My 4th time at Sushi by Scratch and 3rd time at the Encino location. This has become one of my go to spots for birthday dinners because the atmosphere is so intimate and fun. The chefs are always incredibly welcoming, we always have great conversations, and the drinks are great too! What I especially love is their unique flavor profiles. The experience is purely nigiri, but each piece incorporates unexpected flavors and seasonings that you wouldn't normally associate with traditional nigiri. The combinations somehow work so well, and that creativity is what makes it especially memorable for someone who eats sushi frequently. I've also been to the Beverly Hills location, but I honestly prefer Encino. The setting feels much more intimate and the overall vibe is better. I sometimes still leave a little hungry as there isn't an option to order additional pieces or pay for extras at the end. Otherwise, always a fun and memorable experience. read more

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Easily the best omakase experience my partner and I have ever had. I genuinely don't think we could go anywhere else after this. It was recommended to us by friends and we can see why. Definitely come about 30 minutes early to experience their speakeasy before dinner. The drinks and small bites were delicious and such a great way to start the night. Make a reservation ahead of time for the space is intimate and every seat was filled when we went. The star of the night wasn't even the food... it was the chef! Jason was amazing. He was personable, entertaining, and made the entire experience feel special from beginning to end. And of course, the 17-course omakase was incredible. You can really see the level of skill, precision, and craftsmanship that goes into every single course. Every piece felt intentional, from the flavors and textures to the presentation. There wasn't a single course that felt like an afterthought, and by the end of the night we were already talking about when we could come back. Amazing food, amazing atmosphere, and an even better experience because of Chef Jason. This is officially our new standard for omakase. We'll absolutely be back! read more

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Celebrating my wife's and daughter's birthdays. What better way than to experience omakase dining in an upscale sushi restaurant. Speakeasy ambiance - enter through an unmarked door on the second floor of a small strip mall. Reservations are mandatory. Start in a small bar area where you are given a welcome beverage - mine was a Japanese whiskey - and 2 small appetizers. The "main room" has 10 guests seated around three sushi chefs preparing the meal. No utensils - all food is eaten by hand. The meal consists of 16 serving of fresh sushi, fish sliced in front of you as the sushi is prepared and explained to you by the main chef. The fish tonight included hamachi, toro,kinmedai, notate, shims aji, madani, Sahara, unagi, and others. Plus a Japanese frozen dessert. One dish more delicious and melt in your mouth tasty than the last. Spectacular dining experience. A pricy dining experience ($244 per person counting tax and tip) but well worth it! read more

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This place is absolutely amazing!!! Worth every dollar, from the initial contact, first drink, to the last piece of the omakase! The seating is very limited with about 10-12 seats per sitting, so book early. They typically send an email the 1st of the month prior for booking and require only a small deposit which goes towards the final bill. The location is like a speakeasy, door is unmarked, no signs, and located inside a shopping center. The restaurant itself is pretty small but has everything necessary, amazing food, restroom, great staff, and good drinks. I highly recommend this place for a special occasion or celebration! You won't be disappointed!! We can't wait to go back! read more

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This is by far one of the best dinning experiences I've had. The space is intimate and the staff is so nice and accommodating. There is a 30 minute bar service before the seating, I highly recommend going. There's a welcome cocktail + small bites as it helps set the mood for the evening! There's street parking & lot parking. The door is inconspicuous, located on the second floor to the right of the escalators. I'm still dreaming about this meal read more

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Service was fantastic it! Felt so personal and playful the chefs gave excellent explanations and great banter with a fire playlist as well! Each course was so great my husband took me here for my birthday and honestly it's my favorite gift ever! The bone marrow sashimi I think about often and how the wagyu melted in my mouth! Each fish was a new unique bite! read more

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The sushi is phenomenal. The service is great, and the ambiance is wonderful due to the amount of seats.

