(2.5/5) Sushi by Scratch is a chain of restaurants operating across the United States. I believe other locations may have more promising concepts, so this review is based on my experience at the Seattle location. I came here to celebrate a friend's birthday and was told that it was a fusion sushi omakase experience. I absolutely love fusion and the idea that cuisines can cross fields to create something extraordinary and tasty. However, what I experienced wasn't well executed and felt clumsily put together. Upon arrival, the welcome room had a dark and mysterious vibe. You ring a doorbell to be let in. A host takes your order and checks for allergies and add-ons. A few welcome appetizers and drinks are given. We arrived in time for the last appetizer (a clear broth with clam), and I thought it was okay. Afterwards, guests transition to the next room. We decided to change our seating arrangement last minute and realized the name tags were misplaced. However, it was awkward that the staff didn't assist us in changing things around - they just watched us as we tried to orient ourselves. As the service began, it was interesting that the 3 team members split up and worked on different guests instead of working together as a team. The staff in the middle was responsible for describing each piece. As each nigiri arrived, I began to understand the concept. The fusion element comes from the topping that sits on the traditional nigiri. Different flavours ranged from breadcrumbs to chilli oil to gochujang and Vietnamese salsa. Although the toppings were delicious, the foundational flavour should come from the core ingredient, and in some cases, the flavours did not mesh well. The wagyu nigiri was smothered in Korean BBQ sauce, and as a result, none of us could taste the wagyu. The rice was also too warm and lacked flavour and acidity. During dinner, the staff also made light conversation with us. From those conversations, we learned that some of the staff were completely new, and it was apparent how little they knew about the restaurant and chain. Additionally, they made upselling moments a little too obvious, which created discomfort among some members in my party. Offering to sell additional pieces of sushi at the end of omakase, a meal that you leave fully trusting that the chef will procure a delightful and fulfilling experience, sounds odd and insincere. Luckily, the experience ended on a good note. The ice cream dessert was amazing! Too bad it was so small. Ultimately, we felt the price we paid was not worth it. I can see how the fusion concept was being set up. However, nothing, including the decor, service, and pacing, felt cohesive or pleasant. The exposure I've had to good omakase, combined with the amazing Japanese fusion experiences I've had in the past, could not justify the price and dining quality. read more

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Door was tricky to find. All is black outside. So speakeasy. You need reservations to get in. We were seated right away in that same room by the bar. It had dim lights. The ambience felt mysterious almost theatrical. The host explained the dynamic about getting a welcome drink. After all the guests were in, we would be moved to a second room. The second couple arrived and we went into the room were the chefs were working on our stuff with our server who was also the bartender. Drinks were pretty good. She can also help you pairing food with drinks or with a bottle of sake. I liked trying all drinks instead of sticking with a bottle (BTW it is pricier with single drinks). We had a whole list of sushi they offer on their menu. The only change was an add on of truffles. It was worth it. I liked 1st and 3rd the most from the first part. Then the last set was just amazing. They were like literally butter melting in your mouth! They also have mixes with chile. I believe they can change menu every now and then. I liked chefs were talking to everybody and explaining everything. This is insightful about what you eat. They encourage talking to other parties as it was only 4 of us. It could had make it more as an intimate party. Of course it depended on all. They didn't go for it. I really recommend them. Although I would like a couple more on their menu as Shomm. Dessert was amazing eventhough is just a bite. Parking wasn't that trouble on a week day. read more

Thank you to my lovely boyfriend for taking me to Sushi by Scratch as a birthday surprise! I loved everything about this place, from the welcome drink to appetizers to curated 17 course meal with handwritten nameplates to a Polaroid photo gift at the end. I was so surprised to find this place in the middle of SLU behind an unmarked door, almost speakeasy style. How fun! We were first served a welcome cocktail, which was delicious, and some appetizers, which were creative and fun. Then, we got led into a different room where the sushi counter and 3 chefs were there to prep and interact with us. Each piece was explained in detail, and you could tell the care and thought put into each flavor pairing. We loved the fusion that set scratch apart from your traditional omakase. From Korean to Vietnamese flavors, I was surprised each bite. I also loved the cucumber pickles we had instead of the traditional pickled ginger as a palate cleanser. Finally, we ended with a dessert that I got a candle in because it's my birthday yippee! So cute and they also took a Polaroid of us with the candle. This is definitely a special occasion spot, but the scratch team puts so much effort into making sure everyone is accommodated and has a good time. I'd recommend it for your next intimate celebration. read more

