Food & Drink

3 Sushi Dishes to Try at Ginko: Best Restaurants

Tucked in a Tremont basement, this mod sushi spot is not to be missed. 

by Annie Nickoloff | Apr. 25, 2024 | 9:00 AM

Heather Linn Young

Heather Linn Young

Cleveland star chef Dante Boccuzzi established his Tremont-basement hotspot by committing to consistency and sourcing top-notch fish weekly from Japan. “We keep all these signature staple dishes, because that’s why people fight to get in,” Boccuzzi says. 2247 Professor Ave. B, Cleveland, danteboccuzzi.com/ginko-restaurant

SUGGESTED: Read our full list of the 25 Best Restaurants of 2024.

1. Eye of the Tiger ($14). A tangy blend of pickled shiitake mushrooms, pickled burdock root and fresh-as-can-be oysters, with dollops of spicy mayo and eel sauce in the center, make up this edgy specialty roll. “When you make it, it looks like a pair of eyes staring at you,” Boccuzzi says.

2. Sake toro aburi ($9). Salmon belly, the fattiest part of the fish, is paired with miso mayo and shredded white onions — flavors that blend into a savory swirl, without being too fishy. “It’s a good piece of nigiri for people that maybe don’t always want raw fish,” Boccuzzi says. 

3. Tamago ($6). Ginko’s menu relies on the quality of fish, but the tamago — a simple egg-based omelet nigiri — employs a different technique. Light, airy and balanced, the vegetarian-friendly bite finishes sweet. “It’s a dish of skill and precision,” Boccuzzi says. 

RELATED: 5 Cleveland Sushi Spots To Get Hooked On

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Annie Nickoloff

Annie Nickoloff is the senior editor of Cleveland Magazine. She has written for a variety of publications, including The Plain Dealer, Alternative Press Magazine, Belt Magazine, USA Today and Paste Magazine. She hosts a weekly indie radio show called Sunny Day on WRUW FM 91.1 Cleveland and enjoys frequenting Cleveland's music venues, hiking trails and pinball arcades.

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