During the 2020 lockdown, one of the places that got me through it was the outdoor dining experience at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants, which was then known as Sushi | Bar. It felt good to have such a unique dining experience at a slightly discounted price.
The whole experience was incredible. Now, I’d seen the listing for the restaurant on DineLA a few times during the year. But, I didn’t KNOW. I couldn’t have. Seriously, my experiences at the Sushi Bar was one of the special experiences that got me through COVID.
In the blink of an eye, a few years had passed. Luckily, Scratch Restaurants had opened up a few more locations since my first visit.
After a lovely time at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants – Cedar Creek during my time in Austin, Texas to see a Dave Matthews Band concert, it was time to revisit my local location once again.
First up, were servings of the HAMACHI, TORO, KINMEDAI, SCALLOP, STRIPED JACK, SEA BREAM, SPOT PRAWN and KING SALMON.
Then, the ALBACORE, KANPACHI, AKAMI, ESCOLAR, WAGYU, BONE MARROW, UNAGI and UNI.
But, the most entertaining aspect of the evening? Besides the wonderful impromptu spoken word poetry experience by KeShon August-McClure, one of the wonderful service personnel of the evening (absolutely beautiful poet – such a treat)….
It was the fact that the woman next to me legit did a dine and dash.
I had a feeling something was off the moment this woman sat next to me. Still, I’m not one to use dinner as a time to poke into strangers’ lives. Sure, I ended up at F&Bar in Atwater Village thanks to some overheard chatter—your classic “oversharing couples discussing social tiers over cocktails” situation. But a textbook dine and dash? Midway through the meal, she takes a call at the table, says she’s heading to the bathroom, grabs all her things – and never returns.
In this day and age? When you have to drop a credit card on Tock just to lock in your reservation?
That said, the omakase experience more than redeemed the night. Each course was a masterclass: familiar favorites reimagined alongside inventive new bites.
It was a brilliantly crafted, delicious reminder of just how good sushi can be in Los Angeles.
Sushi by Scratch Restaurants - Los Angeles
16101 Ventura Blvd #100Encino, California 91436
