The Leptologists Eat at Moshi Sushi

Paul: Where to today?
Candice: Sushi! In fact, Moshi Sushi located in Bexley. I've driven past a couple times.  Looks interesting.
Paul: It's gotten some good press, such as being listed as the top Japanese restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in an entirely arbitrary poll.
Candice: They rank it higher than Akai Hana, which we loved. We have to try it out.
Paul: It's just a short drive from downtown, so it's easy to get to for lunch.
Candice: The place is stylish.  The tin ceiling is gorgeous.

The Bar Area

Paul: The undersea painting on the back wall looks a little childish however. It's not a big restaurant; it maybe seats 40. But there is a patio for warmer weather.
Candice: The music is more avant-garde than at the last place we ate.
Paul: That would be Third & Hollywood.
Candice: And the acoustics aren't too bad. Being hearing impaired, I have a difficult time with a restaurant where I can't hear my companion speak.  Not that you ever have anything interesting to say...
Paul: Yeah?  There's a bug on our table.
Candice: Eek.  Oh...Let him be, he's not a cockroach. Oh, I love these glasses.

The Curved Glasses

Paul: ADD much?  They are neat.  The glasses, that is. I order the dumplings (Moshi Asian Pockets), Miso Soup, and Pad Thai.
Candice: I order the Tuna Carpaccio, Asari Miso Soup, a Tuna Roll, and a Moshi Roll.
Paul: That last sounds like their signature sushi roll.
Candice: You're a bright guy, Melko.  I like how they don't have forks on the table setting.
Paul: I'll have to ask for one.
Candice: No, demand it!  Just kidding.  No, I'm not.  Yes, yes I am.
The appetizers arrive.

Potstickers

Paul: Schizoid much?These dumplings are exceptional.
Candice: Yes, the sweet spicy sauce against the texture and flavor of the filling pleases the palate. Yum!
Paul: These might be better than Nida's.
Candice: Better or as good as?
Paul: I'll stick with "as good as" for now.
Candice: There are lettuce rinds in my carpaccio salad. Grrr.
Paul: How's it taste?

Tuna Carpaccio

Candice: Not bad. But the tuna has been seared too much. I prefer it more sashimi style.
Paul: The tuna tastes pretty good. But the flavor sort of trails off in my mouth. I was expecting something more.
Candice: It's meant to go with the jalapeño is why.
Paul: Green stuff?  Hot, green stuff?  Um...not today.
Ah! Here is our soup.

Asari Miso Soup

Candice: My soup tastes like clams.
Paul: Well, those are clams in there.
Candice: Again, your brilliance amazes me.  There are plenty of clams, though.  Hard to miss, that's for sure. One is gritty. The classic seafood flavor is good, but there is little spinach and only tiny, tiny bits of scallion in it. How's your miso?
Paul: Unexceptional. It's miso.
Candice: The waitress serves my sushi at my elbow. I feel like I wasn't eating fast enough for her.
Paul: Rude.

Moshi Roll and Tuna Roll

Candice: The Tekka maki is tightly wrapped but small. The moshi roll is bland, but beautiful in its construction.
Paul: It's not very exciting, is it? But of course, I'm not a big fan of sushi.
Candice: No excitement for any of the sushi.  How's your pad thai?
Paul: Disappointing. It's not spicy at all. The taste is rather bland too.
Candice:  No spice at all?

Pad Thai

Paul: Some, down in the heap of the ample amount of noodles on my plate. And the chicken isn't too dry, but... it's just not great.
Candice: That about sums it up. It's essentially just food.  Some of it is good, but other than the potstickers, nothing else stands out as great.
Paul: Definitely not the best Japanese restaurant in Columbus. Maybe the best in Bexley.
Candice: The dumplings were the best part. I do believe we've finally found a potsticker that can compete with Nida's.
Paul: Too bad there's no other reason to come back.
Candice: Yeah. It's not worth the price. We walked right in at lunch time, but if I would have had to wait, I probably would have walked out.
Paul: Not worth the price, not worth the wait. Worth coming back?
Candice: No.
Paul: Overall, disappointing.
Candice: Too bad. I was hoping for something better.
Paul: We can't win every time.
Candice:  But, we can be smart everyday!
Paul:  Movie reference day again?  Come on, my turn to beat you across the street...ready, set...go!

	Candice	Paul
Worth the Price?
Worth the Wait?
Worth Coming Back?

The Leptologists Eat at Third & Hollywood

Paul: Where to today?
Candice: Third & Hollywood.
Paul: I've never heard of it.
Candice: It's in Grandview Heights.
Paul: That's not far from downtown at all. Here it is! It sorta sneaks up on you, doesn't it.
Candice: It does surprise with its location.
Paul: That's a nice bar!

Bar and Fireplace

Candice: How would you know? You don't drink!
Paul: If I did drink, I'd drink at a bar like this.
Candice: The decor is nice. Lotsa mirrors, a great patio, and the music is just right.
Paul: They are playing "Putting on the Ritz!"
Candice: The volume is not too high. The acoustics of the place give it a nice low buzz, allowing people to talk and socialize.
Paul: Superduper.
Candice: Our waiter is Jack. He asks for our order and I choose a Bloody Mary, Grilled Artichoke, a Shaved Radicchio and Arugula Salad, and the Marinated Sirloin Strip Steak.
Paul: I was leaning toward the steak, but on second thought, I'll have the Roasted Chicken, and the Chicken and Black Bean Chili.

