Let me first start off by saying I am not a novice omakase go-er i basically go to one every month in different states because i travel for work. I've been to other Michelin star'd omakase and this seemed kind of mediocre to the award. Me and my bf went to the Santa Barbara location for a NYE dinner and he was extremely upset about our seating (there are 2 seats to the right side that basically face the chefs backs) so there's that to look out for. And on that note they weren't as attentive to us like the others. The lighting in there really sucks and they apparently won't allow flash which wasn't stated on their tock or email. When it comes to the quality of their food, most things i thought were good but nothing was actually that special or mind blowing. No rare ingredients were used just the basic dishes and ingredients you'd find at any other omakases. Also i didn't come starving but i definitely didnt leave full, me and my bf were already planning what to eat after half way in. What i thought was cool though was that they put the courses on the board and put the price for a la carte. Its unfortunate I can't give a better review because this is apparently the best in the area and I was doing hard research for a special Nye dinner. read more

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Nope. Not it. Unless you're ok sitting next to naked babies (no clothing except diapers) who get breastfed right at the omakase counter. Then the mom just stands up for 45 minutes shaking the baby around. Wild experience at an omakase place. Besides that, started over 15 minutes late (sitting in a lobby without any information) after having received endless reminders that being on time is more than important. Hostess was also not the one you would want your diners to meet first. In short: Wouldn't recommend it to any of my friends, so not recommending it to any one of you reading this either. read more

A five star dining experience. Nothing else so far can hold a candle to this, and it helps that I love sushi. 17 course omakase, nigiri style, we were 2 of 4 people in attendance so it was a very intimate, near private experience and we were celebrating a special occasion. I cannot even begin to describe how phenomenal the presentation and taste was for each piece. Each cut of fish was delicately and elegantly dressed up with the most mouthwatering combination of toppings. The chef's were all very attentive and personable, making us all laugh throughout dinner. Apparently this location is the only one with regulars and I can clearly see why. I'll be talking about this place for a while. read more

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Montecito, California

Came here for my best friend's birthday & it was such an amazing experience. The service is top notch. We came early to enjoy a very small welcome drink, they offer alcoholic & non-alcoholic versions. We got the alcoholic one & it was a delicious start. Seating is intimate with only 10 seats at the bar. We had a 17 course omakase for $185/person. It is pricey, but that's expected & you should already know you're going to spend a lot of money here. The experience was very personalized, your name is written at your seat & they make sure to address any allergies. Every bite during the omakase was amazing, some of my favorites were the bone marrow, king salmon, & wagyu. They also have an extensive drink menu, I opted for a mocktail & the bartender customized the drink since I was feeling something on the sweeter side, it was perfect. My friend ordered some cocktails & had also asked the bartender for something sweet, they all tasted amazing! We loved that the bartender was able to customize a drink based on what we wanted. We also finished off with a small dessert, which was some kind of bar with ice cream & other stuff mixed in. This was so amazing & has been the best dessert I've ever had at any omakase. It was apparently made by the owner's wife who is a pastry chef. Overall, we had such a great experience & will come back again on a special occasion in the future. read more

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I agree with some of the other reviewers saying this doesn't feel Michelin star worthy. I traveled to Santa Barbara from the Bay Area just to give this place a try. I don't have any prior real omakase experience so this is just my feelings and opinions. Service- great honestly, I liked that they were attentive and they had their routines. Julien (head chef)- lacked personality, he seemed very over it with our 9pm reservation. We pay for the fun experience and his expertise, but he lacked in both departments. Marco- was nice he was the only one who talked to our group and he cracked a joke or made nice small talk Bearded drinks guy- felt like he had a lot of personality and almost a little shady? Because of what he had said about some things that I don't want to elaborate on. The girl who was in charge of rice- same demeanor as the head chef, no personality, probably wanted to go home. Food- most of the rounds tasted amazing!! It was what I was expecting and more, but the uni course was absolutely awful. We have been eating SB uni all weekend and the uni they served tasted so bad, almost spoiled. We decided to get only a drink and sparkling water to accompany our meal and our total I believe was about $210 ish give or take after tax and tip. Atmosphere- really awkward, some people got belligerently drunk due to them getting the drink pairing. I wished it was more intimate than 9(?) people and they still had more room for other people. The music was nice, a bit too quiet to hear sometimes. Was it completely worth it? I did enjoy it but I also was expecting more. read more

