I’ve been saying this for years but Ely has been in desperate need of a sushi joint.
Before Sushi & Salad opened we would have to trek all the way to Mildenhall or Cambridge for our foodie fix. That nightmare is now over as Ely is dragged into the 21st century. Not only have we finally caught up but it appears that we have been rewarded for our patients with a sushi joint which completely knocks it out of the park!
In my time I’ve travelled across mainland Japan and hit every sushi place in Cambridge. I am confident in saying that not only does Sushi & Salad keep up with everywhere I tried in Japan but actually beats everywhere I’ve been in Cambridge too!
Hard to imagine for a place that size of a small town, right?
The restaurant is small but pleasant and intimate. You get that feeling that you are sitting in a quirky Japanese living room with a bar.
The customer service here is top notch. The gentleman serving us was engaging and kept us in the loop with what was going on with the food. When we came to order, they explained that because everything was made fresh that it may take a while to come out. A little communication here goes a long way in my opinion. It didn’t feel like we were sat here getting frustrated and wondering why we were waiting. My wife and I just sat back, relaxed, and took in the surroundings.
This is not a place for a quick meal but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you are looking for a quicker experience then they also do take away’s which can be phoned in to collect. That way you can collect immediately then go enjoy your food in front of the cathedral or river side.
One of the best things about the Salad & Sushi experience is that it is located in one of Ely’s historic alleyways. With the outside seating you can sit and people watch as the world goes by. Sitting here felt like the closest thing I have had to a holiday since before the pandemic and it was absolutely lovely.
There was unfortunately no beer on tap and there was only 330ml beers available. Disappointing, especially since they weren’t far off a fiver for each bottle but we did get a selection of authentic Japanese beers, which was good.
All the food we had was simply out of this world. I couldn’t put my finger on what made it so special until it clicked. With Sushi & Salad it’s all about the texture. It really made the food pop in your mouth and the sauces really complimented the flavour. I honestly thought I could go on and on without stopping. Some places you can find sushi a little dry but here the succulent texture was the best I’ve had in a long time.
This really helped with the presentation too. Everything from the serving platters and the plates were authentic Japanese designs. This with the excellent preparation of the food made it really pop on arrival. As they say, the first bite is with the eye.
Unfortunately however, the food had to come to an end and we settled the bill. For three of us the bill was a respectable amount. They’ve really serve Ely well and I’m please to say that the wheelchair access is also great too. This is something which can be a problem for places in historic centres but the entrance has a flat floor so it’s accessible for everyone!
I really cannot recommend this place enough. I would suggest booking a table in advance as the venue is small and can get full quickly but if you manage to get a table you are rewarded with an atmospheric, intimate and very personal restaurant run by attentive friendly staff who are very responsive to your needs.
Please make sure you check them out as any Sushi fan is going to love it!
Website: https://www.sushiandsalad.com/
Phone: 01353 659 932
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