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This was such an intimate, fun, and delicious experience. You can park in the Day 1 building for free after 4pm on weekdays. It's about a 4 minute walk to the restaurant. My friend and I arrived at 4:30pm (30 min prior) for the complimentary cocktails and small bites. The cocktail was so good. Refreshing, tasted like juice. After we were directed inside to the main dining area. There were only 4 of us in total so the sushi came in fast. It felt like a very private experience and we enjoyed small conversation with the sushi chefs. Every bite was premium and memorable. Thinking about it makes me hungry. At the end you can add on three additional sushi. The dessert was an ice cream cake with tea. For 2 people the price came out to be about $600 which includes tip. This is definitely a once in a lifetime, celebratory occasion. I would highly recommend. read more

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Overall I had a great time! Went for my birthday and so glad I did as it's such a fun and tasty experience unlike any other omakase before. I enjoyed the pre dinner welcome experience with drinks and app and the appetizer was fire, i knew the dinner would be great off of that. And then after we moved into the sushi room which is also such a fun vibe with such nice chefs who were very friendly and fun. I thought the whole night was very seamless as well, def a fun vibe but clear that it was well orchestrated and timed as well. I kept trying to figure out my best piece but overall there was too many good ones and they were all so different to compare. They had curry flavored pieces and Vietnamese flavored pieces and I had the best hotate I've ever and the crunchiest piece of nigiri. Overall I'd def come back and recommend it to others! They even gave everyone a Polaroid of their group! How cute!!! read more

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An underwhelming experience given its price point and reasonably high expectation. Yes they made food in front of you, but that doesn't offer unique enough experience. A sushi restaurant in mid-high range with a bar offers this. The chefs were a little bit too chatty - I wish the atmosphere were more elegant. At times they were trying to upsell more stuff in addition to this overpriced dinner, from alcoholic drinks to additional sushi pieces. Finally, they didn't offer enough food to make an average person feel full - I was trying to lose weight and often eat very little for dinner, but still felt hungry when I walked out. I've had better and cheaper Omakase. read more

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This was such a treat of a meal. My friend and I were craving omakase, and luckily she snagged us a reservation--so off we went. The experience felt very intimate, with everyone seated around the sushi counter and the restaurant welcoming only a set number of guests at a time. The food was fantastic--lots of familiar classics, but elevated. Every piece had a clean, refined finish, something I can't say for every omakase I've tried. It is on the pricier side, but if you're a sushi lover, it's absolutely worth trying. They start you off with a small amuse-bouche before the main courses, which is such a nice touch and really sets the tone for the meal. They also offer pairings--both alcoholic and non-alcoholic--and I thought they were excellent. If you want to go all out, there are additional add-ons available, rich and delicious in their own right. Service throughout was attentive and truly impeccable. Overall: refined, memorable, and well worth the reservation. read more

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I absolutely LOVE this omakase place. All the pieces are absolutely delicious and unique! The service here is also welcoming and friendly. I enjoyed meeting the chef's and the experience. The ambiance is also private, which I love. Definitely a go to spot for omakase in Washington! read more

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Food, service, and ambiance were absolutely amazing. The 17 course omakase has been one of the best I've had in Seattle. Definitely go early to get a complimentary cocktail and a few small food items. Very intimate. Very fun. You will use your hands to eat instead of chopsticks. This place is absolutely magical! read more

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My least favorite omakase in the city. The fish all have a strongly "fishy" taste, and are doused in heavy sauces. The ambiance and service are nice enough, but the sushi quality is not there at all. read more

I have been looking forward to eating at Sushi by Scratch, so we decided to come for my birthday! It was a wonderful experience starting from the very beginning. We came early for the pre-dinner experience, which consisted of a cocktail and a couple bites (oyster and tuna bite). The space is dark but cozy, in downtown but feels so private since the windows are all blacked out. After a little bit, we were moved over to the main dining room where all the magic happens. When we came in, our names were on our assigned seats, which felt so personal. I really loved our chefs (Chef Kevin and Chef Han, I think). They were so open about their experiences, their thoughts on food in Seattle, and the menu! I always love watching food being prepared and this was super exciting because the chefs are so precise with how each bite is prepared. There were 17 bites in all, and we were told to only use our hands. I think my favorites were the Uni hand roll and the Hotate (scallop). It was super cool how they used the Bone Marrow drippings on the Unagi bite too! Overall such a great experience. We were told that they swap out menu items every month or so, so we'll have to come back in half a year :) read more