I came here for my husbands birthday and I'm so glad I did! This place is for special occasions or for when you want to splurge on amazing sushi, but not leave too full. The 10 person bar really makes for an intimate feel where you get to know your sushi men, the bartender, and the people around you. We all sat and drank and talked to each other like nobody was a stranger. That atmosphere, paired with the amazing food and quality, in unmatched. read more

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A truly unique omakase experience that was a culinary adventure. The entrance was discreet and mysterious, which already piqued my interest, and loved the speakeasy feel that greets you. The staff was top tier, and had everything down to a well planned show. Loved to see that the Co-owner Gwen is still very much involved with the restaurant after so many years! The omakase experience itself felt like something out of a Japanese film, and the level of excellence between the staff, drink, and the fish was nothing less than Michelin. All the different sushis had such unique tastes that were all such memorable bites. The unagi was definitely on the top of my list, but also loved how well they prepared uni too. The sake pairing was perfection with all the different courses, and loved to see that more obscure prefectures in Japan were represented in it. If you're looking for a unique experience that truly has no comparison in the valley, definitely come and try Scratch. read more

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went for my boyfriend's birthday very delicious every bite was outstanding and the chef and bartender were so nice. The chef was very informative about what he was making while he was making. It made the experience even better to know what I was eating, delicious. read more

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My girl took me here for my birthday on a Tuesday night. They seat you in a waiting room before your reservation time and give you appetizers and a wet towel as you wait. There's a full bar in the waiting area as well. Once it's your reservation time, they seat you promptly. The whole set was amazing and there are 3 chefs and a server. They're very attentive. The food was great and flavored well. Definitely worth the price for omakase. read more

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Hands down the most creative and flavorful Omakase I've ever had! All 17 courses of nigiri were absolute flavor bombs. The chefs elevate traditional sushi with bold twists--like unagi seared with bone marrow fat, akami with matcha salt, and melt-in-your-mouth A5 Wagyu. The pairings are unconventional yet brilliantly balanced. read more

This place is an incredible omakase experience. The food had very nice details and the fish tasted amazing. We came here for a special occasion and it was totally the perfect atmosphere for that. Cons: high price tag and we were still hungry when we left even after getting a few repeat dishes. read more

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This place is an absolute must (if you like seafood/sushi) Took the lady for her birthday. It was even better than I was hoping! Show up 20-30 min early and you chill in a cute bar area. They tell us about the place and bring out a complimentary bite and cocktail .. both were delicious. Already very pleased. Then you go in a room where it's just seats at a sushi bar. Looks like it's only 6 at a time. The other 2 couples were cool and we chatted a little. Food was amazing. You sacrifice cool/beautiful plating but the experience is basically perfect otherwise. Since each course is nigiri the plating doesn't matter anyway. Everything is delicious and it's so intimate. The chef and 2 assistants (1 in front of each couple) send out course after course. Nice explanations for everything and just so much fun. A pro and con .. they do sake pairings which I'm never a fan of pairings but I do like fun cocktails. No menu so asked the bartender, who is off to the side. for whatever and he made us 2 incredible drinks. I forget what mine was but remember loving it. The other was a clarified espresso martini that blew our minds. My only frown is that the drinks were a bit expensive at $30 (which I didn't find out til later since didn't want to seem cheap (even tho I am) asking how much they were. We ended up getting 4 drinks and extra $155 after tax and tip just was a bummer buuuuuuut .. At $175 for the basic food price, it's basically the best food/experience for your money out of the Michelin experiences I've had. Providence still probably my favorite but much more expensive. I'd go back here again for sure .. and it's in the valley .. amazing. Can't recommend enough read more

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This is one of the best sushi Ive had. My coworker wanted to get sushi and he introduced me to this place. The setting and location are in a nice area with a lot of other nice restaurants too. But the sushi here is fresh fresh. This is not AYCE, its a set menu omakase so expect the best and you get what you pay for. I wish I wasn't introduced to this place because it's not cheap, but I want to come back every week!!!!!! SO GOOD!!! read more

Always an awesome experience. The omakase is really good and the ambiance can't be beat. 10-seat sushi bar, 17 courses, 3 chefs, and however much sake you decide ;) My favorite pieces were the botan ebi (shrimp), masu (salmon), and bone marrow. read more