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I enjoyed every moment of my experience and the sushi was "beyond"! Every single bite had me doing a little happy dance - amazing flavor profiles. Chef Ricardo, Chef Ryan and Chef Ryan and bartender Jamie prepared our eating & drinking "experience" with the utmost care and attention. The atmosphere was relaxed and approachable, which is something that appealed to me - not stuffy or intimidating - just relaxed, delicious and fun. I personally enjoy engaging with the people who serve me, and I found everyone to be very friendly and accommodating. And let's not forget the sake pairings - coming from someone who is not typically a sake fan - they were delish! Overall - thank you Sushi by Scratch for giving me a memorable evening with delicious food and kind, attentive associates! Bravo!! read more

Amazing night. The crew is fantastic and so was the food. Such a treat having so many types of excellent fish, all of which were taken to the next level through preparation and interesting twists on various ingredients. The intimate setting is so much fun, too. Sake pairing was awesome. Pacing, explanations, menu -- they have thought of everything without being at all fussy. This was a big splurge for me and I have no regrets. I was debating several omakase options and feel totally happy about Sushi by Scratch. Fantastic host, chefs and meal. Seriously unforgettable. read more

What an experience! Though more than a typical night out, this experience was well worth the cost. Chefs are amazing! Thank you chef Sean for an amazing 40th birthday experience! So grateful for your service and dedication to your craft! read more

The 4.5 stars this is garnering from Yelp is very accurate. We were here during Covid in early October; they have a handful of tables outside at which they seat people at set times; we opted for the 7pm seating for the Omakase. MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE. You are right next to the main road, but Montecito is a charming setting, and it was for the most part a pleasant area to sit. They seated us at the easternmost table, and that is the one I would recommend (as it is furthest from the parking garage exit). Despite being on a sidewalk not far from the street we were very happily surprised that the table nonetheless provided a romantic and somewhat intimate setting. However, you did have cars driving by, and there was the occasional person walking by. The service was absolutely top notch. We had multiple people attending to our every need, and every one of them was all smiles and upbeat; and they visited us at the perfect frequency to make sure we were not wanting for anything, and yet were not intrusive. **5 big stars for service.** We mentioned to the beverage server that we enjoy dry non-floral sakes. He recommended HeavenSake 12, and his recommendation was spot on. The Omakase came with 17 items; 16 nigiri and 1 dessert. The vinegared rice that the nigiri were served on was moist and firm at the same time; made to perfection as far as we were concerned. The nigiri itself ranged from superb to good depending upon the piece, and each was seasoned with a different variety of flavors to give each piece its own unique flavor profile. The dessert wasn't bad, but wasn't to our particular liking... they might play around with that. As far as the nigiri, with 16 pieces I would have needed to keep written notes to know which ones were amazing, and which were merely good; but I'd say the quality was pretty evenly distributed along that spectrum. Given the price-point of $125 for the Omakase, I'd say the nigiri was 4 stars. Average out the service, atmosphere, and food, and I think 4.5* is dead on. We went here for our final meal in Santa Barbara, and we were glad we did... a great way to end our trip. read more

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We had dinner at Sushi by Scratch Montecito a week or so ago when we stopped in Santa Barbara for a night on our mini road trip north to San Francisco. When you arrive for dinner (they offer three seatings every evening), you can enjoy a complimentary drink (they have a non-alcoholic version) in the Montecito Inn and then they come let you know when you can enter the restaurant for your dinner. The restaurant is tiny - 10 seats, which makes it a really intimate dinner where you will get to know people around you! (We changed some of our plans for our trip based on a couple sitting near us and their recommendations.) It's a simple and traditional space - perfect for the meal. It's a full omakase dinner of 17 courses (16 pieces of sushi and dessert), but we added on an extra two courses they offered because we finished early enough before their next service. All of the pieces of sushi were fantastic. Some were really special. The beverage options were great, too. My husband had cocktails, and I had sake. I can't even begin to explain how great the service was - just exceptional. It was just a dream dinner/evening. Yes, it's a splurge. But it's worth it. It's special. read more