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The staff is great and the sushi is very creative. When I was there I quite liked the bone marrow sushi and the uni sushi. The speakeasy vibe is very fun. read more

I booked this reservation and then our friends gave us mixed reviews but we decided to go anyways. We walked right past the door as it is easily disguised as just a plan door on building on a busy street. The front man will open the door occasionally to check for those arriving which we observed once we were inside. We went early for the complimentary drink which also turned out to include 2 small bites (oysters and sushi) that we were not expecting. Maybe it said it on the description and I missed it? But they were yummy so I was glad we went early. The drink was a mixed drink with Suntori whiskey and ginger; average at best. For the meal, we were each seated at a place setting that already had our name written out. Those who put a reason for celebrating had little "happy anniversary" cards in front of their places as well. A personal touch if you will. Before we ate, we got an introduction and then the bartender took over with options for sake pairings, cocktails, wine, etc. I went with the Bee's Japanese; roku gin, yuzu, honey. The nigiri was delicious. Each bite with its own twist and flavor. The theme (sauce or way the fish was prepared) complimented each fish/protein. There were some that the sauce definitely overpowered any other flavor but I liked it. I think those for who like the more simple, umami, natural flavors or style of omakase may not enjoy this meal. Those who like fusion and sauce and vibrant flavors probably will. In my opinion the price was a little high but it was a fun and different experience to your traditional omakase and I am glad we went. It probably was a one time experience but a good one. To the restaurant - I probably would put a black curtain between the eating area and the bathroom. I didn't find it pleasant eating with a view inside the bathroom for those who didn't close the door after. read more

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My friend and I had an incredible omakase experience at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Seattle. The restaurant has very limited seating, and reservations are extremely hard to get -- but it was absolutely worth it. The atmosphere was quiet, intimate, and exclusive. Every course was beautifully presented and incredibly delicious. The chefs were talented, welcoming, and passionate about their craft. One of the most memorable sushi experiences we've ever had in Seattle. read more

Sushi By Scratch Restaurants - Very limited seating and incredibly hard to book -- but absolutely worth it. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What a fun experience! Sushi by Scratch is not your traditional omakase style restaurant. They have more of a speakeasy vibe and modern flavors. The sign is very discreet and you will use a doorbell to be let in. Parking is pretty easy to find on the street, or you can opt to walk to the Amazon garage that has free parking in the evenings. We opted to come 30 min early to experience the welcome beverage and complimentary bites. Everything was already tasting so good. Once we were finished with those, we were led into the dining area where our assigned seats were. All of the staff were wonderful and would check in on us pretty often. Although I enjoyed pretty much each course, the most memorable one was definitely the unagi. This was served after the bone marrow course, so all of the remaining bone marrow juice was torched right onto the unagi. The combined flavors knocked me tf out. At the end, they took a polaroid photo of each party to take home as a souvenir, which was a cute touch. read more

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I went here for my birthday a while ago, and I was really impressed by the quality and attention to detail that they had. This was my first experience in Seattle, and I would say that it actually compares to Asia, Hawaii, and was a top five experience for me! I feel like more than the quality of the fish, which was amazing, I was really impressed by how the chef explained all the seasonings and toppings or where they sourced their fish, this was a great immersive experience overall. They also gave two appetizers when I walked in and a Yuzu alcoholic drink because we came a bit early. My personal favorites were the Otoro and bone marrow! So gooddd read more

