Gama

I don’t know about the summer peak season, but I’ll start by saying this is not the kind of restaurant worth giving your credit card number and replying to a confirmation text just to make a reservation. It feels like a place at a crossroads between casual dining and fine dining, but it is not run by Japanese owners. Instead, it seems designed to create a nice atmosphere for special occasions while using pairings as an excuse to raise the average check price. My impression is that perhaps someone who once worked at a Michelin‑guide restaurant in the nearby Elk area is involved, or at least trying to emulate that style. First of all, they don’t serve draft beer, which is the basic of any izakaya. In Japan, people usually start with draft beer, and once the mood sets in, they order sake or shochu to go with small dishes. Since only canned beer was available, I didn’t drink alcohol at all. Selling only canned beer—which is easy to manage and requires little effort—shows the operator’s convenience‑first mindset. That’s the first reason this is not a good restaurant. The second reason is the food. For Americans, tempura coated with starch or glutinous rice flour might feel novel, but this is actually one of the most common basics of any izakaya, because it pairs well with beer and other drinks and helps sales. However, the tempura here was poorly executed: the oil temperature was too low when cooking began, and even after refrying, the pieces were greasy and heavy with oil. The menu overall consisted only of dishes that are easy to prepare and manage. I was so disappointed that I went elsewhere for a second dinner. On top of that, they automatically add a 20% service charge. Reading the reviews, you might expect a lot, and for people with limited experience this place might seem impressive. But by my standards, I cannot recommend it at all. Including myself, there were only three tables of guests that evening. Please take this into consideration. And one more thing I forgot to mention: never order the curry dish. It tastes worse than instant curry.

A true gem for anyone who loves impeccable and intentional food with a sublime sake list to boot. The team is so generous, knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. Thank you Gama, we’ll definitely be back.

The food, service, and atmosphere were outstanding, but what truly set this place apart was the genuine warmth in the service—something you don’t often experience in city restaurants. The Arun Patel artwork on the walls was another detail I really appreciated.

We ate dinner here for the first time this past weekend. The clean cedar smell when you walk in is so refreshing. It is simple and spacious. Not overcrowded. I would definitely make reservations. There were so many Sake choices and they bring a tray with all different sake cups and tell you to pick your vessel. The menu is simple and we had never had any of the items but the waiter was very helpful and we enjoyed the new experience of food. Very fresh and delicately prepared. If you are wanting Sushi and/or hibachi style restaurant food this is not the place. It was a wonderful experience and very relaxing.

Had high hopes for this place based on the reviews but this dish really set me back. Three bites of local rockfish (not an expensive fish), about the amount in one fish taco at the nearby pier, was $26 (plus automatic 20% gratuity on all tables). I told the enthusiastic and well meaning server that I would never order such a small portion for this price and they comped me the dish (with some huff, and an offer of French fries). So that was ok, but had I not spoken up I would have really regretted it. (Did not go for the fries.) Why no rice or veg to round it out?

We showed up super late and really didn't want to be a pain, but... The staff welcomed us with ope arms and provided us a table and amazing food when they didn't have to. We had the Karage , potatoes Salad, grilled peppers, and chicken meatball. All dishes were amazing. I could eat 100 peppers it they had them. Must try while on this coastal trip , is give 10 stars if I could. Thank you again.

We were, overall, pretty pleased with our dinner here. The review is really hurt by the fact that our first dish—raw trout—came with a rather long hair mixed into the garnish. We had the dish sent back and they replaced it, but I feel that they could have taken the matter more seriously (the server didn’t even seem surprised), and I think they should have comped the dish or offered something to make amends. To boot, the replacement came out and the sashimi wasn’t as good as in the first dish—I think because it was still a bit too cold and hadn’t come to room temperature. Our server was kind, but a little inattentive and I had a hard time getting her attention. Expect to take your time—it took us about an hour and a half to get through dinner, which seemed about average from surrounding customers. I’ve dined at many American izakayas, and I’d say the food was very good despite feeling put off by the hair in our first dish. Dishes we liked: (hairless) raw trout, rice, matcha ice cream w/ strawberry puree, egg soufflé w/ bolette, grilled shishito skewer, pork belly, and chicken knee. You can see the hair in the green onion, photo attached.

