Located on the second floor, the exterior evokes a feeling of entering a street market. Upon entering the restaurant we were immediately greeted by a couple members of the staff dressed in black loose-fitting tunics and pants, reminiscent of Japanese shopkeepers and artisans. The main dining area comprises seven or eight tables while the black granite sushi bar displays four acquariums. There are also eight tatami rooms that adjoin the main dining room.

Takumi, meaning skillful and clever, is a spirited, contemporary Japanese restaurant. Taking its roots from Kyoto, Takumi expresses the new movement in Japanese cuisine, reflecting the transition of the seasons and capturing the virtues of freshness, simplicity, beauty and health.

The menu is very extensive and has specials that the chef changes every four weeks. You may select a la carte or from the selection of Kaiseki or Tempura set menus. There are seasonal selections, vegetarian dishes, appetizers, like the Grilled beef with spicy papaya salad and teriyaki sauce ... all priced inexpensively. There's about a half-dozen each of salads and soups. The grilled dishes offers favorites ranging from Grilled fin of young yellow tail to the Grilled sablefish marinated with bean paste. Tepan Yaki offers Grilled Kobe Beef, Australian beef sirloin, and a great Tepan Yaki Moriwase with Grilled crab claw, salmon, prawns and vegetables and a variation of this dish is available as a Tepan Yaki Course with rice, soup and ice cream. There are set menus and 8 boiled dishes. Deep-fried dishes offer tempura and other deep-fried choices while the fresh Sushi and Sashimi are delicious and an excellent value. I selected a Sushi Moriwase, assorted sushi with salmon, tuna, avacado, yellow and red pepper. Noodles are available in various styles as are the rice or Gohanmond Donburi dishes. Dessert offers favorites, such as, Grilled rice cake with soy bean powder and the Green tea ice cream.

The drink list includes a nice selection of sake, beer (including the traditional favorites plus Asahi, Corona & Budweiser), Jacob's Creek wine and Choya honey plum wine. There are also some bar favorites and soft drinks.

Staff is very responsive, well versed on the menu and extremely polite. For fine food, great service and a lovely ambiance, the cost is surprisingly low. We found it to be a good value and a lovely dining experience.