MT.FUJI JAPANESE SEAFOOD & STEAK HOUSE

Sushi originated in the 4Th century BC in Southeast Asia as a preserved food. Cleaned, salted fish was preserved by the natural fermentation of the rice in which it was stored. This Nare-zushi was taken out of storage after a couple of months of fermentation The fish was eaten and the rice was discarded.

Sushi spread throughout China and by the 8Th century AD it was introduced into Japan. The Japanese preferred to eat rice with fish, so their version of sushi, Seisei-zushi, included rice. It was consumed while the fish was still partly raw and the rice had not lost its flavor. The Japanese sushi became more of a cuisine rather than a way to preserve food. This shift led to Haya-zushi, which utilized both rice and fish. Rice was mixed with vinegar and combined not only with fish but also with various vegetables and dried preserved foods.

Which brings us to the 21ST century at an aging strip mall in Southampton, Pennsylvania, for dinner at Mt. Fuji. The whole strip mall restaurant concept is alien to Two. New Hope, Lambertville, and Doylestown are full of restaurants that have the luxury of great old buildings in which to locate. They have charm and character even if the food is challenged. So when Two met One and started going to restaurants inconspicuously tucked into strip malls it was a new experience. The word MALL makes Two cringe...where One is far more tolerant and open minded. Behold miracle of miracles Mt.Fuji manages to transcend location and deliver decent Sushi. One and Two sat at the Sushi Bar. There is also a drinks bar. There are a number of Hibachi tables. The restaurant is nicely divided into smaller seating sections that allows for some sense of intimacy in the surroundings.

The meal was good. One started with the Yaki-Tori which consisted of tender grilled chicken on skewers punctuated with grilled peppers. There were two very good sauces along with shredded daikon. Two ordered Jumbo Shrimp Shumai. Big crispy green dimpled fried balls of hot shrimpy stuffing were piled on top of one another with a dipping sauce on the side. If this was the bread then One and Two were, yet again, filling up on it. One and Two ordered two different rolls, one fresh and full of salmon, avocado, and cucumber - the other a spicy concoction with a friendly balance of sticky rice, crispy tempura shrimp, and a spicy sauce. Both the sushi and sashimi were fresh and flavorful. The sushi, sashimi, and rolls were all prepared and served on one dish, upon which the chef managed to impart a sense of both abundance and artful simplicity.

Tempura fried pound cake encased green tea ice cream was rather an uneventful ending to our meal. Two should have known better. Stick to the red bean or green tea ice cream.

Overall One and Two enjoyed their sushi meal at Mt.Fuji. Was it Morimoto? No. Was if transcendent? No. Was it a Sushi Experience...you know... the one where the chef gleefully, but with a deadpan expression, "challenges" you to try something that is still moving? No. But it was a great place to satisfy the Sushi craving that One and Two get from time to time. Enjoy.