Second in a series of rediscovering Miami classics is Toni’s Sushi Bar Miami Beach, the beach’s longest running sushi bar. This classic now has a very new look, celebrating its anticipated 40thanniversary with a handsome redesign by New York City firm KONO Designs and four traditional craftsmen flown in from Japan who count ancient temples and royal gardens among their work. In its four decades, Toni’s has not only kept up with eating trends, but ahead of many, with their very varied and appealing menu selections and delicious food that we really enjoyed. Plus, it’s reasonably priced.
The restaurant is helmed by brother and sister, Kevin and Yoko Takarada, who took over from their late parents, the founders. Highlights of the design include an enchanting bamboo tunnel over the restaurant’s sunken tables and a dynamic bamboo wave that suggests crashing over the sushi bar.
The five-page menu of Toni’s Sushi Bar Miami Beach is divided into sushi bar appetizers, kitchen appetizers, sushi menu, sushi rolls, kitchen entrees and desserts. The sushi menu features the “very now” omakase-nigiri ($85), omakase sashimi ($95), Moriawase-Nigiri for one to three people ($42-$100) and Moriawase – Nigiri and Sashimi ($55-$120) and Sashimi platter. For next time we’ve earmarked the toro tartare, a signature dish with chopped bluefin toro, black caviar, gold flakes and yuzu dressing ($30).
Besides the usual variety of rolls ($15-$26), we liked that there are a number of tempura selections, from fish, shrimp (signature “dreaming shrimp roll”) and fried stone crab to lobster. Entrees include a selection of hot udon noodles, yaki udon, Tonkotsu ramen and wok fried rice, all with a choice of protein ($16.50 to $22.50).
We started with some shrimp tempura and fried soft-shell crab and the tried and true, miso eggplants, here very tasty, and a new “find”, Goma-ae Spinach, a Japanese spinach salad with a sesame seed sauce. We vowed to try to make it at home since we loved it so much. I was going to have the truffled scallop with fresh truffle and honey truffle sauce (next time) but opted for the Hamachi scallion hand roll. A new favorite, it’s ground Hamachi with scallions in an edible seaweed cone.
Our entrée was the hot udon noodles with chicken, a large portion that we shared, and was a perfect coda to the meal (not including dessert of course).
Dessert was a very tough choice, but we passed on the donut in favor of the banana tempura with vanilla ice cream.
Mr. W had a glass of the rice wine Sake, and I opted for a glass of wine. A glass of wine starts at $15 and bottles at $40.
Our dinner including a glass of sake and white wine came out at $120 plus tip and tax.
Service was friendly and very good. Bottom line we’ll be back for sure. There’s a municipal parking lot around the corner from the restaurant.
Toni’s Sushi Bar Miami Beach, 1208 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, is open 7 days a week from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
2 Responses
Love this place and its new design. I feel like its Japanese food “for the rest of us,” as all you here about these days is $250 omakase experiences. Usually i just want to eat!
I agree! It offers value which is one of the reasons it has been around for so long. Any dishes in particular you like?