Something you can't expect to find on the no-internet road. We were looking for something simple to eat, and got a full experience, a modern and stylish place with an intriguingly simple and small menu, but perfectly matching tastes and outstanding service. So, now, that’s the particular point on my map, to revisit with the reason!

What an incredible restaurant--amazing service, super friendly staff, and food that tastes like pure heaven. Every dish is a festival of flavors; we loved every bite! We followed Nathan's recommendations, and he nailed it with every single one. And the ice cream... unreal. We ended up ordering a second round because it was that good--the flavor and texture were out of this world. If you're anywhere near here, you need to get to Gama ASAP!

I was met with a very condescending and pretentious man who literally cut me off mid sentence when I spoke up about the other patrons who arrived before us. He stooped down to my face-- quite awfully close-- to let us know they were fully booked for the night. Understood. But what if I did have a reservation? It doesn't give you the right to act that way towards ANYONE. I felt incredibly disrespected. With menu items such as "poteto saradu" & "kare raisu", you'd think this was an authentic Japanese restaurant. It just felt like a mockery. The restaurant owners pride themselves in working in a Japanese kitchen for 16 years and following Japanese anti-tipping culture, though a 20% gratuity charge is added to every meal, regardless of their quality of service. I will say that I think it's great that they pay their employees a living wage & donate to the Japanese American Citizen League. I cannot speak for the owners themselves but I did not appreciate the unpleasantries from this employee, and I believe that is a reflection of how they run this place.

This restaurant is a gem of a place located out of no where in Point Arena. My husband and I were visiting Bryan Preserve and were looking for a place to have dinner. We were glad to have stopped here! They were completely booked for the weekend. So we got seated at the bar seats. We ordered a couple of skewers - pork belly, shisito peppers, shiitake mushrooms, Tsukune. All of them tasted so good. My favs were tsukune and pork belly. We also ordered a lamb stew and ended the day with black sesame ice cream for dessert. The ice cream was amazing with nice taste of sesame along with sourness from raspberry puree. I really liked the ice cream.

Architectural Ambiance Walk into a hush as you step into this perfectly designed and architecturally Complete picture. Tables cut to fit this unique whole. All nicely thought-out details. Flowers and framed forms are focal points for each view. From the Genmaimatcha clear tea pot to the masterfully arranged flowers Artistic simplicity of wood beams and themed ceramic plates and food so eye pleasing. Sunomono nicely garnished with white and dark goma, and a perfectly cooked egg beautifully arranged atop of the "poteto sarada" Maitake tempura new to me, love the flavor, the Karaage a nice surprise with a mild garlic flavor (I love garlic) was very tasty. I wish it had more crunch! Flavors & textures very different when comparing it to my "bachan's" (grandma's) food, it may be regional recipes, either way a tough comparison. I would say 5 stars for design and plating. 3 flavor & texture

Tastefully done Izakaya and Sake Bar. I loved how passionate they were when discussing all the flavor profiles of their sake offerings. Got to try a new one from Den Sake Brewery in Oakland, which was quite nice and balanced. The fish collar was exquisite, with a dainty yet crispy skin and tender flesh coupled with very well balanced pickled accompaniments. This dish really sang. Another favorite was the curry and rice. The rice as cooked to perfection and the curry was full of flavor. The things from the grill were all delightful, from the chicken cartilage to the shitake mushroom. They all were grilled expertly resulting in skewers that were smoky, flavorful, and tender to the bite. The one dish I recommend skipping is the potato salad. Even though calling it potatoe sarada and serving it with a soft boiled egg on top looks unique, at the end of the day it just felt like a really expensive potato salad. Otherwise a lovely evening with excellent presentation, hospitality, and food.

