Alpharetta, GA — Little Bayadori

Little Badayori 390 Cumming St., Suite A Alpharetta, GA

676.762.0112 website map

I have never had any luck with sushi buffets. Some of my worst sushi experiences have been at sushi buffets. In fact the only sushi buffet to which I would ever return is Midori in Dallas, Texas, So when someone suggested that I try Badayori, an Atlanta area sushi buffet — I was skeptical. But the recommendation was so strong and echoed by others that I decided to give it a try.

There are actually two Badayoris, one in the busy Perimeter Center area and the other, Little Badayori, a few miles up the road in Alpharetta. I was in Alpharetta so I decided to try Little Badayori. When I got to the restaurant it was not very crowded. The hostess/cashier/waitress greeted me warmly and I was seatred at a table. The buffet at Badayori is huge. One portion was desserts and fruits, another hot foods, another a hibachi station and the there was a separate sushi section. The sushi section had different kinds of sushi on square ceramic tiles sitting over ice or a cooler. I was impressed that they maintained a variety of sushi but only kept two pieces on display. As soon as someone took a piece, the sushi chef made a new one. This arrangement kept the sushi fresh.

As for the sushi, there were a variety of rolls and some nigiri. I tried some of the rolls and some of the nigiri. All of the sushi was good quality. The selection was average, nothing exotic but all pretty good.

The hot food and salads were also good. I enjoyed a salad with mushrooms, some sunomono and a dish called dynamite. Dynamite was crab meat and japanese mayonnaise in a small salad. There selection of non-sushi items was impressive. Everytthing was beautifully presented and the staff made sure that all items on the bar were refreshed regularly.

I know this is a sushi blog but there was one item on the bar that was the best I have ever had. The calamari was out of this world. On the bar they had a large calamari body cliced up and seasoned. I am not sure how it was cooked. It was not breaded and not noticably spicy. The calamari was tasty and melted in your mouth. Not the least bit gummy — absolutely perfect.

As I was making a last trip to the sushi section, I saw a round griddle of some sort. Any francophile would recognize it, it was a crepe machine. Badayori's buffet includes made-to-order crepes! I had mine with chocolate, bannanas and whipped creme, absolutely perfect.

I never believed that this would happen, but based on the total experience, Badayori, a sushi buffet, gets my highest rating.

Little Badayori 5 rice bowls

Atlanta, GA — Goldfish

Goldfish 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. NE Atlanta, GA

770.671.0100 website map

The Dunwoody/Perimeter Ceter area of Atlanta is an excellent place to look for a restaurant. In this area there is something for everyone. Strangely, there are not many sushi places.

Goldfish is a seafood restaurant that has a sushi bar. In the past I have been to goldfish to order cooked seafood. THis is one of the few places that cooks swordfish the way I like it — just barely cooked. This time I went to goldfish for the sushi.

I ordered a Philadelphia roll and the sashimi. The presentation was nice and the chef paid some attention to the roll. All around me I saw tables order sushi appetizers with regular entrees.

Goldfish is definitely a restaurant where one goes to both see and be seen. I do not generally give high ratings to trendy places but Goldfish is an exception. The fact that they have a very good sushi bar hidden inside an excellent seafood restaurant is simply a bonus.

Goldfish is an excellent place to take a friend or colleague who is a sushi novice.

Goldfish 4 rice bowls

Roswell, GA — Misono Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi

Misono Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi 2500 Old Alabama Road Roswell, GA

770.993.3037 map

I had just gotten through playing volleyball at a nearby YMCA. It was late so I used the NeverLost GPS to find a sushi bar. The system found directed me to Misono about three miles away. Misono is a large restaurant with Teppanaki tables and Tatami rooms. There is a sushi bar in the back.

I happened to stop in on the night of Game Three of the White Sox/Astros World Series and the coldest night of the fall so the place was nearly empty. I ordered a small sashimi combo and a Philly roll. The sushi chef was a young Asian man who I learned had only been doing sushi for seven months. He apologized because they didn't have too much of a selection that evening. He asked me what my favorites were, I suggested mackeral if it was fresh and not marinaded. Too bad, I love mackeral and there was none left.

The sushi was excellent, I got a mix with quite a bit of tuna, some octopus, some yellowtail and fresh shrimp. The chef also gave me the fried shrimp head which was excellent. Adorning the sashimi was a rose made of raw squid and some deep red fish eggs. Apologizing for the limited selection the chef offered me another roll on the house and I ordered a tuna and avocado roll.

The rolls were consistent in cross section but the pieces were cut in different sizes. The sashimi was an unusual presentation. It was served in one of those sushi boats with some sliced cucumber and rather than Japanese radish the fish was on placed on a bed of seaweed.

I usually sit at a table and read when I go for sushi alone but this time I sat at the sushi bar. I had forgotten how nice and civilized it is to sit with other diners at the sushi bar and talk. It is especially nice when you have a personable chef who knows his business and enjoys talking to customers.

I will have to come back to Misono, I really enjoyed the place and with better selection it could be raised to 4 four rice bowls.

Misono: 3  rice bowls