Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Montecito
Sushi restaurant · Coast Village
1295 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Highlights
Creative omakase sushi with unique flavor pairings and interactive chefs
Creative omakase sushi with unique flavor pairings and interactive chefs
"In sun-kissed Santa Barbara right by the tony Montecito Inn, this convivial counter is out to make sushi on its own terms. Though the group counts at least six other locations in the US and Canada, the setup is largely the same: Guests start with a cocktail in the lobby before finding their names written in chalk at their seats. The chefs, always talkative and ready to have a good time, work in tandem to deliver creative combinations that go beyond the realm of traditional nigiri. The likes of brown sugar, pineapples, chili ponzu, olive oil and fried onions find their way onto frequently blowtorched slices of A5 wagyu, Japanese tuna and New Zealand salmon. Those who book the last seating of the day can stay longer and request more pieces." - Michelin Inspector
"Opened in late 2015, Scratch Bar & Kitchen was the Lees’ first notable tasting-menu restaurant in the Valley, and I see how that single tasting-menu model eventually spawned three other concepts and is now informing another expansive project they’re planning in Montecito." - Eater Staff
"A Montecito (Santa Barbara) venue that lost its Michelin star in 2023 (no specific reason was provided in the text)." - Bailey Berg
"A Michelin-Starred Sushi Spot From California Arrives in Chicago. Sushi by Scratch features a 17-course omakase. A restaurant group that includes two Michelin-starred restaurants in California, will bring a 10-seat omakase experience to the former the Swill Inn space in River West. Sushi by Scratch, which holds a single-star rating in Santa Barbara, California, is planning an early February debut for its parent company’s first Midwestern outpost." - Samantha Nelson
"Nestled next to the tony Montecito Inn, this is no ordinary omakase eatery. Head sushi chef, Lennon Silvers-Lee, hails from Van Nuys, not Japan, and his nigiri are not just supremely finessed but also infused with original touches—like the dab of sweet corn “pudding” and crunchy sourdough breadcrumbs dressing slices of hamachi." - The MICHELIN Guide
