Benny's and Chiyoda sushi restaurants open in Great Neck
The crispy rice roll at Chiyoda in Great Neck is topped with spicy tuna. Credit: Newsday/Andi Berlin
Who's up for a Great Neck sushi crawl? Known for an eclectic Chinese food scene, the North Shore village now lays claim to nearly a dozen Japanese spots. Block for block, it may be the highest concentration of raw fish on Long Island.
"The young people, they like omakase," says chef Benny Tong, who recently opened Benny's Sushi. "You just need a small counter and you can do a lot of business. The price, you can sell higher."
Although the competition has become stiff, that hasn't stopped these two new concepts from opening in recently.
Benny's Sushi
Inside the Inn at Great Neck, 30 Cutter Mill Rd.
Loyal customers were crushed when the local standby Matsuya closed and moved to Roslyn when its lease expired this spring. People had forged a connection with Tong, an amiable sushi chef (and original owner) who continued to work there under a different owner for 30 years. This summer, Tong formed a new concept, albeit in a tucked-away locale. He partnered with Marco Polo's restaurant inside the Inn at Great Neck, which has rebranded its menu with an "East meets West" theme.
There's classic hotel restaurant fare like French onion soup and steak Diane, but then there's a separate page of specialty rolls and nigiri. Tong is a fixture behind the sushi bar, chatting up regulars and offering up his creations, like a plate of yellowtail topped with jalapeño and bathed in truffled ponzu sauce ($18.50). The nigiri shine brighter than the rolls here; and a bite of fatty chutoro tuna on rice is the highlight.
More info: 516-773-2000, innatgreatneck.com/promotions/bennys-sushi/
The sashimi deluxe platter at Benny's Sushi comes with 17 pieces of fish. Credit: Newsday/Andi Berlin
Chiyoda
20 S. Station Plaza, Great Neck Plaza
In the former home of Mi Casa es Tu Casa, this certified kosher restaurant is a more casual alternative to upscale kosher spots like Tiger Sushi. The space is significantly larger than other sushi spots, making it an ideal venue for parties and large groups.
The small menu is dominated by rolls, which range between $10 and $18. The rolls here are well constructed and don't skimp on the fish. The Edelman roll ($18) was particularly substantial, stuffed with spicy tuna and avocado, and topped with fatty hunks of bluefin tuna. There's also a small menu of Chinese American stir fries for those who aren't into sushi. It's a crowd-pleasing neighborhood restaurant with better than average execution.
More info: 516-838-7456, chiyodakoshersushi.com
Andi Berlin is from Arizona and does not know where she is going. But when she gets there, she’ll find something beautiful and delicious that the world needs to taste.
