The rolls have arrived on Morgan Hill’s restaurant row.
Ten years after becoming a member of the Santa Clara Valley eating scene, Randy Musterer — aka “Sushi Randy,” the medical researcher turned chef/entrepreneur — will throw open the Monterey Highway doorways of his latest Sushi Confidential at midday this Sunday, April 10.
That is his third restaurant after Campbell (2012) and San Jose (2016), and his first in South County. He additionally operates stands at SAP Heart and Shoreline Amphitheater.
Musterer stated he obtained an opportunity to expertise the Morgan Hill group tradition through the previous eight months whereas ready for permits and tools to reach and minor building on the restaurant’s inside to be completed. “It felt like household, even earlier than we formally opened.”
Certainly, the marquee on the close by Granada Theatre, dwelling of the MOHI Social restaurant, this week reads, “Welcome, Sushi Confidential.”
We stopped by on a preview evening to take a look at Musterer’s newest.
THE VIBE: Enjoyable and approachable, from the “Sizzling like wasabi” Instagram wall simply contained in the entrance door to the bar towards the again, which is destined to change into a neighborhood hangout. Clients will acknowledge the restaurant’s footprint from the times when this was dwelling to Prova, however the colour scheme is all Sushi Confidential now — black and white and crimson throughout. There’s seating for 80 inside and 30 on the parklet.
THE LOCAL MENU: The inventive Musterer and his workforce pay homage to native crops and specialties with a “Native Love” menu of signature rolls ($18 every). There’s the Morgan Hill Baked Mushroom Roll, with shiitakes and crab; the Santa Cruz Lobster Roll, topped with tempura langostino; and two garlicky numbers, the Crispy Gilroy Garlic Roll and the Garlic Albacore Sashimi, with garlic ponzu and crispy slices that don’t overpower the seafood (although that evaluation does come from a garlic lover).
THE MAIN MENU: Whereas most eating places have been dialing again through the pandemic, Musterer launched new dishes in Campbell and San Jose to maintain buyer curiosity excessive. Search for Bao Buns (Umami Mushroom or Marinated Pork Stomach, three for $15), Rooster Karaage ($12), Hamachi Jalapeno ($18.95), Unagi Waffle Fries ($12), Keto Rolls ($17-$18) and several other different choices on the Morgan Hill menu together with such longtime favorites because the Cabo Conspiracy ($13.95) and Geisha Woman ($17.95) rolls and the Poke Tacos ($6 every). The kitchen additionally seems teriyaki plates, ramen and udon bowls, entree-size salads, kids’s meals and extra.
THE DRINKS: The “Native Love” doesn’t cease with meals. The wine checklist options Morgan Hill’s Guglielmo and Mohi, San Martin’s Lion Ranch, Gilroy’s Martin Ranch and Sarah’s Winery, Santa Cruz’s Lightpost and San Benito County’s Alara Cellars. Beers come from Morgan Hill’s Kelly Brewing, Gilroy’s Promised Land and Alvarado Road of Monterey, and the cider from native Ten 5 One. There’s additionally an extended checklist of craft cocktails and sake.
DON’T MISS: That enjoyable idea, the Morgan Hill Baked Mushroom Roll, which is a California roll topped with shiitake mushrooms, spicy crab, scallops, then baked with spicy mayo, and served with a drizzle of unagi sauce and a sprinkling of inexperienced onions. That is an interesting “gateway roll” for these not fairly able to go the uncooked route.
GOOD TO KNOW: Musterer has already launched into a philanthropy program in Morgan Hill that may embody a scholarship program on the native excessive faculties.
DETAILS: Open day by day at 2:30 p.m., with a contented hour till 4:30 and shutting time at 9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Lunch service and late-night hours can be phased in over the approaching months. 17340 Monterey Highway, Morgan Hill; www.sushiconfidential.com
