Origami

#Amuse @origamimpls is refreshingly simple & simply delicious. First-rate sushi & service. goo.gl/4Rkkb

— Josh Page (@ILikeFoodJP) January 30, 2013

Eating at restaurants these days can be overwhelming. The fancier (or hipper) the restaurant, the more exhausting it tends to be. So many menu items. So many confusing—often ridiculous—names for dishes. So many sauces, gels, and foams. So much commotion and noise. All too often I leave a restaurant craving quiet time.

Don’t get my curmudgeonly vibe wrong: I love adventurous restaurants (especially those like Piccolo that skillfully blend creativity and restraint) and appreciate an eclectic dining atmosphere (see Nightingale in Uptown), but every now and then I relish simple, tranquil—though not stuffy—dining. On these merits, I strongly recommend Origami.

The downtown space is pleasantly sparse and the servers are friendly and attentive. Though the menu is rather large, several well-conceived platters helpfully let you avoid big decisions. I was fully sated by the “Deluxe”—ten pieces of sushi, one roll (I did have to choose from four options here), miso soup, and salad. Super fresh and delicious, Origami’s sushi is in the same league as Masu’s. But Origami has Masu beat in the “chill” department—a little less hip and happening holds advantages for those in search of some mellow, straightforward dining. I imagine it’ll become a staple in my restaurant rotation.

What’s your go-to place for relaxing, unpretentious nourishment?

Theme Song

Roy Hargrove, “Invitation”