Fresh New Flavor at Tomo Sushi

The corner of Nassau and Chestnut Streets has a new addition. Here, where Princeton students can already experience Indian food from Kalluri Corner, Thai from Thai Village and Chinese from Ivy Garden, Tomo Sushi just opened its doors three weeks ago and is already serving many townsfolk and Princeton students.

The owner, soft-spoken Thai Lin Wu, sold his previous two restaurants in Manhattan and moved to Princeton so he could raise his two teenagers in a more rural environment. Now, his whole family helps out in his new restaurant, which he appropriately named "Tomo" Sushi because "tomo" means "friendship" in Japanese.

"I want this to be a place where people come together. A friend house," Wu said.

'Friend House' is an appropriate title for this bright, welcoming restaurant. The radio plays softly in the background and the walls are splashed with Japanese art. The counters hold useful fliers on ESL classes for Japanese speakers as well as "An Expert's Guide to Terms" for the non-Japanese speakers. Patrons can also read "The Signs of a Superior Sushi Establishment" and appraise Wu's restaurant as they wait.

One of these signs is clean counters, and Tomo Sushi is immaculately clean. Counters line the front windows and hold enough seating for eight. However, because the service is quick and the majority of business seems to be takeout, there are usually plenty of seats available.

The opportunity for a quick lunch is just one of the reasons Tomo Sushi is ideal for the Princeton student. The menu offers a diverse array of food, from soup to noodles to teriyaki to tempura and of course, sushi itself, all at reasonable prices. For vegetarians, there is an entire section of noodles, sushi and salad with no meat or fish.

One of the twelve (yes, twelve) lunch specials includes two sushi rolls, miso soup and salad for only $6.95. There are also several large party platter options, perfect for student group study breaks. The 75 plus items on the menu make Tomo Sushi one of the most stocked local Japanese restaurants.

And the food itself is exquisite. One of the appetizers, called gyoza, is a pan-fried pork dumpling appetizer akin to Chinese pot-stickers in appearance, but has a far more delicate texture and savory inside.

The Seaweed Salad, which was reviewed in The New York Times for one of Wu's previous restaurants, appears iridescent and provides a refreshing, flavorful change to the customary iceberg lettuce at many restaurants.

"You try my teriyaki chicken. I make it very good," Wu said, as he offered a platter of his specialty.

'Very good' is an understatement. The lightly seasoned, tender chicken perfectly compliments the crunchy fried vegetables and shrimp in Wu's Bento Box Special.

The quality of the sushi itself also impresses. Not only is it extremely fresh, made from ingredients shipped almost daily from New York, but its presentation alone is worth the order.

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Wu takes special pride in his sushi, so instead of serving it on plastic to-go trays, he uses real plates and arranges and garnishes the sushi with ornate designs in the sauce. The Dragon Roll appears to slither across the plate like a real dragon, complete with beaded eyes. The strips of fresh fish in the sashimi platter are carefully arranged to rise like a mountain from the plate's center.

The orange and black uniform that Wu and his family don cannot be a mere coincidence. By keeping his prices low and the diversity and quality of his menu high, Wu's restaurant welcomes students. Wu hopes that more Princeton students gather in his house of friendship.

At this charming new establishment, there is something for everyone and the clean, welcoming environment and delicious, reasonably priced menu items will likely make Tomo Sushi an attractive lunch or dinner spot for many students in the future.

Tomo Sushi is located at 236 Nassau St. For take out orders, call 609-924-8478. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.