A friend and I arrived before the rest of our party. Seating is a bit scarce at sugarFISH. Even though there were a few tables available (mostly for two), the staff asked if they could seat us after the rest of our party arrives. (Note: they asked if we would mind waiting, not tell us we had to wait.)

I had had a very long, difficult day prior to meeting up at the restaurant. I asked if we could just sit at the bar first, which wasn’t a problem. The bar is not a sushi bar. No one makes sushi here in front of you. All the sashimi and sushi are sliced and arranged in the kitchen. As soon as I sat down, I ordered some sake. First up was tomaju, a sweet sake ($39). I wasn’t sure if I should get this one, but one of the patrons who was sitting next to me was quick to recommend it. He and the other 2 people with him each had a bottle. It really was extremely lovely and the perfect remedy to my bad day. As I snacked on the complimentary edamame and whined about my day to my friend, the server came by several times to refill my glass to make sure it was never less than half full. Before our bottle was finished, the rest of our friends arrived, and we moved to a table.

We all quickly decided on Trust Me Two. You don’t all have to order the same set, but it just so happened that we all wanted the same thing. Shortly after we placed our order, a plate of tuna sashimi arrived at our table. I remember when I went to Sushi Nozawa, that’s how my meal started, too. I truly enjoyed the tuna sashimi there, and I enjoyed it at sugarFISH just as much. It had that melt in your mouth feeling.

Next up was another bottle of sake ($18). Unlike the tomaju, this one isn’t sweet, but it was still pleasant. As for sushi, the albacore and salmon sushi came next. These are your standard sushi, but they taste much better. I think it’s the combination of quality fish and wasabi. I didn’t need to mix any soy sauce with the fresh wasabi at sugarFISH . The sushi was great with just the wasabi alone. One of my friends ordered an additional item, yellowtail, which arrived at this time. After that, next up were the crab and toro cut rolls. It is really hard to say which one of these were better. The toro was so rich and also had the melt in your mouth texture. Even though I was already fairly full at this point, I wished that I had more. The blue crab tasted fresh, but that’s not what appealed to me the most about this cut roll. The texture was fairly coarse, as crab rolls typically are, but there was a contradictory fineness to it as well, which caught me off guard.

The last plate of our set was the Nozawa shrimp and halibut sushi. The shrimp is way better than typical shrimp sushi. I really think that most sushi restaurants use frozen shrimp for this, but I doubt that’s the case at sugarFISH . There was a slight sweetness to the shrimp, something I usually only find with fresh shrimp. The toasted sesame seeds on top added a nice flavor to this one, too. Also a minor note: I like the fact that the tail shell was removed. It’s not a big deal that other places leave it on, but I always wonder what’s the point in leaving that bit of shell on? (If anyone has a theory to this, feel free to let me know by leaving a comment.) The halibut was very good, but I can’t say it was my favorite item out of the evening. It was a light sushi, so it was probably meant as a way to conclude the meal.

I don’t know if sugarFISH offers any type of dessert, but the staff was great to allow us to bring our own in. As we were celebrating a birthday, we brought in a fruit pie from Susina’s Bakery. The amiable staff at sugarFISH stored the dessert for us and brought it out as we all bellowed the “Happy Birthday” song at the top of our lungs. Then they took it back to the kitchen and sliced it for us and brought plates and forks for us. I can’t imagine us getting away with this type of stuff at Sushi Nozawa.

Miscellaneous:

Again, I reiterate that tax and tip is already included in your bill. I would have loved to leave an additional tip to the staff for their outstanding service.

sugarFISH is located in a plaza, the same one as Ralphs, Pinkberry, CPK, White House Black Market, etc., so there is tons of parking.

sugarFISH
4722 1/4 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Phone: (310) 306-6300

Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 10pm
Sun: 12pm - 9pm

Bocca:  Steakhouse Fusion Lounge
Encino, CA

I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon then relaxing over lunch and a glass of wine.  And save a few minor drawbacks, Bocca in Encino, offered just that.

My boyfriend and I got to Bocca around 1pm and found the restaurant e-m-p-t-y…empty!   I felt sad for the place.  With it’s clean line, modern feel and inviting atrium and patio, this spot is perfect for a leisurely lunch (and probably a romantic night out too.)

We were greeted right away, and since we had our choice of tables, picked a nice spot by the window.  The wine list was decent, if not overly inventive.  I had a glass of Savignon Blanc, a perfect choice for a balmy Sunday nosh.

