Sushi by Scratch is an upscale Seattle sushi restaurant that offers an innovative 17-course omakase experience, featuring unique and decadent ingredients like bone marrow and seared wagyu. Dinner at this 10-seat sushi counter is anything but traditional, and that’s what makes it so special.
Owned by Chef Phillip Frankland Lee who hails from California, Sushi by Scratch has officially been open in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle for one year. This one-of-a-kind experience begins by ringing a doorbell on an unassuming, unmarked building door, a concept that is reminiscent of a speakeasy. You are then greeted by a bartender and led into a dimly lit room with dark walls and no windows, with glowing paper lanterns and a wall of spotlighted Japanese whiskey bottles being the only source of light. Classical music plays while you enjoy a pre-dinner sake cocktail that is bursting with flavors of ginger and lime.
When dinner is about to begin, you are led into another dimly lit room where the omakase experience will take place. The attention to deal is immediately evident, with each seat at the intimate 10-seat sushi counter displaying a name card for the participating dinner guests, who will have a front seat to the chefs’ cutting boards and the playful preparation of each course. In the middle of the sushi counter is a board that lists all 17 courses of the evening.
As the omakase experience begins, guests are guided by several chefs through each course, with a knowledgeable bartender offering whiskey, sake and wine pairings throughout the evening. The ever-changing menu at Sushi by Scratch showcases fresh and local fish and seafood, with creative touches on traditional sushi. A perfect example of this is Chef Lee’s famous hamachi nigiri brushed with sweet corn and dusted with sourdough crumbs. Another favorite is the Vancouver spot prawn nigiri that is brushed with a blend of matcha, mushrooms and kelp, and finished with house-made soy sauce, lemon Balinese sea salt and wasabi.
What really sets Sushi by Scratch apart are the last few courses, which are richer and more decadent than your classic sushi offerings. These include Chef Lee’s signature roasted bone marrow nigiri that resembles a flavorful slice of butter, along with the crowd-favorite unagi that’s fried crispy using the bone marrow fat from the previous course. The juicy, lightly seared wagyu and the extremely delicate uni are fantastic as well.
Sushi by Scratch is open daily for dinner service, with three different seating options at 5 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The omakase menu at Sushi by Scratch is $165 per person, with additional beverage pairings and supplements available. Reservations are released on the first of the month at 10 a.m. for the following month.
For more information, visit sushibyscratchrestaurants.com.
2331 6th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121
Photo credit: Suzi Pratt