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Message from the restaurant upon reservation via Tock. Please note that your reservation begins promptly at the time selected, but we encourage you to show up as much as 30 minutes prior to your reservation to enjoy a complimentary welcome beverage! Arriving more than 15 minutes past your scheduled reservation may result in forfeiting your seat. The entrance to the restaurant is through the black double doors at 2331 6th Ave, where you will find a doorbell to alert us of your arrival. The price of the Sushi by Scratch Restaurants omakase menu is $185. Your $25 per person deposit will be applied to your bill upon dining. A 20% Service Charge will be applied to all checks. All deposits are final and non-refundable but fully transferrable. We charge $160 per person for all cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance. Please note: Sushi by Scratch Restaurants is not able to accommodate vegetarian guests. Reservation: Via tock, deposit $25pp And you can list your allergies. Parking: Paid street parking Free parking after 4pm at Day 1 Garage amazon just 2 blocks away. Seating: Max 10 people 3 rotation: 5pm, 7pm and 9:30pm Ambiance is nice. Too dark in the bar during welcoming beverage time. Restroom: only one There's a bunch of flies flying around the front door when you try to get in and out. So yes, we arrived at 4:30pm. You can either get non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage. After that, we moved to the chef table area for our omakase. They have the name board and you sit as your assigned seating. We came in a group of 7, so they mixed all of us. You can move your name plate and sit to whoever you like to, of course. All the 16 omakase comes in order as shown in the board. All 3 chefs were korean born, and comes from different states and experience. They are very friendly and welcoming. We finished in 1.5hr. They don't rush us to leave for their next seating. Overall food is good. I am more the traditional omakase style, let the fish speaks for itself. read more

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I loved this modern take on an omakase! There were 19 dishes including two welcome dishes in the waiting/bar area before the main dining room and a dessert at the end. Mostly nigiri style with each dish dressed with unique sauces, techniques, and salts to make for a flavorful bite. No utensils are given as you are expected to eat with your hands. I also love how it's a speakeasy vibe where you have to ring a doorbell to get in. It feels so secretive and is a really great ambiance setting to start with! All of the sushi felt very well prepared, well thought out with how each piece was prepared, and also the sushi chefs preparing the dishes were all extremely friendly and welcoming. Everyone was having little conversations with customers which made for a warm and intimate experience. Highly recommend for a special occasion and fine dining experience! read more

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Welp with the recent report of this establishment operating without a permit and soooo many health violations I'm happy I can take the gloves off an be honest. Yea the experience and execution were high, for seattle. Buuuuutttt Escolar....wtaf is that? It's literally a trash fish that is so fatty it can make you sick. I've grilled it and my grill caught on fire from all the oil. Pro-tip if you see escolar on the menu 1.) At least they're being honest and not calling it super white tuna 2.) It's a big red flag walk the eff out, IMMEDIATELY! For what they are charging per person there is literally no excuse to run an operation so poorly. Wa my experience all smoke and mirrors? There's a reason you have to take courses and be certified to be a sushi chef in Japan. But no in the great old USA. Anyone with a knife and hustle can serve raw fish to people. For the money paid here Subi Kashiba, Hummingbird, Tamura (too name a few) are all better value. Given theire health score kaiten sushi is probably safer. But if you hate money and like a show....we'll go ahead and get your reservation now! This is sad but the red flags were there. I recall being very conflicted in my first review and am relieved I can speak openly given the new info. read more

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We were looking forward to finally try their omakase. Long story short, all of us felt that it's not worth coming back. Ambience - 4/5. Their private bar with lighting makes it cool. Service - 3/5. They lack on a special care. Drinks - 4/5. Their Japanese fusion cocktails were great! Sake is over priced, but that's expected. Sushi - 2/5. I honestly wanted to love this place. You have no idea how excited I was to try their sushi omakase finally. When we first got seated at the bar, I was quickly let down with the quality and choice of fish they were about to serve to us for the price we were paying for. But I decided to wait for the sushi chef to surprise us. Surprisingly, the fishy taste bothered me from the get-go, and all the sushi were over powered by seasoning and couldn't even enjoy each ingredients. I can see that this overly flavored sushi attracts sushi beginners, but they could not fool any one of us who have been eating all sorts of amazing sushi omakase in life. I'm really sad to say this, but I did not enjoy their sushi omakase experience. It was definitely 2 stars for me and is worth $50 to me. Not a few hundred dollars per person... I decided to give 3 stars as an overall score because of the ambiance and drinks. Also their sushi is not terrible, but they are so meh.... I have unfortunately no desire to come back here. If you are open to spend a few hundred dollars per person for sushi omakase, we all agreed that Kashiba or Taneda in Seattle would be the ones worth going back again and again. read more

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What are the best birthday dinners I've had in a long time was at sushi by scratch. The atmosphere service and food was incredible and I cannot recommend it enough. When first arriving, you go to a small bar area where you served a nice house cocktail, raw oyster on the half shell and a small bite. I would call the staging area before you go into the actual dining space in the next room. On the menu at the time we got to try 16 different sushi. These are my top 5: 1. Hamachi 2. Sake - Salmon 3. Madai 4. Ama Ebi 5. Albacore I'd have to say everything was so methodically crafted and well done by the sushi chef.. I could not have asked for a more delicious sushi dining experience for my birthday. I even made some friends with the girls sitting next to us at the bar. How fun! They also took our picture and signed the menu. So cute! Although my review is short, everything about this experience was nothing short of being memorable and amazing to me. read more

