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For the past 2 years we’ve been going to Uchi for Yvonne’s Birthday. We broke custom this year since Yvonne is now in Galveston. Instead we headed to Kata Robata in Houston. Overall the food was really good. I wouldn’t say it’s as inventive or mind blowing as Uchi but everything was solid.

We started off with some Manila Clam Miso Soup. For the hot dishes we got some yakatori style whole squid and hamachi kama. My mom usually gets hamachi kama whenever we go to sushi places because she doesn’t particularly like raw fish. The one from Kata was excellent and perfectly cooked. We also go the braised pork belly which was absolutely delicious. Yvonne wanted the Foie Grae with daikon which I was a little hesitant about. It turned out the daikon cut the richness of the Foie perfectly. The omakase sashimi we got wasn’t exactly the most unique cuts of fish but still very fresh and satisfying.

Yvonne was saying that if we were to go back she could get the hamachi kama, the pork belly and a bowl of rice and be happy. I would have to agree.

Yvonne and I went for an early Valentines dinner to Aquarelle last night. Overall, the food was really good, although, nothing life changing. I had the Mussels, Chilean Sea Bass, and coffee Creme Brulee. Out of the three, I enjoyed the Mussels the most. I also had no shame whipping out my $25 gift certificate that I bought on restaurant.com for $2.

The first time I went to Uchi was over a year ago for Yvonne’s birthday. We decided to start a little tradition and go there again this year. If you go to Uchi, omakase is the way to go. It was a 10 course meal where the chef picks whatever he wants to serve to you. All the dishes were complex and deliciously put together. Flavors, you wouldn’t think would go together, were mixed perfectly. The surprise of the night came when we were presented a steak dish that turned out to be some of the best steak I’ve ever had. And this was at a sushi restaurant! If you have a special occasion to celebrate, I’d definitely recommend Uchi.

Stopping to grab some fish and chips on the way up to Santa Barbara.