For many years before he died, my father would come visit us for a month each year around February (usually a good month to exchange Pennsylvania for Florida temporarily). Once a week he would take us to lunch at the Sakura, the best Japanese restaurant in our experience, including the time when all the restaurants of Boston were at hand.

Alas, when we returned from Massachusetts we were able to enjoy only one more meal at the Sakura before it closed. We've spent the last three years searching for a substitute, to no avail. The Asian restaurant that took its place isn't bad, however, and that's where we headed last Monday night. We remembered too late that it is closed on Mondays, but that disappointment quickly turned into a blessing.

We decided instead to try out a new (to us) restaurant called the Sake Moon. Or maybe Saikyo; it appears to go by both names. Whatever it's called, I call it fantastic. At last we are consoled for the loss of the Sakura. We ordered the Sushi Boat for One—it was more than enough for the two of us—and were treated to the best sushi I've had in at least three years.

What's more, Sake Moon serves not only Japanese but also Vietnamese food. The owners are Vietnamese, as I discovered when I attempted some of my newly-acquired Japanese phrases. (They graciously then taught me to say "thank you" in Vietnamese.) We returned today for lunch, and were nearly as pleased with the summer rolls and pho as we had been with the sushi. We did not dine in Vietnam alone, but mixed our Asian cuisine today; the vegetable tempura was served with delightful accompaniments of California roll, goyza, Japanese egg roll, soup, salad, and rice, all delicious. And I learned to say "hello" in Vietnamese.

We'll be back; Sake Moon is close to home and reasonably priced. Besides, I have a lot more Vietnamese to learn....

Here's a picture from a subsequent visit of the Sushi Boat for Three (which easily served five).

Saikyo Sushi Boat

Photo credit Roger Winters. Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Posted by sursumcorda on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 4:08 pm | Edit
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It's so fun to see some of your daughter rubbing off on you. I wonder how much Vietnamese Janet knows? And now you know two phrases. (:

Posted by joyful on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 9:27 am
Thanks. I like to think I'm raising my parents well. :) You'll have a chance to try out your Vietnamese on a JET here when you come. He's Vietnamese but he was born on a boat while his parents were escaping Vietnam. Fascinating people are everywhere here! I know 0 Vietnamese.

Posted by Harp on Thursday, March 16, 2006 at 7:04 am
Note that I've added a picture to the story.

Posted by SursumCorda on Saturday, July 29, 2006 at 9:56 pm
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