The night was full of anticipation. Not only was I going to meet my new big sister and sorority family, but revelation also promised to be a night of fantastic gifts, drinks and especially food.
The minute my big was "revealed" and I joined my new family, I was overflowing with joy, in part because my new family has inexorable taste and I knew that the upcoming dinner and night of debauchery promised to be world class.
The girls did not disappoint. The family whisked me and my twin-little off for a sophisticated dinner at EurAsian Harbor, a pan-Asian restaurant in the downtown Pier 5 hotel.
My fist impressions of the restaurant were filled with awe: Soaring ceilings, a large bar area, open kitchen and big comfy booths complete with hanging lanterns give one the feel of an upscale Tokyo hotspot. EurAsian Harbor is a relatively large restaurant with a private room for large functions. Besides the cozy dining room, the full bar offers additional seating for those just looking for a quick bit of sushi and sake.
The bar is also a great place to relax while you are waiting for your table: Reservations are often a must at this trendy nightspot, and even with reservations you may have to wait a couple minutes for your table. They offer a full range of popular drinks with a twist, including the famous Mai Tai or Grasshopper, and even their own specialties, such as the Rising Sun, a sort of "kicked up" papaya smoothie. Prices are a little high for the bar offerings (averaging about $5), but the drinks are large and delicious -- well worth the money.
Once we were seated, EurAsian Harbor's more substantial cuisine offerings thrilled me just as much as the drinks did. The menu is full of fusion cuisine, which mixes traditional Asian cuisine with European spices, sauces and preparations. The menu also offers an assortment of unique sushi creations, including a kamikaze, sesame shrimp and Hawaiian Ahi Poke roll. The sushi is handmade and fresh, with generous portions. For all of you sushi connoisseurs, these rolls are served in eight generous slices, versus the traditional six. Ranging between about $7 and $9, EurAsian Harbor's sushi offerings are a quality and tasty choice.
After the girls and I finished our sushi sampling, we moved on to our main courses. The meals were beautifully prepared and served in relatively large portions.
My twin sister devoured her sesame chicken breast, complete with a serving of steamed rice and bok choy. My big-big-big sister treated herself to the citrus glazed duck, which she declared the best duck she had eaten in awhile (and being of Asian heritage herself, she would know good duck). My big-big sister raved about her crisp, clean yellowfin tuna, simply marinated and grilled.
My big and I both opted for appetizer dishes as our main course -- we had already glanced at the dessert menu. Her Asian pizza was an innovative mix of East meets West, as flanks of seared Ahi tuna and roasted shiitake mushrooms dotted provolone-covered flatbread.
My blackened sea scallops burst with flavor and were cooked to perfection. Besides our selections, the menu offers the full range of Asian inspired cuisines with a European twist, including pad Thai, seafood fried rice, broiled pork chops and even some crisp salads. Entree prices range from about $10 to about $21, while appetizers ring up between about $5 and $9.
EurAsian Harbor tops off their menu with a small but quality offering of desserts, including a chocolate hazelnut crunch bar drizzled with Bailey's Irish Cream, a passion fruit creme brule and caramelized pineapple tart, complete with coconut ice cream. Although the desserts sound like rich indulgences, they are actually quite light and the perfect finish to the fresh and satisfying dinner offerings. Dessert prices fall between $4 and $6. The portions are not massive, but they are a good size if you want to share the calories between friends.
The ambiance of EurAsian Harbor accents the clean, crisp food. The service was on the whole prompt and friendly, and the staff was very willing to accommodate us, whether it was the bottle of French champagne that we brought with us to celebrate the occasion or even a tricky, picky orderer, like I can sometimes be.
EurAsian Harbor is a great find for those Hopkins students looking for a more upscale answer to Niwana or Orient Express.
Conveniently located in the Pier 5 Hotel at the Inner Harbor, EurAsian Harbor would make an excellent choice for a pre-formal dinner, romantic date (my big did attest to the fact that the restaurant was packed on Valentine's Day) or a sophisticated dinner with the parents.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.