4822 MacArthur Blvd NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 298-6866
Makoto is rated a 29 on Zagat and it has earned every point.
You can certainly go there for sushi, but I highly recommend getting the complete dinner (7-10 small plates) to get the full experience. We started our meal with conch and wild mushroom soup served in a conch shell over "fire." This soup is traditionally cooked over a fire in Japan so it was served next to a flaming piece of blue lava. ok, I have no idea if it is really traditional or not, but I have no reason not to believe them and the flame was a completely gratuitous and enchanting accompaniment to the meal. It just got better from there. Some of the highlights included sushi served with freshly ground wasabi which tastes sweet rather than bitter; mussels in a ginger vinaigrette accompanied by avocado with spicy miso (rather than being hot spicy it was incredibly flavorful); soft shell crab in a puffed rice crust accompanied by a duo of lime and chili dipping salts; delicious sake; and, when you don't think you can eat another bite, gran marnier strawberry ice.
I can't wait to go back.