08/24/04

Stylish Japanese fare and cocktails on a college student-sized budget.

by Contributor

The Scene
Located in the heart of campus, Bento Go-Go occupies the former home of the Insomnia Coffeehouse and Skyline Chili. The downstairs has been converted into a well-lit, cafeteria-style serving area with brightly-colored booths; the upstairs sake lounge is a sleeker space (and more pleasant for dinner), with flat-panel televisions and Japanese pop art-inspired decor.

The Food
Bento boxes are the main feature, and there's plenty of food packed in for the low cost. The mango chicken isn't as zingy as one might expect, but the sides that come with it, like seaweed salad, pickled vegetables and vegetable tempura, are filling and tasty alternatives. The miso-glazed baked salmon, stuffed with spinach and cream, is also worth a try. Standard sushi rolls, like California and spicy tuna, are the best deal in town. The house drink specialty is the saketini, which comes in fresh flavors like orange blossom and cucumber-melon.