Why might a truly excellent sushi or crudo bar push Tuna Tataki over basic salmon sashimi in volume?

Tataki offers more complexity and culinary justification for the price tag

In high-end dining contexts, particularly those featuring raw or lightly prepared fish like sushi or crudo bars, menu optimization often involves pushing items that justify a higher price point through complexity rather than just raw product cost. While basic salmon sashimi is excellent, Tuna Tataki involves an additional preparation step—light searing—which adds complexity, textural contrast, and a stronger culinary narrative. This extra layer of perceived value and culinary justification allows the restaurant to manage back-of-house flow better and potentially achieve higher margins on less frequently requested, yet still premium, inventory compared to the standard, simple preparation of salmon sashimi.