Open in Jericho: Kobe Hibachi Sushi Lounge
The chirashi is elaborately arranged at Kobe Hibachi Sushi Lounge, which takes over the Westbury building that formerly was Aozora, June 3, 2014. Credit: Newsday / Erica Marcus
Kobe has replaced Aozora in the freestanding building on Jericho Turnpike that was previously Genji. The new restaurant, which features sushi and hibachi, is owned by the folks who used to operate Chopstix in Carle Place (now Kisoro).
The restaurant’s main dining room — where the sushi bar is — has a loungey vibe with red lighting and low chairs. Some more family-friendly booths are off to the side. An adjoining room houses the hibachi tables, and there are more hibachi tables upstairs for private parties.
Whenever I visit a new sushi bar I order the chirashi, and that’s what I did at Kobe. While I waited, I chatted with the friendly young fellow behind the sushi bar. He told me there was fresh uni (sea urchin) and striped bass that day — and even composed a little striped-bass-cucumber amuse for me while I waited.
The fish in my chirashi was fresh and well cut. Tamago (egg omelet) is another indicator of a sushi chef’s skill, and this tamago was enviably rich and silky. The chef even gave me a little portion of uni.
Kobe is at 111 Jericho Tpke., Jericho, 516-333-5588, kobesteakhouseny.com