I ate here two days ago and can't stop thinking about it. The space is a surprise, you could drive right past it. Very unassuming, but inviting once you're inside with a lot of local art, a nice bar, and just a few dining tables. First, I was called to the Yoho Nippon Citrus beer (yuzu and sea salt) and it was incredible. Best beer I've had in a long time. The beer list is short (sake list is longer), but options are great. We did a variety of dishes and were blown away by every single one. The local meat, seafood and produce were sublime. But what stood out to me the most was the bincho (seared local albacore tuna). It was absolutely the best piece of fish I've ever had in my entire life. I'm not kidding. The whole meal was outstanding, and we ended with black sesame ice cream (regrettably only getting one scoop - we could have had a lot more...so good). The service was wonderful, and they were all working together really beautifully. All of the servers working helped us out at some point in the meal. I can't say enough about this meal. I live in the Central Valley but will happily drive back to Point Arena to experience this again (and experience a new menu)! So glad I found this place while we were visiting the coast.

If you are looking for Japanese food and sake this is a great place to go, the dishes were all great and very artistically presented. Loved all the items-- the Chawan Mushi, salad, local uni, the mushroom tempura, maguro tuna, and more ! My mom liked her miso soup but it didn't have any tofu. The only thing I noted is that the sales tax is so high in point arena that it's over 11 percent of the bill and you are charged 20 percent service , so combined it is hefty. It shouldn't stop you from going but it's good to be aware.

On a road trip through Point Arena, we kept hearing about Gama and I'm so glad we went. We grabbed a seat early before the Friday dinner rush (go early if you don't have a reservation). The cabbage salad was light, crunchy, and perfectly dressed! I want that recipe! The skewers were also incredible, full of flavor and cooked just right. It's a cozy, stylish date spot with perfect service. If you're in Point Arena, Gama is absolutely worth the stop.

What a delightful find! We visited Gama last week based on a rec from a local in Gualala and were honestly blown away. This meal was one of the best we've had this year! Service was great at this low-key, small space and everything was delicious. The menu changes frequently, but we tried their chicken karage, fresh corn kariage, Japanese beef curry, black cod collar, potato salad, shishito pepper and pork belly skewers. We would easily order any of these again!

After driving in the dark (darn daylight savings) to our stay at the Point Arena Lighthouse lodging, I was so happy to see Gama was the only restaurant open in the area at 8PM on a Thursday night. My partner and I were the only people in the entire restaurant and felt incredibly welcomed and cared for by the waitress in a traditional Japanese dress. The warm wooden interior with soft lighting and traditional fish print decor felt very romantic at night. There was bar seating but we chose to sit at a table in the corner. We ordered à la carte and were recommended the salad and karaage since they were larger plates. Their housemade soysauce was incredibly yummy and great with the sweet fresh amberjack sashimi. Karaage and miso black cod were very juicy and tender but not anything amazing. We didn't feel like skewers but still got the Chicken Oyster skewers to try and the skewer was larger & juicier than expected and had a great smoky flavor. I was especially glad we didn't skip dessert as it was my FAVORITE item. The green tea ice cream was thick but not in a gelato way. The brown sugar sauce and toasted rice were the perfect flavor & texture to put on top. We didn't feel like drinking but the sake & wine selection looked very tempting. Overall, everything from the dishes, to the soy sauce, to even the clay soy sauce container felt very intentional and refined. Would definitely come again if I'm passing by or staying around the area!

What a special restaurant in our little town. The ambiance is beautiful the moment you walk in the door. Alysa was helpful in her suggestions and the sake she recommended was outstanding. All of the dishes were presented beautifully and so delicious. We started with the potato salad. This is not your normal potato salad! At the table we had a mushroom Tempura (OMG), fried chicken thighs, a savory custard, skewers of pork belly, shiitake mushrooms, peppers and yes, a chicken knee. All were over the top. Highly recommend along the iconic Highway 1 in Point Arena, Mendocino County.

Wow! Gama achieves everything they've set out to be. It's a causal easy going izakaya with uber high quality ingredients and a very intentional experience throughout. All in a beautiful setting in a small town nestled on the coast. Japan would be proud. The sake and beer selection is exciting. The food pacing was appropriate. The cost is reasonable. And you leave feeling great! Well worth the trip out of the way if you're not from the costal areas. The tebasaki were a revelation.

