Fushimi Williamsburg Fuses Food and Fun

FUSHIMI,  475 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

718-963-2555

Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch menus available.

Sunday to Wednesday from noon to 11 p.m.

Thursday to Saturday from noon to midnight

Judging from the outside, Fushimi Williamsburg is an unassuming restaurant on the corner of North 11th Street and Driggs Avenue. But when you walk inside, it’s as if you are transported to a swanky club, with just the right amount of trendiness, much like its sister locations in Bay Ridge and Staten Island.

The high ceiling in the front of the space, where the glowing red bar is, gives an open feel. The sparkling silver futuristic chandeliers twinkle from the ceiling. House music and the clink of martini glasses fill the air, making it a perfect place for drinks with friends or networking with colleagues.

Once you walk further in, the dining area is filled with cozy tables and intimate booths, where you can have a quiet conversation without being distracted by the noise near the bar. There are also seats at the sushi bar, where you can watch chefs prepare your food.

Fushimi’s menu is filled with a fusion of land and sea – decadent sushi and exquisite meats. It’s flexible and can be personalized to cater to those with food allergies. We tried the Paradise Roll (eight pieces at $12) which is one of the most popular items and has been a staple. It consists of spicy tuna, salmon and yellow tail with avocado and crunch, wrapped in soy paper and served with plum sauce. The roll tasted fresh and creamy, with the mild fish flavors melding nicely. The plum sauce gave it just the right amount of zip.

Next up was a generous chunk of Chilean sea bass served with sweet miso sauce (the $25 entrée includes sugar snap peas). The tender fish, served with a basil garnish, was sweet and succulent, with a deep buttery taste. The miso sauce, beautifully arranged around the bass, gave it just the right amount of flavor.

A decadent appetizer is the Petit Filet Mignon with truffle wasabi butter, served with asparagus and mashed potatoes ($12). A fork cut through the meat like butter and was cooked to perfection. The asparagus was tender and paired nicely with the full-bodied, flavor rich beef. The wasabi butter gave it a smoky instead of spicy flavor that complemented the rich, golden mashed potatoes.

Another menu highlight is the Spicy Lobster Salad ($12). Maine lobster, crushed peanuts and mint cilantro are pressed together on a bed of thinly sliced avocado for a taste that is as unique as it is satisfying. On the long list of delicious fare, the Spicy Lobster Salad stood out both for its light, zesty flavor and its originality.

There is also a full bar that dishes out everything from martinis to margaritas, as well as a full selection of non-alcoholic beverages, so make sure to wash down your meal with a glass that is sure to be as colorful and complementary as everything in the restaurant.

Fushimi Williamsburg opened its gorgeous red-framed doors on January 23 and has quickly become a go-to spot for residents and visitors alike to experience anything from a birthday party or corporate event to after-dinner drinks, right in their own backyard.