At the top of that list sits Kodo Sushi Gardens and Sake Bar, which since August has graced Davis Islands with its delicious menu, smartly designed decor and selection of first-rate rice wine. If the restaurant has an Achilles' heel, it has to be the service, which can be slow and disorganized. A few training sessions should correct this oversight, and help raise the dining experience to a higher level. We can only hope the ghosts don't speak Japanese. The first decision here is whether to sit in one of the quaint tatami rooms, at the elegant sushi bar, or outside under the stars near the trickling fountain.
Servers bring warm washcloths to freshen hands and face, and rounds of ice water.
Sashimi lovers have 99 appetizing choices of handmade items apart from the main menu, and all the fish is brought in fresh from Miami ports. On our visits, all orders of raw fish were translucent, clean tasting and free of any odor - essential qualities of sashimi. We were impressed with the lightly battered tempura, such as the vegetable and shrimp tempura appetizers, flavorful without being greasy. The Chicken Tempura Dinner includes tender strips of breast meat served with rice, miso soup, a house salad and cucumber salad. The kitchen makes two creative children's dinners that include chicken teriyaki, rice, fruit and ice cream.