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Tsuki Sushi and Tepan Grill
Los Cabos Guide - Restaurant and Dining Review - November 22, 2006 - by Anna Urbanik
Named after the mysterious Japanese goddess of the moon, Tsuki Sushi and Tepan Grill uncovers the secrets of the Orient through a comprehensive, four-page menu of spicy little dishes showcasing the harmony of aesthetics and flavors.
The self-made chef Gregoriano Hernandez Villegas, better known as Goyito San, has created a variety of dishes featuring local fish like tuna, sea bass, and mahi mahi. Taking the Japanese minimalism and garnishing it with Mexican gestures such as colorful arrangements of edible ingredients, the use of differently flavored sauces, and the ubiquitous addition of chili, Goyito San serves Oriental specialties Cabo style.
Facing the seemingly endless list of choices, and being quite undecided by nature, we let the chef suggest a tasting menu, which proved to be just the right thing to do.
Currican Sashimi––incredibly fresh crabmeat-stuffed tuna slices moistened by a curious orange sauce–– arrived as an aperitif. Then the meal unfolded in a series of small, tapas sized courses featuring “New Style” Sashimi––succulent scallops in a kicky serrano chili salsa, and Japanese raviolis, called goddesses, filled with crabmeat and shrimp, served with a dipping soy sauce.
Next was the Moonlight Roll sporting fresh salmon, tuna, spicy calamari, and peanut sauce, reflecting the Mexican twists. Other locally inspired dishes included Cilantro Sashimi––fine slices of fresh tuna marinated in cilantro and avocado sauce, and batter-fried, shrimp- and crab-stuffed chilies.
We couldn’t miss the most traditional nigiri sushi, consisting of a hand-formed oblong mound of sushi rice, topped with a slice of fresh fish or seafood (in our case local tuna) and served with tiny portion of wasabi, ginger root and a dipping soy sauce with sesame seeds.
The only reason we didn’t try the tempura (batter-dipped, deep-fried pieces of seafood or vegetables), yakitori (marinated grilled chicken) and tepanyaki (meat, seafood and vegetables grilled on a special iron griddle) was because we would have no room left for the decadent desserts. In this respect we again followed the chef’s recommendation and opted for tempura (fried) ice cream and coffee-flavored gelatin––delightfully sweet with an interesting mix of flavors and textures.
To wash it all down, the full bar offers five types of sake and Japanese beer, in addition to the regular offerings including good wine and frosty margaritas.
During the 18 years in the restaurant business, Goyito San has learned not only how to make sushi, but also how to keep his customers coming back. When he first opened Tsuki (formerly Sushi Itto), eight months ago, his challenge was to serve high quality food and to give the customers the freedom to create their own dishes. But what has really set Tsuki apart from other Japanese establishments in town, is the friendly relationship between the customer and the staff––a well-coordinated and helpful team of 12.
Located on the second level of Puerto Paraiso Mall, Tsuki seats 36 on the outside terrace, and 56 in the sleek air-conditioned dining room. Prizes are reasonable, ranging from $5 to $8 U.S. for appetizer-size dishes, and from $12 to $36 U.S. for main courses.
Drop by for a casual lunch at the sushi bar, boasting four tepanyaki grills. Open daily from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. For reservations, call (624) 105-0123.––Anna Urbanik
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