The Sun Rises On 110 Japan
/By Danny & the Foodies
foodies@longislandergroup.com
This sushi and sashimi platter is one of many artful designs to emerge from the sushi bar at 110 Japan.
What started as a realization that Huntington Station and Melville lacked a true Japanese-hibachi restaurant set the gears in motion to create 110 Japan, which marries both in a sprawling property along Walt Whitman Road.
After a year and a half of work, the restaurant opened on Sept. 25; one side is fine dining, the other is more festive, family-oriented hibachi. They employ three music zones and sound-dampening construction to ensure one does not disrupt the other, general manager Sonny Lin explained. And they’ve done a yeoman’s job transforming the former nosh-til-you-drop Best Buffet into a cool, comfortable big room dining experience that is hip and chic, yet homey.
While the sign says sushi and hibachi – and 110 Japan excels at both – there is plenty more to dazzle diners.
Take the 110 Japan Homemade Bisque, for instance. In seafood guise ($7) it’s a peppery medley of shrimp scallops and a hint of chili in an orange-hued broth, juxtaposed playfully with an unexpected dollop of sweet, light whipped cream.
Homemade seafood bisque is full of great, flavorful surprises.
The familiar aroma of soy wafts upward from a gorgeous plate of fall-off-the-bone Miyazaki Short Ribs ($13), available on the Fusion Hot Tastings section. But there’s another great surprise to be had there, too, when it hits your taste buds thanks to a 24-hour braised miyazaki beef in Korean galbi sauce with a lot of pop and tongue-tingling spice.
Braised miyazaki beef short ribs start with the scent of soy and finish with the tang of Korean galbi sauce.
More conventional, yet undeniably delicious, are the Rock Shrimp Tempura plate ($9) off the appetizers menu – baby rock shrimp morsels, lightly breaded and fried, are tossed in a spicy, creamy sauce that will have you licking your fingers.
Amidst the muted surroundings, the sushi bar shines like a beacon, and sushi chefs there are hard at work spinning traditional favorites and modern classics.
A traditional sushi and sashimi platter ($25) is anchored with a dozen slices of fresh, raw fish displayed with flair atop shaved ice illuminated from below and buttressed by a half-dozen equally delicious sushi and a spicy tuna crunch roll. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, but the classics bode well for the rest.
Make no doubt about it – 110 Japan takes their fish seriously, as this décor in the vestibule clearly shows.
You won’t go wrong with dessert, either – New York Style Cheesecake ($7) is rich and creamy, topped with a drizzle of warm caramel. There’s also a deep bar menu to dip into, including about a dozen sake selections; we enjoyed the Kurosawa Jun-Mai Kimoto ($18, 300 mL), a dry, earthy sake that is sweeter when sipped cold; creamier when warm. It’s served in a champagne glass.
As if a slice of New York Cheesecake wasn’t good enough, this slice came with holiday tidings.
With the three-month anniversary arriving today, Christmas Day, Sonny and the 110 Japan team have big plans. They’re hoping to build a nighttime clientele who will stay and dance the night away after dinner; keep an eye on Facebook for developments on that front. Outdoor dining on a large patio is also envisioned. Already, it’s a great spot for a working lunch – follow 110 Japan on social media, and you’ll get free WiFi access during your visit.
They also hope this will be the first of seven restaurants, each bearing a different Japanese fortune god in each logo. With their debut effort in Huntington, they’re off to a great start in achieving those lofty goals.
110 Japan
179 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station
631-673-6666
110japan.com
Atmosphere: Modern and inviting
Cuisine: Asian fusion, sushi and hibachi
Price: Moderate-expensive
Hours: Monday-Thursday: lunch 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday/Saturday: lunch 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m. – 10 p.m.