We browsed the menu, and while I’m always a little scared when the offerings are all over the map, as was the case with Bocca, they call themselves a “fusion” steakhouse and lounge, so I reserved judgment.  I just wondered how well one can do Antipasto, Tuna Tartar, and Mini Beef Tacos. Instead of a standard appetizer I started off with the Creamy Wild Mushroom with Hazelnut Soup.

For $6.00 it was a decent portion. I wasn’t in love with the way it looked, but then again, it is pureed mushrooms, what can you expect? The flavor was really nice.  Rich, meaty, earthy.  If I had eaten nothing but that, I would have left satisfied.

We also ordered a sandwich which came with a side salad.

It was a very decent sized portion.  While it was a very simple salad, I will say the greens and veggies were exceptionally crisp and fresh.  The balsamic vinaigrette was also creamy with a good tang.  Since their sign says they are a steakhouse, and since we weren’t prepared to scarf down a full steak meal, we compromised and got the Steak Sandwich. For around $12 we thought it was a pretty nice size.  They also served bbq and steak size on the side.  And if you love sauces, for the dippin’, like I do, this is a nice touch.

We ordered it medium rare and it was cooked perfectly. The roll and veggies were also really good.  I just found the seasoning a bit lacking, there was nothing about the flavor of the meat that made it a stand out.  I felt I could have seasoned it better at home.   

Since we only tried 3 things, I can’t truly give this place a 100% thumbs up or thumbs down.  I liked the feel of the space, but do love the energy of a bustling restaurant, which Bocca lacked.    I will certainly give it another try, going on another day, at a traditionally busier time.  And next time maybe I’ll get crazy and order something Mexican, something Italian and something Asian inspired!  When I do I’ll report back here asap. 

Bocca - Steakhouse/Fusion/Lounge
16610 Ventura Blvd.  Encino, CA 91436
818.905.5855

In hindsight, I would have been happier sticking with just eating the salad assortment. The fresh baked flat-bread that came with it was fantastic: chewy and crispy in all the right places. The service was pretty mediocre and we had to wait a long time between bread refills, but the food is worth it.

Beverages:
I have ordered off of prix fixe menus before at other restaurants, and if beverages are included, the choices are usually coffee, tea, or soft drinks. Porterhouse Bistro does one better and allows guests the option of choosing a glass of any of their house wines. If you prefer wine or cocktail not on the house list, you simply pay an additional $5. These days, a decent martini will run you $10, so paying $5 for one at Porterhouse Bistro is a bargain. For my first choice, I picked the house pinot noir. I don’t remember the vineyard it came from, but the wine was quite drinkable. It had a very strong fruity presence. If I had not ordered from the prix fixe menu, the glass of pinot noir would be $6. (I will try to include the regular menu price for your reference.) You can order your second beverage at any time. I chose a cup of coffee to go with my dessert.

First Course:
From the menu, I wasn’t very impressed with the first course, bread. When the bread came, however, I was singing a different tune. While I enjoy La Brea Bakery’s bread, the fact that Porterhouse Bistro serves it is not the reason why I was happy. The bread was served with a whole roasted garlic bulb, butter, olive oil with balsamic vinegar, and the house tapenade. I loved that we got to choose what to accompany our warm bread with. Now, I really am not one to talk about butter of all things in restaurant reviews, but I have to say, the butter Porterhouse Bistro gave us is better than the butter at the restaurants I’ve been eating at lately. It tasted creamy but not greasy. I couldn’t help commenting about this at the table, and one of my friends immediately had to try it for herself. She agreed with me that the butter was indeed creamier than standard restaurant butter. The roasted garlic disappeared very quickly. I really enjoyed the garlic’s soft texture and very slight sweetness. My friends and I did not talk much about the roasted garlic, but since each clove was devoured, I think it’s safe to say we all liked it. We barely made a dent in the tapenade, not because we didn’t like it, but rather because Porterhouse Bistro gave us a lot of it. I find that every restaurant makes tepenade a little differently. Some have more olive oil than others, some are courser than others. Porterhouse Bistro’s tepenade is not oily, and you definitely see the finely chopped up olives in each spoonful.