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I've had the luxury of dining here twice and holy smokes. The service is second to none. They match luxury with playfulness and you feel comfortable and at home. Not only is this simply a blast but the food is through the roof delicious. I dislike the selling of add ons at the end it cheapens what is a perfect experience. Other then that holy cow is this insane. I ordered it with the sake and loved the pairing and story. read more

What an incredible experience. The food and ambiance were beyond my expectations and I will definitely be coming back! I've had several omakase experiences, some of which were Michelin star restaurants and this was by far the best I've had! read more

We went to Sushi by Scratch to celebrate our first wedding anniversary and everyone there made it as special as can be. When you make your reservation that is an option for a pre dinner experience. Seriously, why would anyone not??? You walk in to a small bar area and then are provided two welcome cocktails and two small bites to start your night. Absolutely delicious. Once the dining room is ready, you enter a very intimate sushi bar. There's about 10 people per seating. They've already prepared for your arrival and there is a chalk plate with your name and any special occasion you might be celebrating written on it. Once the sommelier guides your drink order, you are off on a culinary omakase adventure. There's chefs provide a show while they take care to make every bite better than the last. There were so many exciting fusion flavors that you never lost interest and when they asked if you wanted to add anything else at the end, it was hard to pick just two bites to have again. It gets pricey, so we'll save this as a special occasion treat, but it really was an unforgettable night. They even will take little Polaroid pictures for you to take home! I'm a fish fanatic, but that wagyu was like pure butter. read more

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Be prepare to empty your wallet, but it's an experience that's quite something~ Wonderful service and delicious 12 course omakase sushi offering~ and the small intimate setting facing the sushi chef is just great! My wife and I went there for our anniversary and it delivered! read more

We rang the gold door bell and were welcomed into what felt like a speakeasy. The best Omakase experience you'll ever have with the freshest cuts of amazing fish my favorite being the bone marrow. The chefs had the process down to a tee, explaining every piece of sushi they made in front of us like it was art. They serve only ten people at a time so it was very relaxing in a cozy atmosphere. Pricey yes but worth every penny for the return in the experience you receive. A must try at least once. Thank you guys for making it a great night! read more

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We had a wonderful experience from beginning to end. Upon arrival, we were welcomed with a hot towel, a refreshing drink, and two canapés before being seated. Afterwards, we were escorted to a cozy room at the back where the omakase experience took place. I especially appreciated the thoughtful touch of "Happy Birthday" written on my boyfriend's name plaque, it made the evening feel extra special. As expected with omakase, no utensils were provided, not even for the small plate of cucumbers, which were replenished throughout the meal. This added to the authenticity of the experience. This isn't your traditional omakase. There's a modern, LA-inspired twist to the nigiri, but it was still a delicious and memorable experience. Some of the nigiri were topped with bold flavors like habanero and Thai chilis, which added a unique flair. The omakase space is very intimate, seating only 10 guests. The seats are close together, so you'll likely get to know your neighbors. We enjoyed chatting with ours, as well as with the chefs, who kept the atmosphere lively with jokes and conversations. Their relaxed approach made the evening even more enjoyable. I'll definitely return to celebrate milestones next time I'm in town! read more

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Sushi by scratch is an incredible, intimate, and one of a kind experience. We went for my husband's birthday and the sushi did not disappoint. Every single item on the menu was delicious, but the wagyu but probably the most memorable. The chefs are essentially creating one piece of sushi for everyone at a time so don't expect a lot of food at once. With that being said though, you can request additional pieces at the end at an additional cost, although the entire meal from start to finish will definitely leave you feeling satisfied and not overly full. Another thing to note is that this experience can become very pricey very quickly depending on the drinks you order or any additional items. Sushi by scratch is definitely best for special occasions, when you want to splurge a bit, and when you want to have an intimate experience with unique sushi. read more

Sushi by Scratch - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This time, we tried Scratch in Encino. My first experience was inside the Bev Hill Wilshire hotel. Encino was ok. It was too small and stuffy for me. Sushi quality is great. We also had the Sake pairing . Our bill came out to $750+ for 2 people. The head sushi Chef was nice but needs polishing. Too rough on the edges Parking is underground of the shopping mall. read more

