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✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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This eatery from Chefs/owners Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee is no ordinary omakase spot. The nigiri are not just supremely finessed but also infused with original touches—like the dab of sweet corn “pudding” and sourdough breadcrumbs that coat slices of hamachi. Even traditional pairings become transcendent with his house-fermented soy sauce. The iconoclastic vibe extends to the beverages, including cocktails, sake, and beer. Despite such originality, this bar does indeed adhere strictly to one tradition: a mini counter with seating for just ten to ensure a deeply personalized experience. Your time here is bound to pass in a blissful haze of convivial chatter. – The Michelin Guide
Hours
| Friday | 5–10 PM |
| Saturday | 5–10 PM |
| Sunday | 5–10 PM |
| Monday | 5–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–10 PM |
| Thursday | 5–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1295 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Phone: (805) 321-0005
Website: https://www.exploretock.com/sushibarmontecito
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Reviews
Jonah Morales
Amazing experience! My husband and I went here for our anniversary and had the best experience! Each course was fresh and inventive, drinks were EXCELLENT, and the chefs was entertaining and skilled (:
Can’t wait to come back!!
… moreCan’t wait to come back!!
Michael Mcphilomy
Sushi by Scratch offers an intimate, omakase-style dining experience with expertly crafted sushi. Each bite showcases fresh ingredients, creative pairings, and attention to detail. A true culinary treat!
Truly amazing Chef. Everyone there is amazing. I’ve been twice already and will go again soon!
… moreTruly amazing Chef. Everyone there is amazing. I’ve been twice already and will go again soon!
Melrick Ibanez
My wife and I had dinner here for our anniversary. The staff was excellent in their service from start to finish. All 17 servings we delicious and left us extremely satisfied. One of our highlights from this establishment was our conversations and interactions with the staff. Definitely come if you want to have a memorable experience with both your partner and the staff!
… moreYana T
The best omakase sushi experience. The sushi chefs are so fun and interactive and make the most delicious sushi. Everything is so fresh and the highest of quality. We have been twice and can’t wait to be back soon.
… moreWill Heo
You get there early and start with a cocktail (or a mocktail) in the lobby. You’re then welcomed into the restaurant, and you find your name written in chalk (I used a magic eraser to erase mine for privacy). Chefs were welcoming and very professional. Every sushi was good, though I prefer less seasoning. You can check out the photos to see what kind of sushi you get, but I think they change their menus every now and then. The entire setlist was well organized, and some sushi combos were impressive.
We went there to celebrate a special day, and we had a great time. But with previous omakase experiences I’ve had, there were a couple of eyebrow-raising moments.
1) Preparation. Sushi pieces for each course are prepared altogether, and other chefs start their prep perhaps to provide sushi in a streamlined fashion. I would’ve preferred if each party was catered to separately. There are many chefs working on sushi already, and I would’ve loved if each chef handled 2-4 customers at a time to pace differently. We were seated right in front of the prep board and got the best view of the performance (sushi-torching and final prep), but some seats seemed a bit too far from the show.
2) Peer pressure. 1) It felt as if getting a drink wasn’t optional, because the head chef introduced a drink specialist whose job was to make you cocktails. I personally prefer drinking water when I’m in for a big culinary experience, but everybody was getting a drink, and we didn’t want to say no and make the drink specialist not have a job for us. 2) When the course ends, the head chef asks us whether we’d like to try two more sushi courses made by other chefs to give them a chance to shine, with additional charge. Of course you partake in the ritual because you don’t wanna not give them a chance and you don’t wanna ruin your special day. We were already very full, but nobody was saying no thanks, so we ended up signing up for two additional courses, feeling short-changed. If you’re not brave enough to say no to “a chance for other chefs to shine,” then expect to pay a lot more than the menu price.
We still liked the experience there, and we had a great time. But given that it was once a Michellin 1-star restaurant, I must say I expected a bit more from them. Probably won’t revisit.
… moreWe went there to celebrate a special day, and we had a great time. But with previous omakase experiences I’ve had, there were a couple of eyebrow-raising moments.
