SEAWARD SUSHI Restaurant

As former fashion designer Rachel Woodward sprinkles Wasabi Masago on top a dragon sculptured Sashimi roll decorated in curated Japanese sauces shaped like splattered fireworks, it's clear that this isn't an ordinary sushi sushi restaurant.  

"Each plate is a celebration to honor Japanese culture and cuisine. "

The ceilings are covered with floating paper umbrellas, the napkins are  folded into origami fans, and guests are greeted by self maintaining ecosystem aquarium.  

The entire atmosphere screams that an artist is in the building and she isn't afraid to express herself.  

"All the geisha in the murals have been painted in the likeness of close family and friends. Those who have helped us throughout this journey. "

Woodward commissioned Alabama mural artist Cori Alsbrooks.  She loved her work so much she flew  Alsbrooks all the way out to Ventura, Ca.

Alsbrooks is a bubbly young woman with strong southern accent.

"I got sooo much work from people seeing my mural that I ended up moving out here to Los Angeles!"

Alsbrooks recently did murals for both Applebee's and IMAX.  

Woodward re-opened Seaward Sushi on Christmas eve 2018 after three years of  renovating the building to bring it up to Ventura County City code and regulations.

The Sake menu is abundant with variety of different regional picks carefully crafted from different grains and floral accents that are served both hot and cold. They also be serve authentic Japanese artisan craft beers made by Coedo.

Shane Jones is the restaurants Classically trained Sushi Chef that has helped build Seaward Sushi from the bottom up alongside his now wife Woodward.

"We are really picky about quality"

This historic landmark was originally established in 1979 by Japanese immigrants and Woodward and Jones decided to keep the name and add their own unique touch.

"Friends and I happily arrived on a Thursday around 5:30 p.m. in time to enjoy three of the Happy Hour (5 to 7 p.m.) items at discounted prices available Tuesdays through Thursdays. Our miso soup ($3.25) was $1.63; basuketto (basket) tempura ($8.50) was $4.25; and Summer Wrap ($12.50) was $6.25.

Better yet, it all was tasty and very attractively presented by an attentive server. The basuketto of tempura shrimp with sweet potato, onion, tofu and asparagus accents was a happy starter, as was the Summer Wrap, which combined shrimp and avocado wrapped in pieces of halibut, then served with ponzu sauce.

The Epic Disaster torched rolls were the very opposite of a “disaster,” offering shrimp, cucumber, spicy tuna and scallops topped with “scorched” tuna, garlic crunch and green onion. Topping it all off was the garlic and spicy miso aioli.

We continued on with the Tiger Roll ($12.95), featuring tempura shrimp and crab topped with shrimp in the eatery’s “awesome sauce.”

Rounding up the taste treats was the Sizzling Spring soypaper roll ($13.50), which brought together shrimp, tempura asparagus, spicy crab and avocado wrapped in the sesame soypaper.

Needless to say, we were not planning to go home hungry. Even our amai desert ($7.25), with its vanilla bean ice cream topped with cherries, waffle sticks, mocha cake and French macaroon drizzled with raspberry and chocolate sauces, was enough to delight the three of us as the final item of the evening.

And that was just the food.

The atmosphere is full of striking accents, from the paper umbrellas flowing across the ceiling to murals by artist Cori Alsbrooks. All the geishas in the murals are painted in the likeness of family and friends, and the artwork itself is worth a tour through the small spaces of the restaurant.

There’s never a dull visual moment in any corner of Seaward Sushi, from the food to the ceilings to the walls. First-time visitors will find the food and decor vying for attention, but it’s a creative, and amusing, battle. "

Rita Moran - VCSTAR