Considering all the sushi to be had in the neighborhood, Lincoln Park restaurants must offer something noteworthy—in price, place or palate-pleaser dishes—to entice passersby. For Kabuki II, that special something is the $50 Kabuki Deluxe Boat. Served on a wooden tray, the barrage of sushi and sashimi feeds two-to-four diners.

While the restaurant plays up the "sex sells" attitude, with its sidewalk-facing windows plastered in flyers that read "Try our oyster shooter; instant aphrodisiac" and "sushi=sexy." its interior is rather modest. The single room provides ample seating at booths, tables for two and barstools, and bamboo partitions attempt to provide diners a sense of privacy. Tea candles at every table, bouquets of red roses and potted orchids add a touch of romance to otherwise traditional decor of Japanese dolls in display cases and painted wall hangings.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jessica Herman