Comments and ratings from T.R.V. (full name not available)

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Comments and ratings from T.R.V. (full name not available)

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T.R.V. (full name not available) has contributed information about 2 restaurants: Formosa Garden, Tokyo Teppan Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar.

About Formosa Garden (San Antonio, Texas, USA)
Last visited December 2003.

Variety of sushi: Somewhat broader than average.
Freshness of sushi: Clearly freshly caught.
Presentation of sushi: Exceptional attention to presentation.
Generosity of sushi portions: Very large portions.

Promptness of service: Exceptionally attentive.
Courtesy of service: Exceptionally courteous.
Accuracy of service: Always accurate.
Cleanliness - dining and visible kitchen areas: Cleaner than usual.
Cleanliness - restrooms: Cleaner than usual.
Quality of nonsushi food: Exceptional.

``I am revising my earlier comments on Formosa Garden because of the last visit. My elderly mother and I make regular trips to whatever the best sushi restaurant seems the best at the time. Having lived a busy professional life of teaching which has been severely limited by a disability I now can visit with my very traditional Kyoto born mother in ways I haven't since we were in Japan over 30 years ago. Last time at Formosa Garden the manager recognized us and asked if we needed anything. We mentioned in Japanese that the last time our orders to the waitress/waiter seem to not quite make it - we wanted nigiri. The manager brought us the full sushi menu - normally given out in the evening - duh. He took our order and it was prepared in authentic and aesthetic. We had mostly maguro (it's an addiction), tomago, and a couple of other varieties. The servings were extra large! While I know the manager had some influence - the gesture and generosity of his personal time in a restaurant with close to 80+ tables plus banquet and bar was extraordinary. I have a severe disability with severe pain meds that makes eating really excellent cuisine much more a select pleasure. Some days the side effects of the medication, morphine, make eating an impossible act. As my mother aged and is now without my father and I have aged - the pleasure of eating well prepared sushi is a quiet pleasure - even at lunch rush at Formosa Garden. In Japanese culture it is the small gestures that mean the most - the way of tea. In talking to the manager, switching to English I found out the main manager of the restaurant will sample all of the fish-daily - in the sushi bar personally for quality. Further, Formosa Garden apparently agressively recruits sushi chef talent away from other restaurants. The manager was very aware of the competition and the special needs of Japanese native customers. So if you are limited in your hours like me and mom, ask for the sushi menu. I noticed during the last outing that our `special' order seemed to have triggered some copycat orders. ''

About Tokyo Teppan Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar (Austin, Texas, USA)
Last visited July 2004.

Variety of sushi: Somewhat broader than average.
Freshness of sushi: Very fresh.
Presentation of sushi: Exceptional attention to presentation.
Generosity of sushi portions: Large portions.

``Tokyo Teppan in Oakhill is a welcome relief from the barbecue landscape of this quadrant of Austin. This hybrid restaurant has a sushi bar, a regular dining area, and the typical steak griddle tables. The interior style of the restaurant is quite modern with stainless steel accents. This is one of those undiscovered gems of a restaurant that I hesitate to write about but yet would like to the establishment survive. The sushi selection varies with market but I have a strong liking to their rolls, negiri - I favor maguro, fresh miso, and well priced bento boxes. This a great "sushi starter" restaurant to take guests who are new to the cuisine. The Japanese dinner menu is loaded with good selections for families. The best value by far is to order the dinner portions. The tempura dinner for the evening does feature the correct size prawns. Because of the hybrid nature of the restaurant, in addition to fresh seafood, fresh beef and poultry are a staple. Recently an additional menu of typical Chinese menu items was added. This a family run restaurant. Service is brisk and well orchestrated. I have been dining at this restaurant since they opened. Weekend dining does get packed. There aren't any real options of sushi within a 15 mile radius. This is a real gem at the juncture of 290 West and 71. ''

Disclaimer. Make sure you have read the full disclaimer located in the overview to this restaurant guide. Basically: I cannot vouch for the accuracy of any information on this page; remember that the comments are no more than the opinions of strangers; before you venture out to explore the places listed here, it would be a good idea to make sure they are still open, and to verify their exact locations.