The quiet sanctity of the standard sushi bar is not really in evidence here. The hipness level--both in the food and the scene--defines the restaurant. So does the Warehouse District location, which brings in a certain bohemian looseness. There is no carelessness at the sushi bar, though. They make all the standards here well. They also run specials that don’t always adhere to the Japanese theme a hundred percent. Fun, interesting, and pretty good, too.
The Warehouse District's long-time sushi bar is as much a place to hang out and meet friends and fellow workers after hours as it is a fine Japanese restaurant. The quiet sanctity of the standard sushi bar is not really in evidence here, although this is no indication of carelessness. They execute the entire range of sushi, sashimi, and rolls well. Meanwhile, the kitchen runs specials that don’t always adhere to the Japanese theme a hundred percent.
The first Japanese restaurant anywhere downtown, Rock 'n' Sake opened in the 1990s. It opened other locations around town over the years, as well as a pan-Asian restaurant called Hipstix. But it always comes down, as it does now, to the original location, which remains steady.
The warehouse look is preserved in a big space that winds around from the front door through a conventional dining area past a very long sushi bar to the kitchen. Contemporary popular music plays in lieu of Japanese sounds.
Sit at the sushi bar and jive with the chefs. They're genuinely interested in making something special for you. As is always true in sushi places, take it easy on the crab salad.
| Attitude | 1 |
|---|---|
| Environment | 1 |
| Hipness | 2 |
| Local Color | 1 |
| Service | 1 |
| Value | 0 |
| Wine | 1 |
