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    Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito

    4.6 (189 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito Photos

    SUSHI BY SCRATCH RESTAURANTS: MONTECITO ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito

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    Caroline D.

    This place is truly phenomenal! Super tiny spot - they only do around 2/3 seatings each night. We came for the 16 course omakase and each bite truly got better than the last. The chefs do a great job and you can tell they put a lot of love & thought into their work. Can't recommend highly enough!

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    Brittney W.

    This was my second time here and I have to say this was my favorite. I had a stellar experience with Sean, James and Mario. Went on a Monday and was 1 of 4 patrons which allowed a very intimate experience. The food was fantastic. Each piece of sushi was a star. The flavor pairings for each sushi were skillfully crafted and perfectly harmonized. If you're in the area, highly recommend a visit!

    Jess R.

    We had an incredible 5-star experience here! There were no other guests except for my husband and I and we had an incredible time! The sushi was outstanding and so fresh! The bartender, chefs and host were all amazing and so friendly! We would highly recommend! Don't miss this place if you are in town!

    Stephanie A.

    A bit disappointed with the visit this time. I remember coming here twice in the past and had a better experience regarding the food. The nigiris tasted not as spectacular as before and I think the location in Encino serves better taste to my liking. The sake pouring was also not as generous in this place where the Encino ones will pour you a bit over flowing to the small plate underneath the sake cup. Paying $850 for two is definitely a bit overpriced for this kind of experience. I will just have to return to the one in Encino location.

    Mason

    This place was amazing and one of the best sushi places I've ever went to, they had great fish, rice, and palette cleansers. But their service was out of the world, the bartender made great drinks. The chef Haluk was relatable and such a nice guy and one of the best chefs I've ever seen. Everyone was so kind, thoughtful, and wanted an honest review of the food and that's what I'm doing. After all of that the ambiance was great it felt like we were in an old school Japanese omakase in California. This place was amazing and I've been to many sushi places in Japan and this is one of the best places I've gone to and is worth the Michelin stars it has. This place is so amazing and if you live in California you need to go here, 10/10 would recommend.

    Nigiri pieces for the evening
    Megan G.

    As someone who eats sushi much more often than I'd like to admit, I can confidently say that Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito is phenomenal. Each piece of nigiri is meticulously crafted with great attention to detail, making every bite simply wonderful. I've been here a few times, and each experience is unique as the chefs curate ingredients locally and seasonally, which I truly appreciate. The service is excellent. Each sushi chef is very personable, and the dining experience is nontraditional in the best way. Everyone at the sushi bar receives the same piece of sushi simultaneously, adding a communal feel to the meal. Each chef is responsible for a specific aspect of the nigiri, showcasing their expertise and making the experience even more special. The ambience is great. With seating for only about 12 people at the bar, it's a very intimate setting. Overall, I highly recommend this place if you want a unique sushi experience and are willing to splurge.

    First timers here, awesome experience celebrated our anniversary. All the chefs were great, we had Chef Haluk on our side and his protege Kaden who just started that week. I was nervous in the beginning because Haluk was very serious haha, then he turned out to be funny and made the experience great. Kaden did a phenomenal job, on point with everything. We would've never guessed that he had just started. The sushi was outstanding, very fresh. Out of this world, definitely will be back soon.

    Celine C.

    My friend made a reservation for Sushi by Scratch via Resy and we were so excited to try the Michelin-starred omakase. It was $25 for a non-refundable deposit. The restaurant is conveniently located inside Montecito Inn with valet. Guests check-in at the lobby and get a complimentary cocktail (yuzu, ginger, and sake) before getting seated. The sushi bar is extremely intimate and exclusive with only 10 seats. Our names were written on a little chalkboard, so we had to find it and sit. Unfortunately for my friend and me, the other 8 people were from the same party and they were extremely loud. I get it, it's a birthday celebration, but I wasn't prepared for all the yelling and screaming and loud chattering for 1.5 hours. Not calming nor zen. Regardless of the noise, the 17-course meal was absolutely spectacular. Every nigiri tasted tasted so fresh and melted in my mouth. My favorites were the hotate and albacore. Even all the cocktails I got to try were delicious and refreshing. The chef and bartender were extremely attentive and so fun to chat with. Can't wait to come back (but I'll make sure that I'm not stuck with a rowdy big party)!!

    16 pieces of omakase
    Katrina M.

