Sushi 101
our comments
Strolling through the lobby of the Raglan Hotel into the red, black and white dining room of Sushi 101, the first thing that greets us, before the cheery hello of the friendly server, is the strains of pop music piped in from something akin to Capital Radio. And as you settleonto the white leather cube seating and glance at the menu – the experience is very much like listening to "London's Hit Music Station".
Sushi 101 is trying to provide something for everyone. Like being trapped in a rental car without an ipod, Sushi 101 is like the station where the playlist will make you toe tap or wince depending on what you like.
For sushi newbies there is the easy-going, not too challenging 'Stock, Aiken & Waterman' offerings such as smoked salmon and cucumber, tuna mayonnaise and spring onion, and goat's cheese and sundried tomato sushi. For more classic palates, there is a good range of 'oldies but goodies' ; nigiri and sushi with options like fatty tuna, bbq eel and yellowtail as well as popular rolled maki like California rolls and soft shell crab. If you are a seasoned sushi diner and prefer to go off-piste, there also some more hardcore choices on the menu including surf clam, fattytuna, cuttlefish and spicy tuna maki.
Seating ourselves next to the large fish tank in the middle of therestaurant, we start off with some Asahi beers and a few plates of nigiri. One of the true tests of a sushi bar's capability is their rice and Sushi 101 have this spot on. Well seasoned and still warm, the rice is nice and tight and not mushy and the nigiri is a far cry from the conveyor belt carnage that so many Londoners have come to accept.
Our plates of fatty tuna and yellowtail nigiri are deliciously buttery and fresh, surprising for a Monday evening which used to be a notorious 'no-no' for sushi diners. A side of turbot sashimi is skillfully sliced into edible strands twirled into an attractive rose pattern. Although the sushi chef clearly isn't Japanese he obviously learned his trade from the experts.
We move on to some panfried wasabi scallops and assorted vegetable tempura. The scallops are nicely cooked but rather toned down on the wasabi front, but our tempura, which consists of asparagus, pepper, mushroom, and pumpkin, is perfectly crisp and light as a feather and we chase every last crumb into the accompanying dipping sauce.
We move on to some rolled maki. While I normally regard things like chicken escalope sushi to be a bit of a travesty, we decide to be good sports and hit the random button on the Sushi 101 playlist. Our table soon fills with little plates of maki filled with roast duck and hoisin, smoked salmon, avocado and cream cheese,scallop masago and mayonnaise, and bbq eel. Of all the maki our favourite is the scallop masago which comes dottedwith little peaks of Japanese 'kewpie' mayonnaise. The bbq eel is nicely laquered with sweet teriyaki sauce and the smoked salmon has nice green slabs of fresh avocado tucked inside. The only point of contention is the duck and hoisin rolls which come with slivers of cucumber and chilies - the sushi equivalent of Peking duck. I find the novelty of it fun and tasty while my partner turns his nose up at what he considers to be sushi blasphemy.
We finish our meal with a lemongrass creme brulee which has a nice ice rink crust of burnt sugar on top and good tangy lemongrass flavour. A mango tempura is less successful or perhaps just a little too odd for us but we lap up the accompanying green tea ice cream and chocolate sauce.
Operating a takeaway and home delivery service, it's not hard to see how Sushi 101 could win over the local residents of Muswell Hill. Whether you like your sushi in the 'easy listening' variety or like to turn it up a notch, there is something for everyone here.
J.K. - May 2008
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
Elegant location and interior, friendly service and excellent food. Large and very tasty portions. The place seems to be getting a little busier but still nowhere near what it should be. Service was slightly slow but all in all a welcome addition to a (good) restaurant-starved area of North London. We shall definitely return...
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Dirk
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Excellent, and I know about Sushi.
Fantastic quality. Dont understand why it isnt better patronised.
Must be something about the locals spending all their money on their mortgages.
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Yohi Yamamoto
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 9
Thursday, February 14, 2008
quite good actually!
the sushi is very high quality and has excellent combinations
price are affordable.
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cathy
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, February 09, 2008
excellent delivery service!
Comment on this reader review
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Fantastic restaurant located on Queens Ave in Muswell Hill.
Contemporary sushi menu - with lots of vegetarian options which was great. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff.
They also do takeaway and delivery too.
Comment on this reader review
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Saturday, January 26, 2008
