Whether you are a gastronome, an oenophile, an aesthete, or just someone in search of a revelatory culinary experience, Iai, the newest Kappo-style restaurant of celebrated chef Bruce Ricketts, and his wife, Jae Pickrell, will mesmerize your palate and captivate all of your senses. Offering two distinct omakase menus that change frequently based on seasonality, each menu is a different expression of Rickett’s chosen ingredients. Both menus follow a specific format: a series of otsumami, or appetizer courses, followed by a fish and/or meat dish, and dessert. The sushi omakase, which has 12-14 courses and revolves around a nigiri lineup, is the extended tasting experience with Japanese flourishes that Ricketts is most renowned for. “The sushi course is my absolute favorite,” says Pickrell. “Bruce has put so much care and thought into his nigiri practice and has forged his own style such that every single piece is deliciously distinctive.” The..
