THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Hime

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Hime Restaurant Review:

Owners Eiichi Mochizuki and Koji Kikura wanted to bring authentic Japanese food to San Francisco and present it in a beautiful, tranquil space. Mission accomplished---the interior is unrecognizable from its days as the Marketplace Café. The attention to detail, such as a window separating the cozy bar from the dining room that features circles of real bamboo set into the glass, matches the pristine sashimi, which arrives in a bowl full of ice lit from beneath with cool cobalt blue light. Executive chef Kunihiro Kinda prepares the fish that arrives fresh from Japan, his native land. While there are a few rolls named after insects, mythical creatures and states (spider, dragon, California) for diners craving Americanized sushi, the focus at Hime is on traditional dishes like the Japanese Garden, a long white platter of beautiful pickled vegetables. For the really adventurous, there are off-the-menu items like bonito stomach mixed with fresh squid---a salty, slippery delight for the senses. Service is friendly and knowledgeable and the saké list is impressive. Hime also offers a big bonus for Marina diners---a parking lot.