Kat-Su Restaurant — Restaurant in North Branford

Friends in Branford told me I needed to try out Kat-Su, because they know I love sushi and I also love the whole “fusion” concept of dining and Kat-Su was doing sushi and Mexican. Which, to my mind, is GENIUS! I’m still willing to say that it is a genius commercial concept and, from my visit, seems to be working.

I mean, not for me…wooooo, this spot is not my thing.

People working here are REALLY nice. They’ve got a cool vibe and are doing a really good job. The spot itself? Not a good vibe. Maybe zero vibe. Seems to definitely be like zero effort to create a vibe.

Since I dine alone 90+% of time, I am sensitive to the atmosphere/vibe in a restaurant. But I also happen to think vibe is an integral part of the dining out experience. It’s true, if you are part of a couple or a group you can kind of “overcome” lack of atmosphere. But when you’re dining alone? That’s the test…Kat-Su really failed the vibe test.

However, they appeared to be doing a very good take out business. Which is cool. Take out is not my thing. I avoid it. LOL My friends who recommended Kat-Su got take out. So my expectations may have been just off base…

I sat at the sushi bar. Which, let’s be honest, should not be an “odd” request at a sushi restaurant. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that they are not accustomed to people actually sitting at the sushi bar. Uh…yikes! The sushi chefs were great though! Fun, friendly, chatty, upbeat. The team working here is fun!

There is a big and legit sounding Mexican menu. I started out with Super Nachos. I. Love. Nachos. I’m always going to give nachos a try if I see them. They suggested I add shrimp. Because they are GENIUSES! These were maybe the best restaurant nachos I’ve ever had! DELICIOUS. So. Good. Wow. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I’d get these like every day of the week. Which leads me to believe other things on the Mexican Menu are also good. But I wanted to order from the sushi menu next.

There is sushi and then there is sushi and then there is sushi. What Kat-Su is doing well/best are the giant, deep friend, lots of sauces types of sushi rolls. I understand these are big sellers and people love them. They are not my thing. But I watched them make a bunch and they’re doing a VERY good job at them. This is not a spot to order Nigiri or basic/fresh rolls. Just skip that. I should have. I was being stubborn and not “reading the room.” The room was telling me: MEXICAN!! BIG, FRIED ROLLS!!! Also, get it to go and make your own vibe at home.

I am going to recommend Kat-Su for Mexican and for big, speciality sushi rolls and take out. I mean creating a better vibe would be an easy fix (step one: PLAY SOME MUSIC!!!), but unless and until they figure that piece out I can’t really recommend dining in. Although service is good!

Oh! And frozen alcoholic beverages. Those might actually be the reason to dine in. They are GOOD. And, you know, if you have a few YOU are the vibe!

Nachos and frozen margaritas for everyone. And then share a ginormous, deep...

Tried this place for the first time and it was surprisingly really good. They have a very large menu with lots of options, which can be scary and is usually a sign of lower quality food, but the food was great! We got an order of sushi(I can’t remember the name of it) which was amazing. They have a lot of fusion roll options, cold and warm. We then each ordered a burrito, which were huge and delicious. They also gave us hot sauce on the side, one jalapeño based and the other chipotle based(I think). They were amazing, fresh and didn’t taste like they were from a bottle. Servers were very polite, although they seemed a bit discombobulated. Drinks were yummy, I had gotten their mango marg which was so yummy. Environment is a bit weird, but I think that’s because we were expecting more of a fusion of Asian and Mexican. Overall amazing experience, so happy the sushi and burritos were good.(my favorite foods)

• update* I had gotten the same order previously stated, but to go. Food was ready when I got there, but I think I waited for 20 minutes until I was able to get it… and it was dead. When I got the food home, it’s cold. And not just from sitting out for however long, but the cheese in the burrito wasn’t even melted, as if the burrito was made with cold ingredients. Super bizarre and...

This is a great restaurant. It has always been a location where quality Japanese and Korean food has been served. Highlighted by sushi which has always been top-notch. The change in ownership which resulted in the change of name from Wassabi to Kat-Su has clearly been accompanied by an increase inequality of every facet of the restaurant. While it continues to involve the same kitchen staff and sushi chef's which ensures the continuation of high-quality it now additionally involves a Mexican component to the menu. The quality of which competes with any Mexican restaurant in the extended area. Furthermore the remodeled nature of the restaurant presents a higher quality aspect to ones dining experience as well

It represents a new high-quality offering to the market which stands on the shoulders and exceeds the quality of the previous restaurant at this location. I've been there several and I have never been disappointed. I will be going there in the future and have recommended it...