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Wow, what an experience! I love the set-up and attention to detail throughout my entire meal. The welcome drink (alcohol or mocktail) and 2 starters kicked off the evening and set the tone for the main event. We also were offered our choice of water at the bar and when we entered the dining area, I never had to repeat what I was drinking as my water was replenished with sparkling water whenever it got low. Every transition was smooth and the chefs had their process down so it was seamless - we were always eating or doing something engaging that made time fly by for our 17 piece omasake meal. Each piece of fish was meticulously made in front of you. It was fun to watch how they garnished and served up their unique flavor with their various accessories, sauces, and the notorious bone marrow to switch up the traditional way of eating. The pictures from past yelpers and the IG clips give you a glimpse of what you can expect without ruining the surprise or experience. That being said, this place does cost a pretty penny and seating is limited to 10 people only. If you're a sushi lover, you wouldn't enjoy eating fish like this all the time, traditional is the way to go BUT it is worth doing it once in your life or to celebrate special occasions. Every bite was tasty albeit on the small size and I was not stuffed at the end but content. read more

Sushi by Scratch - Take your seat - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Food great service is great, it was a bit hard to find didnt realize they had a sister restaurant upstairs pasta bar. Restaurants down stairs under CPK follow the walls walk up two steps its facing the street and ring the door bell. Jason and alti or aldo not sure how spell his name but both were great. The sake flight was super smooth. Best sushi ice had. Theres plenty of parking in the structure and dont put ur hands on escalator rails left my hands black haha but they have cleaning towels. Very fun and cool experience. read more

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Best sushi I've ever had. I didn't even take a picture of the sushi because I just wanted to eat it straight away. 10/10 experience and the staff was amazing. I want to go again right now and I was there 40 minutes ago read more

Shoutout to Devanté and the bartender Ope for giving me the best birthday dinner I've ever had. They were very well informed on what they were serving and also approachable and friendly. I will be back! read more

Sushi by Scratch - Sushi Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

What a truly clever experience. You arrive into a literal hole in the wall. I missed the door completely. Thankfully my friend has been here before. You ring a doorbell and in a speakeasy manner you give your reservation as if it were some passcode to enter a well decorated, but dimly lit and small restaurant room. You're then given a welcome drink and a beautiful couple of appetizers. Then you are moved to a different back room where there are 3 chefs and one bartender. The entire experience is intimate and you get to chat it up with the staff and your fellow patrons. We had a total of 6 people in our room but they told us there were only 2 in the following reservation so it seems as though it's exclusive per reservation. The food itself was a mixture of traditional Japanese omakase with a few bits of fusion mixed in. Every piece was better than the last. Definitely worth the money and DEFINITELY worth the experience. read more

Went with my friend and we practically ordered everything on the menu. We sat at the bar and had a first hand view of the chef creating all of the dishes. Check out my pics - they speak for themselves! read more

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3.5/5 stars. The omakase was definitely a unique experience with a fun, speakeasy vibe. The setting is quite cool, and the atmosphere is lively, thanks to the friendly chefs who made the whole evening feel less formal compared to other omakase spots I've been to. The omakase itself was good but not the best I've had. They focus on creative and modern takes on their nigiri, often topping the pieces with unique ingredients. While a few stood out, others didn't quite hit the mark. The fish quality was decent, but I've had much better elsewhere, especially considering the price point. I think personally I just like simpler/more traditional pieces so I can taste the freshness of the fish more. One highlight was the bone marrow nigiri--something I've never encountered at any other omakase. It was surprisingly delicious and definitely the standout of the meal. Another nice touch was the cucumber, ginger, and mushroom salad served as a palate cleanser instead of the usual ginger. We arrived early for the welcome drink and two starter bites, which I thought was a nice offering. However, we were initially confused because they serve the welcome drinks in a separate bar area, and we thought that was where the omakase would be held. It turned out we were later escorted to a different room through their kitchen, which was an odd but unique experience. Also, if you are sitting at the edge of the table, it may be hard for you to see the chef top off/sear the pieces. One thing I love to do is watch the chef assemble the piece of sushi but since he was doing that in the middle section of the table, I was not able to see it. One small gripe was the hot tea service. I enjoy sipping hot tea between my nigiri to cleanse my palate, but the tea didn't arrive until we were already a third of the way through the meal. Overall, while the experience was fun and different, the fish quality could have been better, especially for the price. I'd recommend Sushi by Scratch if you're looking for a lively and creative omakase, but if you're after top-tier fish quality, there are other places that might better satisfy your cravings. read more