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Overall, a great experience. The chefs were knowledgeable and helpful and our entire dining experience and we had a great time getting to know the chefs as well as the fish that we were eating and everything was delicious. I would 100% recommend this place as somewhere to go for a celebration and I would go back regularly if that kind of dinner was regularly in my price range. read more

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito - Sushi Bars Near Me - Montecito, California

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This wasn't my first omakase experience and the first one I had was absolutely amazing. With that plus seeing the price per person, I had extremely high expectations. Let me tell you, Sushi by Scratch surpassed them. Oh my goodness. I'm actually speechless just thinking about an accurate way to describe this restaurant. The description when you reserve advises you to come 15-20 minutes early. We arrived around 4:55 and it wasn't until 5 pm that we were greeted with the complimentary drink. So don't bother coming so early. There's complimentary valet parking and we wait in the hotel lobby, across from the restaurant. First of all, it's very intimate. They only allow 10 people in total to seat and we're all located at the sushi bar. Up close and personal with the chefs. They write your name where you sit so it's quite nice and welcoming when the chefs and bartender address you by your name. The menu of fish they serve is posted on the wall so you don't lose track. The chefs get to know you and the other guests. Because it's only 10 people, even you get to know each other. You eat with your hands here. No chopsticks! Which is actually how they do it in Japan. They provide a nice hot towel before serving so you can clean your hands. Okay now the good stuff... this was probably the best omakase, let alone sushi experience, I have ever had. The rice was the perfect texture. Each fish melts in your mouth. The flavors added, for example: cherry blossom salt (yes I was shocked too), roasted matcha salt, house soy, lemon, sweet corn, and so forth. Flavors and toppings you would've never thought of. We were served unagi coated with the oils of bone marrow. BONE MARROW. Truth be told I teared after almost every bite because it was delicious. Happy tears. I ordered a cocktail. I don't remember the name of it but it was the first one listed with yuzu. 10/10 recommend. So delicious! The bartender, Jaime, is what the chef described as a "whiskey nerd", so if you like whiskey, he can compare their Japanese whiskey to one of your faves. It comes with 17 servings and we got lucky. Our 17th one was a choice of either choosing one of the 16 fishes we had OR A5 wagyu. You best believe we got the wagyu and you best believe it tasted just as amazing as everything else. The dessert which is supposed to be 17th, but 18th dish for us was an ice cream that I wish we had more of. I forgot the description but it was also the best mini treat I've had. The dinner was concluded with a matcha beverage mixed with whatever lovely ingredients the bartender mentioned with some Japanese sake. My oh my if you're still here, stop wasting your time thinking and go for it. I was already looking for the next reservation and we still haven't left the restaurant. It's extremely pricey but well worth it. You're paying for excellent food and service. There's really no place like this. I really do believe the closest sushi experience I'll get to this is visiting Japan itself. Side note: the complimentary welcome and farewell drinks are alcoholic but they do offer non alcoholic options, as well as mocktails. They do it all! read more

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Really wanted to love the experience but unfortunately I didn't. With previous omakase experiences in mind, I echo the sentiment of other critical reviews. 1/5 Pricing: Total was $550 for two people. We did not add any alcohol pairings or the caviar/truffle supplement. This price reflects the deposit, base price, two $20 cocktails, an additional two courses (19 courses per person), and their automatic service charge. At $225 per person, the food/experience was unremarkable. 2/5 Experience: With multiple chefs working together, multiple courses were being prepared at the same time which was not preferential for me. I think there's a difference when you experience one chef's love and passion. I'm more enthusiastic with one person having total control of your experience from start to finish instead of one primary chef delegating tasks and having to see/hear that. 2/5 Sushi: I felt like the fish slices were very thin, small, and the pieces did not honor the fish. Most pieces were salty and unbalanced. In my opinion, this restaurant operates at a price point that does not reflect its atmosphere or food. The chefs preparing your food don't necessarily have sushi training. All locations are in destination cities like Beverly Hills, Miami, Seattle, etc. For a location that once retained a Michelin star multiple years in a row, I had higher expectations. read more

