Food Review: Moshi Moshi | The sushi equivalent of comfort food

Samantha McCartney
Staff Writer

A mix of scents from countless restaurants and the occasional live musicians all describe Carytown’s upbeat, eclectic atmosphere. When walking down the street in Carytown, there is a wide variety of choices, from the high class, French cuisine of Can Can, to the classic cheese burgers of Carytown Burgers and Fries.

Moshi Moshi, a sushi restaurant in Carytown, was my destination of choice. Offering the regular choices for sushi, one may think there’s no difference between this place and all of the others, but one look at the menu changes that assumption.

Most notably, their specialty rolls gain the most attention. Tempura fried rolls that can include combinations of two or more different kinds of seafood within one roll are some of the most popular. Not only does one have the option of actual fried sushi rolls, but for non-seafood eaters, Moshi Moshi offers steak, stir fry, noodles and rice. They even serve tofu for vegetarian customers.

When faced with the substantially difficult choice of what to order, my waiter recommended his favorite, the crouching tiger roll. Filled with avocado, shrimp tempura, spicy mustard, eel sauce and Sriracha sauce and topped with tuna sashimi style, it was the clear winner. This, along with a lighter sweet potato roll, would be my meal of choice.

Within the tavern-like atmosphere there were a few Asian influences spread throughout the restaurant. The walls were lined with photographs of Richmond in the early 1900’s and late 1800’s, and there was a fireplace situated in the center of the downstairs level. For a more intimate feel, one could venture upstairs where there is more available seating. On a nice day, the option of eating outside is also available, but indoors seemed more suitable to get the full effect of the restaurant.

In less than thirty minutes, the food was on the table. The waiter’s recommendation proved true. The crouching tiger roll was full of many different flavors due to the combination of the shrimp, avocado and three different sauces. The lightly seared tuna balanced the crunchiness of the tempura shrimp within the roll and the sauces were unlike any kind of sushi I had ever had.

However, not even halfway through the meal, I was full. After three pieces, all of that seafood and all of those sauces became overwhelming and what was supposed to have been a “lighter” meal became as heavy as if I was eating comfort food. It would have been more appropriate for Moshi Moshi to offer fewer pieces for the crouching tiger roll, as it does for other rolls.

The sweet potato roll was a nice break from the wide array of flavors offered to me with the crouching tiger, but without soy sauce tasted a little bland.

If you go into Moshi Moshi and expect a normal, light meal of sushi, the specialty rolls are not recommended. Stick to the regular choices, or even dare to get a “hand” roll which is one large piece of seaweed rolled into cone with the contents of whatever roll you have chosen.