Commack Restaurants

Though it's been around for about a quarter of a century, Kurofune remains one of the best Japanese restaurants in Suffolk County. This family-owned and operated restaurant is known for its excellent sushi as well as hot entrees, so much so that even those of Japanese decent frequent this Commack favorite.

A recent Friday evening visit found this well-oiled machine living up to its reputation. Although it is an attractive building, the restaurant's décor takes a backseat to its fine cuisine. Mauve-colored walls with Asian-inspired paintings and minimalist floral arrangements provide a pleasant atmosphere. The stepped tray ceilings add some grandeur to the otherwise modest design of the two main dining rooms. You may also choose to sit at the sushi bar at the entrance of the restaurant. Waitresses dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos add to the authentic feel.

Our waitress was very helpful in suggesting rolls containing cooked fish since I am pregnant and therefore unable to eat the raw options. With her assistance, we decided on appetizers of white noodle Miso soup, a garden salad with sesame ginger dressing, a spider roll, and a volcano roll. The soup was flavorful and its noodles were thick and textured for a satisfying start to the meal. The dressing on the salad is worth noting; its black sesame seeds offered a nice complement to the ginger dressing. The spider roll was quite good and consisted of fried crab with avocado wrapped in seaweed and rice. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his volcano roll, which was actually a California roll topped off with crunchy-spicy tuna.

As our main courses, we opted for the chicken teriyaki and shrimp tempura. The former was the favorite of the two; the chicken was cooked to juicy perfection and was accompanied by steamed vegetables and roasted potatoes with teriyaki sauce. The shrimp tempura was delicious and came with carrots, green beans, and zucchini. Although this dish was well prepared, I personally would have preferred the vegetables to be steamed instead of deep fried.

Because of the excellent selection of both cooked and raw fare, Kurofune is a great place for families and couples wherein some members enjoy sushi and others do not. Prices are reasonable; you can experience a complete dinner for approximately $30-45 per person. Kurofune is a definite must for anyone looking for an enjoyable Japanese feast.