Is sushi is the new Italian? I don't know for sure, but these days it seems easier to find a good find a good hand roll than to find a good platter of spaghetti and meatballs. Sushi, once an exotic cuisine, has become almost as commonplace as red sauce Italian cafes were a couple of decades ago. And an increasing number of Japanese restaurants now cultivate the same relaxed tone, mood, and service we associate with old-fashioned Italian-American restaurants. Asahi Japanese Restaurant, in St. Matthews, illustrates the point. It's not a showy place. There's no flash or slash to be seen or heard. The walls are pale, punctuated by a black grid here and a few small accents there. The sushi bar is made of gleaming wood. The place is quiet enough to suit people who love conversation – and don't want to miss a word their tablemates are saying. Service is exemplary – quiet, smart, efficient.

See more: East Louisville restaurants, St. Matthews restaurants, Japanese restaurants, Sushi restaurants