On a sweltering Tuesday night, C and I decided to grab a quick bite in the neighborhood (Park Slope). Originally, we had wanted to try Lookout Hill Smokehouse, but after viewing the extremely heavy and meat-filled menu, we decided to save that for a colder evening and find some more refreshing food. After walking in circles, we stopped at Tamari, a Japanese Sushi and Tapas restaurant. It wasn’t crowded, but still had a good number of people. The interior was a deep red and the walls hung with dubious Pollock-esque paintings
We order some Sake and found it was happy hour. The two-for-one drinks deal was a tremendous bargain, and the Sake was crisp and fruity. From the specials menu, we ordered a Scallop Salad. The shellfish were well seasoned and seared delicately. However, the salad could have been more creative than standard lettuce with tomatoes and carrots on the side.
Next came C’s spicy Cajun Tuna roll. The report was positive, the tuna firm and tasty.
After that a very interesting crunchy-fried octopus tapas, called Tako Tempura from the regular menu. A large, flavorful chunk of octopus, breaded and deep fried with a little salad and a creamy herb mayonnaise on top. I would go back for that.
Last up came a Cold Thai soup, the one low point of the meal. The broth was dull, I was turned-off by the cold mussels and the garnish was exactly the same as the Scallop Salad. Had it been a hot dish, perhaps I also wouldn’t have been as wary of the seafood.
It was a good little find, casual, cheap and tasty (although I’m not sure about the artwork). The tapas were the strong point on the menu, and next time, I would stick with them. Japanese aint always about Sushi and Tamari is proof of that.
Tamari – 201 5th Avenue (between Union and Berkeley) 718-230-5636
Happy Sake Hour – Saturday and Sunday from 4:00-8:00
