THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Tengu

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Tengu Restaurant Review:

Those who have been to the former Ivy at the Shore will not recognize this place taken over by the Choice Hospitality group owned by four friends who also operate Nacional, Holly’s, Holly’s West, Nine-Thirty and Tengu in Westwood. They have completely and successfully transformed the space into an elegant, hip eatery in black and white tones. There are now two bars facing each other, one for drinks and one for admiring the dexterity of master sushi chef Shunji Nakao and his aids---actually the best seats in the house if you’re here for sushi. The fishes behind them, swimming in their tanks, are here as decoration and not to be eaten. Large windows have been installed so you can admire the Santa Monica Pier’s Ferris wheel while sipping a saké cocktail or sampling the menu. It is easy to return often to Tengu as your experience can vary: sushi, sashimi, rolls or dishes coming from the kitchen. The evening we went, we went sushi all the way, from beginning to the end. As is the custom, chef Nakao (formerly at The Hump) prepares his delicacies according to your mood, his mood and his finds. He is always happy to talk while juggling his top quality ingredients, his knives and his torch to sear fish cuts on a cypress board. The presentation is part of his art and talent. Try his seared tuna sashimi with garlic-ginger tosazu, seared yellowtail, fresh salmon eggs, colorful quail egg resting on sea urchin-infused black seaweed (one of our favorites), the spicy tuna roll with crab, and the blue crab roll. If you are not too sensitive, ask for lobster and be there when it is being prepared (we won’t tell you more here). There is also a long list of classic sushi and sashimi. Opt for the fusion cuisine and you’ll find crab cakes, coconut tempura shrimp and grilled chicken saté for appetizers; to be followed by Chilean sea bass, grilled prawns with somen noodles, roasted lamb chops or Prime filet mignon with wasabi-herb butter. The desserts are more classical with banana tempura and a chocolate cake. You can also dine at the lounge where a live DJ plays music from Wednesday to the last day of the week, when the saké is half-price.