Nozomi, Carlsbad

Entering Nozomi is like taking a trip to Japan, minus the airfare and travel-sized shampoo. Each of the restaurant's three floors is designed to evoke the spirit of a different Japanese city. The downstairs turtle pond and waterfall represent the port town of Yokohama, the main floor embraces the traditional spirit of Osaka, and the upstairs section takes inspiration from the global, multicultural energy of Tokyo.

This pan-regional perspective is also apparent throughout the menu, which features dishes such as Sapporo Steamed Mussels in beer broth, broiled sea bass, and tempura-fried shrimp and snow crab with spicy miso aiolii. When it comes to sushi, though, the chefs favor classic techniques. Placing almost as much emphasis on presentation as preparation, the dedicated experts assemble eye-catching plates of maki, nigiri, and sashimi—though western ingredients such as cream cheese and potato often appear in specialty rolls.