The Brothers Sushi Woodland Hills — Restaurant in Los Angeles

My sushi experience began innocently with a revolving sushi bar in the 1980’s where I cut my teeth on such innovative delicacies as the “California roll* and the” ebi” (cooked shrimp on rice) an occasionaly went as far as trying the daring “spicy tuna”. Fast forward about five years to Las Vegas asking a taxi driver where good sushi was and he immediately referred to a place that all the Japanese business men asked him to take them. My friend and I were the only two non Japanese people in the restaurant and they looked at us like we were crazy. We’re we’re seated at the bar and the chef asked if we trusted him, not knowing what by saying “well of coarse I do” was going to get me into. From that moment on and before I could dazzle him with my superior knowledge of the different Avocado based sushi rolls, I was handed a plate of two delicately prepared cups of crisp crunchy nori filled with the sweetest creamy uni I have ever tasted and at that time had avoided that ever happening with skillful dedication. Not to be insulting to the chef especially because I think he thought this would be hilarious that he going to watch me throw up this (not a California roll) bite. I said a small prayer and placed this little piece of magic in my mouth and my eyes rolled back in my head and my sushi going life had changed forever. He then launch an attack on me seeing if he could break me and well job well done, he broke me of ever eating a California roll ever again. And launched a fascination in real sushi eating and the love of Omakase or (trust me menu). Again flash forward to 2019 my favorite sushi bar in woodland hills is now 'The brothers sushi" instead of "brothers Sushi" and I was sad, at least until a dear friend of mine and co conspirator in sushi told me that the new owners are the same as the owners as one of the best sushi restaurants I've ever been to, Michelin Star restaurant Asanebo in Studio City. OK so game on my tears changed to tears of joy and immediately burst through the door and let them have their way with me (finally getting to the point) Now, I've been an executive chef for 30+ years and worked for and ate at some of the best restaurants all over the world and it takes alot to get my eyes to roll back in my head anymore but the chef proceeded to roll my eyes strait back to looking behind me. Maybe you are familiar with this feeling but do you know that feeling when you put something truly amazing in your mouth, that bite that when it goes in your mouth your brain says "STOP!!" Then you try to figure out how to make this feeling last forever and chew as slowly as possible to extend the magic you have just been awarded with. Every dish every thoughtful creation a well thought out masterpiece of perfection and layered tapestries of carefully constructed flavors that will make you never ever want another California roll or any roll ever again or actually ever not be led down the journey they have created for you with Omakase. I can't recommend the Brothers Sushi anymore higher, they are truly a beautiful gift that has been given to Woodland Hills and the west valley but even if I lived in long Beach, I would come here. I'm sure if you want you can get a California roll and it just may be the best one you've ever had but take the word of a formally nieve wet behind the ears 23 year old version of myself back in las Vegas all those years ago, take a chance let them do what they do so well you can trust them. You wouldn't go up to Rembrandt and say hey can you just paint me a stick figure portrait of me? NO! let them use every color in their culinary arsenal and make you the masterpieces they are more than capable...

Since we arrived it seemed a bit disorganized, we arrived a couple of minutes early and we were waiting for our table. Passed our reservation time we were waiting, we asked if there was any availability in the patio and the hostess said yes both inside and outdoors, it was very very cold inside, the AC was very low, so we decided to go to the back. We were waiting in the patio, then the hostess from the back went to check with the hostess in the front, when she came back she said, sorry no tables here, so she sent us back to the front. No communication prior to sending us to the patio. The patio seemed nice, more relaxed. When we came back to the front, the table available was given to another couple so we had to wait again, finally they gave us a table for 4 for both of us. Very comfortable but very cold! Bring a shawl or a light jacket. Drinks, do not order their rosé by the glass. We tried the Nambu Bijin Sake, was good, glass was $16. Food, we tried the Mozuku with Uni -ok- , Sawagani (river crabs), the tempura squash blossom were a bit tasteless, but nice tempura, the spicy tuna hand roll was great, the California with real crab was very good. the crispy shrimp roll was a bit disappointing. 100% recommended; the black Cod and the wagyu lettuce wraps! Also the desserts, we had the creme brulé parfait and the Japanese yuzu cheesecake with ice cream, both delicious and that ice cream! The service was slow, even to bring the drinks. They were only fast to bring the check without even asking if we wanted dessert. It was incredibly rude, they were slow to sit us down, slow to bring the food and they wanted us to leave? It was only 10 minutes passed the 1.5 hrs limit time that they mention in case they are too busy. By that time there was no one waiting for tables and some of them...

Disclaimer: I'm not a foodie and have desire to be. Yes, I took a few pictures while at Brothers, but only because 1. We were celebrating a birthday and 2. It's the fanciest sushi place I've ever been. Otherwise, I'm not someone to take pictures of my food; I like to eat food.

I should probably also add that this review comes from the perspective of someone who rarely splurges on food. I'm the type of person to decline a fountain drink because "we have drinks at home".

Having said that; even if Google hadn't chased me down to review Brothers Sushi, I likely would have. It was a food experience like I've never had before. Like I said, we went for my birthday, so my girlfriend suggested that we buckle in and go for the Omakase--you know that thing in movies where the rich people just tell the chef to give them whatever is good? It's pretty much that.

I won't list every name and detail of each course we had, but I will say: after finishing the first offering (a baby kale salad featuring scallops, shaved truffles, some type of mushroom I've never had, and aged persimmon with a miso dressing), I had to text my chef buddy like "ohhh ok bro, I get it now".

If you would have told me before we went that we would be spending as much as we did, for roughly half the portions of sushi that I typically shovel down my throat at the local sushi restaurant, I'd likely have told you that you're out of your mind... But both my girlfriend and I left that place glowing and floating and full, as glad that we went there as if we had just visited some new country or listened to our favorite band in concert for our first time.

This place is special. I'm going to save up and...