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I most enjoyed the relaxing vibe of this dinner with the chefs being super laid back. Before the dinner, we were provided 2 amuse bouche and a strong whisky cocktail with yuzu which I enjoyed and felt it was a great idea to lower the diner's inhibition so we can relax! This has always been a unique experience I liked from Scratch. They do it for the pasta bar too. Usually by the time they take you into the counter seats, you are super chilled and ready to enjoy the meal. My hubby and I had tried most of sushi fine dining in LA because we loved sushi that much! We loved the traditional sushi and are less into modernized sushi, which is what scratch sushi is leaning towards. There were a lot of toppings like pepper salt and torching of the fish which is cool to try but really takes away from the technique of fish preparation. We understand some fish may not go well with wasabi but this meal had literally no wasabi and no real kick or spiciness. It was very safe in terms of flavor. Avoiding to shock the palate then translate to a boring meal. We wanted a kick and a surprise to our palate. Even when they told it this piece may be spicy, it wasn't. To be fair, the rice was decent and a good texture which is very important in sushi. If the rice sucks, the whole meal sucks even if the fish is good. Scratch sushi appeals to the Americanized sushi diners and I'm a big fan of traditional style sushi. It was a great experience overall. read more

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My first omakase experience and I'm happy we came here! Gwen was very accommodating and sounded so nice through email, the reservation process was a breeze. It was my first time trying UNI, while I was a bit timid the chefs were reassuring that I would enjoy the bite, which I did! I really enjoyed the Kampachi, Salmon, Akami, and the Kinmedai to name a few. The cucumber shiitake mushroom and ginger salad they provide as a palette cleanser was a good touch. My partner and I decided to get 2 different sake bottles instead of the sake pairing and added on 2 additional bites (Kampachi and Akami) to finish the night off. Overall, the room is lightly dimmed and intimate while guests are engaged with all 3 very personable chefs and the lovely bartender. You can talk to your partner while also conversing with those next to you or across you. We will be back! read more

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Came here in January with my girlfriend for our shared bday dinner - we absolutely loved it. I loved it so much that I had to bring my husband and daughter to experience it before my bone marrow transplant, since I wouldn't be able to have sushi for some time. I love the intimate setting and interacting with the chef and staff. They really do make the experience a 10/10. And obviously the food is 10/10. Needless to say, my husband and daughter loved it as well. Can't wait until I can have sushi again so that I can go back! read more

I would go back here again and again. I am a sucker for some good sushi. The experience and service is also excellent here. Great sushi chefs and sushi bar ambiance is simply iconic. Parking is in the underground lot -- but rlly you should Uber because their drinks are great lol. You are seated at the front bar where you are served the apps and welcome drink. Then you enter the actual sushi bar for your meal. You have a name plate right in front of you which is such a nice personal touch. I loved that. The sushi pieces come after a nice show of cutting, torching, and etc right in front of your face! I love how they put on a show!! It's quite special how they make the whole experience so worth the price you pay for. You can also get the meal with alcohol pairing. Overall such a magical experience from beginning to finish. I had such a good time :) if you wanna go i would definitely recommend! They also have other locations in Chicago and others... great job, sushi by scratch! read more

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Fantastic experience at scratch I came here with family and we all loved the experience. The chefs and bartenders were all so talented and friendly I truly enjoyed my time here and will be coming back. Every single bite of the omakase and sip of the drinks I've had were all delectable. When you walk in you sit at the bar get offered a nice drink and two appetizers as you wait to be seated in a secret back room that you access through walking past the kitchen area then your experience truly begins. If you have the chance to experience I highly recommend it. read more

