Osaka, RIP?

Last night Katja and I drove down to Asbury Park for sushi at one of our favorite restaurants, Taka. We used to eat out in AP all the time, but since we moved to Long Branch we don't get down there much. So when we made a plan to go, I was psyched. Alas, it was disappointing--somehow the rolls weren't as wonderful anymore. We actually send back the sweet potato roll, something we've never done there (it was supposed to be tempura but was barely cooked), and the rainbow roll was no longer to die for. It's a beautiful space and the owner, Taka, is fun, but I don't know. I think it's going to be a while before we go there again. Bummer.

We experienced another sushi disappointment this fall--even more crushing. When we moved here in March, the previous owners had left us a notebook full of local restaurant and takeout menus. That's how we discovered Osaka, a Thai/Japanese storefront just a few blocks away, in a strip mall right by the entrance to 7 President's Park. We ordered something from them soon after moving in. I can't remember what it was, but I don't think I'll ever forget the expression of the guy who delivered it. I opened the door, he looked at me, and his face fell. "They're not here anymore??!" I thought he was going to cry. Okay, the previous owners had clearly been really, really good customers. I told him we'd be ordering from him too. He didn't look impressed.

So the first delivery was memorable. As was the special bonus in the bag--an orange--clearly put in for the previous owners, not us, the new interlopers. I wanted to become an orange-worthy customer. But orange distribution, as I learned, was random. Sometimes you got one, sometimes not.

Anyway, we (esp. me) quickly became Osaka fans. Their food was great--consistently. And here's an unusual (in my experience) thing: they had both Thai AND Japanese food, and both were equally good. The sushi rolls were tasty and fresh, and the Pad Thai with large, briny shrimp was out of this world. And they delivered--fast. How lovely to come on a Friday night, shot to hell after a week of work, and know that food was a phone call away. We became very good customers, indeed. In fact, I developed a little takeout delivery addiction problem.

My addiction is now cured, but not because of any triumph of the will. No, it's because Osaka closed this fall. The first warning signs came when they weren't open every night; this place had ALWAYS been open. Sometimes it even happened on a weekend night. Once they picked up the phone after 20 rings (yes, I was desperate) and said there'd been a kitchen fire the night before. Then one night...20 rings and someone answered to say they had closed. CRUNCH. But, they reassured me, they were just relocating to the West End, to a place where they could have more tables. WHEN? I asked. No answer. I said hey, put a sign up in your window telling people that! They didn't.

Somehow I always knew it was good to last. From the beginning I said to Katja, oh I hope they stay in business, I hope they stay in business. When I went in there (it's right next to my gym--ha) I always anxiously scoped out how busy they were. And they always looked busy to me, so I don't know what happened. I have the pale green menu right here. I'm getting verklempt looking at it.

Is Osaka RIP? I'm lighting a candle, sending hopeful thoughts out to the universe, and keeping my eye out for a West End resurrection