Oct. 23, 2013:  When Lenny Mori retired as owner of Japan Inn last July, he left his well-established restaurant in the capable hands of Akira Miyanomae ("Miya") and his wife, Laura. Miya had been Japan Inn's sushi chef for 18 years and knows what the customers like. 

The restaurant has a new name, Kaito Sushi, and will have a new sign shortly. ("Kaito" means seafood.)  

I visited on several occasions for lunch and dinner and found the same friendly feeling Japan Inn always had. Laura and Miya are extremely welcoming and helpful, and the restaurant was full of families enjoying the food and ambiance.

Customers will recognize many old favorites on the menu--dumplings, sushi, sashimi, katsu, don dishes, and steak--and will find some interesting innovations. New noodle dishes include soups, soba, and udon entrees, and you'll find some new sushi offerings as well. 

I ordered some of the new entrees and found them exceptional. Saba shio is grilled salted mackerel with mashed radish, which I had in the lunch box special. Chirashi is a wonderful rice bowl with "scattered" sushi, vegetables, baked egg custard slices, ginger root, and wasabi mustard. Yakisoba is a buckwheat noodle dish with vegetables. Nabeyaki-udon is a chicken soup with white noodles, tempura, poached egg, shrimp, crab, and vegetables. All dishes are prepared in beautiful presentations. 

Kaito Sushi's prices are reasonable, and it continues to include complete lunches and dinners as well as a la carte options. It is open every day except Monday.    

Kaito Sushi, 28 Palmer Avenue, in Bronxville; 914-337-1296; http://www.kaitorestaurant.com

Pictured here:  Waiters ready to serve at the new Kaito Sushi restaurant.

Photo by N. Bower