Japanese

In the Financial District and SoMa neighborhoods, you’ll find plenty of sushi restaurants to choose from, from the most ultra-casual walk-up lunch places to the fanciest fusion joints. Ame (689 Mission St., St. Regis Hotel, 415/284-4040, www.amerestaurant.com [1], daily 5:30–10 p.m., $34–42) is one of the latter. Appropriately situated in stylish SoMa [2], this upscale eatery serves a California-Japanese fusion style of seafood.

Raw fish fanciers can start out with (or make a meal of) the offerings from the sashimi bar, while folks who prefer their food cooked will find a wealth of options in the appetizers and main courses.

The attractively colored blocky dining room has a modern flair that’s in keeping with the up-to-date cuisine coming out of the kitchen. You can either start out or round off your meal with a cocktail from the shiny black bar.

Forget your notions of the plain-Jane sushi bar; Ozumo (161 Steuart St., 415/882-1333, www.ozumo.com [3], lunch Mon.–Fri. 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., dinner Sun.–Wed. 5:30–10 p.m., Thurs.–Sat. 5:30–11 p.m.) takes Japanese cuisine upscale, San Francisco [4] style. Order some classic nigiri, a small-plate Izakaya pub dish, or a big chunk of meat off the traditional robata grill.

The high-quality sake lines the shelves above the bar and along the walls. For non-imbibers, choose from a selection of premium teas. If you’re a night owl, enjoy a late dinner on weekends and drinks in the lounge nightly.