There are dinners you plan because you are hungry, and then there are dinners you get to enjoy because life has given you plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Last Friday was definitely the latter. It was not only about being invited to Sushi by Bou, but it was about being given the chance to get together to celebrate life.

I headed to Sushi by Bou at Pier Sixty-Six-Ft. Lauderdale with my friends Taylor Rosenberg and Cynthia for a night that was really about all of the things, such as friendship, accomplishments, new chapters and taking a moment to actually enjoy them.

Taylor had recently been named Teacher of the Year at Hollywood Hills Elementary School, an honor that could not have gone to a more deserving educator. I had just finished my own huge labor of love, my textbook, Storytelling in Popular Culture: Media, Identity and Meaning. And sometimes, when life moves as quickly as ours does, you need good friends to remind you to stop and celebrate before racing toward whatever comes next.

Sushi by Bou turned out to be a pretty wonderful place to do exactly that.

Tucked inside the Nectar Room at the newly reimagined Pier Sixty-Six, the Fort Lauderdale location combines the intimate feel of omakase with the breezy sophistication of the waterfront resort. The glass-lined setting lets the South Florida scenery become part of the experience, while sitting at the sushi counter puts the real show exactly where it belongs: in the hands of the chefs.

For anyone unfamiliar with omakase, part of the fun is giving up control. Rather than ordering your usual sushi favorites, you trust the chef to guide you through a progression of bites. At Sushi by Bou, guests can choose from a 12-course Signature Omakase or step things up with one of the 17-course experiences. The current menu moves through ingredients including hamachi, lean tuna, spotted prawn, scallop, miso black cod, fatty tuna, salmon and BBQ eel, with plenty of decadent extras available for anyone who wants to keep the celebration going.

And that interaction is part of what makes the experience so much fun. Each piece arrives individually, allowing you to appreciate the ingredients, presentation and creativity rather than rushing through a plate of rolls. We talked, laughed, ate and toasted accomplishments that deserved their moment.

The drinks are equally playful. Sushi by Bou's cocktail menu brings Japanese ingredients and flavors into the mix, with selections incorporating everything from shiso and yuzu to lychee, matcha and Japanese whisky. Sake, wine and nonalcoholic choices round out the beverage menu.

But what I loved most about the evening had very little to do with counting courses. It was about being there.

There was Taylor, celebrating an incredible recognition for the work she does with her students. There was me, finally able to say that the textbook I spent so many months writing was finished. And there was Cynthia, helping us celebrate both milestones while the three of us simply enjoyed being together.

Those moments matter.

Sushi by Bou has continued expanding its Florida presence, with locations in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens, while a Doral location is listed as coming soon. Beyond Florida, the concept has locations across several states as well as Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. Each venue is designed with its own personality, but the common thread is the intimate, chef-led omakase experience.

For us, though, Pier Sixty-Six was exactly where we needed to be that Friday night.

Because sometimes the best reason to go out isn't a birthday or an anniversary. Sometimes it is simply recognizing that your friends have done something wonderful, that you have done something you once only hoped you could accomplish, and that those moments deserve more than a quick text or an Instagram post.

They deserve a toast. And preferably, some really good sushi.

For more information about Sushi by Bou, its menus and locations, visit sushibybou.com/reservations/