Mizumi Is Very 'Yumi'

When I heard the news that the Seville Diner had become Mizumi Sushi & Seafood Buffet, I was taken aback.

The Seville was my family's "fail-safe" diner, even though the now-shuttered Scobee was closer to our place. I have many memories (some with photos and videos) of eating there with my family and after little league soccer matches. Even though the Seville of late wasn't the same as the one I grew up with, I was still hesitant to try something new at the same location.

However, last Sunday, I decided to take the plunge with my wife, son and our friends who have a 3-year-old daughter, trying lunch at Mizumi for the first time.

When we walked in we were greeted by a gang of hosts and were seated. They brought over two high chairs for the kids and some water for all of us.

My first thought was, "How did they turn the Seville into this place?" The ceilings felt higher and the whole place seemed way more open and much bigger. There are three seating areas and one looks like it can be closed off to accommodate private parties.

The decor is very modern, with the buffet as the centerpiece, zig-zagging its way from the back of the restaurant to just a little before the front entryway for seating. 

Being the first people in the restaurant — we actually arrived 10 minutes before the eatery's 11:30 a.m. opening — was kind of a treat. You get to see the buffet in its pristine state, making one feel like a thief stealing from a masterpiece.

I started at the sushi and couldn't believe the selection. They had everything I like and more. Special rolls, regular rolls, sashimi and roe — you name it they probably have it. 

The next section had the hot food including Japanese noodles, vegetable and pork shumai, gyoza and fried rice. Next is the soup area followed by more main course-style hot food, including various types of Asian fish, chicken, pork and beef dishes. 

The last two areas are the salad section and the desserts. The salads all looked fresh and green and the desserts were sneakily laid out as little squares — apparently in an attempt to make diners not feel bad trying out all of them (which I did).

Not only did I try all the desserts but I had a little of just about everything they had to offer — minus the soup and some salads. I didn't find anything I wouldn't have seconds of. Everything was so fresh and tasty, I couldn't believe I was at a buffet.

What surprised me the most was how good the sushi was. The rolls were all quite large, stuffed with chunks of fresh fish and other ingredients. In fact, my wife didn't make it beyond the sushi station, except for of course, the desserts.

I think my wife and I may have found our new favorite sushi place. Who would've thought it would be at a place that, not too long ago, specialized in reuben sandwiches, burgers and fries?