Victoria’s quaintest place to have a bite of Japanese cuisine!
Uchida Eatery/Shokudo
A22-633 Courtney St.
Nootka Court
Victoria, BC
250-388-7383
In a mad rush to a Springboard Lecture to launch 2013’s Victoria Film Festival, a quick bite was needed. Inside Nootka Court, I lucked out at seeing that Uchida was still open. I remember this place used to be Daidoco, but this operation closed before James and I could return to weigh in at more of the tastes this Japanese diner offered.
Shiki Sushi
1113 Blanshard Street
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 381-8622
If people think a restaurant can survive on all you can eat service everyday, Shiki Sushi has a secret. Diners have only two hours to order what they like, and the time it takes to bring out what people ordered will vary on the complexity of the meal.
Shizen Sushi
8-1706 Government St.
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 381-8228
J: Twice now I’ve been foiled from any attempt to grab some dinner at Ebizo Sushi. It’s either we were early or we arrived on a day they were closed.
Dejected, I was still determined to get my hands on some decent Japanese cuisine. The light bulb above Ed’s head was switched on. Ed’s idea was to eat at a Japanese restaurant in Victoria’s Chinatown. I thought “why not”, if someone of Chinese descent can own an Italian pizzeria, than why not a place that produces Japanese food.
twohungryblokes.com 