Sushi Kuni
Address: 131 Provencher Boulevard
Phone Number: (204) 231-3553
Neighbourhood: St. Boniface
Facebook and Twitter: none
Every once in a while I like to play a game I call restaurant roulette. I randomly pick a restaurant I've never tried before and then go for a meal.
Sometimes I do a quick search on the Internet and go by recommendations. Other times, I pick a type of cuisine and then choose a place. And still other times, I put the call out on Twitter and ask folks where I should go.
Last time I hit Dalat, a Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant in Grant Park and won big.
In this edition of restaurant roulette, Sushi Kuni was a destination born of convenience. I was at the St. Boniface library at the corner of Taché Avenue and Provencher Boulevard. It was lunch time. Sushi Kuni is across the hall from the library.
And that's how I found myself in this wee, eight-table Japanese spot on a recent Wednesday afternoon.
The space was bright. The service was very friendly and attentive. And the sushi really hit the spot.
A no-frills Bento box for $7.95 spoke to me. The box included miso soup, four pieces of veggie tempura (including one shrimp), a tossed salad with a spritely soy and ginger vinaigrette, warm salted edamame and a 10-piece California roll.
There is something incredibly satisfying about this simple lunch. It's filling. A variety of flavours, textures, temperatures and colours load the box.
Sushi Kuni serves four varieties. The Sushi Kuni Bento comes with everything above, except tuna and salmon nigiri replace the California roll. Teriyaki Bento comes with a choice of beef or chicken stir fry with rice. Nigiri Bento comes with four pieces of sushi. Each costs $8.95.
And if you're a little wary of sushi, a California or a Teriyaki Bento is a gentle introduction to Japanese cuisine. (Sushi Kuni has a broad menu of Japanese favourites and an extensive sushi, nigiri and roll menu. A few Korean specialties are also available.)
Service at Sushi Kuni should also be noted. The server brought a cartoon child's plate for the toddler at my table, and at the end of the meal, she delivered three small bowls of vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate sauce. It was a huge hit and an unexpected touch of great service. The two fellows working behind the sushi bar were friendly and engaging. They chatted with customers. This kind of service and attentiveness should be the norm at all restaurants. It isn't, so when you come across great service and friendly staff, it really stands out.
So if you're in St. Boniface, Winnipeg's French Quarter, give Sushi Kuni a try. Pick a Bento box and dig in.
Bento boxes are available daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sushi Kuni is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
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