Second Course: Appetizer
Friend #1 chose the smoked salmon quesadilla ($10) , Friend #2 - gargonzola tart ($10), and Friend #3 - spinach salad ($9). I was torn. I kept going back and forth between the romaine and endive salad ($10) and the onion soup ($8). I asked our server which I should choose. He started to advise me on the salad, and then he changed his mind and recommended the soup. I did as he suggested, and I am so glad I ordered the soup. This was by far the best onion soup I had in years. The soup is not covered in cheese, but rather a very light pastry dough. There is a little bit of cheese in the soup itself though. Unlike with many bistro onion soups, this one was not overly salty. The broth was an unexpected very light brown. It had a light, sweet, and spicy (lots of pepper was used) taste. The onions were soft, sweet, and translucent. The flavor was absolutely delicious. My friends all tried a spoonful of the soup and concurred that it was really very good. I tried their appetizers as well, and while theirs were good, too, I think the soup was the best out of all the appetizers. The gargonzola tart was served on a bed of greens with a raspberry dressing. The contrasts of the rich cheese with the light salad and of the salty tart with the sweet dressing were delightful. The smoked salmon quesadilla surprised me at first bite because it was filled with cream cheese. I never thought of making a quesadilla using cream cheese, but since lox and cream cheese is a common combination, it worked well in this dish.

Third Course: Entree
Friend #1 chose the rack of lamb, served with garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli ($27). Her lamb was very good - juicy and tender, very flavorful. The rest of us all picked the 12-oz rib eye steak ($29), but we each chose a different side dish. Even though we ordered the same steak, and we asked for medium, only one of us actually got medium. Friend #2 and I actually got a well done steak. The rib eye steak was still overall good, as it is quality meat and well seasoned, but the steak was a little bit on the dry side. We both looked enviously at Friend #3, as she ate her perfectly medium steak. Our server came by and asked how everything was. I did mention to him that I would have liked my steak more had it not been overcooked. He asked if I wanted a new one. I declined, but then he looked at me and insisted that I get a new one because I should be happy with my food. He was so very nice about it, that I didn’t feel the slightest bit uncomfortable about accepting the offer. While I was waiting for the new steak, I nibbled on the side dishes we ordered, house fries ($9), sauteed mushrooms ($9), and the steamed broccoli ($6). The fries reminded me a little of BJ Brewery’s, but much better. The fries were dipped in seasoned batter before they were deep fried. Porterhouse Bistro’s fries were dangerously addictive. The sauteed mushrooms were also good. I’m not the biggest fan of mushrooms, and even I liked these. My problem with mushrooms have always been a texture issue. I hate bland and mushy mushrooms with a passion. Porterhouse Bistro’s sauteed mushrooms were tasty and firm but not hard. My new steak arrived very quickly at my table, still sizzling on the plate. My friends I joked that we don’t typically see sizzling steak at bistros. After letting the juices settle a little, I cut one piece of the steak, and it was delicious. I was very impressed. I shared a portion of my steak with Friend #2, and she agreed that the new steak was so much better than our well done ones. I have to admit, while eating the first rib eye steak, I didn’t understand why so many people raved about Porterhouse Bistro. While eating the second one, I was ready to lead the charge on lavishing praise on them.

Fourth Course: Dessert
Before our desserts arrived, we were surprised when our server brought a big glowing blue object to our table:

This turned out to be a nice treat of cotton candy with a flame in the center. We had hard time trying to remember when was the last time we had eaten cotton candy. This was a fun centerpiece at the table, and we certainly enjoyed tearing it apart and eating it.

We ordered two creme brulees ($8), a chocolate lava cake ($9), and an apple tart ($8). I was not impressed with creme brulee at all. The flavor was good, and I loved that I could see specks of vanilla bean in it, but the texture was not right. I felt that the creme brulee was overcooked. The creme brulees were the only desserts that we ordered that were left unfinished. The chocolate lava cake was good, but not spectacular. Also, after having had many lava cakes over the years, we all expected lava (chocolate sauce or fudge) to ooze out from the center as we cut into it. That didn’t happen though. Nevertheless, the cake was full of chocolatey goodness. I thought the best dessert was my choice, the apple tart. I had previously mentioned (in my review of Susina Bakery) that it seems most places make their apple tarts by layering thin slices of apple, and Porterhouse Bistro is no different in that respect. It may not be an original dessert, but it was ever so delicious. Even though the apple slices were so thin, Porterhouse Bistro layered them so generously that the apple flavor was enjoyed in every bite. The pastry part of the tart was very crispy. Again, not very original but always a great a combination, adding some caramel and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the side made this apple tart a winning dessert.

To get your own 20% discount letter from Porterhouse Bistro, you can sign up on their website when you make reservations.

