"After a decade helping other chefs open restaurants, chef/owner Jason Peel lets loose at his own spot. Brunch and lunch recently switched to a monthly changing prix fixe menu for $45; if they’re available, get the honey walnut shrimp waffles or teishoku (Japanese set meal). Dinner, meanwhile, has gone from izakaya style to a more traditional Western setup. Start with a smoked tomato and tofu salad and ‘ulu (breadfruit) tots — Nami Kaze is still one of the best places in town for creative vegetable preparations — and go for one of the seafood dishes, like kampachi in a gochujang bone broth. Skip the sushi, though; there are better places on this list for that. Best for: Casual and celebratory dinners with a group, given the large space and something-for-everyone menu." - Martha Cheng