Yama Sushi, Nottingham

A host of Japanese culinary traditions makes up Yama Sushi’s menu, where diners discover not only sushi but also hibachi-seared steaks and bento boxes brimming with dumplings and sides. Choose a basic salmon roll or opt for the super lobster-tail roll, with fried lobster tail topped with barbecue eel and eel sauce. Miso soup served with optional seafood, whole fried soft-shell crab, and plates of curry fried rice further complicate guests’ decision-making processes. Yama Sushi’s owner, who likes to personally greet patrons and ensure they aren’t wearing black shoes with brown belts, hopes his own friendliness is echoed by the warmth and cozy nature of his restaurant, which he calls “our fairyland.”