But sushi has always struck me as much more lunch than dinner food. Bendoya is in the middle of a busy block across Fifth Street from the Jefferson County Courthouse. Although the facade is tiny, it's easy to spot with the elegant dark-blue banners draped beneath its windows. Inside there are a few wooden tables, a handful of delicate Japanese paintings, bamboo accents and a beautiful sushi bar where patrons can sit and watch the chefs at work. It's a serene oasis, perfect for a civilized lunch after a hectic morning.
Food is also an art in a Japanese restaurant.
Sushi servings, pretty little seafood and rice sculptures on their own, are presented on handsome wooden platforms. Soups are served in porcelain bowls. The soy sauce on the tables at Bendoya is kept in containers that look like tiny teapots, instead of glass bottles. And eating with chopsticks will keep you from rushing through your meal. But you don't have to wait long for food to arrive.