Sushi Sam's Menu

Sushi Sam's Restaurant Review:

This unassuming spot in quaint downtown San Mateo is a favorite with such revered chefs as Thomas Keller and Ron Seigel. Named for owner Osamu (Sam) Sugiyama, the casual ambience and reasonable prices are polar opposites from the dining experience---not only does Sam get sparklingly fresh seafood, he features some of the most unusual and hard-to-find fish around. We love the arctic char, which is dressed simply in house-made yuzu vinegar, and while most unagi comes vacuum-packed from China, Sam gets his fresh from a retired eel farmer in Japan. The eel is grilled over coals prior to shipping, lending a subtle smoky flavor to the uncommonly delicate flesh. Incredibly fresh tuna belly arrives with one slice optionally seared, creating a beautiful presentation atop the petite mounds of rice. Other highlights included bittersweet crab butter, white king and Alaskan Yukon salmon, rarely seen long shell scallop and live scallop, and baby lobster tail topped with homemade tobiko-mayo.