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If you want to make someone feel special, take her/him/them here. Not only was the food delicious, the entire experience from entry to service was remarkable. Harkening back to the old "Worth It" vids, it was so.worth.it. Make sure to arrive 30min early to take advantage of the welcome drink and two starter bites. In this case, it was oysters and a toro "cannoli". My friends and I had done many omakases before, but Kevin, the sushi chef in front of us assured us this would be different. And he was right. The creative toppings on each of the fish were surprising and delightful. If you want old school sushi where you just wanna taste the fish without all the fuss, this is not the place for you. But if you like tantalizing flavors, make your reservation as soon as you can. It's at least 6 weeks out before you can get in (at least for a group of 4). Well done, friends! read more

Sushi By Scratch Restaurants - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What an extraordinary Omakase experience! Since we were on vacation, we decided to splurge a little (plus to celebrate my belated birthday and our anniversary). The reservation process was super easy. When you book the reservation online, you have to pay a $25 per person deposit fee to hold your spot, but it'll be applied to your bill upon dining. There is also a mandatory 20% service charge. Beware, there is no sign to this restaurant so we circled the block a couple of times before we found the mysterious entrance lol. You have to ring the doorbell to get let inside. Once inside, you are seated at the bar area with other guests. You have the option of arriving 30 minutes prior to the actual omakase experience for a welcome drink and snacks. That is highly recommended ! The drink was refreshing and they gave two small appetizers so that's worth it. Once the chefs are ready, our bartender/server moved us to the next room. Such a mysterious and fun experience! The chefs are knowledgeable and have many years of experience of making sushi/nigiri. It was quite enjoyable talking to them! Sushi/fish quality was superb and the whole experience lasted about 2 hours. Because it was our anniversary, they took a Polaroid photo of us and gave us the menu with their signatures on it as a souvenir. Such a nice gesture! This was both our first times trying omakase and it way exceeded our expectations. read more

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Came here with two girlfriends and we had a blast!! We loved every part of the night and the omakase meal was delicious. We did the regular tasting and did not add extras because we were so full! Every dish was delicious, presentation was and we did have our own personal favorites too. Mine were the otoro, bone marrow and unagi. It was interesting how their omakase order went from fatty to lean to fatty again. A lot of omakase places I've tried goes from lean to fatty. Otherwise, the whole experience took about 2 hrs (30 mins pre and 1:30 omakase). They also had complementary marinated cucumbers on the side but I wished they offered some utensils to eat it. read more

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Food: Loved the food, after having been to a couple of omakase places, it can get tiring to see the same salmon, blue fin, uni, etc. I love that they allow the chefs to have some creativity to make some more unique items. There was one of there that tasted like a banh mi or pho. That one still stands out to me. Service: Everyone is friendly, the chefs were good at initiating conversation and keeping everything light and fun Ambiance When you first come in you're introduced to a small entry room. This is where you'll get the welcome cocktail and two starters. The second room is where the omakase happens. Both rooms are intimate and give off that classic elevated darker room vibe. Music is interesting too, like a japanese jazz type of music. Personally I loved it, the chefs were joking about hearing the music in their dreams though haha Recommendations Would highly recommend coming in early to not miss the welcome drink and food. We showed up about 15 minutes early to our omakase, not sure if they were waiting in us, but was nice since we were hungry and didn't have to wait on it! They have options for an additional $100-ish per person to add truffle and caviar to certain dishes if that's your thing. Everything tasted great already, so not worth it in my opinion. Overall would recommend coming here, a pricey dinner for sure. We ended up paying about $480 with no add ons, other drinks, just the base omakase price for two people. For special occasions it was a nice treat! read more

