If you've enjoyed dining at any of the handful of SushiSamba restaurants, you will absolutely adore…read moreTemakinho. And if you haven't, Temakinho will seductively introduce you to wonderful Asian fusion. Think Japanese with a Brazilian twist. Then, just go.
My wife and I just had a wonderful dinner at the one nearest the Duomo in Milan. There are others around that city, and in Florence, Formentera, Ibiza, London, Rome, and Turin as well. Generous portions. Delicious, creative combinations. (The bao, or soft Chinese-style bun with shrimp and too many other wonderful elements for me to remember, was a revelation.) Fresh ingredients across the board. From ceviches to sushi rolls, we were impressed.
An impressive array of beverages, alcoholic and otherwise. Desserts ranging from cheesecake to a simple dish of delectable mango and papaya slices. Warm, efficient service, even for us non-speakers of Italian. And a comfortably otherworldly dining room, from the pink wallpaper to the tile-and-glass-topped dining table to the eclectic, genre- and era-spanning background music. A total sensory experience.
There's a rumor that New York City, which used to have multiple branches of SushiSamba but now has none, might soon gain a Temakinho outpost. My wife and I hope it happens in time for our next trip to my former hometown. In the meantime, if you live near or plan a visit to any of the cities that have a Temakinho, consider yourself lucky -- and go.