1) Preparation. Sushi pieces for each course are prepared altogether, and other chefs start their prep perhaps to provide sushi in a streamlined fashion. I would’ve preferred if each party was catered to separately. There are many chefs working on sushi already, and I would’ve loved if each chef handled 2-4 customers at a time to pace differently. We were seated right in front of the prep board and got the best view of the performance (sushi-torching and final prep), but some seats seemed a bit too far from the show.
2) Peer pressure. 1) It felt as if getting a drink wasn’t optional, because the head chef introduced a drink specialist whose job was to make you cocktails. I personally prefer drinking water when I’m in for a big culinary experience, but everybody was getting a drink, and we didn’t want to say no and make the drink specialist not have a job for us. 2) When the course ends, the head chef asks us whether we’d like to try two more sushi courses made by other chefs to give them a chance to shine, with additional charge. Of course you partake in the ritual because you don’t wanna not give them a chance and you don’t wanna ruin your special day. We were already very full, but nobody was saying no thanks, so we ended up signing up for two additional courses, feeling short-changed. If you’re not brave enough to say no to “a chance for other chefs to shine,” then expect to pay a lot more than the menu price.
We still liked the experience there, and we had a great time. But given that it was once a Michellin 1-star restaurant, I must say I expected a bit more from them. Probably won’t revisit.
Saxon Cummins
This was our first time at the Sushi Bar and it didn’t disappoint. The sushi was sure of the best we have ever had, and the staff was very friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed 17 servings 16 of sushi and 1 as dessert. At the end they let us revisit any dishes and also explained some off the menu dishes.
I would highly recommend this for anyone who is a connoisseur of sushi and would like to experience it in an intimate setting with 10 other people.
… moreI would highly recommend this for anyone who is a connoisseur of sushi and would like to experience it in an intimate setting with 10 other people.
Erin Hwang
One of the best sushi I had this year! Very creative but also aligned with highly quality edomae sushi. It has very limited seats, better book ahead.
… moreSunil Gopal
I was definitely skeptical that the sushi here could be Michelin starred, and boy was I wrong! This was one of the best omakases I have had in a long time and the chefs are very fun to chat with and the place is small enough that the seating seems like a family. The drink pairings are extremely fun in that it mixes beer and wine and cocktails so the meal is exciting from beginning to end. Everyone must come here and try and sushi and drinks!
… moreThaitea
We were so lucky to walk in at the last minute. (I’m always the one who makes decisions at the last second.)
If I could rate the atmosphere, I would give it a 10! I traveled back to Santa Barbara all the way from the East Coast. I miss everything here! This place brings back memories of my college days.
Thank you for hosting the omakase experience for us to celebrate my friend’s belated graduation.
… moreIf I could rate the atmosphere, I would give it a 10! I traveled back to Santa Barbara all the way from the East Coast. I miss everything here! This place brings back memories of my college days.
Thank you for hosting the omakase experience for us to celebrate my friend’s belated graduation.
Logan Ibarra
Review Edit March 2023: My partner and I visited Sushi Bar Montecito for the third time. I want to preface my comments by saying the experience and food is amazing and the staff is fantastic. Drinks are top notch and we are still talking about the Butterfly. With that said, the change in ownership or management is obvious and there has been almost a complete staff turnover. Whoever in management made a rule that I can’t purchase the staff a round seems like they don’t want their customers or employees to have a good time and want less money from me. I’ve always known the staff to be nothing short of professional and exceptional at what they do. 100% still worth a visit and the price.
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This was a fantastic experience and an amazing meal. The flavors from start to finish are phenomenal, the rice is perfectly seasoned, and the ingredients are top notch. If you are wondering if it’s worth it, the answer is yes. Thank you for a wonderful evening!
… more—
This was a fantastic experience and an amazing meal. The flavors from start to finish are phenomenal, the rice is perfectly seasoned, and the ingredients are top notch. If you are wondering if it’s worth it, the answer is yes. Thank you for a wonderful evening!