ST. HELENA. This trendy joint serves sushi, sake, and more than a few varieties of fresh fish ­ local and otherwise ­ with your choice of sauces and accompaniments. Tempting small plates like Peruvian scallop ceviche with Inca corn or hot and bubbly crab dip are superb starters, while your main course affords the opportunity to pair salmon, sole, tuna, squid, or sturgeon with dressings like tomatillo salsa and parsley butter. A near-encyclopedic selection of sashimi and nigiri are offered alongside specialty rolls, and over fifteen types of sake will definitely slake your thirst.

ROHNERT PARK. It would be easy to overlook this gem of a Japanese joint, located in an otherwise run-of-the-mill strip center between Santa Rosa and Petaluma. The eatery, with its clean lines and minimalist aesthetic, is reminiscent of trendy Bay Area sushi joints. Hana earns a fair amount of local press for its superb sushi ­ rolls like the Sake Kawa (grilled salmon skin, daikon sprouts, and pickled burdock root), New York (tobiko, cucumber, and avocado), and Dragon (eel and avocado with shrimp tempura and daikon sprouts). If you're feeling truly bold, unagi-and-foie-gras nigiri is worth sampling. Reservations taken.

SANTA ROSA. Gary Chu's friendly, neighborhood eatery caters to Montgomery Village's sushi cravings. Painted in sleek greens and silvers, the restaurant's interior features an enormous saltwater tank and Japan-by-way-of-Cali decor. Indeed, Chu and staff go the extra mile to make sure trendy patrons, many of whom are Bay Area escapees, feel at home while dining on famous California rolls, dragon rolls, and delicious grilled salmon with miso sauce. Take-out is available.