After talking about it for several weeks, Mike and I finally made it to Tanoshii for dinner. They're located on Main Street in downtown Bozeman in the spot where a short lived and ill-fated wine bar used to be, and they bill themselves as a place for Japanese soul food.Here is what the A-List has to say.
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One of the upsides of Bozeman's growth is that restaurants are popping up all over the place. Despite the proliferation of new eateries, there are still days when you find yourself bemoaning the lack of originality and absence of bold flavor from so many Bozeman restaurants. Sometimes it seems as if the same ol' stuff is always on the menu. How many pizza,/burger/fast-casual joints can we have before we get sick of them? Can a new restaurant with the same old favors really excite your palate? If any of those thoughts have crossed your mind recently, Tanoshii is for you.
The newly remodeled space boasts stylish décor yet still maintains a casual feel. With a pressed tin ceiling and a brick wall on one side, Tanoshii is housed in an old, long building similar to many on Bozeman’s Main Street. Think of Plonk but narrower, which gives Tanoshii an intimate feel.
The service was attentive and professional without being fussy or phony. It was almost full when arrived but we were lucky to score a private spot in one of the two snug window seating areas. We were seated quickly and throughout our meal had what we needed in a timely manner. At one point, the owner came over to thank us for coming and wasn’t schmarmy like they can sometimes be - a nice touch.
Tanoshii has a small menu, and the food was all we hoped it would be. We had two hand rolls and a crispy eggplant dish that were among the evening’s specials along with a seaweed salad off of their regular menu. It was an exquisite blending of flavors that danced across our palate like skilled dancers on a crowded dance floor; each had a chance to shine, and they succeeded in not crashing into one another.
The eggplant dish was the standout. It is always nice to get eggplant out at a restaurant as I find it to a time-consuming challenge to cook; better to leave it to the real chefs, and this dish did not disappoint. The eggplant was nicely cooked and the crispy toppings (I didn't note what they were) provided a nice crunch to the dish. The eggplant was seasoned and was placed on a thin layer of squash puree. A mild wasabi sauce was included as well and somehow maintained the wasabi essence without overpowering. Again, a wonderful combination of flavors, but I don't have the fine-tuned taste buds (Or the propensity for additional bullshit) to say more.
They also have ramen and rice bowls, a chicken and waffles dish which people rave about on Yelp (Tanoshii has a 4.5/5 star rating), and vegetable and vegan dishes. A few appetizers, desserts, and a handful kid’s dishes round out the menu.
After our meal, Mike and I lingered in our window seat as we finished our drinks and watched the Bozeman street scene. It just after 9 p.m. so the party crowd was not out and the scene was mellow. It's always nice to take a break from cooking by eating out, and it's especially enjoyable to have a meal that you know you couldn't make at home. Tansoshii delivers originality and flavor in a nice setting - highly recommended.
If You Go...
- Find Them At - 113 East Main Street, downtown Bozeman or on Instagram
- What We Know - Tanoshii opened a few months ago after being delayed by the pandemic. They maintained a mysterious presence on Instagram before they opened, leaving it up to your imagination as to what type of restaurant it would be. According to our server, the restaurant was opened by Daniel and Eva Wendell who run the catering business The Food Studio. She didn't say much about their cooking background other than that "they do a lot of catering for the Yellowstone Club." Given the service and the food, it seems as if they have their act together at Tanoshii - true restaurant professionals.
- Try It If... you’ve looking to venture beyond the burger/brewpub/pizza places that are so popular in Bozeman
- Portion Size – On the small side but not skimpy. You will be satisfied but don’t come here after a big day in the mountains.
- Price Point – Moderate for Bozeman. The items mentioned above plus a glass of wine set us back $44 plus tip.
The verdict – A-List give Tanoshii five stars
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