New Stamford Restaurant: Fin II

Part of me thinks we don't need another sushi restaurant in Stamford. We already have Duo (ravingly reviewed in the NY Times), Kujaku and Kotobuki. I love Duo, and Kotobuki is my tried and true standby. Now the Advocate reports that Fin II is opening on West Main… right next door to Kujaku and a block away from Duo. Okay, that’s odd. However, I’ve eaten at almost every Stamford restaurant except Market, so I’m excited about Fin II, if only to have something to talk about.

Here’s what the Advocate has to say: “Fin II is the sister of Fin, a popular Japanese restaurant in Fairfield. The Stamford opening generated a lot of buzz among the sushi and Japanese food aficionados in the area, though for those who had never been to Fin in Fairfield, the unprepossessing little storefront remodeling seemed like much ado over relatively nothing. Now that it is open and has been sampled, it is most definitely much ado over something.” I didn’t hear the buzz, but I’ve been scaling down my extragant eating out lately, so maybe I’m out of the loop. I also haven’t been on Chow.com in a while.

Advocate Writer Melanie Barnard writes: “Still, the simplicity and almost sandwich-shop look of the place gave pause until my friend admonished me with a heaving sigh that I'd spent too much time and money in the glitz and glitter of new restaurants, and that the honored Japanese tradition is much more of restraint and quiet demonstrations of quality.” If I didn’t know the Advocate has nothing but good intentions, and if I didn’t know in my heart that anyone who doesn’t like Duo is crazy, I’d think that comment was a crack against Duo’s stylish interior and not so time-honored menu selections. Barnard’s review is overwhelmingly positive, so I think she meant to assure patrons that the simple interior doesn’t mean plain, poor food.

I’m looking forward to trying Fin II. Prices sound reasonable, so if it’s as good or better than Kotobuki, I might have another restaurant in my rotation.