THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Eggplant

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Eggplant Restaurant Review:

This tiny charmer tucked into a curvy stretch of Ventura Boulevard is worth knowing about, despite the overabundance of sushi bars on this street. The regular menu is relatively brief --- teriyaki, tempura, sushi and sashimi, plus some bento boxes (even a macrobiotic one) for lunch --- but the separate list of specialties is interesting and very wide-ranging. The sushi is high quality, and a couple well-marbled morsels of salmon might be brushed with miso glaze; we also like the soy-wrapped blue crab and avocado hand roll. Spicy tuna on crispy rice cakes, topped with jalapeño, may be a cliché, but they are well done, as is yellowtail carpaccio and scallops with eel sauce. Naturally, there is eggplant, whether drizzled with ponzu, tempura-fried or sautéed and served with wasabi sauce. Everything is natural, with an emphasis on healthful preparation. The small dining room is nicely decorated with a few traditional accents, and a small counter accommodates four stools. The service is sweet as can be, but sometimes slow.