Whenever I travel on business, usually to run a training class, I always ask my students where I should eat or what restaurants I shouldn’t miss. I also always try to eat in at least one sushi joint as well. During a recent trip to Columbus, OH, a few students recommended Blue Ginger Asian Bistro which is technically in Dublin, OH.
At first glance you might not think much of the place, being in a strip mall, although I’ve had some very terrific food in some very rundown strip malls so I’m not one to judge a book by its cover. Inside was definitely a different story. The decor favored a modern Asian design with dark woods and brushed metal tables. A sushi bar occupied one corner.
The menu was a basic Japanese-Chinese blend with a few Vietnamese items and Thai curries tossed in for good measure. The restaurant is an Asian bistro, so the mélange of cultures shouldn’t be too surprising.
I started out with an appetizer of pan dried duck dumplings which were served on a bed of mixed field greens. The dumplings had a slight crisp on the outside and were served with a sweet hoisin-based sauce. I found them tasty and filling, although not especially very “ducky”. Still, the order of 6 dumplings was very filling.
I then moved to their Triple Toro roll. I don’t see toro on sushi menus often, so I try to sample it when I can. Their offering was an avocado filled roll with toro, yellowtail and tuna draped over the top and finished off with a spicy mayo. The toro melted in my mouth. The mayo brought plenty of heat on its own. I also found the roll a little salty, although interestingly not in every bite.
Feeling confident about their toro, I next ordered a toro sashimi. I received 2 very thinly sliced pieces served too chilled for my tastes. I find if the fish is too cold some of the flavor is locked away. I suspect the toro in the roll was a little warmer, perhaps from the chef’s hands during preparation. I lingered to let the the second piece warm up and it offered up a little more flavor. Certainly not knock me over toro, but this is Central Ohio after all and I was surprised to find toro at all.
I was just about finished when my server convinced me to try kampachi sashimi. I’m glad she did. The fish had a firm flesh like hamachi that gave way to velvety bites of the ocean. I’m very sensitive to salt but this had just the right amount to transport me to tropical beach.
I wrapped up the meal with a chocolate fortune cookie:
Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.
The total bill including tip (it was just me) was under $40. If I lived in the Columbus area, I would definitely eat there again and I hope you’ll give it a try if the opportunity arises.