Porterhouse Bistro
8635 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Phone: (310) 659-1099
Mon-Fri: 6:00pm - 10:00pm, Sat & Sun: 5:00pm-10:00pm

Step inside this restored 1928 Spanish mission-style cottage, located on Riverside in Toluca Lake, and you might think you’ve been transported to somewhere in the exotic Spanish or Latin American countryside. D’Caché is a lively restaurant where they serve modern Latin-fusion cuisine, tapas and fine wines and great drinks. Try a fresh Columbian mojito made from Aguardiente and fresh mint or raspberry, melon and strawberry mojitos and margaritas.

The converted house has medium-sized dining rooms and secluded patios with comfy sofas to lounge on underneath white draperies. The back patio also has a pretty fountain. Out there, the two-seater tables are made from huge, polished discs of wood, hand-hewn from a large tree they had to lop down in the backyard. These beautiful tables are remarkable!

D’Caché also has a smoking patio and inside there is a small private room with a ‘U’ shaped couch and a TV. Perfect for a laid-back board meeting.

Before I get to the outstanding cuisine, one feature of the experience is the Rumba Gipsy and world music performances every night. The live entertainment starts at 7pm and goes until 9.30pm or so, Tuesday ’till Saturday evenings.

I went on a Wednesday evening and the musicians were incredible. Bandidos de Amor, a talented trio of flamenco-style guitarists and singers, sounded a lot like the Gipsy Kings and played plenty of boisterous music of that flavor.

So, to start with drinks, any Spanish restaurant worth their salt had better offer sangria. At D’Caché they concoct an exotic blend of three wines with gin and perfume it with cinnamon and brandy infused apples. Also their wine list is fairly extensive and features wine from Chile, Argentina and Spain as well as domestic varieties, all priced at around $8-9 per glass, bottles also available.

We started with the soupe du jour – wild mushroom soup ($9). This was unctuous and incredibly rich and delicious; a caramelized-sweet, smooth soup that was fragrant with truffle oil. Just fantastic!

With only twelve appetizers and eight entree dishes on the menu, you can tell the kitchen does it all well. We started with a serving of three large empanadas ($12) filled with slow-cooked shredded pork and dressed with a confetti of mango salsa. Lovely! Other appetizers to snack on include tapas such as Patacones con Cerviche – shrimp cocktail over fried plantains – or a variety of pizette.

Main courses include Spanish classics such as a smoky and seafood-packed Paella ($32) and Pollo Catalan. They also offer seared blue fin tuna with a cilantro crust and a warm salad of asparagus and greens.

Brazilian-style Lamb chops, crusted with pistachio pesto ($42), were perfectly cooked. The basil and truffle oils almost gild the lily, but the red wine reduction cuts through the rich sauce like Zorro!

Everything was very rich, so order wisely, but like a siren’s song, the best flavors of all Latin cultures at D’Caché will call you to return again and again.

Valet and street parking available.

D’Caché Restaurant, 10717 Riverside, Toluca Lake, between Lankershim and Cahuenga.
(818) 506 9600.
Open 5pm ’till midnight, Tues - Sat.
Sunday and Monday – only open for special events.

They were offering a prix fixe menu that night and the items on the menu sounded good to me, so I chose that.

My prix fixe dinner came with wine pairings for each of the three dishes (I ordered the scallop a la carte): two whites and one red. The first white wine I had with the salad was refreshing and not too fruity, but I thought it was too light to be paired with such a salty dish. I wasn’t a fan of the next white wine, which came with the pasta and morels; it had a sour taste to it and I would have preferred a red wine with a dish so rich. My last wine, a merlot tasted strange and thin to me.

Although I didn’t like any of my wines that much, I did enjoy the 2003 cabernet sauvignon that the BF ordered. I liked it after my first sip; later, when it opened it up, there was a nice spiciness to it that went well with my veal.

Overall, I was pleased with Upstairs 2. The decor is kind of old-fashioned and reminds me of a hotel lobby, but the restaurant is unpretentious, close to home, and has a huge variety of wine to select from. Our waiter was incredibly accommodating to the BF’s vegan requests and even took one dish off our bill because there was some confusion with how he ordered it and how it came. I would have preferred a lot of things to be less salty, but I was still pleased with my experience there.

A previous review of Upstairs 2 can be found here.

