What I Got: Moro Q, Omusoba, Garlic Fried Rice, Kani Cream Croquette, Abusi Tuna Nigiri, Calpico Soda, Basque Cheesecake

Price: $$$

Location: NYC

Review:

Izakaya MEW is a traditional Japanese pub famous for its frozen beer.  Their food is equally as good (if not better) than their drinks. They have an unbelievable variety of incredible dishes and drinks.  The dishes are perfect to share.  There is so much to choose from it’s hard not to order everything!  It gets very crowded so make sure to make a reservation if you don’t want to wait.

Moro Q – The Moro Q includes Japanese cucumber with moromi miso and mayo.   Moromi miso is essentially miso with chunky soy beans instead of smooth pureed soybeans.  It has salty, umami, and nutty flavor that is unique and complex.  The refreshing, subtly sweet cucumber pairs perfectly with the moromi miso, cutting through its strong flavor.  The mayo provides a rich, creamy texture and flavor to each bite.  This is a light starter packed with amazing flavor to get your appetite going (and you’ll want it going to try as many delicious dishes as possible).

Omusoba – The Omusoba includes yakisoba with pork and vegetables wrapped in an omelet and topped with bonito flakes, furikake, mayo, and okonomiyaki sauce.  If you can’t already tell by the name, the omusoba is similar to omurice but is filled with yakisoba instead of rice.  The soba is stir fried in a delicious soy sauce based sauce with flavorful veggies such as onion, peppers, and carrots as well as savory, tender pork.  The chewy soba has a gorgeous texture that blends nicely with the fluffy omelet.  The okonomiyaki toppings are one of my favorite flavor combinations ever.  From the sweet, savory okonomiyaki sauce, the smoky and fishy bonito flakes, to the rich mayo, nothing could be a more flavorful and satisfying topping.  If you love yakisoba or omurice, you must try this omusoba!

Garlic Fried Rice – The Garlic Fried Rice is a garlicky fried rice with a soft boiled egg on top.  You can never go wrong with fried rice, and this is no expectation.  The rice has a gorgeous savory, satisfying garlic flavor.   The best part is the gooey egg on top that oozes rich yolk onto the rice.  

Kani Cream Croquette – The Kani Cream Croquette includes creamy crab croquettes with housemade ketchup and a cabbage slaw.  I was always one to skip the crab croquettes at Japanese restaurants because I would rather get fish dishes.  Once I tried the kani cream croquettes that a friend ordered, I realized I was missing out!  The subtly sweet crab is creamy and luxurious with a beautiful crispy exterior.  The tangy ketchup cuts through the rich croquette and compliments the crab with its fresh tomato flavor.  These croquettes are amazingly satisfying and packed with flavor.

Abusi Tuna Nigiri – The Abusi Tuna Nigiri include seared tuna with yuzu mayo, eel sauce, and jalapeño.  The tuna is lightly seared and melts in your mouth with its delicate flavor.  The yuzu mayo adds a creamy tang while the eel sauce provides its salty, sweet flavor.  The jalapeño adds a slight heat.  This is a great tuna nigiri I highly recommend!

Calpico Soda – The Calpico Soda is a non-alcoholic drink.  It has a sweet, tangy Calpico base with a fun fizz.  It is delicious and thirst quenching!

Basque Cheesecake – The Basque Cheesecake is fantastic.  You can order a slice or a whole 5 inch cheesecake.  The 5 inch size makes two generous servings or three moderately sized servings.  It is perfectly creamy and subtly sweet with its unique, caramelized exterior.  My favorite Basque cheesecake I’ve had is from Grace Street because it has a gooey, melty interior which this cheesecake did not have.  This is a high standard though because Grace Street has won numerous awards.  Not to mention, not everyone likes their cheesecake gooey.  This was beautifully made with great flavor and a luxurious texture.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.