Fuji Grill, Buffalo

A serene feeling envelops visitors as they enter Fuji Grill Sushi Bar & Japanese Cuisine’s wood-paneled dining room replete with potted trees and sit at a table or at the sushi bar. Led by chef Tomo Lin, who trained in sushi preparation for four years in Japan, the kitchen creates Japanese food from teriyaki and tempura favorites to inventive sushi creations. Signature rolls include the Fuji, filled with yellowtail and salmon and topped with four types of roe, and the heart-shaped Susan roll of spicy tuna. Parties can also sample myriad selections with one of many combo platters that may include rolls, sashimi, or nigiri. The sushi chefs demonstrate a sense of whimsy as they decorate sushi plates with sauces, drawing images such as dragons, tree branches, or Morse code messages reading, "I know what you did."

Along one wall of the dining room, screens of angled wooden slats and a trellis canopy of ivy create a cozy, semiprivate atmosphere at each table. Japanese paper lanterns, wall scrolls, and windowpanes that mimic traditional paper screens additionally contribute to the eatery's authentic aura.