Coralville, IA — Three Samurai

Three Samurai 1801 2nd St Coralville, IA

(319) 337-3340 map

Three Samurai is a cobination Teppanaki/Sushi restaurant. Unlike some combo places, they have a large Japanese menu as well as a good selection of sushi. Sushipilgim has been to Three Samurai four times. The first was for sushi and it was as I recall it was pretty good. While I am not a big Teppanaki fan, I have had it there twice and enjoyed it both times while entertaining guests.

This week I was in the area at lunchtime an I felt like sushi so I stopped in. Near the door was a chalkboard sign suggesting the sushi specials — Uni and Mirugai (Sea Urchin and Gian Clam). This was definitely a good sign. I decided I would order nigiri a la carte in order to have mirugai. I ordered a bowl of miso soup, giant clam, tuna, yellow tail and a Philadelphia roll.

As I sat reading and pondering The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene I was lost in contemplation of symmetries as applied to modern physics. I was jolted back to reality when the waitress brought my order. I looked down on the plate and decided that it was a harsh reality indeed.

The mirugai looke questionable but I tried it anyway. The color shloud have been a light tan like a manilla folder and the consistency should have been firm and substantial. Instead it looked and felt more like a raw oyster than giant clam. Even worse it felt warm as if it had been kept unrefrigerated. To say it was disgusting would be putting it mildly. The yellowtail was soft and beginning to get slimy.

The tuna was nicely colored — so nice that it looked artificial — but it tasted fine. The nigiri, especially the tuna, was mad of very large thick slabs of fish on a small ball of sushi rice. I felt that the fish portion was to large to let the rice compliment it adequately.

My Philadelphia roll was nicely made each piece being consistent in size. The cream cheese looked like it had been spread on like butter. There was barely enough to add any flavor to the roll. The salmon in the roll was the best piece of fish in the whole meal.

I know it is possible to get good sushi even in Iowa (Sushi House 30 minutes up the interstate is proof of that) just not at Three Samurai.

Three Samurai: 2 rice bowls