Mikado Japanese Restaurant, Santa Maria

The food alone is worth the 5 star rating but there's more to this fine restaurant than good food. Centrally located - in the same shopping center where Gina's Piece of Cake Bakery and Mervyn's are located. The decor is modern and the ambience is calming. The servings are generous without going overboard, the fish is fresh, the house tea is earthy delicious and the prices are more than reasonable. There is a sushi bar and the sushi chefs seem very pleasant and professional (their chef outfits always clean and pressed). I have not eaten at the sushi bar but I have ordered sushi to our table and it is always 'delish'. My favorite appetizer is the shrimp with asparagus and my children love the Udon noodle soup.