Silvers Omakase (*) – Santa Barbara, CA

Had a wonderful California casual omakase experience at Silvers in Santa Barbara. A welcome drink in a dark lounge sets the scene for a quiet, hip, and somewhat eclectic dinner. However, when you are finally led through to the counter, it jumps back to a light, airy, and almost casual atmosphere. The two chefs are incredibly friendly, talkative, inquisitive, and happy to share any detail you might be interested in. This style might not be for everyone, yet I appreciated the conversational nature and flow of the dinner as it added to a more unique style and feel to the experience.

The food itself was excellent, though many of the dishes had similar undertones and flavors (brown butter, though who doesn't love that). Every fish was high quality and melted in your mouth. It was paced well, about 2 hours in total from walk-in to exit, and we did not feel rushed. Many ingredients were from Japan, though there were several locally caught fish, which I appreciated being included in the menu. I would be eager to go back and recommend this for anyone who is looking for an upscale yet relaxed take on omakase.

An embodiment of Santa Barbara, Silvers excels in being true to itself, expensive, not pretentious, laid back, yet finely thought out.

9.6/10