So I think both the food and service here is great but def a few caveats. I agree with some other reviewers that they tell you to get there 30 min early but you really don't need to. We didn't get acknowledged for 15 min and then ended up going in the dining area 15 min late. I LOVE how they explain everything very well. I had never had omakase before but the chefs were extremely nice and friendly but not too friendly. I also agree with other reviewers that the sushi pieces are just too small, especially for the price. I expected to be stuffed with the number of courses but I probably could have gone for some takeout on the way home. Sure, don't aim to stuff people but the bites were just too small. I'm still giving them a 5 because the service and food are great, just a few minor things. I would totally come back since they vary the menu. read more

Loved every single minute of my experience. It's absolutely delicious! Great intimate setting. The chefs were incredible and the drinks were phenomenal. A must try. read more

My boyfriend and I decided to give this place a try since we heard it has one Michelin star. Reservation is $25 deposit per person and the omakase is $145 which consists of 17 courses including dessert. We arrived on time even though it is recommended to arrive 15 minutes ahead of time. We still end up having to wait for about 10 minutes in the lobby of the Montecito Inn. The hostess asked us if we wanted drinks while we were waiting. There were no chopsticks. Everyone ate their food with their hands and there was a hot towel to clean your hands. The food was delicious except the rice was a bit mushy. Fish was high quality and fresh. I didn't drink, but everyone else were drinking. As someone here has mentioned, I also felt that their goal was to get people drunk. In the end, the chef asked if anyone wants to try the wagyu or any of the previous nigiris again. Overall, the service was great but expect to pay about $200 per person. read more

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Omakase experience is amazing. Love the laid back vibe and the energy of chefs and staff. People are always friendly, excited and open to meeting new people. I've been three times! read more

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito - Chef - Sushi Bars Near Me - Montecito, California

Truly a magnificent dining "experience". Each course of the 17 course menu was exquisite. Great care, attention and thought was given to each sushi course. Service was on point - although with 10 seats and 4 staff it should be :) The atmosphere was intimate and cozy. The price-tag isn't for the faint of heart, but considering the atmosphere and experience (and Michelin star) it was reasonable and well-worth it. read more

Congrats on the Michelin Star We enjoyed the 17 courses with drinks pairing ! Cozy welcoming atmosphere and fresh tasty nigiri ! We loved our experience and hope to come back on our next road trip up Santa Barbara! Apologize for the dim pictures read more

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito - Sushi Bars Near Me - Montecito, California

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I had been wanting to try this place for while and was taken on my birthday. The whole experience was great front start to finish. I would highly recommend coming here. The whole experience is outstanding. It's omakase style and every pick was exceptional. At the end you do get a choice to get extra pieces made by the other chefs which will be their choice on how to prep the fish you pick. read more

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Incredible. One my favorite experiences of all time. I loved being able to converse with the chefs, which made it a personal experience. The bar man was also extremely knowledgeable, professional and friendly. It was absolutely worth it. read more

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Had a high expectation of this place but hard to say I am satisfied. Nigiri rice is on the sticky side, out of a rice cooker, fish cut is not dedicate and clear enough. herbs and circus juice used on nigiri are strong, their stand out taste expels the delicate raw fish sweetness and freshness. They increased the price of meal and alcohol pairing: the current price makes all of these even harder to accept. I can feel and really try to respect the intention of fusion different cuisines, inspirations of cultures and tastes, the creativeness should be encouraged; but it can be lack of balance and weak, when all intended creativeness do not stand on a solid foundation of good enough nigiri mastery and representation. read more

Wonderful experience! Extremely fresh fish with well prepared sushi by excellent chefs. The 16 courses plus dessert was perfect amount for us, will definitely go back again. read more

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito - Sushi Bars Near Me - Montecito, California

Where do I even begin on this wonderful restaurant?! This was beyond an amazing experience. The welcome from AJ, to the sake service from Marlin, to the amazing food curated by Chef Sean and assisted by Chef Luke and Chef Brian. I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my Friday night. The food was amazing and so filling. The sake flowed beautifully, I definitely recommend adding the caviar and truffle to your omakase with the sake pairing. The music was great, the commentary insightful, and the banter witty. I can't wait to come back. Thank you all so very much. read more