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I really wish I could give 10 stars! This Omakase restaurant was the best one I have been to thus far. With the experience you get 17 handcrafted sushi options that are just insane!!! The best sushi I've ever had! While you enter you get two complementary appetizers and welcoming cocktail, which was made for perfection and gushing with the best flavors. For the sushi options my fav were the striped jack which was spicy but the bomb for sure !! So soft and melted in my mouth. The second fav was the king salmon that was made from perfection and of course made from "scratch" The service was just the best! The hostess Gwen was the sweetest and made sure we had the best experience for our first time. We even had the best seats when we went inside to the main room. It's only 10 people per dinner session so it's very intimate and worth it.!!! It's $165 per person but the service is phenomenal and quality of Sushi they prepare is well worth it. The chef's were amazing and the head chef Will with the culinary art skills. He is the best and knows what he doing. He had a great personality and good sense of humor. He made the experience unique while briefly giving us background on each sushi item. THANK YOU WILL! The bartender Noah makes sure he gives you history on the drinks and very passionate on the drinks he prepares. He is very amicable and attentive. I ordered the Bee's Japanese and I had the pleasure of Noah making me a drink off the menu that was just the BEST! I usually don't drink cocktails but the ones I had was the best especially with the globe shape ice in the drinks, the ice was called Kuramota Japanese sphere ice. Just eccentric and well made drinks. The inside is very cute and reminds you of a speakeasy. The outside looks like a fish house until you enter, it's decorated well with elegant and clean restroom. It's very quaint but perfect for a date night and celebrations. Also, a little side note you can have the entire dinner session for a private room if you want for celebration. They even put your name down on a board which made me feel really elite. In a nutshell !! I want to come back asap and try. I would like to come every month. Is there a membership ? Haha let me find out. This is just the spot you want to go to it's very elite with and a great experience. They even have dessert at the end that's paired with a cocktail tea that was just perfect! This is located across from Davenport on Ventura and they have street and garage parking which you have to pay $6. This is Also located in "the fish house". This is the first location by Scratch and they have many more in Beverly Hills, Montecito, Miami, and Chicago etc. Coming back is a must ! I feel the experience is amazing this one is Def one for the books :) read more

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Reservations are required at this speakeasy sushi spot because they keep it exclusive.... small seating (max 10 ppl). It is hands down my favorite 'modern' sushi spot in LA. It's expensive, but worth it! The meal is served omakase style and the menu regular changes. Recently I've been digging the Toro and Masu; but my consistent favorite is the Bone marrow! But every one of the 16 bites is delicious. Sometimes if there's time they let you "revisit" an item (you pay als cart), so remember your favorite. We love that they can craft off-menu mocktails for those who don't drink. And the seating is communal and depending on the night, it's fun to meet your neighbors! read more

What an experience. You know how much I loved my meal? I came back a few days later. Twice in one week isn't entirely enough. In my perfect world I would go daily. I went with a different friend each visit. Visit 1 was on a Tuesday led by Chef Sean. We got there exactly 30 mins before our reservation and got to experience the whole welcome drink presentation which came with 3 starter bites. It was 2 during visit 2. V1 was upstairs. V2 was downstairs. The whole meal was like a presentation. Nothing really beats omakase. We were served exactly the same items both visits, but I preferred the prep of visit 1 solely because Chef Sean has a sweet spot for lemons and added a hint of it on most bites. Every bite was so decadent. Everything was clean and fresh. The ingredients went together perfectly. I shared a bottle of sake with my friend during V1. For the second visit, I decided to do the drink pairing that came with sake and cocktails. Option 2 was more alcohol wise, but I was definitely drunker during the first round. Overall, highly recommend. The service was amazing. I love the small details like having a name plate for each person. It did come in handy for the moments when the chefs made small talk. I can't wait to come back. read more

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The best sushi I've had outside of Japan! Great quality fish, amazing experience, & the chefs were great! Very friendly. Great place for any occasion really. The vibe is very speakeasy, chill, romantic. Definitely recommend! read more

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