Certainly one of the top sushi restaurants in the valley and getting better every day. I've been to them all and Shimogamo, Yasu's, and Toyama are high above the rest of them. Warm and inviting, this place is a classy well decorated and lit restaurant tucked into a strip mall. Head sushi chef Zach has an appetite for bringing in interesting fish and items and is never allowing his customers to get board. His efforts to bring in new and fresh fish are a reward for those of us who have eaten sushi all of our lives. It is also a great place to go to early and get some great prices on beer and food. $4 large Sapporo when many places try and get $8-$10.
A few things are a must if you come here. The salmon skin rolls here is done 10X better than any place I have ever eaten at. They make sure the skin is warm and crispy and loaded up. The sweet shrimp are also a winner. I spent most of my life not liking raw shrimp but Shimogamo has changed my mind. I also love all of the crispy parts of the body that are cooked.
Oysters are always wonderful here as are the fresh scallops when they have them. An absolute must is the Escolar with the Jalapeno. I never ate Escolar prior and I would normally think that a Jalapeno would overpower such a mild fish but just GET IT. They torch the fish to draw out some fats and the Jalapeno has wicked smoky flavor. If you don't like it I can truly say you are strange! :)
The toro the last few times is better than anything I have tasted in a decade. The king salmon, fresh mackerel, and Uni are always fresh and perfect.
Everything we have had from the "cooked" kitchen is also very good so even if your friends do not eat sushi I would not hesitate to bring them along.
Be careful for lunch because they are only open on Friday I believe. Reservations are a good idea unless you are there very early or late. Music is always right on with nice ambient grooves from Thievery Corp and similar bands.
Lastly if you have a large private party for a special occasion they have a back room that can feel very private and classy. We had a B-day there for 12 and it was perfect.