The Nice Dining Club

📅 Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Saji-Ya, St. Paul, MN
👥 Capacity: Limited to 8 people only

Join us for an evening at Saji-Ya Sushi & Japanese Kitchen, one of the Twin Cities’ most enduring Japanese and sushi destinations. Nestled on historic Grand Avenue, this reimagined restaurant blends tradition with modern flair, offering an experience that’s both timeless and fresh.

Newly reopened and reimagined, Saji-Ya Sushi & Japanese Kitchen honours the past while focusing on what matters most: welcoming guests with care and showcasing high-quality ingredients prepared by masters of their craft.

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🍤 Starters
🍢 Yakitori – Skewers of grilled chicken in sesame garlic marinade (10)
🐙 Takoyaki – Deep-fried octopus dumplings w/ Bulldog sauce & bonito flakes (8)
🥟 Gyoza – Six pan-fried pork dumplings w/ spicy dipping sauce (8)
🐖 Pork Belly – Skewer w/ sweet sesame glaze (8)
🥢 Agedashi Tofu – Fried tofu in tempura sauce w/ daikon & ginger (8)
🍄 Atsuage Tofu – Fried tofu w/ savoury mushroom sauce (8)
🌱 Edamame – Steamed soybeans (8) / Spicy chile edamame (9)
🌶️ Shishito Peppers – Tempura fried w/ teriyaki (9)

🍽️ Sharable Appetizers
🐟 Salmon Steak – Ponzu grilled filet (14)
🦪 Curried Mussels – Steamed w/ yellow curry & veggies (18)
🐟 Tuna Tataki* – Lightly seared ahi w/ citrus soy (22)
🥗 Poke Bowl* – Ahi cubes w/ seaweed & sesame over rice (21)
🐟 Hamachi Crudo* – Torch-seared w/ ponzu & leek oil (22)
🥩 Yakiniku – Thin ribeye steak w/ garlic-soy (22)
🍗 Crispy Wings (6) – Ginger / Sesame Garlic / Hot & Spicy (13)
🍗 Chicken Katsu – Crispy panko chicken w/ Bulldog sauce (12)
🐟 Hamachi Kama – Char-grilled yellowtail cheek (18)
🐟 Chilean Sea Bass – Miso-marinated, steamed w/ enoki (16)
🍤 Tempura – Veg (11) / Shrimp & Veg (20)

🥗 Sides, Soups, Salads
🥒 Japanese Pickles (8)
🥦 Ginger Broccoli (8)
🍄 Sautéed Mushrooms (8)
🥔 Potato Croquette (8)
🍲 Miso Soup (4) / Egg Drop Soup (4)
🥗 House Salad (6) / Seaweed Salad (6)

🍱 Entrées
🍲 Sukiyaki Bento – Ribeye hot pot w/ tofu, noodles, mushrooms (28)
🍗 Chicken Teriyaki Donburi (24)
🍤 Tempura Udon – Udon w/ shrimp & veg tempura (19)
🥩 Yakiniku Donburi – Ribeye over rice (28)
🍜 Yaki Udon – Udon w/ ribeye & veggies (24)
🍲 Nabemono Donburi – Choice of Yakiniku (32), Chicken Katsu (24), Shrimp Tempura (28), Veg Tempura (22), Salmon Steak (26), Chicken Teriyaki (24)

🍤 Tempura Dinners
Shrimp Tempura (29)
Vegetable Tempura (23)

🍣 Sushi Dinners (served w/ miso & salad)
🎨 Chirashi Sushi* – Fresh cuts over rice (36)
🐟 Sashimi Combo* – Four types (36)
🍣 Sushi 7 Combo* – 7 nigiri + maki choice (38)

🥢 Nigiri & Sashimi (examples)
🐟 Salmon (Sake)* – Nigiri 9 / Sashimi 11
🐟 Yellowtail (Hamachi)* – Nigiri 9 / Sashimi 11
🦑 Cuttlefish (Ika)* – Nigiri 6 / Sashimi 8
🦀 Snow Crab (Kani)* – Nigiri 8 / Sashimi 10
🐚 Surf Clam (Hokkigai)* – Nigiri 7 / Sashimi 9
🥚 Tamago (egg custard) – Nigiri 5 / Sashimi 7
🥩 Japanese A5 Wagyu Nigiri – 24

Details
📍 Sanjusan
📅 Thursday, October 2, 2025
🕖 7:00 PM
👥 6 guests

Join us for an Chef’s Table experience at Sanjusan, where the artistry of Japanese-Italian fusion meets the warmth of a communal table — perfect for sharing exceptional food and conversation

At the Chef’s Table, we’ll be seated near the heart of the action, with a front-row view of the chefs at work and the vibrant energy of the restaurant all around us.

With only six seats available, this is a highly sought-after reservation. Please RSVP responsibly so that guests on the waiting list have the chance to join if plans change.

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🍽️ Menu Highlights
🥢 Small Plates

• 🐟 Hiramasa Crudo — cucumber vinaigrette, shiro dashi & Fresno chili
• 🦆 Duck Tataki — turmeric ponzu, chickpea & mango
• 🍚 Arancini — enoki mushrooms, onsen egg & togarashi
• 🥟 Pork Gyoza — foie gras & wood ear mushrooms

🍝 Pasta

• 🐟 Mentaiko Lumache — creamy cod roe, pistachio & basil
• 🖤 Squid Ink Pappardelle — seafood Bolognese & Pecorino
• 🦀 Dungeness Crab Fettuccine — saffron butter, shiso & lemon
• 🍂 Satsumaimo Agnolotti — sweet potato, brown butter & walnut

🍕 Pizza

• 🍅 Margherita — mozzarella & San Marzano tomato
• 🦐 Okonomiyaki Pizza — shrimp, charred cabbage, kewpie mayo & bonito
• 🌶️ The Isaac Becker — spicy raw tuna, cilantro & lime