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Quick Summary Splendid Japanese fusion omakase dinner experience. A bit expensive but a graceful experience throughout, from the free valet parking, the wonderful cocktails, the over-the-top delicious pieces, and the service. Food- 5 stars Everything was delicious and well done. We ordered the 17 piece Valentine's Day special and were blown away. At least 3 of the pieces had Sturgeon Caviar and there were luxury pieces that justify the high sticker price (e.g. A5 Miyazaki rib eye, Hokkaido uni, multiple pieces of blue fin tuna). Splendid food experience throughout, but just a heads up that it's not traditional Japanese omakase (your traditional/conservative old-school Japanese chef probably wouldn't be a fan despite the great food). Service- 4.5 stars We were well taken care of throughout the whole night. We were greeted and seated immediately, and each staff member struck a great balance of being attentive without being overbearing. They were running a bit late though, but it is forgivable due to their recent outdoor dining reopening. My only gripe was that there was a long delay for the bone marrow dish, which caused a long delay between dishes and extended the dinner to over 2.5 hours. Parking and venue- 5 stars Free valet parking and located in the same area as the Montecito Inn. Modern contemporary design and they loaded up enough heat lamps for outdoor dining Bottom Line Fantastic food and service. A bit pricey, but great Japanese fusion omakase experience to change things up read more

WOW! Absolutely mind blowing-ly good nigiri-style omakase experience crafted in front of you with the addition of deliciously creative flavors to the individual bites of the freshest fish you have ever tasted. It is no surprise they have been recognized with a Michelin star. The experience is complete with equally delicious cocktails, and wonderful people on the chef team. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Definitely! I will be back. read more

This review is for the take-out experience provided during COVID. My partner and I scheduled a short hiking trip and stayed over in Santa Barbara. I looked for some take-out options in the area, and found this fancy sushi place was doing a reduced rate omakase to-go! At $95 per person, it was still pricey, but I think it was a great value! In addition to 16 nigiri, the meal came with fairly good-sized welcome and goodbye cocktails. But cooler than that, the meal came with a URL that led to a YouTube playlist of the chef making each piece. It was super cool to follow along! In the video, the chef would introduce the piece and then instruct us on how to dress it. The meal came with an assortment of sauces and a tiny pipet to apply it with! I was very impressed with the whole experience, especially since it was to-go. I still felt like the restaurant had put a lot thought into everything! read more

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito - Omakase nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Montecito, California

Best sushi I've ever had in my life. Experience 10/10 Food 10/10 Service 10/10 Highly recommend if you are in town read more

If you're like me and scanning the Yelp reviews and comparing between option A or B, just stop. Don't even think about it, just cancel whatever you have planned. This place is 11/10. Unreal service, high quality sushi, just do it. read more

The sushi here was amazing. Every single piece was made to perfection and I enjoyed every bite. Besides the spectacular food, what makes this place one of the best is the service and ambiance provided by the staff. Every one of the chefs and the bartender made this experience fun and worthwhile. Not only were they amazing chefs but they were personable and descriptive. I will definitely be coming back again when I visit Santa Barbara. read more

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito - Sushi serving (1/17) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Montecito, California

Overall this was worth the hype. Super intimate experience that allows you to interact with the Chefs. Extremely fresh and well prepared sushi by excellent staff. I have a gluten intolerance and they were able to accommodate me seamlessly. I opted for the house drink pairing and while it was excellent, I think I'll jus order my favorites next time. read more

