Japanese Sushi Restaurant with a Euro Twist : Toshi's Cafe

It's like a Starbucks, a Pret A Manger, and a Japanese
Sushi Restaurant rolled into one.

My carpool partner arrived at UNCG today with a brown paper bag to pick me up. What was inside this brown paper bag? Well she had stopped by Adam's Farm Shopping Center and visited Toshi's Cafe, a Gourmet sushi bar that sells Japanese cuisine, and Euro-style deli sandwiches with a spicy mayonnaise similar to andalouse sauce. (It's a Belgian thing) Who even knew such a place existed, let alone one with such, err, a diversified niche? Unlike the expensive and theatrical Japanese steakhouses in Greensboro, Toshi's is (I'm told) is quaint and cute... and obviously allowing take-out. They serve tempura, maki, salmon, crab among other varieties of posh uncooked fish. In addition, they have breakfast burritos,steak and cheese wraps, and roast beef sandwiches among the more traditional Euro-American menu.

It's bring your fish to work day.

Today, inside the brown paper bag, I received a roast beef sandwich on a croissant, with lettuce tomato and that killer spicy mayonnaise. It was fresh, light, and tasty. Very cool was the side-order of potato and beef croquettes. Little deep fried breaded balls of potato and beef. Very cool, and very unique.

Of course when I got home, I looked at the menu, and realized that my carpool partner made a huge mistake. Toshi's has katsu-don!. What's katsu-don, you ask? It's probably the most popular Japanese comfort food, which often is sold by street vendors. It's traditionally made of deep-fried and battered pork cutlets, onions, broth and partially cooked eggs over rice. It's outrageously good! Considering the rareity of finding such a dish in Greensboro, I can't wait for my chance to get back and try their's.

In fact my family fell in love with katsu-don while researching my first book, Nosh. My only complaint with Japanese food is the lack of cheese. (They're not fond of cows are they?)  Especially on katsu-don, I think it would be amazing. Since I've never tried it, I can only suspect it would be some sort of faux pas, but since Toshi's is a unique, paradox in itself, I'm thinking Toshi's should add a bit of Euro essence (since that is their unique niche) and create a Gruyere topped katsu-don. Might be amazing?

Katsudon, may make this Livvy's new favorite foreign restaurant in Greensboro.