Haruki Express
This probably doesn’t qualify as a big enough chain to write about here, but screw it. To quote Nina Shield quoting me, “I’ve sort of been slacking on writing reviews this fall, mainly because it’s pretty hard to get Brown students to go to like, Red Lobster, with me.”
Last night I had to watch “Lost in Translation” for one of my classes. After I was left with annoyance towards Scarlett Johansson (made worse by the fact that I had already seen her in “Vicky Christina Barcelona” this week) and a craving for sushi. I had to study for a midterm, so I skipped my usual out-of-the-way sushi places and went to Haruki Express, mainly because it is across from Brown’s Science Library but also because my friend Katie swears by it.
This isn’t a picture of anything I ate at Haruki. It’s a Google image search result for “mediocre sushi.”
Basically, Haruki Express is the stinky little brother of classy Providence sushi restaurant Haruki, which I believe also has a few more locations throughout Rhode Island. When I walked in, there was only one guy eating in there, stuffing sushi into his mouth as fast as he could while he watched soccer from a tv in the corner. There are shelves along one wall with Japanese groceries, foods like “Honey Milk Treat” and the like.
I walked up to the counter and ordered a Boston roll, noticing that all five employees behind the counter were Hispanic. I never know whether to be fascinated or suspicious when people prepare ethnic foods out of their own ethnicity. In Brookline, MA, there are two rival Mexican restaurants owned by a pair of Japanese siblings who haven’t spoken to each other in years. It’s sort of baffling: What would compel two related Japanese entrepreneurs to open burrito shops around Boston? Why would someone staff a take-out sushi place exclusively with Latino guys?
I went pretty close to closing time and I’m sure I did not get the freshest fish imaginable. It wasn’t that horrific, it just wasn’t mind blowing or confidence-inspiring. I’m definitely sticking to Sushi Express or Sakura in Providence, but I think a part of me wanted to fantasize that it would give me food poisoning so I wouldn’t have to take my midterm, which would inevitably prove how little I’ve learned about Brazilian history this semester because I’ve been too busy fantasizing about how great it would be to have a Sonic in New England.
Fun fact #2: Marisa and Gabi are both former Brookline High School hockey stars.