Thank you for another fabulous year of dining with you. Especially on our son's birthday! Usually I take a lot more photos, but we had such a great time that you just have to go and experience it for yourself!

Excellent fresh food and perfect service. I recommend ! They were booked and accommodated us at the bar. Very knowledgable.

What a find! Some of the best Izakaya dining in the US in a place you'd never imagine. We dine regularly at Binchoyaki in Sacramento (recently James Beard nominated) and this might be better? Crazy! We visit this beautiful area several times a year and came across this little Izakaya Japanese restaurant in Point Arena in the middle of beautiful nowhere. HOLY COW! AS A FOODIE that's been a lot of places including Japan, this was THE surprise find we seek. Amazing food, detailed in so many respects (their secret) with subtle balance and full FULL flavors. So many details and handcrafted goodies. I'm a 3rd generation Japanese American - with a demanding palette - glad to encounter "old school Japanese flavor" that's very hard to find these days. We've been here 10 times now. Can't praise this enough. Worth a trip. Mine is 4 hours - one way.

Amazing food and exceptional service! Nathan served us and was very well-versed in the menu and sake pairings. The food was complex and diverse in taste and as expected excellent. We will absolutely be back again THANK YOU NATHAN

The best food I've ever eaten on the mendanoma coast. Our salad with yuzu dressing was so buoyant it practically leapt off the plate. The trout sashimi was so fresh and delicious. Grilled shiitake skewers were perfectly seasoned as were the other skewers we ordered. My grilled rock fish with Yuzu and chrysanthemum was perfectly balanced. And the dessert, which was simple Matcha ice cream with a local strawberry purée was so yummy! If you're in the area, make a reservation and eat there! It's a meal you'll remember!

An unexpected culinary gem in Point Arena! Highlights were the trout sashimi, yuzu salad, potato salad, black cod collars, and unique sake selection. Food was served in beautiful hand made ceramic vessels. The cypress infused hand wipes provided as soon as we sat down were a nice touch. Minimalist, elegant interior design with cedar wood touches made for a cozy, transportative experience. It was more upscale than the izakayas that I've experienced in Japan!

Amazing. They deserve a Michelin Star. Best dining experience we've had this year. We are planning to go back & spend the weekend in Point Arena just to experience it again.

This place was CRAZY GOOD. Truly an unforgettable meal that I will crave. I had the cabbage salad (just get it, don't overthink it- it was perfection), the potatoes (the flavor was SO good with this one), and the karaage (best.I've.ever.had.). It was truly an incredible experience, you should NOT skip this place.

Outstanding restaurant on the Mendocino Coast! Service, room, food are all perfection. California Farm to Table with Japanese preparation. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the experience. Tables require a reservation. You can also eat at the bar. I go to Gama for special occasions and it has always delivered with quality dining. Highly recommended!

Wow! Wandered in here while visiting Point Arena recenly. We weren't sure what to expect, though we had several locals recommend them. We ordered a number of dishes. We tried two sashimi dishes, one was skipjack (I believe) and a steelhead from Mt Shasta area. Both of these were exceptional! The fish was so fresh and succulent! We also had chicken "oysters", fried chicken skin, and miso. Another highlight was the maitake mushroom tempura - the tempura was so light and delicate! Everything was amazing! We were genuinely floored by the quality of the food. We also really enjoyed the sake that the server recommended. Service throughout was excellent as well! If you are passing through - don't hesitate to try this spot - it really delivers! Sorry, no photos this time - I was too distracted by the food!

Best food on the Mendocino Coast, hands down! Has the feel of a small Berkeley eatery. Farm to table with Japanese technique. Beautiful room. I've gone twice in the past month and both food and service were consistent for both visits. The Chawanmushi is a standout!

Had the best experience here!! Our waiters were very knowledgeable and attentive when I asked about my food allergies, and the ambiance of the restaurant is super special and unique. Food was absolutely fab too!! Our particular favorites were the black cod, karrage, and cabbage salad.

