Least bad sushi in Northampton MA?

[T. Susan Chang]

My family has a serious sushi craving and wanted to know if anyone has thoughts about sushi options in Northampton (or surrounding areas) other than Osaka and Moshi Moshi. I usually go to Osaka, which is fine but I'd love to have better options. Moshi Moshi I've been to once; the fish was not fresh and it was horrendously overpriced besides.

Is SooRa any good? Taipei & Tokyo? is there better sushi possibly farther afield (as far north as Greenfield?)

Looking for straight-ahead, quality sushi and sashimi; not that interested in creative hand rolls etc.

Many thanks.

[magiesmom]

I have never had sushi at SooRa, but I wouldn't bet on it. It is ok at Taipei and Tokyo, similar to Osaka, not fabulous. I agree about Moshi.
I think the nearest really good sushi is at Bizen in Great Barrington, not at all near. Sorry.

[BerkshireTsarina]

For someone going so far afield --- I would certainly put Fin, in Lenox, ahead of Great Barrington. It's noisy and cramped --- then again, unless you go to the tatami rooms, so is Bizen --- and I have always felt the sushi and sashimi quality was superior.
Alas --- we're now far away from the Berkshires in Northampton, and find ourselves in the same dilemma as the original poster!

[T. Susan Chang]

Thanks to both replies. We ended up going to SooRa just to ascertain whether we were missing something. We weren't. It's such a pleasant, friendly, and well-priced place that I wanted to like it, but the sushi was just not primo fish; not the texture, not the quality, not the size. I guess Osaka remains the local fave, such as it is. Hoping to get out to the Berks sometime to try either Fin or Bizen.

[magiesmom]

really? I only went to fin once, but the fish was clearly frozen when served.

I have decided to confine my sushi eating to the coasts.

[BerkshireTsarina]

I AM surprised. Haven't been for six months, but before that went reasonably often and found it fine.
OTOH, sushi eating is undoubtedly best on the coasts! As is a lot of other eating. I console myself here with the produce in season which is great, with croissants at 40 Green Street Lunch, and with the Williamsburg Snack Shack when in season, for which I thank YOU!
Any other hidden tips or treats around the Pioneer Valley gratefully accepted!

[cheferella]

I've always been a fan of House of Teriyaki in North Amherst. I went once with a group of Japanese graduate students (studying in New York), who pronounced the sushi the best that they had had in the States.

[magiesmom]

Tsarina,
i'll try Fin again.
Right now I am trying to get to Coco in Easthampton which I have heard is fabulous. I also love the Night Kitchen in Montague, especially in summer when you can sit outside.
And the Wagon Wheel in Gill is great if you are over that way., or if you feel like a drive and want good, casual often locally sourced food.

[BerkshireTsarina]

Thanks, MM --
I think lunch at Wagon Wheel and a nice drive might be do-able. Dinners anywhere have to wait for the return of the light in spring.
(Every time I go to Bread Euphoria I think maybe that's you waiting on line at the counter :-)

[magiesmom]

Tsarina, yes it probably is me!
have they fixed the darn espresso machine yet?