Located between Lucky Pie and the Tattered Cover, Blue Sushi Sake Grill in LoDo can be hard to spot save for the distinctive metal octopus tacked to the historic building it inhabits.
The quirky décor continues into the inside, with the expected fish tank, but also a massive bomber style airplane wing with a WWII era pin-up painted on it, and a collection of pop art prints that look like screen-grabs of a 1980s Japanese Cola commercial. While it sounds kitschy, the décor works. The dining areas feel well designed and cozy; the décor blends into the background until you stop to notice it, at which point it feels more like a fun nod to the observer. I got through most of my recent lunch in the bar area before I realized I was sitting under that massive airplane wing.
Styling aside, the real reason to come to Blue is for the sushi. Before moving to Denver, I had never lived more than 15-30 minutes from the ocean. Growing up with access to really fresh seafood and access to a high number of good neighborhood sushi places, I will admit I can be a bit of a sushi snob. While I can enjoy so-so sushi now and again, to really satisfy my sushi craving it has got to be a place that is confident enough in their fish to offer a great selection of sashimi. Blue offers some great sashimi, and if you are able to stop by for a weekday lunch, it is one of the few sushi places to include nigiri and sashimi options with its lunch special.
The lunch special offers one cooked or raw roll (with the majority of the full-price rolls represented) and your choice of nigiri or sashimi along with miso or salad. I regularly get the excellent sake sashimi (salmon) to accompany whatever roll I might be craving that day.
Date Night Idea: As we get closer to the holiday season when the city begins to light up downtown Denver, here’s a fun evening outing idea – share some sushi at Blue, then pop into Tattered Cover for some browsing before stopping by their coffee shop to grab a warm beverage to go. Then head half a block to Wynkoop St and the holiday lights of Union Station or a half a block to Wazee St and the holiday lights and people watching of the 16th Street Mall.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill – 1616 16th Street, Denver