Shige Sushi in Cotati is a bento-box sized sushi bar with just 22 seats, including the bar.
But the Japanese owners have cracked the code on affordable, yet luxe Japanese favorites with authentic karaage (fried chicken), spicy poke salad, top-notch nigiri and sashimi and a laundry list of rolls (including plenty of gaijin-style mayonnaise/fried rolls).
For the price, its the best sushi I’ve had in years. Clearly others agree, because it a popular neighborhood gathering spot where chatting with the table next to you is not only polite, but expected.
Open for lunch and dinner, but not all entrees are available for lunch and the sushi bar can sometimes be out of specialty products like tamago or uni. For dessert, matcha mousse is anything but mousse-like, but its firm consistency and earthy green tea flavor make it worth ordering.
Open Tuesday through Friday, closed Monday. 8235 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati, shige-sushi.com.