At Ushabu, dining is about more than just filling your belly — it’s a learning experience.
When Matt Spinner opened the Tremont restaurant in 2016, the owner and chef devoted half the menu to an ever-changing exhibition of flavors and Japanese cooking techniques.
“Everything on the menu is about different looks at Japanese cuisine,” he says.
The seven-course tasting menu ($90 per person) is a hyper-focused perfection of that idea with even more flexibility. Each course is designed by Spinner on the fly, beginning with a variety of sushi and sashimi options.
From there, anything can be on the table, such as a pan-seared Manhattan steak served with an okonomiyaki croquette — which Spinner quickly points out is a popular savory Japanese roasted potato pancake — topped with fish flakes, scallions, kewpie mayo, pickled ginger and wagyu bacon.
“This is as down-home as it gets in this restaurant,” he says. “If we can provide context and knowledge, all food is approachable.” 2173 Professor Ave., Cleveland, 216-713-1741, ushabu.com
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