J and I love sushi, and admittedly harbor some nostalgia for the many options in Seattle, where even the tiniest hole in the wall is a pretty safe bet for really fresh fish. We’ve found Chitown to be more hit-or-miss in the sushi department, but we’re always game to try a new place. On the advice of friends and solid Yelp reviews, we recently went for the first time to Blue Ocean in Ravenswood/Uptown. Here’s what we found:
Atmosphere
Blue Ocean is located in the ground level of an apartment complex, tucked away behind a coffee shop and a parking lot. This unassuming facade contrasts with the sleek, spacious interior which is filled with bright colors and clean lines. The tables were nicely spaced (and decorated with a single bamboo shoot in water – lovely), the lighting dim but not dark, the vibe mellow. All in all, a promising start for a date night…
Photo: Blue Ocean website
Service
From the second we walked in, we noticed all the smiling faces. The hostess, waitress, bartender, bus boys – each had a grin and a warm greeting. We were loving the friendliness, and throughout the meal everyone remained attentive and welcoming. This is just a smiley place.
Food and Drink
The pomegranate martini piqued my interest, but I decided I was in the mood for something savory and went for the intriguing “Bonzaitini” which included tomato and olive juices, Absolut Peppar, soy sauce, and a splash of beer. I couldn’t really taste all the flavor complexity I was hoping for, but it was essentially a delicious Bloody Mary in a martini glass with a spicy rim. Works for me!
For our appetizer, we ordered a mixed greens salad topped with sauteed shiitake mushrooms in an orange ponzu sesame oil. The mushrooms were perfectly seasoned with an almost meaty flavor, and the dressing was slightly sweet without being cloying. While at first I wasn’t crazy about the combination of warm mushrooms with greens which weren’t meant to be wilted, the dish was so tasty that after a few bites I didn’t really notice.
We were all set to be wowed with the main attraction, but unfortunately the sushi did not live up to its lead-in. We ordered a few of our favorite rolls (hamachi, spicy tuna, shrimp tempura) as well as some salmon nigiri. Each was certainly edible, but sadly mediocre in flavor. For example, the salmon tasted fresh enough, but it didn’t have that melt-in-your-mouth butterineess you expect from the perfect piece of sushi-grade fish. The presentation was also lacking – a properly cut sushi roll looks like a little work of art, and the plating here was missing that artistry.
Overall
Enjoy the friendly service over drinks and appetizers, but skip the fish. Our favorite spot for sushi remains Green Tea in Lincoln Park for dine-in, Indie Cafe for take-out…and we can’t wait to try Katsu one day for a special occasion!
food things first 