The Bar by Seabutter
Monterey Park is to Chinese food what Studio City is to sushi. Why, I can’t begin to fathom, I just know it’s true. From the grandfather of them all, Teru Sushi to the venerated Asanebo to Katsu-ya and beyond, no matter how many raw fish emporia open, they are all busy all the time. Over the years I’ve tried each one, and while Iroha remains the crown jewel for me, one new entry in particular has proven worthy of a second look.
Foodie Friend #1 and I visited The Bar by Seabutter before it had even secured its liquor license, so, let’s face it, the next time will by definition already top the first. What can’t be topped are the sensational salmon truffle and wagyu/uni hand rolls. The subtle crunch of the seaweed against the soft seared salmon and artichoke truffle topping made us melt at first bite. Ditto with the quick-torched wagyu. Also of note: spicy tuna, not on crispy rice but with rice crunch incorporated and the H.Y.E. roll of yellowtail belly garnished with minced truffle and sea salt.
The Bar gimmick is that except for the four Donburi bowls and a few appetizers, everything is hand rolled, prepared in the center of a sleek, futuristic-looking round bar at which everyone sits. Makes for a nice, communal feel if you give over to it and don’t blast music from your phone, which we had to ask our neighbor not to do. Just a blip in an otherwise excellent outing. The staff were super-helpful with recommendations and seeing that The Bar is open for lunch made it all the more certain we would be taking our second look soon.
Logistical note: Reservations not accepted.
The tomato behind The Three Tomatoes.
Cheryl Benton, aka the “head tomato” is founder and publisher of The Three Tomatoes, a digital lifestyle magazine for “women who aren’t kids”. Having lived and worked for many years in New York City, the land of size zero twenty-somethings, she was truly starting to feel like an invisible woman. She created The Three Tomatoes just for the fun of it as the antidote for invisibility and sent it to 60 friends. Today she has thousands of friends and is chief cheerleader for smart, savvy women who want to live their lives fully at every age and every stage. She is the author of the novel, "Can You See Us Now?" and co-author of a humorous books of quips, "Martini Wisdom." Because she's lived a long time, her full bio won't fit here. If you want the "blah, blah, blah", read more. www.thethreetomatoes.com/about-the-head-tomato