🔥 Yakitori

• 🍢 Thigh • 🍢 Breast • 🍢 Wing • 🍢 Skin • 🍢 Drum • 🍢 Shoulders • 🍢 Meatball • 🍢 Maitake

🍹 Cocktails & Drinks

• 🍹 Sanju — sake, Aperol & Okinawa lime
• 🌶️ Hana Hachi — tequila, mezcal, togarashi honey & yuzu
• 🥃 Old Fashioned 33 — Japanese whisky blend & bitters
• 💧 Zero Proof: Kosho (mandarin, yuzu, CO₂) | 🥛 Royal (Okinawa milk tea)

🍶🍷 Sake & Wine

• 🥂 Sparkling & Champagne • 🍷 Whites/Rosés/Reds • 🍶 Sake flights

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🌟 An evening of flavour, artistry, and connection awaits — with a seat right by the chefs, surrounded by the vibrant energy of Sanjusan. 🌟

🗓 Reservation Details

• Restaurant: Barcelona Wine Bar – 508 North Washington Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
• Date: October 8, 2025
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Party: 6 guests

I specifically chose this time so that everyone can enjoy themselves — by 7 PM, the restaurant has a lively yet comfortable energy, and the noise level should be manageable for conversation and a relaxed evening.

Since Barcelona Wine Bar has just opened, please keep your RSVP updated. This will ensure that if you cannot make it, someone on the waiting list will have the chance to attend.

From my own experiences travelling around Spain.

The paella — Spain’s most iconic dish — is meant to be enjoyed family-style, bringing everyone together around the table to share in a true Spanish dining tradition.

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun for us to try one of Barcelona Wine Bar’s specialties:

🍤 Paella Mariscos — a classic seafood paella brimming with shrimp, squid, mussels, clams, and saffron rice, all simmered in a rich seafood broth.

It’s the perfect way for everyone to experience authentic Spanish cuisine the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

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🧀 Charcuterie & Cheese

• 🐖 Jamón Serrano – $13.50
• 🥓 Soria Chorizo – $9.50
• 🌶️ Spanish Chorizo – $9.50
• 🥓 Speck – $9.50
• 🥖 Salchichón de Vic – $9.50
• 🌶️ ‘Nduja – $9.50
• 🧀 Basque Salami – $9.50
• 🥓 Fuet – $9.50
• 🐑 Idiazábal – $9.50
• 🧀 Aged Manchego – $9.50
• 🐄 Mahón – $9.50
• 🥛 Tetilla – $9.50
• 🧀 Aged Mahón – $9.50
• 🧀 Caña de Cabra – $9.50
• 🍷 Drunken Goat – $9.50
• 🧀 Valdeón – $9.50
• 🐐 Cabra Romero – $9.50
• 🥓 Lomo Ibérico de Bellota – $16.50
• 🥩 Wagyu Cecina – $16.50
• 🍖 Hot Soppressata – $9.50
• 🧀 Délice de Bourgogne – $9.50
• 🧺 Aperitivo Board – $29.50

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🍽 Tapas

• 🫒 Marinated Olives & Giardiniera – $6.50
• 🍞 House-Made Focaccia – $6.50
• 🥦 Grilled Broccolini – $9.50
• 🍆 Eggplant Caponata – $9.50
• 🥒 Zucchini – $9.50
• 🥦 Cauliflower – $9.50
• 🍅 Heirloom Tomato – $11.50
• 🧀 Burrata – $13.50
• 🥗 Green Beans – $9.50
• 🌱 Turnip Tartar – $11.50
• 🍲 Spinach & Chickpea Cazuela – $9.50
• 🍄 Roasted Mushrooms – $11.50
• 🍈 Honeydew Melon – $8.50
• 🥣 Hummus – $9.50
• 🧀 Whipped Sheep’s Cheese – $11.50
• 🥔 Patatas Bravas – $9.50
• 🥔 Potato Tortilla – $10.50
• 🍤 Shrimp Montadito – $12.50
• 🐟 Marinated Boquerones – $12.50
• 🐟 Striped Bass – $13.50
• 🍤 Gambas al Ajillo – $14.50
• 🐙 Grilled Pulpo – $17.50
• 🐟 Yellowtail Crudo* – $14.50
• 🦪 Steamed Mussels – $14.50
• 🍤 Seared Prawns – $15.50
• 🍗 Chicken Thigh – $12.50
• 🧆 Jamón & Manchego Croquetas – $11.50
• 🥩 Hanger Steak* – $16.50
• 🍖 Albóndigas (Meatballs) – $12.50
• 🥪 Truffled Bikini – $14.50
• 🥟 Spiced Beef Empanadas – $12.50
• 🐖 Pork Loin – $15.50

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🥗 Salads & Large Plates

• 🥗 Ensalada Mixta – $10.50
• 🥬 Watercress & Radishes – $9.50
• 🥗 Kale Salad – $11.50
• 🍗 Chicken Pimientos – $19.50
• 🐟 Whole Barramundi – $28 (half) / $56 (full)
• 🍚 Paella Verduras – $22 (half) / $44 (full)
• 🍚 Paella Salvaje – $28 (half) / $58 (full)
• 🍤 Paella Mariscos – $29.50 (half) / $59 (full)
• 🥩 Parrillada Barcelona* – $36 (half) / $72 (full)

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🍰 Desserts

• 🍮 Flan Catalán – $8.50
• 🍰 Basque Burnt Cheesecake – $9.50
• 🍩 Churros – $9.50
• 🍫 Chocolate Cake – $9.50
• 🍰 Olive Oil Cake – $9.50
• 🍦 Ice Cream (Fletcher’s) – $7.50