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Silvers Omakase Awarded One Michelin Star

via Business Wire

Chef Lennon Silvers Lee earns prestigious honor just one year after opening Santa Barbara restaurant

Today, Silvers Omakase, the acclaimed 10-seat sushi restaurant in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, announced it has been awarded one Michelin star by The Michelin Guide. The recognition marks the second Michelin star of Executive Chef Lennon Silvers Lee’s career and comes just one year after the restaurant’s debut.

Silvers Omakase reflects Chef Lee’s deep respect for traditional Japanese techniques, merged with a thoughtful approach to innovation. Known for his precise execution and reverence for ingredients, Chef Lee leads a diverse team of culinary artisans who bring a range of experiences and perspectives to the nightly tasting menu.

“Silvers Omakase getting its first Michelin star, just a year after opening, honestly feels like a dream,” said Executive Chef Lennon Silvers Lee. “I’m beyond proud of what we’ve built and I couldn’t have done it without my amazing team that brings everything to the table every single day. And to Santa Barbara, our community, our home, thank you for welcoming us with open arms. Your support means everything. What an honor this is.”

“We opened Silvers Omakase with an ambitious goal: to provide the best sushi experience you can have in the United States,” said Lisa Green, Lee’s business partner. “This recognition is a testament to the discipline, detail, and artistry Chef Lee and the team bring to every meal.”

Beyond its cuisine, Silvers Omakase honors the broader community of craftspeople who make its experience possible. From sake brewers and glassblowers to fishmongers and potters, the restaurant serves as a showcase for the many hands behind its operation. “Just as we have a duty to serve our guests, we believe we have a responsibility to uplift those who make our work possible,” added Green.

Designed with an immersive sense of theater, the Silvers experience begins with a discrete entry marked by a simple sign and doorbell. Once all diners have arrived, the group transitions into the main dining space: a serene, minimalist room with a mountain mural by Kelly Claus and sculptures by Joan Rosenberg-Dent.

Each evening unfolds over a two-hour omakase service featuring 13 to 20 courses, approximately 75% sushi and 25% composed dishes depending on ingredient availability and seasonality. Dishes are made with rice from Japan that is milled in house, and fish that is sourced both locally and from Japan and then dry aged. The dining experience is punctuated by carefully considered details: handcrafted Yu Maruta ceramics, Kagami crystal, bespoke menus printed on Japanese washi paper, and a wine and sake list that includes rare, allocated bottles.

With this honor, Silvers Omakase joins the ranks of Santa Barbara’s top culinary destinations, making it just one of two restaurants in the city and 65 across California to hold a Michelin star.

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