Diners seeking a festive and lively restaurant environment need look no further than the region’s Mikuni restaurants, which all practice the art of flamboyant sushi hospitality. Upon entering the restaurants, patrons are greeted heartily in Japanese by staff members and sushi chefs, a welcoming ritual that only increases the animated babble which fills the dining space. The Roseville Mikuni, one of the smaller establishments, is located in a tidy shopping center which also contains a large movie theatre complex, making Mikuni an excellent before-film spot to grab lunch or dinner. When dining at Mikuni, it’s easy to go into auto-pilot and order straight from the sushi menu—the restaurant is known for its outrageous, creative sushi rolls—but I would suggest you also explore the other areas of the menu, from the warm-your-soul udon noodle soup, crammed with lovely fresh vegetables, to the battered and deep-fried sesame chicken. Don’t miss the warm grilled tuna, served up in big, delicious chunks with several creamy sauces, or the mixed tempura appetizer. If you do want sushi rolls, you can’t go wrong with the popular Kaiser roll, which includes spicy tuna, deep-fried shrimp, crab salad and seared tuna. Mikuni even has a great menu for kids, with several Bento boxes from which to choose. The restaurant is filled with lots of natural light during the day, thanks to several large windows in the dining room, and patrons can either sit at one of two sushi bars or at a table. With its exciting selection of beverages (check out the list of premium sakes), extensive menu and upbeat atmosphere, Mikuni is an enduringly popular restaurant venue in the Roseville area. — Kira O'Donnell

Insider tip: Try the restaurant’s yummy mochi ice cream

Reservations: Only takes reservations for parties of 8 or more, and they are recommended

Payment methods: AmEx, Diners’ Club, MasterCard, Visa

Alcohol: Full bar

Corkage fee: $10

Hours: Monday–Thursday: Lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; Dinner 4–9:30 p.m.
Friday: Lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; Dinner 4–10 p.m.
Saturday: Lunch Noon–4 pm; Dinner 4–10 p.m.
Sunday: Lunch Noon–4 p.m.; Dinner 4–9 p.m.