"Kokoro bebop" -- that's what chef Wayne Conwell's doing at the very hip, ultra-modern Sushi Sasa. "Kokoro" from the heart of traditional Japanese culture, "bebop" from his tendency to riff on and reinterpret Japanese soul food. More than that, he's adding to the canon of Japanese cuisine, bringing in the influences of Italian and French food, as well as an intimate understanding of American tastes. The menu is fusion without being fusion, new but classic -- and all of the sushi is superb. Bring the gold card and don't forget to make reservations.
Sushi Sasa proves that even white boys can make sushi and the rest of the staff isn't bad either - Jimmyson! But unfortunately the decor is as white as the patrons (mostly yuppies & yuppie wannbe hipsters)... so you have to find a quite time to go and not be seen, but enjoy the fresh food.
The atmosphere is a little too trendy if you ask me. I prefer not dressing up in my most expensive attire to dine.
The service is good but the wait for your food is too long.
And, most importantly, watch out for the sneering over weight, RUDE host. He can ruin your whole meal. I almost never wanted to return. Good thing the food is good.
Review by observer
Overall:
The sushi here is amazing, the service is maybe the worst I've had in Denver. The people working there are not incompetent, they are flat out rude and borderline mean. I write this after trying to enjoy a meal there 3 or 4 times. It's a big disappointment considering how beautiful the restaurant is.
Review by Audrey
Overall:
Izakaya Den & Sushi Den vs. Sushi Sasa. I’ve frequently dined at Izakaya Den and Sushi Den. Based on their claims; I was under the impression that these two restaurants alone offered the best, freshest sushi in Denver. Considering the fact that Denver is landlocked, these restaurants cannot compete with sushi restaurants in California or Hawaii, but they do a good job with what they can get. After tonight my whole opinion on the Dens, as well as getting sushi in Denver, has changed thanks to Sushi Sasa. The atmosphere is simple and clean. The staff is friendly. Kristi, our server was very pleasant and knowledgeable. Everything she recommended was excellent.
The food is what truly sets Sushi Sasa apart from the Dens. The tempura was considerably better than the Dens. It was lighter, crispier, less oily and more flavorful. In addition, they had so many more options including calamari, lobster and portobello mushroom tempura. I had their sashimi dinner and it was some of the freshest, perfectly cut and most beautifully prepared fish I have ever had. The salmon and yellowtail just melts in your mouth. I cannot even begin to give the freshness of the sushi at Sushi Sasa enough credit, it was truly something else. Even the large house salad that came with the sashimi dinner was excellent. The presentation with every dish was a work of art. It left me speechless, yet pleasantly surprised.
I want to thank the owner of Sushi Sasa for creating a sushi restaurant that truly knows what they are doing. Sushi Sasa is the only restaurant in Colorado that can hold its own against the best sushi restaurants in California and Hawaii. I think that, while the owner of the Dens has become complacent after 25 some odd years, the owner of Sushi Sasa is delivering one of best possible sushi experiences outside of Japan.
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Sushi Sasa proves that even white boys can make sushi and the rest of the staff isn't bad either - Jimmyson! But unfortunately the decor is as white as the patrons (mostly yuppies & yuppie wannbe hipsters)... so you have to find a quite time to go and not be seen, but enjoy the fresh food.
The freshest seafood and awesome little spot. Grab food here before going to see Nuggets or Avs.