Great food! Have been wanting to try this on recommendations from many at the Harbor House Inn in Elk for the last couple years. The food did not disappoint! Ate way too much! Servers were nice. Very casual experience. All dishes were very high quality, lots of attention to detail and flavor. Overall this was a great experience and would highly recommend if you're in the Mendocino area, worth the drive! We made the trek down from Elk on a Sunday to enjoy their Ramen. Docking one star for the fact that they ran low or out of multiple items before we got there. I recommend booking an earlier reservation (we booked a later reservation (8pm) on a Sunday. We will be back!

Exceptional! The food was delicious and creative, and the staff was awesome. We received totally great service and were made to feel special on our honeymoon trip. Will definitely be back here anytime we're close by.

I didn't see the name of the restaurant in front of the restaurant, but I saw the logo and recognized it. It's a cute restaurant with limited table seating so make sure to get a reservation. Otherwise you might have to wait an hour or two. I got lucky and someone cancelled so I was able to get a bar seating in 10 minutes through a walk in. Once you come in, you'll probably be greeted by the owner. You can tell she's the owner just based on her confident answers and the amount of detail she describes the food with. She knows the sources of the items. I chose to get seated down at the bar area since that had a shorter wait time. The kaarage came with a yuzu aoli sauce and it was fried perfectly. Crispy but still soft and juicy in the middle. The black cod was my least favorite but I still enjoyed the freshness of the fish. I think it was a little too salty for my liking. The sukiyaki had soft wagyu beef with mushrooms and schezwan peppers marinated in yuzu. The peppers gave it a little kick with a burst of yuzu and followed by the numbing oil from the schezwan. The black sesame cheesecake was deliciously creamy and had a citrusy creamy yuzu dipping sauce on the side. Overall I enjoyed my meal, the well-knowledged service, and visiting such a cute restaurant :)

A beautiful quaint Japanese restaurant in Point Arena. I highly recommend making reservations as they're a pretty small restaurant. They also have open bar seating, but it's limited. We came for their final Ramen Night for the year. They host them on Sunday's during the winter months. They have a smaller menu then usual on these nights. I had the server recommend a sake and got a small bottle. It was super smooth and paired nicely with the meal. We started with Sashimi which was very fresh and good quality. We then had the Karaage friend chicken with yuzu aioli which was incredible. I could have eaten the whole portion myself! For our main course we had the Ramen that had super flavorful broth and big chunks of pork belly. We both said it's some of the best Ramen we've ever had. We can't wait to come back and try their full regular menu!

Really this place is named Gama and is an Izakaya style Japanese emporium featuring a lot of sake and Japanese beer. During our extended stay in the Northern California coastal town of Point Arena we were intrigued by it as a nice place for my wife's next dah birthday. Gama features a Japanese inspired menu featuring an extensive list of sake and culinary treats served in a Japanese style. The menu is based on several hot and cold plate dishes with a couple of basic side dishes. Since it was a special night we decided to get several choices. We were first served the cold dishes of which we ordered several. We tried the delicious eggplant, a decent potato salad and a nice Half Moon Bay amberjack sashimi. The eggplant and sashimi were particularly tasty especially paired with their sake special... waterfall something which was served in a carafe, but, usually by the bottle. For the main course, we ordered a couple of specials, a grilled amber jack collar, Waygu beef heart in a skewer and a lovely local black cod steak. All really wonderful. We ended our dinner with a black sesame cheese cake which took me back, flavor wise, to the market in Tokyo where sesame dishes are plentiful. As one of the top restaurants in Point Aren't, Gama really hit the spot for our special occasion dinner and Northern California Coast travel experience. Definitely on my list if we return.

I admit I was disappointed but in no way did I raise voice or not let your staff speak. I can respect good food and the work possibly the labor of love for the greatness of striving to be a great place for everyone. With exceptional food. Take it as a stepping stone and I'll do the same. I will remove the 1 star rating and if ever that way will try again. Hopefully the experience is better next time.

We were walk-ins on a Saturday night and were able to get a seat at the bar right away. Great service! Food and sake selection was delicious!