First of all, we were initially disappointed because their famous orange cheesecake was out. The staff did recommend the Oreo cheesecake as an alternative. They said they make it exactly the same way, just with a different filling and crust. The cheesecake was delightful. We were all impressed with how it has the same rich flavor as other cheesecakes but without the heaviness. I’m usually not a fan of an Oreo crust because I find it to be too dry for my taste, but the crust of this cheesecake was just right. We also really enjoyed the raspberry chocolate cake. We were pleasantly surprised to find actual raspberries in the cake, not raspberry filling. The raspberries were fresh and not drowned in sickening sweet syrup. This was one of the best cakes I’ve had in a while. Our last selection was the apple tart. I’ve eaten a lot of apple tarts, and the trend seems to be making apple slices as thin as possible and layering them. Susina’s apple tart, however, was topped with a generous amount of thick slices. Each bite is filled with a very strong apple presence. As we were leaving, I decided to buy something to go to give to my mother. I picked a blueberry custard tart and some Italian cookies. My mother started off intending to have just a bite, just to taste. She finished the whole thing in one sitting. She did offer me a taste, and just like the three desserts my friends and I shared, this one was absolutely wonderful. The blueberries were fresh, the custard was creamy, and the crust was crispy but not dry. The cookies were also a nice little treat. The cakes and tarts were approximately $5, while the cookies were $20 per pound. (I spent about $2 on a handful of the bite-size cookies.) We all felt that Susina’s price is very reasonable for a taste of heaven.

You can purchase whole cakes and pies and even place orders in advance. Susina is more than just sweets and pastries though. I haven’t had anything other than beverages and desserts here, but Susina also offers soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches, and lasagnas. The staff is incredibly friendly and amiable. There is parking available in the parking lot behind the building, but be careful of where you park. Not all the spaces are for Susina, and the spaces are stacked, so you may be blocked in (or be blocking someone else in).

Susina Bakery & Cafe
7122 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-7900
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-11pm, Sat-Sun 8am-11pm

First, you choose from one of the many soups for the base of your hot pot. For first timers or the less adventurous, I would recommend the Jazz Cat Soup. It’s a very basic broth. The more popular soups are the Hokkaido Miso Soup and Thai Lemongrass Soup. The Hokkaido Miso Soup uses Hokkaido milk, so the soup is very rich in flavor. Hokkaido is very well-known for its milk. There is almost a sweetness to the flavor. While the soup does not retain the sweetness, the distinct flavor of the milk is present. The Thai Lemongrass Soup is perhaps the most aromatic soup offered at Jazz Cat Cafe. The broth itself is very light and simple. If you’re having hot pot during the summer, this is the soup you want to order. It is so popular that Jazz Cat Cafe sells out of it some times. Personally, I am partial to the Hakkaido Kelp Soup (pictured on above). It is another light broth, but I find it to be surprisingly flavorful due to the addition of the thick slices of kelp. Not everyone enjoys kelp, however, so I am definitely selective about who I recommend this soup to. The price range is about $11.95 to $15.95, depending on what meats you want with your soup. Your choices are: chicken, beef, pork, lamb, shrimp, and assorted seafood. You could also opt for a veggie only plate, as well as order add-ons, such as udon noodles.

A typical plate includes your chosen meat, cabbage, cellophane noodles, bok choy, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots, tofu, fish paste (which will turn into fish balls after being cooked in the soup), and an egg for you to poach. There is also a little bowl of rice, but you can substitute it for additional cellophane noodles or onigiri (rice balls wrapped with seaweed). Your order will be brought to you on a tray with the mini hot pot, and under the hot pot is a little dish filled with a flammable jelly that they will light up for you. Once your soup gets a good boil going, it’s time to start cooking the food. Something you need to be cautious about: fire burns! One of my friends is unfortunately forever teased for accidentally setting her napkin on fire at Jazz Cat Cafe. The funny thing is when she went there on another occasion, she was retelling the story when at that exact same moment, a woman at another table had her napkin catch on fire. At my first visit to Jazz Cat Cafe, I am pleased to say I did not set anything on fire, though I did burn myself a couple of times when the flames from the pot across from me leaped towards me. If you sit near the edge of a table, be aware when people walk by you, the flames will move.

