night out with Jim

In the over 25 years I’ve known Jim, I don’t think the two of us have ever had dinner alone. 

Jim is married to my sister Jean, lives in the Boston area, and is one of those overall good guys.  He’s a lot of other great things too, but when I think of Jim, I first think calm, reasonable, and kind.

Jim is here on business, and we decide to get together for dinner.  He has suggested sushi, so I spend some time googling around.  I want to try someplace different, and a few months ago I had seen an article in New York Magazine about a place that serves sushi pizza. The restaurant is equally inconvenient for both us.

At seven, Jim and I meet at Mira Sushi in the Flatiron district.  It’s reasonably busy but not overly loud.  Jim is an experimental eater, so nothing is off limits.

We start with four appetizers.  The standouts are the spicy tuna pizza and pork buns.  Both are amazing.  We split three rolls (TNT, Magic Dragon, and Crystal Roll).  I only mention the names so I remember them when I take Alexander.  I might just order the same thing; everything is that good. 

And so is the dessert we think we are too full to eat, but then devour the whole thing.  It’s some kind of waffle-like cookie, covered in whipped cream with raspberries and blueberries.

The only disappointment is the green tea.  We let it seep, then pour it.  It looks like water with a teeny weeny hint of barely-noticeable green.  It tastes like liquid seaweed.

Our two-hour dinner is excellent.  We engage with the diners around us. The service is outstanding; we seem to have about five different wait people. The presentations are artful. And the easy conversation ranges from the serious to the trivial.

If Jim weren’t my brother-in-law, I’d be hoping for a second date.