So first off, my name isn't Mark. My brother in law had reservations but couldn't make it so he offered me the spot which I took. So a few things to know before you reserve a spot. 1: you eat with your hands which is traditional for Japanese sushi. 2: omakase meal which means the chef sets the menu. There will be a couple of instances you can choose something else which is mostly dietary restrictions but not much room for anything else. 3: staff is solid but it also depends on who else you have reservations with. If you are outgoing and social, you would hope others are as social as you are. If you want a more intimate, private dinner, the chefs and host are a little more outgoing but you can still have a nice intimate dinner. Now, when you first go in, you will need to go across from the actual place where the host will go through any allergies and food preferences you have. You will also get a nice drink, alcoholic or non-alcoholic depending on your preference. We went with the alcoholic drink. It was a ginger, lime, sake and whiskey drink which was light on the whiskey with solid ginger and lime notes. It was a pleasant drink. Once we were seated with the 8 others, the dinner started. The main chef Ricardo set up a well BALANCED meal. Other chefs were really nice and did their parts great. Bartender Sam was also on top of his game, had solid recommendations. I ordered a Yamazaki 12 and echigo. Meal had a very fusion vibe that had a strong balance of flavors that is very California inspired. They also have a recommended alcohol, sake, wine pairing. Ok, so the nitty gritty is that their food is tasty and delicious. Is it worth a Michelin star? In my opinion, no. Just barely below a Michelin star. Is this traditional Japanese food? No. It has traditional Japanese elements with heavy cali, cali-mex influences. This place is more of a sushi place with Japanese elements catered to a heavy white demographic done well. If you're Asian, you're likely to be disappointed. If you're not Asian and don't have a strong background in authentic traditional Japanese food, you'll likely enjoy this fusion menu. I want to say that I went into this place expecting a non-traditional menu after reading some of the reviews and thoroughly enjoyed it. It really depends on what you expect for a roughly 200-250/person meal. read more

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3.5 stars. I was a little conflicted in what rating to give because although I had a decent time overall, it just did not feel like a michelin star, $500 for 2 person sushi experience (with one carafe and 2 extra pieces). The concept and service of the place were all outstanding. The staff were friendly and attentive to detail and I enjoyed their unique sushi flavor combinations. However, the execution was just not there in my opinion. I admit I have my own preconceived expectations of a high end sushi restaurant and I am not an expert by any means, but it seemed to me that the chefs here did not have enough experience and the sushi was good, but not fully lived up to its potential. The head chef struggled to remember some of the key ingredients of each piece, let alone know even know what one of them was per his confession. This was a recital of ingredients and motions made by someone else and I could see he was not actually the head chef/boss/mastermind of this place or the sushi. Additionally, his assistants were tasked with slicing the fish beforehand and it was definitely not as graceful as many of the other sushi places I've been to. There were sometimes multiple passes of the knife to slice off one piece and there seemed to be a lot of unnecessary handling of the fish with a touch of awkwardness and uncertainty. I understand everyone has to be get trained at some point and have their moment to perform the real deal which is fine, but at the end of the day, the impression I got from the presentation was that it was a bit sloppy and awkward. The sushi had interesting toppings and flavor combinations that I thought worked well. The overall taste was good, but it was definitely was not near any of the best I've had and nothing really stood out. There were one or two bland pieces, some that had mild off fishiness, some a bit uncomfortably warm (not torched ones), one with a jagged/torn edge of fish hanging off, etc. Small things that I may be over critical and personal preference, but at this level of price point and michelin rating, necessary to differentiate the sushi restaurants. Also I wonder if they tasted their uni beforehand because although it was from Hokkaido, it was one of the most bitter uni I've had in a while. I have to say overall all the staff were very nice and there seemed to be a lot of effort and hard work put into the experience so I really appreciated that. For a special occasion, I think it's still worth a try and most likely you'll have a good experience, but for me I would not try again. read more

I've been twice now, with different experiences. First, the chefs aren't sushi chefs, not super experienced Michelin star worthy ones at least. They barely know what they are serving, it feels more like they follow a corporate formula than moving through what is fresh that day. On that note - the Hokkaido Uni is rancid. Why aren't you using local Santa Barbara when it is so fresh? Further, the bearded drinks dude would make snide remarks to the other chefs, quietly, about guests on the other end of the bar. What?! Overall the balance of flavors is unbalanced. Pineapple toppings mask the flavor of the fish, a common approach and issue with many of the servings. Freshness is missing. Not sure? Just step inside the door and smell - you'll know. The first time in was much better, but same issues with the uni and fish selections. Generally I have an issue with the two hour seating, too. They have to repeatedly quiet a rowdy group down just to announce each dish vs a more intimate bar experience, but that's just my thing. Plus the two hour cap and time to go!! I know some restaurants say they have a cap, but this is the first time it was enforced more like a broadway show with repeat performances. I realize this is just my personal preference. I really hope they can figure this out, but not sure I'd try again. I love Omakase. We need epic sushi in the area, but this isn't it. read more

