TAKAMI OPENS UP
WITH STYLE IN DOWNTOWN
By Michael Hepworth
Takami has just opened up in an old office building
downtown, and it just shows you what a $4 million investment can do. The
space is buzzing, the atmosphere is terrific, and the food spearheaded by
sushi expert Kenny Yamada is a joy to look at and taste. If you are into
Asian food at any level, then a visit here is a must, just to see what the
fuss is all about, and it could very easily turn out to be one of your
regular spots, and certainly a place to take out of town of visitors
to.
Kenny is well known for opening Encino’s famed
Katsu-ya restaurant, when he was mentored by Sushi Master Katsuya Uechi.
He also opened Bel Air’s SHU (Sushi House Unico), and he also served as
the executive chef at Bambi in
Malibu
. The innovative dishes he brings to the table (literally) at Takami are
embellished with the marvelous tiny garnishes on the rim of the plates,
such as red caviar and sea weed just to name a few. Here are just a
few of the items on the menu that you should try. One is the signature
dish of Creamy Rock Shrimp Tempura
Purse, a carefully constructed egg wrap that is so easy to eat,
containing fresh tasting spicy Tempura Rock Shrimp ($16). The chef is also
proud of his Pop Art Crab, a
Dungeness style Crab and Avocado wrapped in soy paper and served with
rainbow sauce.
However the star of the evening for me was the Miso
Chilean Sea Bass, with champagne Yuzu Sauce and served with Wasabi
Mashed Potatoes. The fish just crumbled into the mouth and was a truly
heavenly taste. There is a freshness to the food here at Takami, and
frankly I have no idea how this restaurant rates against other sushi
establishments in
Los Angeles
, but I just love the vibe here. Another signature dish is the “Sweet
Scallop Present,” a dish conceived to look like a gift box crafted
out of an egg. It is filled with a mixture of sweet tempura battered
scallops and wine infused jello.
Cocktails and wine are an important part of the mix
at Takami, and the one I tried, was the Takami Sunset ($14), featuring
Kettle One Citron, Cranberry Juice, Lime Juice, Triple Sec and Mint. Many
of the other cocktails are Sake and Soju-based, including the signature
Wasabitini, Bloody Sake, Sake-Cran and Pamasake drinks. The wine list is
also large enough to allow a reasonable choice, with prices starting at
$30 a bottle up to $285 for the Opus One,
Napa
Valley
, Meritage 2003.
One of the highlights of the place itself is A glass
enclosed wine room with a floor to ceiling wine display and a ceiling made
of Red Balau wood slats. The front of the sushi and robata bar is an
undulating cubed stone with a cantilvered leather top, and the two bars
are separated by laser cut aluminum panels with a patina finish.
There is a late night lounge called Elevate Lounge adjacent to the
restaurant with a live disc jockey on the weekends, and by all accounts it
is starting to be the place to hang out downtown.
Fact Sheet
Phone:
213-236-9600
811 Wilshire Blvd
, 21st Floor
Los Angeles
,
CA
90013
Mon-Thurs
11:00 am to 11:00 pm
Friday
11:00 am to Midnight
Saturday
5:00 pm to Midnight
Sunday
5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Valet
Parking $7
www.takamisushi.com
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