Tiny tendrils of cilantro and slices of serrano stand out bright green against the pink sheen of the yellowtail crudo. On another plate, the deep, deep red of perfectly sliced ahi proclaims its quality. A few tables away, everyone turns to look as the appetizer arrives set off by a sparkler that’s setting off golden stars.
It’s just another dinner at Mizu Sushi Bar & Grill, which just opened in late July at the corner of El Camino Real and San Antonio Road in Mountain View. The restaurant is the third Mizu Sushi Bar & Grill and the second in the Bay Area.
Owner David Lee had one very specific goal in creating Mizu. He wanted to create a restaurant that he himself would want to eat at, somewhere with the freshest of ingredients and highly skilled chefs. So he and his team spent a year in a test kitchen working out recipes before he opened his first restaurant in 2009. Soon he was getting dedicated diners from all over the Bay Area.
“It’s about how passionate you are about serving something to other people that you want to have yourself,” he said. “That kind of effort shows.”
Mizu in Mountain View is a fine fusion sushi restaurant that showcases traditional strengths — trained sushi chefs making art out of fresh fish delivered every single day — and delivers cuisine that’s contemporary and playful. Some of the most popular appetizers are the yellowtail crudo, the baked green mussels and the Mizu Bomb, which is a mound of spicy tuna mixed with crab topped by avocado that comes with taro chips and the aforementioned sparkler. Their signature sushi roll is the flavor-packed Mizu Jumbo: shrimp tempura, eel, asparagus and cucumber topped with tuna, avocado, tempura flakes, tobiko and green onions, all drizzled with spicy aioli, unagi sauce and sriracha. Traditional nigiri and sashimi are also on the menu, and the restaurant uses only the highest grade of fish in its sushi and sashimi.
Those who aren’t in the mood for sushi or don’t eat raw fish will also find much to enjoy, including udon bowls and Korean-style grilled chicken, beef and pork. The restaurant also offers a selection of robata, which are items like wagyu beef, sausages or bacon-wrapped asparagus on skewers grilled over charcoal. The restaurant also has a full bar and a list of creative craft cocktails.
With high ceilings, a huge projector screen and modern décor, the ambience is contemporary, stylish but relaxed. The space also has a large outdoor patio that seats as many as 50 people, making it perfect for company events and private celebrations.
Mizu serves dinner every day and lunch Monday through Saturday. Call (650) 397-7700 for reservations or go to www.mizusbg.com/mtnview.