Bloody Mary

Candice: The Bloody Mary isn't peppery, but has a lovely smokey taste to it. It came with three fat olives.
Paul: I like how the kitchen is open to the restaurant.
Candice: There are no secrets here.
Paul: The skillets are hanging in the window. I wonder if they'll let me practice my flips.
Candice: Probably not. Here come the Grilled Artichokes.
Paul: These are... extraordinary.

Grilled Artichoke

Candice: The sauce is delicious, but just by themselves, the artichokes are perfect.
Paul: This is just.... This is just....
Candice: You can't even finish your sentence it's so good.
Paul: It is. I would never had thought to grill artichokes. They've been glazed with oil and something else. Salt, yes. Garlic, maybe. And some spices, perhaps basil.
Candice: They are delicious.
Paul: We devour the whole plate quickly, and Jack arrives with damp cloths to clean our soiled fingers.
Candice: That's really good service.
Paul: And fresh forks too.
Candice: The salad and chili arrive.

Shaved Radicchio and Arugula Salad

Paul: That is a very pretty salad.
Candice: It's crisp and crunchy. The perfect amount of dressing has been applied. It's tart. The salad is hearty yet light. And your chili, sir?
Paul: It's excellent. The flavor of the soup has soaked into the meat. It's bold, the chicken's not dry at all. The beans give a sweet contrast. The cheese atop it adds a sour flavor that....
Candice: There you go again, losing your train of thought while you're eating. Continue with your sensuous experience. The cheese does what?

Chicken and Black Bean Chili

Paul: I'm too busy eating.
Candice: Then I'll explain for our audience. The sourness of the cheese balances the sweetness of the beans, both of which contrast with the heat of the soup. A trifecta of flavor.
Paul: You got it. The chips are light and crispy, not too oily. They provide an excellent companion flavor to the chili. Are they made in house?
Candice: Jack confirms it. Yeah, those are good chips. They have just enough salt. Wow, this is an awesome salad.
Paul: We should leave now before they mess up the main course.
Candice: I'm the pessimist here, not you.
Paul: Too late. Here's the main course.

Roasted Chicken

Candice: The Roasted Chicken looks wonderful.
Paul: Wow! It is. The chicken has the perfect spice. The skin is crisp.
Candice: Let me try. The skin is crisp. Do you know how many restaurants mess that up?
Paul: The chicken is moist and perfectly cooked. And the bread salad that came with it is covered in favorful olive oil and garlic.
Candice: You cackled when you bit into the bread salad. Jacks says the reason that the menu is so short is because everyone is cross-trained on all the options.
Paul: Do a few things very well. It's a good philosophy.
Candice: It means qualified people are cooking good food.
Paul: The breast meat is drier, but not too dry.
Candice: Breast meat is always a risk.
Paul: How's your steak?

Marinated Sirloin Strip Steak

Candice: It is a perfectly cooked medium rare. The seasoning in the chili butter balances the wet redness of the steak.
Paul: I'll try a bite. Oh, yes, very good. That chili butter atop it is an interesting flavor.
Candice: They nailed it.
Paul: I hope the small menu isn't a problem.
Candice: There's enough interesting items to bring you back.
Paul: This is the best chicken I've ever had at a restaurant.
Candice: What a satisfying meal. Good company, exceptional service, and wonderfully delicious food.
Paul: From start to finish it was wonderful.
Candice: I'm just nibbing now, enjoying the quiet, lively din and belly satisfaction. Jack took my plate! I was going to eat the rest of that small piece of lettuce.
Paul: He's fast. He's Jack Rabbit.
Candice: Ha!
Paul: So, shall we try dessert?
Candice: Yes!

Strawberry Shortcake

Paul: I order the Strawberry Shortcake.
Candice: I get the Chocolate Pot de Creame.
Paul: The shortcake is a blueberry scone. It's delicious. The whipped cream is light and sweet. The strawberries are fresh. The syrup is not too thick. Delightful.
Candice: It is so yummy. The chocolate pot is creamy chocolatey chocolate atop creamier custard. The custard's density is perfect. They nailed it again.
Paul: Rich and tasty! You know, that's your fourth fork.
Candice: It's a four fork meal!
Paul: These desserts rock.

Chocolate Pot de Creame

Candice: From start to finish, this meal was fabulous.
Paul: It was. So was it worth it?
Candice: The wait to sit, the wait for our food, the wait between courses.... it was all perfectly timed. Jack was on top of everything.
Paul: The price was high, our most expensive lunch yet.
Candice: But you get what you pay for. I see this as a great place to entertain guests from out of town or to celebrate a special event.
Paul: And even with the small menu, there seems enough of a selection to find something new worth trying.
Candice: I'd like to try that chicken next time.
Paul: I want to try the steak!
Candice: So, all in all, worth it.
Paul: All right, back to work!
Candice: and, we've just enough exclamation points to support our claims.  Yes, onward, friend.

	Candice	Paul
Worth the Price?
Worth the Wait?
Worth Coming Back?