Enjoy Delicious Offerings at Now And Zen
Francesca Black, staff writer
Good, inexpensive sushi is hard to come by in small towns such as Charlottesville. However, tucked into 2nd Street right off the Downtown Mall sits Now and Zen. With its cozy atmosphere, sunny dining room, and delicious food, Now and Zen is an amazing place to dine.
The luscious smell of soy sauce and fresh fish hits first, followed by a mixture of sesame and tempura. The food flows out of the kitchen whenever it is ready as Japanese culture does not follow the common course system of appetizer, entree, and dessert. The menu is broken down into soups, salads, homemade dumplings, small plate, noodles/entrees, and various sushi combinations including the popular “BIG Rolls!!!.” Almost all of the options pair well with each other.
The house-made dumplings are delicate and tender, brimming with either vegetable or local pork filling and served with an aromatic sauce ($8-11). Soups include traditional miso ($3.50) or the special “blue crab miso” ($5.50), which comes with a blue crab shell for added flavor and amusement. The smaller plates are delightful, with the popular Grilled Black Cod ($12) or Octopus Tempura ($12).
Another lure to Now and Zen is the portion size. While the more delicate small plates amused the palate, the larger entrees, noodle dishes, and big sushi rolls drove home the dinner. Dishes such as Gyudon ($13), beef and rice bowl, and the Katsu Curry ($18), curry with breaded pork, left us stuffed and satisfied. The big rolls entertained with decorative plating. The Volcano Roll ($15), filled with cucumber and avocado, topped with fresh tuna, and speckled with flying fish roe and spicy mayo, was exciting and delicious.
Now and Zen offers a full sushi selection, ranging from the basic California roll ($5.50) to sea urchin roe with quail egg ($10), allowing diners to sample all the flavors of Japan. Open everyday from 5 – 9 p.m. except Friday and Saturday, 5 – 10 p.m., Now and Zen is a satisfying experience that will not break the bank.