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I don't know where and how to start. The attention to detail on each fish they present to you to how they know which alcohol pairing would complement the course was so spot on. If I could remember correctly, it was a 12 course omakase and the additions was a complimentary pre-appetizer course if we showed up 30 minutes early along with the alcohol pairing of course. But I also chose to get the caviar and truffle addition with my omakase. The sushi chef that prepared our courses explained each fish very eloquently. The fish were very fresh and just melts in your mouth. I do have to say the fish is doused in their sauce which in my opinion does take away the original taste of each of the fish you are eating. So every fish did end up tasting very similar because of the sauce. Also, the caviar and the truffle did not really enhance the flavor of the fish as much as I thought it would, but if you are a fan of both, I do recommend trying it if they are offering them as an add on to your omakase experience. Overall, I will definitely come back because the ambience is top notch and it truly was an amazing experience. Probably better than Nobu if you ask me. read more

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I didn't have to wait long to score a great weeknight sushi experience! It's a very cozy vibe, you walk in to the main waiting area at your reservation time so be sure to come a little early. It's respectful and they have a full service bar while you wait. Then everyone gets invited back to the seating area and the eating experience gets underway after a brief description. The only exceptions or changes the chef makes is for allergies. There's an option to pair wine or saki? If you want to do that, go for it! There's still a fun drink menu otherwise if you don't want to go with a pairing situation. The chef works and someone explains what the dish will be, so it's fun to watch and listen. You're right there and the fish is so fresh and delicious. I feel so spoiled having been able to attend. I can't wait to go back! They host parties too! There's also a sister restaurant(s) called Pasta Bar, located in different states that would be super cool to check out based on this experience. read more

I went here with my girlfriends to celebrate my 40th birthday and was excited for a special omakase experience, but unfortunately the night was overshadowed by an inappropriate and uncomfortable moment with the chef. When I simply mentioned that I didn't need caviar on one of my sushi pieces, the chef responded with a comment implying that "if it were free, I would take it huh". This remark felt unnecessary, dismissive, and frankly racist in tone. I wasn't there to bargain for caviar--I genuinely didn't care for. Instead of respecting my preference, the chef made an assumption about me that was completely out of line, especially in a setting that's supposed to be welcoming, refined, and hospitable. To be fair, the food itself was good enough. However, at this price point, there are many omakase restaurants that deliver a far superior experience at the same--or even higher--caliber. What made it even more disappointing was that the entire dinner service felt rushed, which took away from the intentional, thoughtful pacing that is expected in omakase dining.. Sadly, I left feeling disappointed on what should have been a great birthday dinner. I hope the restaurant seriously addresses this kind of behavior, because no guest should have to experience something like that. read more

The best sushi I've ever had. I'm a bariatric chick so I thought since it was going to be small single bites I would be good. I was ready to tap out after 11 lol but I pushed through and I stopped eating the rice. They also accommodated me with my limit by using less rice. Every bite was sensational and a whole experience. They were informative and the staff was super kind and so knowledgeable! The location was so aesthetically pleasing and intimate. I highly recommend this service and bring your appetite! read more

Sushi By Scratch Restaurants - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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As you walk by the front doors you would never expect that there would be a restaurant in here. However once inside you are welcomed by a host and immediately seated in an antechamber. Once the chefs are ready to start the dinner, 10 guests move over to the dining area to get the omakase experience started. You can select to get drink pairings with dinner - a whiskey or sake flight, house pairing or ala carte. Two of the people in our party did the sake and whiskey flight and it seemed to be worth the extra money. The flow of this experience was a little more modern compared to sushi kashiba which I remember to be more traditional. The quality of ingredients is outstanding. The story behind each nigiri and each drink is fun. The dinner took about and hour and each one of the chefs were friendly and laid back. The sushi is outstanding here. The experience for me was great, I will definitely be back. read more

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Very enjoyable omakase. Chef Kim was a favorite! Ambience and drinks were quite nice, too. Highly recommend

Sushi by Scratch is a very unique omakase experience. It's more on the modern, innovative side rather than your traditional omakase restaurant as they have very interesting flavor pairings (e.g. corn purée, sweet chilis, pineapple) and unique items such as bone marrow nigiri. We had a total of 16 pieces of nigiri and a dessert item. At the end there was the option to add 3 more pieces of nigiri which we did and everything was delicious! It was a lot of pieces of sushi but each one was fairly small so we didn't leave feeling overly full. The space is really cool with a welcome area/bar where they give you a welcome drink before going into the main seating area. Only 10 seats so reservations can be difficult to get. We had a party of 5 and this is one of the few omakase restaurants in the area that allow for parties larger than 4. read more

