But perhaps the redecorated restaurant, under the guidance of new owners Tomiko Carillo, former manager of Nobu' s Japanese restaurant in Solana Beach, and Kazuo Morita, former sushi chef at Nobu's, will gain a following. Tomiko's stated mission is to provide first-class sushi and other Japanese specialties at affordable prices. Morita presides over the sushi bar, which can be quite lively. Other selections include barbecued fresh-water eel served over rice, which isn't for everyone, but lovers of authentic Japanese fare may appreciate it. Chirashi is an assortment of raw fish served atop a bed of sticky sushi rice.
Diners cook the ingredients in hot water on a hot plate placed in the center of the table.
The cooked ingredients can then be dipped into spicy ponzu sauce or sesame sauce. A meal of shabu-shabu is quite a ritual, and it's not for diners who are in a hurry. Whether you dine on sushi, sashimi, appetizers or entrees, you' re likely to ring up a fairly sizable bill. But the food is nicely prepared, fresh-tasting and attractively presented in soothing surroundings. Tomiko also features Sake City, a bar offering many different kinds of sake.