Joshu-Ya Brasserie

Kitty Solo

Joshu-ya Brasserie

2441 Dwight Way

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510)848-5260

Joshu-Ya @ Berkeley

Berkeley is an eclectic area filled with nooks and crannies of hole in the wall dining spots. Here at Joshu-ya Brasserie is a small restaurant just a few blocks from the main UC campus. It's a quiet little place and offers some outdoor seating when weather permits. It presents itself to be a little more upscale serving sushi, tapas, and entrees with Asian and Western influences.

French Fries Deep Fried in Duck Fat Served with Aioli

[$6]

Served fresh and hot, upon biting into this fried morsels I could immediately sense the aroma of duck fat all around the oral cavity. Careful not to burn your tongue or the roof of your mouth! Dipping the fries with its accompanying aioli sauce can help dampen the oily flavor for those who find it too overwhelming. The novelty eventually wore off though and in the end, it's really just fries. [3.5/5]

Salmon Filet with Sea Urchin Porridge and Bonito Broth

[$19]

I really enjoyed the simple flavors of this dish and the assortment of textures that was offered. The skin was seared crispy but the fish itself was unadulterated without seasoning. This allowed the full flavor of salmon, complemented by the porridge and broth give a pleasant dining experience. [3.5/5] 

Seared Scallops and Mushroom Risotto with Beet Puree

[$18]

The scallops were seared well, neither dry nor present of chewy uncooked center. The mushroom risotto was decent. It was the beet puree that put some originality to this dish, giving it a little extra sweetness on top of the scallops. Normally Joshu-ya does serve scallops, but this particular dish was their special that night and may or may not be on their regular menu. [3.5/5]

Overall Score: [3.5/5] A little bit pricey, but this quaint spot provides a great romantic venue for a date or a girls (or boys) night out.