As gloomy weather continued to hang over much of the state, Sun Journal photographer Amber Waterman and I found a bright spot at Miyako Japanese Cuisine on Route 1 in Freeport. The restaurant, located on the second floor above China Rose, was recommended by a friend and, it turns out, with good reason. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and came in an array of choices.

The menu was filled with items I could hardly begin to pronounce, so I was thankful the descriptions made the choosing far easier. Our waitress, dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono and wooden sandals, was pleasant and helpful. Waterman has a bit more experience with sushi than I do, so I yielded to her suggestions. This also made the decision-making a non-issue for me — a wonderful thing I assure you.

Sipping hot tea, we decided on three of the more popular artistic makimono rolls; the Idaho maki (sweet potato tempura, $5.75), Kuuipo maki (shrimp, asparagus, lettuce and Japanese mayonnaise, $8.00) and the spicy tuna maki (spicy tuna with a crunchy surprise — which was sesame, $6.50).

The second-floor dining room has ample seating and the Asian decor has a genuine feel, complete with a sushi bar where you can see your order being prepared by sushi chefs. It’s like art, but with food. The technique and precision that the rolls are prepared with are impressive, as are the ingredients used to create them.

When our order arrived we readied our soy sauce with wasabi, grabbed chopsticks and dug in. The spicy tuna did not disappoint, as I’ve had this elsewhere and always enjoy it. The Idaho maki was delicious: deep fried sweet potato in the center of a maki roll. I was a little skeptical of the Kuuipo maki, but relieved that I found it equally delicious as the previous two. Just as important as the flavor were the rolls’ consistency; they did not crumble or fall apart between the dish and my mouth, making them easy to eat.

Roughly a 40-minute drive from the L-A area, Miyako is worth the effort for sushi. There is parking along Route 1 as well as behind the restaurant. Visit www.mainetakeout.com/freeport/freeportmiyako.htm to view the menu.

Tasty tidbits

What: Miyako Japanese Cuisine

Where: 23 Main St. (Route 1), 2nd floor, Freeport

Reach them: 865-6888 (fax 865-0880) view their menu at http://www.mainetakeout.com/freeport/freeportmiyako.htm

When: lunch Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; dinner Sunday-Thursday, 4:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Why: Good sushi at reasonable prices within a short drive of Lewiston-Auburn.

Atomosphere: Asian decor in a quiet and spacious 2nd-floor dining room with a sushi bar where you can watch the sushi chefs work. 

Prices: Sushi rolls start at $3.50; soups at $1.95; sushi entrees at $15.50 served with soup and rice.

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