Japanese Food and Hospitality at Mino

We look forward to the sense of serenity that greets us as we enter a Japanese restaurant before the main dinner crowd. We were not disappointed at Mino, where servers, dressed in red kimonos, greeted us and allowed us to choose our place at the sushi bar. A friendly sushi chef welcomed us. We learned over the course of our meal that he was the owner, and his daughter was one of our servers.

Orange paper lanterns hung in the windows. Live plants and warm wood tables and chairs added to the Japanese style.

We asked for glasses for our cold sake and beer, along with some water. A small decanter for the sake was also presented.

We asked the chef about any special fish he had before placing our order for appetizers. A bowl of edamame ($4.50) and a dish for the empty pods quickly appeared. The chef presented a special appetizer he made. A mound of cucumber strips and crab sticks in a spicy mayonnaise was topped with a slice of avocado and black tobiko (fish roe). While most people would enjoy this, we prefer more traditional dishes without the creamy dressing.

We shared a bowl of miso soup and standard salad with a sweet ginger dressing, which was included with our entrée order from the kitchen.

The more traditional Uzu Zukuri ($12.95 ) brought generous slices of hirame (fluke) served in citrus-soy ponzu sauce with fresh scallions. A cucumber fan, avocado wedge and a rose of hirame with red tobiko completed the beautiful platter. Additional ponzu and sriracha sauces were provided in fish-shaped dishes.

The Maguro Tataki ($12.95) was made from fresh maguro (tuna) seared on the outside with a light dusting of peppery spice in ponzu sauce. Some strips of fish were arranged into a flower, topped with black tobiko. Slices of daikon radish and lemon adorned the fish.

Our entrée from the kitchen seemed timed to arrive just as we were finishing our appetizers. A large platter of Tonkatsu ($16.95) had thin, tender boneless pork cutlets with panko breading and an egg on top. Sweetly seasoned rice with broccoli florets, carrots, mushrooms and onions formed a thick layer under the pork. Although we both ate from this dish, we still had plenty to take with us—we had to save some room for sushi.

Hamachi (yellow tail) is one of our favorites, particularly when it’s from the richer belly of the fish. We each enjoyed two pieces ($5.95) of this Hamachi Sushi, although we prefer it without the lemon slices placed between them. A carved cucumber that held the standard pickled ginger and wasabi shaped into a leaf added to the beauty of the plate.

We ended with the chef’s recommended fish—another of our favorites. Two pieces ($4.95) of Saba Sushi were mildly flavored with none of the common slightly fishy taste.

Throughout our meal, the servers cleared our plates and brought our orders in a quiet, unobtrusive way that made us feel pampered. A bag with our leftover Tonkatsu packaged  in a container was brought to us when we said we had finished our meal and asked for the check. We felt renewed with the gracious, attentive service, artistic plates, and fresh food.

Mino Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar

West Gate Plaza, 321 W. Lancaster Ave., Frazer

Telephone: 610-651-8756

Website: Minojapaneserestaurant.com

Hours: Lunch, Mon - Thurs, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Fri, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Dinner, Mon – Thurs, 5 – 9:30 p.m., Fri, Sat, 5 – 10:30 p.m., Sun, 5 – 9 p.m.

Cost: Appetizers, soups, $4 to $10; entrees, $15 – 24

Credit cards: VISA, Mastercard, AmEx

Alcohol: B.Y.O.

Special Features: Sushi bar, vegetarian cuisine