Kushi

In the up-and-coming neighborhood just north of Penn Quarter, this Japanese Izakaya-style restaurant draws a young and hip crowd with its pristine sushi and excellent small plates. The spare space centers around a lively robata grill, where diners at the bar can watch as the flames lick skewers loaded with pork belly, cubes of beef and whole fish. Across the restaurant is the sushi bar, another prime seat, where the chefs masterfully slice fish. The huge menu can be daunting, but if you’re looking for a little bit of what of the restaurant does best, go for the omakase tasting menu, available Wednesday to Saturday.