When we think about restaurants in Winter Garden we immediately think of Plant Street and the downtown area. And by we I mean me.

That’s very short-sighted, I agree. And I’m bound to expand my thinking after a very pleasant lunch at Gochi Japanese Kitchen, which indeed has a Winter Garden address but resides on Colonial Drive.

It occupies a surprisingly large space in the Winter Garden Regional Shopping Center. It doesn’t open until noon, and while I was waiting for the doors to be unlocked, I watched a man come out and sweep the sidewalk in front, even though it really didn’t look like it needed it. A few moments later I was seated inside and that same man turned out to be our server. (And a gracious and competent one at that.)

My lunch companion and I shared an appetizer of tuna kobachi, a small bowl (which is what kobachi translates to) of beautifully fresh lookin tuna cubes, dotted with sesame seeds and served on bright green leaves of lettuce. 

I had one of the roll combo lunch specials, choosing the Mexican, with crispy tempura-battered shrimp and spicy bits of jalapeño and creamy avocado; and the Florida roll, with fake crab (screams Florida, no?), shrimp, cucumber, avocado and fish eggs. Both were good and a good deal at $15, especially with the inclusion of a bowl of miso soup. (You may choose a salad instead.)

My guest chose the pork katsu bento box, with batons of breaded pork (that looked like fish sticks), one each of fried gyoza and harumaki spring roll, a mound of white rice and simple salad.

Booths with cooktops for grilling yakiniku with copper colored vents overhead are a main focus of the dining room, which also features conventional tables and booths for those who don’t want to cook their own meals (meaning me again), a sushi bar and a liquor bar at the back.

All of it just as tidy and neat as the sidewalk out front.

Gochi Japanese Kitchen is at 14195 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden (map). It is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. The phone number is 407-877-0050