Cafe Mochi - Tower Grove Park

We visited Cafe Mochi in Tower Grove Park (3221 S. Grand Blvd.) on a beautiful spring day in late April.  The outdoor seating was pleasant and well-attended by the wait staff.

To start, we ordered a bowl of edamame, which was cooked to just the right level of softness and separation from the shell.  The miso soup that came next was nearly perfect, with small cut seaweed and tiny chunks of tofu, served pleasantly hot. 

We ordered several rolls, which were uniformly good.  The rainbow roll and eel roll came out together.   Both were visually appealing.  The rainbow roll, in particular, had a good variety of fish, all of which was deliciously fresh.  The eel was also nicely prepared, though a bit heavy on the cucumber.

The highlight of the afternoon was the volcano roll, which was not really a roll at all, but an ingenious combination of crab, avocado, scallops and roe arranged in a circular configuration with a tasty and not-too-spicy sauce.  The crab was especially notable, as there were plenty of large, succulent pieces, all warmed to a pleasing temperature.

Overall, the food at Cafe Mochi was excellent.  Our experience was somewhat marred, however, by service that was spotty.  Perhaps it was because we were seated in the patio area, but our soup order was forgotten (until we reminded the waitperson), and she did not come by during our meal.  The menu was also somewhat confusing, as the specials (including the volcano roll) were not listed on the separate such ordering sheet.  Of course, we managed to overcome all of these minor inconveniences and have a wonderful meal, but Cafe Mochi will be hard to beat once its service matches the quality of its foot.

Overall rating:  8.0