I had quite the dining experience Tuesday night — one that nearly induced a heart attack in me! Okay, I exaggerate. Sort of.

Since I was minus a dinner companion while Shrek golfed, I called up my new friend Sarah for sushi. Sarah’s quickly becoming one of my favorite people since discovering a shared a love of fine wine, food, and fashion. Bonus? We live just a few blocks from one another!

Though I’m known as a “regular” at many local eateries, I enjoy trying new places especially when they come recommended by friends. Thus, I was looking forward to trying Sawa on Sarah’s recommendation when I picked her up and asked where she goes for sushi. Sawa is a hole-in-the-wall sushi bar located in a tired looking strip mall on El Camino at the Sunnyvale-Santa Clara border near Lawrence Expressway. It’s neighbors include a Subway sandwich shop, an insurance agency, and a tiny gym. When we pulled up, Sawa looked closed. No lights coming from the restaurant space, but when I tried the door it opened to a dark intimately-sized, minimally-decorated restaurant floor with a sushi bar in the far corner illuminated with 8 or so people crowded around it. The rest of the room was dark where the tables were. Everyone immediately turned around in their seat at the bar and stared. By everyone’s reaction — including the Sushi Nazi’s chef’s behind the bar — I got the impression that we’d crashed a private party.

Me: “Uh, hi, dinner for two?” After several awkward moments that felt like an eternity…

Chef: “How’d you hear about me?”

Sarah: “I’ve been here before.” True.

Chef: “Okay, come.” He seated us at the end of the bar. “I make, you eat. No menu.” Once he set us up with hot tea he returned behind the bar. “You eat everything? Allergic?”

Though I had this nagging feeling that I should take this opportunity to cut and run, I

1. didn’t want to offend Sarah and her restaurant choice
2. was STARVING. I’d just concluded a 5+ mile run in 80+ degree weather. Not only was I ravenous — I had really been looking forward to sushi so I didn’t bother to snack when I got home from my run. I just showered and picked up Sarah ASAP — but I was probably a little dehydrated and unfortunately around this time starting to feel a little weak. Figured the sooner I had some electrolytes and fuel in me, the better.
3. Sarah looked game

so I found myself replying along with her, “Nope, not allergic to anything.” I settled in and crossed my fingers.

In my book, sushi = rolls. I’ve choked down both nigiri and sashimi before (the good stuff, too — Shrek LOVES toro!) and just plain don’t care for that much raw. I like my sushi layered on top of shrimp tempura, veggies (cucumber, avocado), and fruit (mango especially!) rolled in rice and seaweed and drizzled with a little creamy wasabi mayo sauce to drown out the fact that I’m eating raw fish and fish eggs. Unfortunately for me, this restaurant and I just aren’t meant to be.

The first small plate the chef placed in front of each of us had what I identified as 3 slices of succulent raw scallop topped with tiny crunchy sprouts in a yellow sauce that reminded me of jello that hasn’t yet solidified in the fridge. Later Sarah tells me it’s fish cheeks, a delicacy.

I tried tricking myself into liking it because the citrusy sauce was pleasant, and, again, I was really hungry. But it’s just not my cup of tea. The texture and overall taste got to me. I totally understand if I liked this sort of thing this dish would be awesome, but instead I’m probably just going to come off as uncultured and unsophisticated by admitting that I was dying for a side of rice and miso! The second plate I identified as fish liver (it’s gray and looks like pate) with a side of pickled cucumbers. I did my best and gave it a try but ended up just eating the pickles. Now by this time I’d already voiced my lack of love for sashimi to Sarah who assured me that Sawa wasn’t like this last time she visited. She said her friend ate like this style-wise but that she ordered rolls. At this point I Yelped the place on my iPhone while the next course is being prepared to find out just exactly what we’d gotten ourselves into.

You know the acclaimed Napa restaurant French Laundry? Basically we walked in to the Japanese Laundry. No set menu, no set prices. Anywhere from 6-16 courses and the minimum charge is $95 PER PERSON. 

“Holy shit,” I gasped. Sarah asked what I’d found and I told her. I must’ve had a look of horror and panic on my face because for one, that’s what I felt. Two, Sarah was amazing. She immediately and very generously offered to pay for dinner since she’d chosen the restaurant. Though I felt a little bad for accepting, I don’t go to restaurants and spend $95 on food I like let alone on food I have to choke down or eat around. I was anticipating dropping $20, maybe $25 for sushi and a glass of wine that night and $95 didn’t even include alcohol — or dessert! So, thank you Sarah!! Phew. Crisis averted. Except that I was still hungry.

Here’s a look at a few of the other delicacies I picked at:

This last photo of the seared Ahi I actually enjoyed! It had a lovely sweet sesame sauce and I love avocados! Unfortunately, this was the only plate I enjoyed. I waved the white flag after a set of three very raw, very gray shrimp were set in front of me. The chef asked if I didn’t like it and I lied and said I was full after so many courses. (Since Sarah ate quite a bit of my sashimi and I ate the veggies I actually sent back empty plates!)

In between prepping another course for the remaining clientele, he set a $148 bill down in front of us. I think it was less than $95 pp because we stopped after “only” 5 courses. Anyways, if I were keen on this style of sushi and could afford to come here I totally would. Take it from me, the ingredients are super fresh — I ate more raw fish in that one sitting than I have in my entire life and I had no tummy troubles — the presentation exquisite, and I like that it’s an obscure hole-in-the-wall location. I also like that the chef is kind of eccentric and that this restaurant is a one-man show. If I came here I’d also totally size up the walk-ins just as we were sized up