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My husband surprised me with a birthday dinner here, and I was both excited and a little nervous when I realized it was an omakase spot. I'm still pretty new to eating raw fish, and I was a bit stressed at first because I knew how expensive the place was and didn't want to waste anything if I didn't like it. I'm definitely a try-everything-once kind of girl, which I think is why my husband thought it'd be a fun adventure. When we were seated (the staff at the front was really nice, by the way), I told my husband how I was feeling, and he reassured me that if there was anything I didn't like, he'd just eat it for me. He also suggested I ask if they could torch some of mine to make it a little less intimidating, so I did. But when I asked, the waiter responded very loudly and rudely, saying you cannot make any changes to the food--and it came off super condescending. It totally caught me off guard and honestly embarrassed me. It's a small, quiet restaurant, so everyone heard and stared. That moment kind of ruined the vibe for me before the meal even started. I understand if changes aren't allowed (it's omakase, I get it), but the way he said it felt unnecessary. He could've just explained it in a normal tone and I would've said okay, no problem. The food itself was good, nothing crazy outstanding--I did try everything, though I did pass one piece to my husband. The sushi chefs were really nice and seemed passionate about their work, but overall, the waitstaff just didn't feel friendly or attentive the entire meal. We got the whiskey flight pairing with our meal too and for such an upscale, intimate place, spending $700+, we expected better service ‍ I'm still glad I gave it a shot, but the way that one interaction was handled really stuck with me and made it hard to fully enjoy the experience. My husband and I agreed we wouldn't come back. There's other more affordable and better quality omakase options in seattle. read more

I've done a number of omakase around Seattle and my experience at Sushi by scratch was phenomenal. The fish was fresh and wonderful but the creativity that went into each piece made this place stand out. The service was perfect. Drinks were kept full, the chefs interactions were fun and enlightening and they were able to accommodate my gluten (celiac) issues without diminishing my experience in any way. I even got to have eel which is often not safe for me due to the sauce and it was the best eel I've had. Where scratch stands apart is that it isn't about just the freshest fish in its purest form. The scallop had a Anaheim pepper component to it that took it in a new direction. The overly crispy nori on the first roll was a marriage of textures you don't normally get with sushi. Each bite of the decadent pieces, bone marrow, fatty tuna and wagu just melted in your mouth. At scratch it's as much about freshness as it is about texture and flavor pairings without being adventurous for the sake of adventure. The only thing I'd change is that other than the place setting and the overhead lanterns the place is a bit drab and could use some color. In the end I'm there for the food so it's not enough to detract in any way. I'm excited to return later and see how the menu progresses! read more

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What a meal! I was in town and craving sushi. My friend recommended and snagged two seats at their 7:15p seating on a weeknight. Score! Per their Tock, rezzies are released on the first of the month at 10am for the following month's availability. They apparently only do 3 seatings a night btw! Sushi by Scratch is a newer player in town, but isn't new to the scene. Their Montecito location is Michelin-starred (2021 & 2022) and they've since expanded to 5 other locations including this one, which opened in Sept 2022. It's 17 courses of DELICIOUSNESS. Your experience may be different from mine so I won't outline every single dish but I will say there were SO many bites of fish that I don't usually love (e.g. albacore, unagi, akami), but the preparation here was impeccable with no fishiness. This is very in-line with Edomae sushi tradition where there's so much thoughtfulness and ALL the aging!! Yes aged fish - it sounds weird but I promise it's delightful. BUT, you'll find non traditional stand outs at Scratch like bone marrow sushi and sourdough crumbs on their hamachi. Also, you eat with your hands & you eat together (except for the unagi) after the chef has explained! Yes, it did remind me of The Menu & yes, the movie has half ruined eating for me hah. Their beverage service is also fantastic. Get the flight! We went a la carte but it's a good value and seems just as thoughtful as the food itself! read more

