After giving Nakama, in the South Side, a somewhat glowing review, I found multiple other reviews bashing the place for having little atmosphere and catering to the masses.  "Maybe they're right," I thought; "maybe there are better sushi joints in the 'Burgh."  What do I know about sushi?  Not much, to tell the truth!  I'd heard good things about Sushi Too in Shadyside, so I thought I would try it out.

I ordered the chirashi, which is an assortment of raw fish over rice.  It's a big assortment too; definitely a filling meal.  The fish itself was head and shoulders above the sashimi at Nakama.  Fish that I had thought flavorless before (like snapper) turned out to be delicious and tender at Sushi Too.  I even found out that I enjoy squid.  (The jury's still out on octopus, though.)  The wasabi proved more potent than the wasabi I was used to, or maybe I just applied it a bit too liberally.  In any case, my eyes watered more than a few times.

Sushi Too's non-sushi choices delighted as well.  Shrimp tempura was crisp, flaky, and artfully displayed (with a great sauce!); kung pao chicken tasted of peanuts and a little bit of heat, and the sesame dressing on the salad was pretty good too, despite my friends' complaints.

The atmosphere is bright, yet inviting, with Japanese-style tables and an intriguing sushi bar.  Service was friendly and efficient as well, except when we tried to get our check.  I attribute that delay, however, to the fact that two of my friends had to leave, so our table still looked full of food. 

The only downside?  The prices are a little high to make Sushi Too a regular destination.  They're certainly not bad, though.  My chirashi cost $20, but it was worth it.  Other entrees fall more in the $12-15 range, with sushi rolls clocking in around $4-9.  To put it in perspective, prices were certainly no higher than Nakama's, and I felt the quality of the food was a lot higher at Sushi Too.  With such good fish, the sushi here is no afterthought, despite what the name might have you think.

Restaurant type: Japanese and sushi
How to get there: It's at 5432 Walnut St in Shadyside
Price for an entrée: $12-20

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