    This was mine and my fiancés first omakase experience, and wow it was so incredible. We were in town for the weekend, and wanted to celebrate our engagement/late valentines date. We did some research on tik tok and came I came across this spot and heard it was a must try and is Michelin! I was reading other reviews, and since I can't compare this experience to other omakase spots, I will say that the omakase was one of the best things I've had. EVER! Checking in- checking in was nice and easy. You need to go to the lobby, and you'll see a section where you'll check in with someone and they'll ask you questions about allergies, if you want to add in supplements (such as caviar), etc. They also offer you a nice welcome refreshment with a choice of alcohol or non-alcohol. It was such a nice refreshment and definitely cleansed the palette. Highly suggest arriving early as they typically start right on time! Service & Area- You are seated with 8 other folks, 10 people total in the space. The ambiance is so chilled, and it gives you a speakeasy feel. The chefs introduce themselves, and there is a bartender or beverage specialist that goes over the beverage parings and drinks. I honestly don't think you need to be pressured to order a sake or wine paring, it is another 100+ each person for the pairing. We just opted for a mock tail and a beer and that's totally fine if you don't want to drink. I think people think you HAVE to order a drink, but it's really not necessary. All the 3 chefs were friendly and very attentive. They have a good assembly going when crafting each omakase piece. I wish we were able to sit more in the middle, but all in all it was amazing service!!! They also congratulated us on our engagement and future wedding, super personable. Food- There was not one thing I didn't like!!! Their fish and seafood is imported from all over the world! Spain, Canada, parts of Japan (mostly Hokkaido). Everything was so fresh, buttery, and melts. It is so hard to choose a favorite, but my top choices was the Tess in, toro, hotate, escolar, unagi. I'm not even a fan of unagi but the flavor was just something else! I was so pleased. They offer additional pieces for an added fee, we opted out because I think everything we already had was super satisfying. Each person is $185 and they also add the 20% automatic gratuity. It is pretty steep, but I still recommend this to folks who are looking for a great experience with delicious omakase.

    Sandee L.

    Unique omakase! Make sure you arrive 15-30 minutes early for the palate cleansing welcome drink. They have an alcoholic and non alcoholic option, both of which were light and delicious. The seafood is flown in from Japan and is super fresh. The accoutrements are top notch with a few little somethin' somethin's in every piece of nigiri (ie: torched bone marrow drippings, freshly grated wasabi, etc). My bf also got the beverage pairing ($115) which included 2 sakes, 1 wine pour, 1 wine and 1 beer. I opted for a yuzu mocktail which was sweet and delicious. Additions: For an additional charge (over $100/pp but I forgot the exact price quoted), you're offered either truffles or caviar to five of the nigiri pieces. At the end of the meal, you're also able to add on chef's creations for an additional (unknown) price too. There's three sushi chefs, a host and a drink specialist on staff for up to ten guests each seating. For the most part, we were taken care of, but one big miss was unfortunately, after the warm towel for our hands, we had zero napkins. That was very much needed. 20% auto gratuity. This is the location that won a Michelin star in 2022.

    Inside
    Anna H.

    We had an unforgettable evening here. It's not like your usual omakase place, where you sit at a table and you wait for the courses to come out or you sit quietly and make small talk to the person next to you. This is a whole interactive experience. The chefs explain everything in front of you and you have the opportunity to chat and laugh and ask questions. The sushi pieces are like little works of art. There are 17 courses - but don't worry, you won't end up super 'full' or uncomfortable after the meal. It almost feels just right despite the amount of plates (despite never having 17 courses at once for a meal in my life!). Chef James and chef Ryan were excellent and we enjoyed learning about each piece of fish and how to eat it. It's very engaging. Everything tasted delightful and the experience is one of a kind. It's a small intimate room with only ten reservations and you can dress up or dress down. You also eat with your hands and they give you a towel to clean them in between as well as a delicious and refillable cucumber and mushroom salad to palate cleanse between bites. There is valet parking via the hotel (or street parking) and prior to the experience they invite you for a small cocktail to enjoy before your meal (it's included) to warm you up before dinner (I would show up about 15-20 min early). I'd also like to add the room was comfortable - not too hot or cold, and the bartender was excellent in making drinks as well as refilling water throughout the meal. The little dessert was also bright and a sweet treat after all of the fish. Best omakase experience by far.

    Tiffany W.

    Took hubby here for his early bday dinner. I was worried how it would be too much sushi & not much of a variety of food. To our surprise, each sushi had its unique burst of flavors & so much fun to eat with our hand. Overall, a wonderful omakase experience.

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    2 months ago

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito

    Is there a dress code?

    My friend wore clothes like he was going on a hike 😂 I would imagine no tank tops and sandals but maybe they would be cool with that !

    Hello. I've tried calling but the call doesn't go through. I have reservations for 2 under the name matthew soo hoo at 9:30pm on 5/30 but plans fell through and I'm wondering if you have an earlier seating. I also emailed. Can you please respond?

