Sometimes the best eats come from the hardest to find places.
Tako Sushi is located in the basement level of a three-floor shopping mall on Austin Street in Forest Hills. After walking down the stairs and into the dimly lit restaurant, you might be tempted to turn around – this would be a huge mistake.
Husband and wife owners Robbie and Cristin Sunarti are veterans of the restaurant business with their footprint firmly planted in Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island at various times. But it’s not all business, as Robbie – the man with the recipes – takes pleasure in preparing food for hungry patrons.
He delights in the reaction of eaters when they lay eyes on the baby octopus salad; whole baby octopi rest on leafy greens with mandarin oranges, cherry tomatoes and honey walnuts. The octopi burst with oceanic flavor and match up beautifully with the sweet walnuts. It’s a veritable octopus’ garden right here in Queens.
After salads, Tako gives eaters the choice of hot or cold appetizers. On the hot list – and something that should not be missed by anyone – is the bacon delight. This starter wraps everyone’s favorite cut of pork around shrimp, scallops and asparagus in a savory, brown sauce. Everything that is good about bacon is infused into the shrimps and scallops, and it leaves you wishing you had ordered a double serving.
The sushi at Tako is fresh and prepared by a master of his craft. Sushi preparation takes a slow hand and a keen eye; two things that Robbie said are job requirements at Tako. The Austin Roll features shrimp tempura, fresh crab meat, avocado, eel, fresh mango and a topping of black tobiko, or black caviar, with three different dipping sauces.
Tako has a long list of sushi platters, hand rolls, standard rolls and specialty rolls, all given the same close attention and artistic touch.
For an entrée, go for the unexpected lamb chops. Robbie developed his version of this classic dish while at culinary school in France. The chops are grilled to perfection and served bone-in with two different dipping sauces. You are guaranteed to clean the bones without worrying about stains or greasy fingertips.
Another interesting option is the deep fried aged tofu. This bean curd dish takes on the flavors of its savory sauce and crunches wonderfully before yielding to a smooth and silky texture inside.
Find Tako Sushi and trust the Sunartis to recommend dishes and guide you through your meal. And be sure to experience their newly added outdoor dining area for an enhanced eating experience.
