Ise

The brightly lit, narrow space feels like a bona fide izakaya (local pub) in Tokyo. At the short bar up front, drinks are served. Outside the shoji doors of private tatami rooms are orderly rows of shoes belonging to the groups of boisterous Japanese businesspeople within. Ise has two menus: one of Japanese bar snacks like yakitori and gyoza, another with appetizers and entrées like sushi combination platters. There’s also a well-prepared, seasonally changing “complete dinner” that feeds two and includes sashimi, sushi, tempura, salad, miso soup, steak in a sweet soy-sauce marinade with mushrooms, grilled vegetable and dessert, all for $40. No wonder this place feels like home to its many ex-pat regulars.