Shima Shima
1432 Abbot Kinney Blvd. (California Ave.)
Venice, CA 90291
310-314-0882
Map
Cuisine: Japanese / Sushi
With a loft environment, brown rice sushi and a menu filled with inventive dishes, Shima is no ordinary neighborhood sushi bar.
Openings: Dinner Tues.-Sat.

Features


Shima Restaurant Review:


This stylish sushi bar fits nicely into the fabric of Venice's trendy Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Without any prominent signage, the building appears at first glance to be a residential townhouse, and the continuation of a loft motif creates a warm, appealing interior. With floor-to-ceiling windows, a broad wood sushi bar devoid of those unsightly refrigeration units and a cozy mezzanine level for more intimacy, Shima certainly has the looks. But does the food measure up? We're generally pleased with the high-quality ingredients --- including freshly ground wasabi --- incorporated into delicacies like red snapper sashimi with truffle oil, tuna tartare with caviar, uni risotto, miso-glazed black cod and a highly spiced dish of grilled abalone and shiitake mushrooms. Shima is best known for its brown rice sushi, a healthful novelty that doesn't add much but generally sacrifices little flavor. A variety of grilled fish, meat and house-made tofu dishes round out an inviting menu. There’s an understated tapioca pudding for dessert. Look for a variety of saké to drink. As one might expect with high quality, the prices can be high as well.