No alcohol is served here, but Jazz Cat Cafe offers an assortment of beverages. In truth, I’ve only tried two - the Brown Sugar Milk Tea and the Hokkaido Milk Tea. A friend let me sample his Brown Sugar Milk Tea on my first visit, and it’s okay. Nothing to write home about. The Hokkaido Milk Tea, on the other hand, is what I order every time. Remember what I wrote above about Hokkaido milk? That sweet flavor that was overpowered in the soup is very present here. I happened to order this on my first visit, and while I know I should venture out and try some of the other drinks on the menu, I have not been able to resist the Hokkaido Milk Tea. Now, the photo is a little deceptive. The milk teas are served in carafes, but they are short, small ones. Nevertheless, one carafe is more than enough for me. The milk teas are $4.50, but you get a discount if you order food.

Tips: Jazz Cat Cafe definitely gets busy during peak hours. If you’re going for dinner, try showing up around 5-5:30pm, otherwise you’ll be battling for a space in the parking lot or on the street. The wait for a table can also take quite some time. Service is overall good. Since they get so busy, the staff will typically not notice you unless you flag them down. Once you request something, they are quick to respond. For instance, if your fire has died out, they will put more flammable jelly in the tin for you and light up your hot pot again. Alternatively, if you’re done cooking and want the fire out, they’ll extinguish the flame. If you can’t finish your hot pot, containers are available, but everything must be cooked. You are not permitted to take home anything raw. Jazz Cat Cafe is worth a visit, but you should either hurry before the summer heat hits us in full blast or wait until fall/winter to check it out.

Jazz Cat Cafe
640 W Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
(626) 293-8999
Hours: Sun - Thurs 11am-12am, Fri - Sat 11am-1am

While the decor ain’t gonna knock your socks off, think very 80’s, this place is always packed so there is a good energetic vibe when you eat here. The service is also really friendly. From the moment you enter you get the sense that these folks working here care about your time. I always try to sit at the sushi bar, a gargantuan 25 seater. But if you are dining with a larger party and want a chance to chat, they also have booths that seat six and a variety of tables.

On a recent night, we started off with the Ozeki Sake, a dry, cold sake that I thought was really good. I prefer cold sake to hot and I don’t like it to be too sweet. To go with that we had a Sapporo as well.

We then munched on the Sunomono. It’s a simple salad made up of thinly sliced cucumbers, asparagus chunks, seaweed and sesame seeds topped with a simple vinegar based dressing. It was simple and light and the perfect starter.

From there we ordered several items for the table, including Dynamite. It’s a bit like a pot pie. This dish was full of fish, onions and mushrooms and topped off with colorful smelt roe. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the dish was creamy, but a little rich for my taste.

Much more to my liking was the clean lines of the Albacore Sashimi. The texture was velvety, the taste mild and buttery. It was complemented perfectly by the crunchy fried onions that came with it.

Too bad they missed the mark on the Spicy Scallop Hand Roll. First off, it was not even close to being spicy and second, any flavor there might have been was completely masked by the mayonnaise they used to dress the fish.

The Special Tuna Roll was much better. There was pretty pink tuna on the outside and rice and vegetables on the inside. This time the fish was complimented by the creamy, mayo based sauce, rather than overwhelmed by it.

Another dish we all loved was the Seared Tuna Sashimi. The fish was meaty and flavorful with excellent texture. We enjoyed the simplicity of it so much we ordered a second round for the table.

The Spicy Octopus Salad was definitely a winner. The portion was huge and loaded with lots of fish and fresh vegetables (unfortunately my picture turned out crappy…you’ll have to trust me on this one!)

The Unagi, Japanese freshwater eel, wasn’t bad at all. The cute little parcels were prepared just right and dressed lightly.

We finished off with the Spicy Tuna Roll. I think of this as a good “beginners” roll because there is nothing too adventurous about it. While the spicy factor seemed to be missing, again, the tuna was, again, very fresh and flavorful. It was a good capper to the meal.

If you go to Sushi Hirosuke for a “hip” dining environment or dishes that are overly exotic, you might leave feeling disappointed. But at this friendly mom and pop place, where the sushi chefs are competent, the wait staff caring, you will get great service and fresh sushi that is, at the end of the day, really tasty.

Sushi Hirosuke
17237 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA
818.888.7548

The food, other than the beef tartare, wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, which is disappointing considering the prices on the menu. Our meal (with a dish or two that I left out because I didn’t take any pictures of them) including tax, tip and sake ended up being around $100. Our waiter was incredibly nice and accommodating even when we had to send a couple of dishes back because they weren’t macrobiotic even though the menu said they were. In that way, the cost of the meal was worth it just to have an understanding waiter.

While I wouldn’t go to Bar Hayama all the time, it’s nice to know it’s close by when we want some sake and snacks.