Walked in on a Wednesday night and the place was full. We had a party of four and were able to be seated about 15 minutes later. We ordered the trout sashimi, Gindara Kama, braised rockfish, chawanmushi, chicken karaage, and few skewers of the wagyu heart, wagyu tongue, chicken cartilage and chicken oysters. Everything was delicious but I definitely wouldn't go there on an empty stomach. The dishes are on the pricier side but it is to be expected for the products they are offering. It was a nice surprise finding such delicious Japanese izakaya outside of the Bay Area and we would definitely splurge here again when we are in the area.

Point Arena is pretty small so restaurants are limited but I feel very fortunate that i got to go to Gama! I came in pretty soon after they opened and was sat at the bar, Nathan and Violet helped me out and they were so friendly while still being very busy, I appreciate the chats and the recommendations. The food was great as well, I would get the Yamistsuki over and over.Thank you!!

3 years later this is still our favorite restaurant. Since my last review they have moved into a gorgeous brick and mortar. We've so many special dates and celebrations we've had here, birthdays, anniversaries or date nights we couldn't imagine eating anywhere else. Even after all this time we look forward to the feeling we get when we walk through the doors. The ambiance, the art, the staff is so knowledgeable and kind, the chefs , all the small details from stone ware to rotating food & sake menus: just 10/10. The foooooddd Mama Mia the food. *swoon* If you're thinking about having a meal here, no need to think further, book your table and get excited for a wonderful dining experience. We feel so lucky to have this as our local dinner spot. Pro tip- get the Karaage, it's the best I've ever had. And if you're debating on when to go, earlier in the week is better so you can get the best stuff before they sell out :) Enjoy!

A+ in every way. Ambiance was fun, we sat at the bar, food was excellent and service was perfect. Would definitely recommend.

The dishes on the menu are perfect - flavors, ingredients, presentation, and the service is great. But you have to make reservations. Don't expect to get a table or even a seat at the bar when you walk in the door without a reservation.

This is one of the best meals I have had in the last decade! Every dish was better than the one before. The service was amazing. The drinks were perfect - get a one cup sake. I recommend the one with the eyeball. Trust me. They will know what that is. My favorite dishes were the Hamachi, Chawanmushi, karaage and the trumpet mushrooms. Everything is local. Everything is delicious.

I was staying next door and tried my luck walking in. The restaurant is small and was very busy but they were able to accommodate our party of 2! The staff were very attentive and everything was beautiful. It was a great place for a bday dinner. I wish I took more pictures but I was too busy eating. All the seafood was really fresh. I especially liked the kanpachi sashimi and kama as well as the gama-ae. We tried a wide variety of the hot food options and found some of the skewers to be salty. They they also had a large, unique selection of sake and beer. We were able to try some and the hot tea. I'd go back if I was ever in the area.

What an amazing gem in Point Arena! Loved the seasonal menu- we ordered the chazuke topped with uni, abalone, chashu skewers, and the maitake mushroom Everything was delicious! Definitely pair with sake- was excited about the extensive menu. The waitress made excellent recommendations- I ordered the green mountain sake and my partner had a refreshing nigori that wasn't too sweet and paired well with the food. The level of detail is also wonderful to call out- from fresh hot towels when you arrive, to the ikebana decor throughout the restaurant- it has a great ambiance. Looking forward to revisit when we're back in the area!

First time visiting Gama in Point Arena. The locals in Gualala and Sea Ranch rave about this restaurant, so we had to check it out. Awesome service, really awesome. Friendly, smart, informative folks. Excellent food -- no exceptions. You can't seem to go wrong with anything on the menu. They were super helpful suggesting sake to go with the various courses. We ordered everything up front and then they expertly staged and delivered each course to us -- along with the right sake. The black sesame seed ice cream as the finale was the bomb! Elyse, Celia, and Michael did a great job in the front of the house, and David -- and perhaps others -- were spectacular in the back. Arigatō! DNA

Food was excellent. If you uprooted this restaurant and set it down in Kyoto, it would fit in just fine. Lovely, dedicated owners running the restaurant and handling the kitchen. This is a destination restaurant on the Mendocino coast. If I was staying anywhere within 2 hours of Point Arena, I would make it a point to make reservation and enjoy! Everything was wonderful, from the tempura, to the beef skewer, to the dessert. 5 stars easy.