Wonderful meal. The mixologist had very inventive pairings with the meal and I highly suggest getting the pairing for at least one person at your table. Pretty classic nigiri but with a nice twist of added flavor. Halibut fin was my favorite. Nice firm texture and clean taste. Rice is cooked and seasoned perfectly (not under seasoned like 99% of places in the US). read more

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I came here 2 weeks ago & then again this passed week & they have changed the whole menu. If I were to gauge which one I like more I would say the old menu was better hence why 4 stars because they were previously better & I would say they were 5 stars at that point. Besides that, the Sushi Chefs were all amazing & very charismatic. Julian, Marcos & Mario the baker were entertaining & kept the group engaged in conversation. The older gentlemen serving the drinks was very professional & hospital & understood as well the palate of the customers to alter/tweak drinks according to our preference. Great experience & would definitely come again. Although the menu took a step back it was still tasteful & with the staff it was a great night. Thank you guys & wish you all well. read more

Another day! Another omakase. This time in Santa Barbara, a surprise location for a Michelin star omakase but a great experience. You guys know that we're really big on traditional, edomae style sushi. Usually we want no frills, no fancy concoctions, no experimental flavors. This was probably the first or second time we've ever enjoyed a more modern take on omakase. The first bite was really good. A chopped tuna mixed with rice bite rolled in nori and topped with caviar. There were a couple pieces where the chefs got a little too cute with the ingredients with onion, garlic, and sesame oil being a little overpowering but the rest were really good. The akami flavor was deep and complex. The kinmedai (golden eye snapper), a staple of almost every omakase, was probably the best we've ever had. Slightly seared and perfectly flavored. The scallop with yuzu zest was so soft and tender. One unique item was the bone marrow nigiri which was really good. Fatty, collagen filled bone marrow over that sushi rice was new, exciting, and tasty. Our favorite of the tuna pieces was the chutoro. Slightly fatty but still deep in flavor. The guys even hooked us up with some of their personal stash of Hokkaido uni. It wasn't on the menu because they've had issues importing it from Hokkaido. I found it odd that they didn't just simply use the Santa Barbara uni in their own back yard but who am I to judge. They still gave us two pieces for free. Another surprising treat was that the only other piece that we could order off menu, a La carte was a favorite of ours, engawa. The halibut fin has some of the toothiness and chewiness that we like but still has good flavor. Even the dessert bite was solid. Another thing we really liked about the dining experience were the cocktail pairings. Most omakase restaurants will have sake pairings but this one has cocktail pairings with a really good mixologist suggesting the pairings. Really interesting and cool concept. Overall, a really good dining and eating experience here. Very few lowlights and lots of highlights. If you're in to a more modern take on sushi, this is your spot. Taste: **** Service: ***** Ambiance: **** ---------------------------- Sushi Bar Montecito 1295 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108 ---------------------------- read more

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we went there a year ago for my husband's birthday dinner. i can say this was one of the top sushi places i have ever been!!

Wow!!! What an incredible experience that was, from the chefs describing all the courses in extreme detail to the superb flavors of each dish. The Omakase here at Sushi Bar Montecito goes in my book as 1 of Top 5 Omakase Sushi Bars in the state of California. As you will see in my photos, the fish prepared on each course are paired perfectly with either the spice from Yuzu Kosho or as simple as a housemade Shoyu with a hint of salt. Attention to detail is what this sushi bar doesn't lack and I'm tremendously appreciative of that. This sushi bar is Reservation ONLY so don't miss out because they fill up very fast. Next time you plan a trip to Santa Barbara, think of booking reservations for this sushi bar and enjoy the Omakase experience that they provide and you will not be disappointed. read more

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This is the most bang for your book Omakka experience that I have heard of in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara. The experience is very intimate with about 10 people sitting around the bar and the chef's leading you through each by of sushi. You see them preparing it right in front of you and they have each sea assigned for by name tag and the service is great. You can get drink pairings or whatever drinks you would like, and they also accommodate non-alcoholic drinkers. You do have to make reservations in advance on talk and submit a deposit. I would 100% come back the quality was amazing and such a great experience read more

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito - Entrance - Sushi Bars Near Me - Montecito, California

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