West Town's Quietly-Excellent Sushi
Arami on Chicago Avenue has been one of the city's quietly-excellent sushi rooms for over a decade — a West Town address, a careful sourcing programme, and the kind of small-room hospitality that has built a fiercely loyal local following.
The cooking is traditional sushi with confident izakaya: nigiri rice properly seasoned, fresh fish flown in several times a week, considered izakaya plates that handle the wider Japanese small-plate tradition.
What to Order
Omakase when the chef is in — the kitchen will guide you through whatever arrived that morning. Sashimi flights, nigiri, robata-grilled vegetables. The sake list is well-curated.
The Setting
The dining room is small, warm, and unfussy. The crowd is overwhelmingly local; weekend evenings can run busy. There is no scene to navigate.
Best Occasion: First Date
Arami is one of West Town's quiet first-date wins. The room is intimate without being intimidating; the cuisine provides natural conversation; the price point allows a return visit.