dinner at shoto
This experience was actually the inspiration for the essay I posted a few days ago, in which I discussed the importance of enjoying a meal on an emotional level detached from the physical characteristics of the food itself. Dinner at Shoto with my friends was truly a wonderful time. Ryan, Nicco, and Brooksie are wonderful in conversation, and this conversation paired excellently with the well-curated ambiance of the restaurant. Shoto is a high-end Japanese restaurant in D.C. serving both classic dishes and fusion plates such as sushi tacos. Entering the restaurant, the thumping (but mellow) house music and beautiful decorations set a very cinematic stage for our meal. The food was great. I will say that Shoto is more expensive than we anticipated, so tread with caution.
Sushi Taco
We each started with one of the sushi tacos. The tacos range in price from 9 to 18 dollars. Each is about the size of my thumb. They’re too small, but they also taste too good. The fish in my salmon sushi taco was very fresh, and the exterior shell had the satisfying crunch of a fried wonton. I was craving more.
Size: 4/10
Taste: 9.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10
Spicy Tuna Roll
I then moved on to a classic spicy tuna roll. I haven’t had much good sushi in my life, but this was far and away the most fresh roll I have ever tasted. The fish was juicy, and each bite was flavorful and oddly sweet. The cucumber was very crunchy, and added to the overall bite texture every efficiently.
Freshness: 10/10
Taste: 9/10
Overall: 9.5/10
Tofu Salad
Finally, I ate the tofu salad. Each bite of tofu was packed with flavor, and the battered and fried exterior shells were excellent. The lettuce was tossed with a sweet dressing. I really think the portion size could have been better for this dish— I understand the thinking, but it seems a little too underwhelming in hindsight.
Size: 4/10
Tofu texture: 9/10
Taste: 8.5/10
Salad dressing: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
I also have to mention my friend’s choices. Nicco and Brooksie got an incredible salmon steak, which was cooked at medium. The dish was juicy and full of seasonings which complemented, rather than overwhelmed, the natural salmon flavor. Ryan ate a fantastic pork dish. The pork was thinly-sliced and marinated, and wasn’t too dry, which might have been a concern. These were really solid main courses.