Kusakabe

Serene with warm lighting and clean lines, distinctive creativity is the motto of this sushi-focused operation. Inside, a stunning counter crafted from a piece of live-edge elm, oyster-hued leather chairs and a ceiling of wood slats complete the Japanese-chic look.

While the preparation of their nightly omakase might seem like a production line by employing myriad cooking techniques, the kitchen ensures that every bite is memorable. Begin with warm kelp tea, before embarking on a sashimi parade of bluefin slices served with a yuzu-onion-sesame sauce. Then, savor softshell crab soup in a corn and sweet miso broth before a top rendition of sushi yields Santa Barbara sea urchin atop Hokkaido scallop and snapper with cured egg yolk shavings.