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Fabulous! Sushi by Scratch is an atypical sushi restaurant with dim blueish and purple light, black walls, and large paper lanterns that fill the ceiling space. It gives the sense of an expansive space but with a low ceiling. Upon arriving I knocked on the door as someone stole the doorbell (as the sign noted) and was seated in a small bar and given a small complimentary cocktail. This enabled the staff to reset for the second seating in the dining room. Once ready we were escorted to the dining room and sat at assigned seats. Immediately I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this. The seats are designed for much taller people so my feet couldn't touch the cross bar and the pitch of the seat back was so angled that if I leaned back I was practically staring at the ceiling. They provided hooks for purses and coats on the back wall but they were aligned higher than I could reach. I felt uneasy, but it didn't last. First thing I really liked was the board that displayed all the sushi we were about to eat. The sushi chefs were polite and engaging. They walked us through each dish providing excellent descriptions. Their bartender offered three different drink flights. I opted for the wine flight which honestly was the best wine pairing I have ever had anywhere. The wine was delightful! I especially appreciated hearing the explanation on the history of each bottle followed by why it was chosen and how long it should last "the next four bites" and so on. The nigiri was incredible! Every single piece was a delight of texture and taste. Most of the dishes were tuna variations but each one was unique, flavorful and delicious. I was able to eat Copper River salmon sushi and it was exquisite. The dessert - this little ice cream cube - was amazing and I would have liked a whole container of them. I had read a few reviews talking about loud music. I don't know if the music changes based on the time of day but when we went Japanese jazz music was playing softly; it was very relaxing and nice. I was able to have an easy conversation with my partner with no issue. I really like this restaurant! read more

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Sushi by Scratch is definitely a cool experience and I'd rate my visit as a 4/4.5 stars. I heard about them from a best new Seattle restaurant article and from a foodie friend who wanted to go, too. I was able to get a coveted reservation by signing up for their online waitlist, hoping for open spots, and luckily jumping on a same day reservation asap per an email. Located on 6th Ave in downtown, finding street parking on a Thurs evening wasn't too bad. Just beware - the entrance (a discreet black door with a small sign) was initially challenging to find so definitely factor in enough time to walk up and down the same street looking for it. I recommend arriving at least 20 mins early to enjoy your complimentary drink (ours was a yummy yuzu alcoholic concoction). The staff was also friendly and the fun camaraderie within the kitchen was very evident. The 16 pre-fix pieces of sushi (with a bonus surprise matcha bonbon dessert at the end) was delicious and unexpectedly filling. If you love sushi, this well-paced, enjoyable omakase experience might be just for you. The seafood and meat were high quality and fresh. My top 3 faves were the tuna belly, freshwater eel, and sea urchin. To be honest, all the sushi pieces were tasty and I'd have been more than happy to have seconds of any piece. Is it expensive like everyone says in their reviews? At a couple hundred bucks (about $220) per person for the omakase alone (with tax and a defaulted 20 % gratuity factored in), it is a bit pricey. However, I felt the overall omakase experience was worth it to at least try once. read more

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I really enjoyed my experience here. I was expecting a full house with just 10 seats per serving, but there were only 7 of us. As a single diner, I knew I would be eating with strangers, but I was a bit disappointed to be crammed between two couples with less elbow room than an airplane middle seat. That's a minor nitpick amongst an otherwise extraordinary experience. The food was amazing. Each handcrafted piece was delicious by itself. The commentary was interesting, but not why I chose to eat here. I tried two new-to-me beers and enjoyed them both. Compared to the price of the rest of the experience, the $12 each price tag felt more reasonable. Other comments about leaving hungry are probably true. I had a large lunch in anticipation of this, and felt satisfied when I left. But had I shown up famished, I would definitely have been searching for post-dinner food, even after ordering the three extra pieces for $14 each. I'm not sure how they could solve this, and I don't need to leave with a feeling like I just gorged on a buffet, but for the $332 final bill for 1, the risk of leaving hungry definitely could sour the experience. Since I only visited this place during a trip to Seattle, it's unlikely I'll find myself here again any time soon, but it is definitely a place I'd return again. read more

This was our second time dining here, last visit was in the summer and we absolutely loved it so we knew we had to come back for another special occasion. The menu was different from last time, which was to be expected, but each sushi piece was delicious with unique flavors that went so well together. It was just as good as we remembered. They also added two extra complimentary welcome dishes at the beginning which we appreciated. Our chefs were engaging and funny, they made it a good time. Some of my personal favorites of the night were the mussel and uni shooter, the toro and the uni hand roll. It's a little pricy but you get a decent amount of food and is worth it for the high quality ingredients that they use. We will definitely keep coming back to this place. read more

Not your typical omakase! Lots of innovative and interesting flavor and ingredient combos. You can tell the chefs prepare each piece with attention. My favorites include Toro, Spot Prawn, Scallop, and of course Bone Marrow. I also love the pre-dinner cocktail (try the non-alcoholic version!). Come and enjoy this non-traditional sushi experience yourself! read more

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