Oh My, Omakase!

Is there anything better than sitting at a bar staring at the calming sea while a charismatic chef serves you his curated, best-selling tasting menu, one bite at a time? And no, I haven’t forgotten, there’s a great cocktail in the mix too.

This is the experience at Sushi By Bou Beach Club, the latest omakase concept in Pompano Beach.

For those unfamiliar with omakase — a Japanese word whose English translation means “I’ll leave it up to you”— it is a tradition whereby a diner leaves it up to the chef to make the sushi selections for the meal. Imagine it as a “greatest hits” of sushi, or, for first-time sushi eaters, an exciting and surefire way to explore the unique flavors of each piece served, ranging from fish flown in from Japan to buttery Wagyu beef.

Sushi By Bou first made its mark in New York City as a compact eight-seat speakeasy at The Sanctuary Hotel. Word got out and the concept expanded throughout New York City and south to Miami, where the buzz-worthy omakase made its way to the luxurious former Versace Mansion on South Beach. 

Now, the guided 12-course journey of world-class sushi has reached the shores of Pompano Beach in an understated, casual ambiance with one of South Florida’s finest beach views.

While each omakase varies depending on the availability of the fish that day (freshness is a criterion that is never compromised), diners will be privy to standard favorites like hamachi (yellowtail), sake (salmon) and unagi (barbecue eel). Accompanying these flavors are imported sakes and Japanese whiskies or signature cocktails like the Floradora (Japanese gin, raspberries, simple syrup, lime juice and prosecco) or the Bitter Bee (Japanese vodka, honey syrup, lemon juice, Angostura bitters and fresh mint). 

The night I visited began with a chilled serving of sake with hints of white flowers, followed by hamachi sushi and then akami, known in English as “lean tuna.” 

“Oh, this is good,” I purred as the tuna melted like butter in my mouth.

Cameron, my sushi chef, replied with a grin, “If you think that was good, just wait.”

He was right. With each bite the food seemed to do the impossible: become even tastier. My guest and I explored an abundance of delicate flavors: Japanese Hokkaido scallop sprinkled with charcoal salt, bluefin tuna, marinated ikura and “Surf and Turf”: Wagyu beef topped with uni — Japanese sea urchin. And that lean tuna that had me smitten in the beginning of the meal? It was topped by progressively delicate renditions: chu-toro (a medium fatty tuna) and otoro (fatty tuna), each one better than the next.

While Sushi By Bou Beach Club features a la carte izakaya (think Japanese tapas), sushi and maki, the omakase — an ideal combination of exceptional quality and expertise care — is an experience you’ll never forget. 

Sushi By Bou Beach Club is located inside the Marriott Residence Inn, 1350 North Ocean Blvd., Pompano Beach. For more information, visit sushibybou.com. Reservations can be made online or by texting 954-937-7366.