Cuisine: 8
Service: 8
Decor: 8
Value: 5
Overall: 8
Queens has always lacked quality Japanese cuisine, hence there was genuine excitement when I heard about this restaurant opening a few weeks ago. What I heard was how this shop exceeds what I should expect from a local Japanese restaurant and therefore I have been here several times over the last two weeks to make my personal conclusions.
Tasting a good portion of the menu, here are my thoughts on each item. I will provided summary at the end of this review if you wanna skip this portion.
Shimesaba Tartare (8.5/10) - If you are a fan of Mackerel, then you must order this dish. It has very well balanced flavors with a strong emphasis on rice vinegar. I wish they provided more toast. Also, it would be nice if the toast was slightly more crispy.
Negi Shio Tofu (8/10) - A surprise hit for me. I really enjoyed the texture of the creamy tofu and the combination of flavors from the amazing sauce.
Shirasu Salad (8/10) - Recommended by the hostess as one of her two favorite appetizers, we decided to give it a try. Notes of bitterness from the arugula matches so well with the slightly sweet and tasty sauce. The cream cheese somehow worked well too.
Misozuke Cream Cheese (8/10) - This was another restaurant recommendation and I had to try it because of how odd it sounded. Though the portion size is insanely small, the dish was quite delicious.
Geso Kara (7.5/10) - If you like fried squid legs, this is right up your alley. I would prefer a bit more crunch, but it was fried well.
Hamachi Kama (7/10) - Unfortunately, the collar we received was undercooked. I'll chalk that up to rookie mistake, but what we had tasted was delicious.
Sanshoku (8/10) - You will hear me repeat that the rice is amazing for all the donburi options. I particularly enjoyed the raw egg adding extra flavor to the dish. However, the sashimi was just decent.
Una-Tama (8.5/10) - Huge portion, good but nothing really special about the eel compared to what I experienced many times in Japan. Wish there was a crispier skin. Omelette is just average too. Yet, the eel sauce on that wonderful rice elevates the dish to one of the best in the city.
Chirashi (8.5/10) - If you like sashimi on top of great sushi rice, then this option is for you. I would have liked a sweeter scallop or higher quality bluefin tuna, but once again, the rice makes everything better.
A5 Miyazaki Wagyu (6.5/10) - With the accompanying sauce, the rice may have been the tastiest of the donburi options. However, I could barely taste the thinly sliced beef. Definitely not worth the price.
Uni Negotoro Ikura (8/10) - This handroll donburi was good, but somewhat of a letdown because it should be divine. It lacked the richness I want from good quality chopped toro, as well as the creamy and sweetness from better uni.
Vanilla Parfait (7.5/10) - $15 for two small scoops of ice cream with some toppings and a matcha sauce just seems too pricey for this neighborhood. The cornflakes added a nice touch, but the price!
If you read this far, then you can tell that I am in love with the rice that Tomoni makes with all of their donburi items. It is their number one asset by far. I dare say that their rice rival some of the top Japanese restaurants in NYC. However, the food comes at Manhattan prices and not everything is worth that extra spend. If you find specific dishes you don't mind splurging on once in a while, then this spot will save you a trip to the city. It does have nice decor and excellent service. Unfortunately for me, Tomoni does not reach 5 star status because its fantastic rice could only cover up so much. There are still flaws in their food offerings that I pray they address. Furthermore, the price is slightly too high for what you receive, especially in Queens. Lastly, considering we have spent few hundred dollars each time we have been there, charging us for a couple extra pieces of toast and seaweed feels a bit lowbrow for a restaurant aiming for a high paying clientele. read more