Gama is world-class! Our dinner on Thursday night was one of the best meals we have ever had. Excellent in every way. And a lovely atmosphere with warm, friendly service. Do not miss this place! It is definitely worth the drive.

Had such a great dinner here on Saturday night! From the great service and hospitality, to the location (right next door to our hotel)! This place was awesome! I had first read about Gama in Word of Mouth magazine and had been wanting to try it. Well with so many other things to go in Point Arena - we made a nice little getaway out doing all the things. Loved the fried chicken dish and the special they had of amberjack collar (dayum!!) And wasn't planning on dessert but it was a treat!! Super jealous we don't have a restaurant like this in Inland Mendocino. Highly recommend this place!

What can I say? I was REALLY looking forward to this dinner. The seemingly inconspicuous town of Point Arena plays host to a handful of new and upcoming spots to dine and drink. Unfortunately, Gama missed the mark for me and the food was short of memorable. I think the only memorable dish was the miso soup which held a really nice blend of savoury and sweet. I did, however--find the sake selection and pairing to be good. Some light feedback for management (not reflected in the rating): I greatly respect your decision to fairly compensate your staff such that they don't have to rely on tips. Honestly, I wish more restaurants would adopt this policy. I am not sure if maybe it just was just a miss during my visit, but I was never once informed of the 'no tip required' policy. I did, however, know about it from clicking around your website--and tipped regardless. Most restaurants with similar policies are very upfront about this with patrons. Something your staff did not demonstrate during my visit. Not a deal-breaker, but something to consider.

Beautifully decor restaurant. Gyotaku style impressions on the walls. I did not catch the artist names but they also had these beautiful black and white photos from Arun Patel. Elyse was an amazing host. The food was traditional and Oishii!!! Reminded me of visiting Japan many years ago. The kampachi and Saba were so fresh with real wasabi. The shiso leaf with the saba was a perfect combination. The kushiyaki was cooked perfectly and had a nice smoke and grill taste to it. It was served with a very tasty yuzu chili. I seriously can't wait to come back again and try the ever changing menu.

Absolutely the best dinner we have had this year. From the lovely decor friendly knowledgeable service and outstanding food we were blown away. If you can snag a reservation do it you will not be disappointed.

I am not one to hand out reviews, easily. But when you come upon a pure gem. It must be a sin in someone's book not to say anything. I waited for months for this place to open up, looking in the window, watching the meticulous build, and the placement of the "Tanuki" for good luck. I thought if they put half of much energy into food as they did the space it will be a good place to eat. I was wrong. Elise the owner was so kind and thoughtful that I found myself at ease eating at the bar. I found the food to surpass my expectations (I lived in Asia, so my bar is very high). great saki list, white miso was amazing, fish was superb, but here is the trick- the mushroom custard---wooooweeee flat out the best I have ever experienced. Have fun at Izakaya Gama- every part of this restaurant has been meticulously worked, to bring you the best! 楽しむ Tanoshimu = enjoy

What a find!! Delicious, locally sourced food & drink (or bites & sips). Excellent selection of local wine and impressive sake menu. Everything tasted delicious and was served with a smile. Great service with a hometown hipster vibe. If you luck out. And this place is open when you are in town, don't miss it!

Gorgeous space, wonderful service and excellent food. I dined here multiple times while staying in Point Arena, and it was truly an exceptional experience. The space is warm and inviting, and the live edge wood bar and tables are gorgeous. You can make a reservation for the dining room, but they keep the bar available for walk-ins. The service was attentive and efficient, especially from co-owner Elyse, whose passion and knowledge made the experience. The beer and sake menu is impressive and well-curated, I enjoyed all of the selections recommended to me. They also have several local wines on the menu for those that prefer it. The menu rotates seasonally based on availability from local farms and purveyors, and everything was fresh and perfectly seasoned. All the dishes are shareable small plates, and the portions are perfect if dining alone or for ordering to share with a group. My favorites were the "addictive" cabbage (it really was!) and the karaage fried chicken (it's not to be missed!). If you're in the area, Gama is a must try!