    Hi Matthew! My apologies on the difficulties in reaching us. I would be more than happy to assist… Read more

    We're Miramar Club members and loved when you did the special sushi Monday's. However, we tried to call and order for pick up but the hotel receptionist said you don't do that. On Google that it says you do take out, is that not correct?

    Hi Leila, Thank you for your inquiry into our restaurant offerings. Unfortunately, we are a full… Read more

    We tried to call you, to email you and to contact you on Instagram but nobody is answering our questions. What is the best way to reach you?

    Typically the most reliable way to reach us is via email, at sushibarmontecito@scratchrestaurants.com - we also respond to instagram and phone calls. Thanks for your interest in reaching us!

    Has the seating at the sushi bar changed since Covid? Are all 10 customers sitting right next to each other?

    At the moment we are enacting as many safety precautions as possible. Our staff are fully vaccinated and wear masks at all times. We ask guests to wear masks upon entry, and any time they get up from their seats. Unfortunately because of the nature… Read more

    Are you able to accommodate gluten free? Do you serve Tamari, gluten free soy sauce?

    We can accommodate gluten free soy sauce. Just be sure to note it on your reservation, and let the team know. We're happy to accommodate!

    When do you make new reservations available for each month?

    New reservations are released at 10am on the 1st of the month. So on December 1st at 10am, we will release seats for January, and on January 1st at 10am, we will release seats for February. Hope this helps, and we'll see you soon!

    What is the (wine) corkage policy?

    While we have an excellent wine and beverage program with some world class Japanese sake, whisky and wines, we do allow corkage. It is $35/bottle. Enjoy!

    View All 9 Questions

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    4.3(1.1k reviews)
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    Andreina was our server and provided outstanding service from start to finish warm, attentive, and…read moregenuinely hospitable. She made the entire experience feel elevated and personal. The sushi was some of the best we've had in Santa Barbara fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The ocean view from the second floor made it even more special. What really stood out was Andreina offering my girlfriend a blanket to keep her warm such a thoughtful touch that you don't see often these days. We'll definitely be recommending this spot and coming back with friends. Highly recommend! -Ian Lantz

    My husband and I dined here for an early dinner with a reservation. I think after checking in it…read moremight've taken 5-10 minutes to be sat. Our server was really kind and on point with everything! Everything came out quickly. We ordered the otoro sushi, ikura sushi, rainbow roll, and two orders of the filet mignon. I have zero complaints about the sushi. It was incredibly delicious! I do think the filet mignon had beautiful plating, but it was very underwhelming, and didn't come out the requested way of cooking. I don't think I'd order that again, but we enjoyed our food overall. We chose to dine outside since it was a nice day and I thought that was pretty nice. We did bring our baby and had enough room with a high chair etc. we'd come back!

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    Santa Barbara Fish Market - Smoked salmon pepper and og

    Santa Barbara Fish Market

    4.2(531 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Really fresh live sea urchin prepared upon order served on a tray of ice and some lemons. Santa…read moreBarbara Sea Urchins are known around the world as being sweet, buttery and bright golden orange as you can see in the photos. They were still moving when it was handed to us. You don't need anything else but just a spoon or chopsticks since they're so delicate. Price: $18.95 + tax per sea urchin. As of April 2026. Also try the prepacked halibut ceviche $18.95/lb or ahi poke salad $25.95/lb. You can just get a small container for like $8. Parking is $3.50/hour on the main harbor, in front of the water. If you're lucky you can score free parking right before entering the lot.

    My friend and I popped into Santa Barbara Fish Market while on the Santa Barbara Harbor. It's a…read moresmall fish market with no seating inside so keep that in mind when going. We went specifically for fresh live uni, but unfortunately they did not get any in that day. So I would suggest calling first before heading over if you are very rigid in what you are ordering. The fresh uni is SO popular so best to double check first. However, if you do snag their fresh uni, it's more than $10 less than another place I won't mention on Stearns Wharf - that's a big win! We ended up getting a whole lot of cod to munch on instead. We got a whole pound's worth of smoked black cod - half candy flavored and half savory flavored for $32 with tax & tip. Absolutely loved them both and prices seemed great for such well flavored, fresh fish. We liked the candy a touch more than the savory but enjoyed both. Staff was pleasant enough, plus they have a bench outside that we sat at for a few minutes to eat. I'd love to go back in the future and try their acclaimed live uni~!

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    Santa Barbara Fish Market - Inside

    Inside

    Santa Barbara Fish Market - Blue point Rockefeller

    Blue point Rockefeller

    Santa Barbara Fish Market - Live sea urchin

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    Live sea urchin

    Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito - sushi - Updated May 2026

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