56.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Amazing presentations meet exotic flavors
Kaiseki
Japanese Cuisine
7 West Merrick Road
Valley Stream
(516) 561-3556
Recommendations:
Rock Shrimp
Sautéed Soft Shell Crab
Tuna Tataki
Tuna Mango Tartar
New Style Usuzukuri
Shrimp Martini
Eel Tempura with Quail Egg Sauce
Ring of Fire
Diamond Roll
Sushi Sandwich
Krazy Angel
Tempura Ice Cream
While Japanese cuisine is known for its artful edibles, owner of Kaiseki, Tommy Yeh, has managed to push out creations beyond the limits of imagination. Whether they arrive with cascading caviars, or in a color-changing martini glass, or embellished by flames or paper umbrellas, his dishes are dazzling. And the best part is, his exotic designs are as sensational to the palate as they appear to the eye.
Tommy Yeh, who previously owned Himawari in Long Beach, has been a sushi chef for 14 years. Having grown up in Valley Stream, where he still resides, he decided to bring his talents back to his home town. His wife, Amy, hosts at Kaiseki.
Decked with rich woods and Japanese art, the restaurant is cozy, with seating available at booths, tables and a sushi bar. You’ll be offered a warm moist hand towel, beverage selection, and an illustrated book-like menu. Servers are cordial and accommodating.
Tuna mango tartar offered chunks of raw tuna and mango tossed with spicy mayo and caviar. Tuna Tataki, another sashimi style appetizer, was thinly sliced, laced with onion dressing. New style usuzukuri - a plate of sliced raw fluke with ginger, scallions and garlic - was finished with hot olive and sesame oils. Rock shrimp with walnuts were deep fried with a spicy kick, tossed in creamy sauce. Eel tempura with quail egg sauce was served warm over rice. Sautéed soft shell crab arrived sizzling and deliciously garlic infused. “Ring of Fire” was just that – slices of raw yellowtail tuna with jalapeno and sprouts, to be grilled with skewers over a flame (blazing in the center of the bowl) and rolled into lettuce leaves.
Sushi-wise, diamond roll was a luscious mix of tuna, salmon, avocado, peanuts and greens wrapped in rice paper. Shrimp Martini, served in flashing stemware, offered assorted sashimi and shrimp in cerviche sauce over shredded radish, topped with crabmeat and caviar. Sushi sandwich, served as upright triangles, was filled with spicy crab salad and eel, pressed between soy paper. My favorite was the krazy angel roll, a circular masterpiece created with Cajun spiced tuna, asparagus tempura, salmon, eel, and yellowtail, sprinkled with tempura crunch, dollops of black and red caviars, topped with a paper umbrella.
Fried ice cream was our dessert of choice. Scoops of red bean rolled in tempura batter and flash fried, drizzled with chocolate sauce and served with whipped cream, was a fine finale.
From the dinner menu, kitchen (cooked) and sushi appetizers are $4.95 to $12.95. Classic sushi rolls are $4.95 to $6.95, and special ones are $10.95 to $14.95. Entrees (sushi, kitchen, hot pots, and Bento Box dinners) range from $12.95 to $24.95. Desserts are $3.95 to $5.95. Lunch specials, which include salad, rice, choice of soup, soda or sake, are $10.95 to $16.95.
Parties for up to 40 can be accommodated. Delivery is available to Valley Stream, Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, Franklin Square and much of the five town area. Hours are Monday through Friday, lunch from 11:30 AM to 3 PM, and dinner from 5 to 10:30 PM; Saturday 12:30 to 11 PM, and Sunday 12:30 to 10:30 PM. Reservations are suggested.
