THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED ShinBay Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED ShinBay Restaurant Review:

You know you've happened upon an extra-special restaurant in Tokyo when there's an absence of signage. Instead, guests know it's a jewel because of a lantern at the entrance, usually hidden away on a side street. Owner Shinji Kurita and his wife and spirits manager Kumiko Kurita took this approach with their eatery, discreetly tucked on a side path of Scottsdale Seville shopping center. Reservations are required for the 30-seat setup, and guests should dress nicely for their experience in the sleek, dark-wooded space accented by a curving sushi bar and tiny Zen garden. Bonus: Everyone looks beautiful under the sexy box-style lighting, and lots of fresh flowers add to the romantic mood. Prepare for a quiet meal, a politeness to honor the artistry of the chef. Still, the staff is friendly and will guide you through inventive three- and four-course menus that change frequently but offer an array of pristine nigiri, delicate tofu with dainty condiments, crystal-crunchy tempura, and sizzling meat or seafood on a hot ceramic plate, such as Washugyu beef with asparagus tips and enoki mushrooms. Elaborate, multi-course omakase dinners are available with a 24-hour advance reservation only. It’s worth the effort, though, for delights that are so rare and authentic that the entire menu is printed in Japanese. Ask for one of the saké or wine pairings, too.