Zenbu   

Zenbu's owners operate their own commercial fishing boat that pulls in much of the restaurant's fresh sushi and seafood. In addition to the fish, the atmosphere in this La Jolla hotspot stays fresh, drawing in a mix of well-to-do locals and younger trendsters. Zenbu houses a tiered dining room lined in bamboo and wood, and a sexy lounge where you can mingle over charged music, spicy tuna rolls and a dry saketini or sweet mojito. The sake sampler is perfect accompaniment to hand rolls and appetizers like lettuce wraps and grilled skewers of the day's local catch. Hot items off the menu include miso glazed lamb chops, shrimp or vegetable tempura, wasabi-seared tenderloin and ginger-panko crusted salmon. But all falls by the wayside when it comes to their fine sushi. Sea urchin or fatty tuna nigiri are rich delicacies, and the Wind-N-Sea roll of eel, avocado, cucumber and tempura banana is the stuff that brings regulars back.