Where: 1616 16th St, Denver

Neighborhood: Downtown, LoDo

When: Monday- Wednesday, 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.- 10:30 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Saturday 12 p.m.- 12 a.m.; Sunday, 12 – 10 p.m.

Regionally known for its diverse selection of nigiri and sashimi-styled sushi, Blue Sushi Sake debuted a more fusion-focused menu last week with the addition of new rolls, appetizers and salads. Highlights include a seaweed salad ($6) and its squid rendition ($7) made with pickled cucumbers and carrots, a  chilled sesame-chili oil, Japanese tree mushrooms, bamboo shoots and tender squid or seaweed. Other star appetizers are the tangy shishito peppers ($6.50) dressed in lime, butter, garlic and soy. For sushi, the Itchy Sea-bass ($8, 2 pieces) with delicate sea-bass laid on a pillow of spicy crab topped with Serrano chilis is a truly satisfying non-traditional nigiri that forgoes any rice. Continue on to see other selections from Blue Sushi’s new menu:

Word by Brittany Werges, photography by Kyle Cooper

Yellowtail serrano with cilantro and ponzu

Yellowtail serrano with cilantro and ponzu

squid salad Japanese tree mushrooms, bamboo shoots, cucumber sunomono, pickled carrots, daikon, sesame chili oil $7

squid salad Japanese tree mushrooms, bamboo shoots,
cucumber sunomono, pickled carrots, daikon, sesame chili oil $7

(From first) Roja, Spanish fly and Godzilla bomb rolls.

(From first) Roja, Spanish fly and Godzilla bomb rolls.

Itchy seabass ($8, 2 pieces)

Itchy seabass with baked seabass, spicy crab, ponzu, cilantro and Serrano ($8, 2 pieces)

Sushi rolls

Sushi rolls

River rock beef tenderloin jalapeño, chili ponzu ($12.75)

River rock beef tenderloin jalapeño, chili ponzu ($12.75)

*tuna tower sesame-marinated tuna, spicy crab, avocado, sushi rice, black tobiko $12

*tuna tower sesame-marinated tuna, spicy crab, avocado, sushi rice, black tobiko $12

 

 

Sesame sea bass grilled asparagus, fried sticky rice, apricot sesame glaze ($24)

Sesame sea bass grilled asparagus, fried sticky rice, apricot sesame glaze ($24)