Sandy Springs: Bishoku

Category: Drive-worthy for people who enjoy Japanese food and culture.
Verdict: Excellent food and wonderful, attentive service.

I learned about Bishoku from a Georgia Tech student who lived in Japan for many years. He told me that Bishoku is his favorite Japanese restaurant in Atlanta. That was good enough for me. It's on Roswell Road near the perimeter. The interior has the spaciousness that Americans like but the decorations have a distinct Japanese touch. It also has a large sushi bar complete with a staff of sushi chefs.

I've been there twice now. On my first visit, I concentrated on sushi and sasimi. This is the sushi and sasimi omakase (chef's choice). The selections weren't particularly exotic but all the fish was of very high quality. I'm always a sucker for fatty tuna.

For balance, I went for cooked food on my second visit. My favorite was the grilled eggplant in miso sauce. The eggplant was beautifully tender. The sauce was sweet, almost like a candied sweet potato but more subtle. The resulting combination of taste and texture was something totally unexpected by me and very enjoyable.

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