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"Sleek and expense-account-ready, this Century City Japanese lounge opened on July 25 in the former Rock Sugar space and leans into a high-design, Nobu-esque vibe under the SBE partnership. High ceilings, striking Japanese-inflected design, and a sprawling patio overlooking Santa Monica Boulevard set the scene; a moody bar lit like shoji windows leads to charcoal-covered lamps looming over the dining room, sleek intersecting wood beams, greenery-shrouded glass, and a stainless steel-backed sushi bar that puts the chefs on display, with a sunlit side lounge that doubles as a handy waiting area or happy hour hangout for office workers. The food is predictable and elegant: the signature spicy tuna crispy rice is the headliner; slim slices of tuna tataki, salmon sashimi with soy citrus vinaigrette, and yellowtail jalapeño from the Matsuhisa playbook make good starters, while hot rock shrimp tempura, miso black cod, and specialty rolls like the Century—king crab and avocado topped with wagyu sashimi, caviar, and fresh truffle—round things out. Prices land on the higher end (some rolls hit $59), squarely within the expense-account range of nearby law firms and talent agencies—indulge if someone else is paying—and the whole operation isn’t here to challenge diners with complexity so much as provide a slick spot for a light-ish dinner or a handy power lunch prix-fixe with friends, co-workers, or clients. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m." - Matthew Kang