Japanese Cuisine in Plattsburgh

Koto is the closest thing I can imagine to actually going to Japan

Story and Photos by Bob Bennett

My experience at Koto was unique. The cuisine is traditional Japanese, and the menu ranges from chicken or beef based entrees to a wide variety of sushi and sashimi. The atmosphere also feels traditional. The pictures of Geishas on the walls and the bamboo chutes that divide the different sections of the restaurant made me feel as though I had actually ventured to Japan. I found myself thinking of the club scene in the first "Kill Bill" movie, minus the kung-fu fighting, of course.

My date and I opted for a quiet dinner, and the hostess led us to a low-lit section of the restaurant. The area was separated from the boisterous and well-lit hibachi bar by bamboo rows. Although my seat was in a quiet section of the restaurant, the Hibachi bar that I walked by a few times was definitely lively. From my seat, I could barely make out the huge bursts of flames that the chefs were stirring up, but it looked like a lot of fun. People were cheering and the chef seemed very entertaining. At this point, we wished we had chosen to partake.

The drink menu and separate wine list offered a wide array of choices. Sake was offered hot or cold and in mixed drinks, as well. The main menu was quite descriptive, which was nice because I didn’t have to ask the waitress the never-ending string of questions I usually ask when eating out.

The service was very good. My waitress was very polite and prompt, and she filled my date’s water glass up before it was ever emptied. I didn’t have to wait for my second drink, either.

The drink was a mixture of Sake and plum wine, and we had the sushi sashimi combination from the sushi bar that consisted of one tuna roll, five pieces of sushi, and eight pieces of sashimi. It’s all served with wasabi and ginger, and garnished with a type of radish and lettuce.

Sushi is actually a sea plant. It is usually wrapped up with rice, veggies and/or fish, while sashimi is just the fish. Sometimes it is served with rice. (And yes, the fish is raw, but delicious.)

And even though the food is great, it isn’t too expensive, either. Our combo platter was about $25, but it was plenty of food for two people, at least as far as sushi goes because it’s not that filling in the first place. In fact, ours was one of the more expensive items on the menu, with the rest averaging between $5 and $15.

All in all, the entire experience was pleasant, and I’m pleased to say I will definitely do it again. I highly recommend you check it out.

Next time, I’m doing the hibachi bar, though.

Have you ever tried Japanese cuisine?