On Sushi and Paranoia: The Final Chapter

I've done it. I finally managed to eat sushi by myself.

The moment happened after I decided I needed to go to Astoria Park and lie down on a patch of grass for awhile. I've never been to Astoria Park before, but figured I could walk. It turned out to be a much longer and hotter walk than expected, and at some point on the way back I realized I was hungry and dehydrated. I'd passed all the food establishments that I knew of on the way. I was too far from home to continue, but didn't want to waste time walking back, so I randomly turned right down 31st Avenue. Down the block, amidst laundromats and apartments was a lone restaurant:

JJ's Fusion Kitchen Sushi Bar

'It's time.' I realized. I peeked in tentatively to see what kind of atmosphere I would be invading. A man looked back at me and I jumped away. 'Try to be normal.' I told myself, and pushed my way in to the foyer. I spent some time getting myself oriented by staring at the menus in the foyer before I walked in to what turned out to be a very pleasing atmosphere.

It was nice! It was pretty empty except for another family where some girl kept yelling at her boyfriend and her mother. That was a little weird, but I had my own section away from them and enough space for a book with enough light to read but not too much light for a dining situation. The overall atmosphere was very comfortable.

I got their handmade soybean dumplings with wasabi cream sauce which New York Magazine named 'the best potsticker in New York 2007.' The dumplings were good. You only get 4 of them, but they're a decent size. The wasabi kept making me sneeze for some reason. Personally, I don't think I would call them the best potstickers I've ever had (I like a little more flavor to my food), but they were unique and satisfying.

Then I got my favorite roll, eel and avocado. It was really yummy. I might even call it one of the best eel and avocado rolls I've ever had, but I might have just been really hungry at the time. They put sesame seeds on the outside which is a nice touch.

The place was empty enough and the atmosphere nice enough that afterwards I sat and read for awhile. I'd give them a very high rating, but I never really planned out a consistent rating system for this blog. So, final word: Props to JJ's and props to solo sushi eating.