Sushi Fresh

I do not believe the last reviewer is honestly reviewing this place because I just ate the worst sushi I have ever had. I have had better sushi from safeway then this cafeteria like dump. The spicy tuna rolls seemingly contained canned tuna which tasted like nothing. It was so bland and disgusting that my two friends I was with could not even believe that someone would actually dare put it in a roll and try and call it sushi. The salmon and tuna nigiri was even worse and promptly thrown away after smelling it. To top it off the guy with the brown hair working the register was utterly rude when we were ordering and was obviously completely stoned (go get some CLEAR EYES before coming into work!!!!)

Go to sushi rock or tokyo suishi and avoid this place like the plague if you don't plan on calling into work sick the next day from food poisoning. I am giving it one star for the cook being able to properly heat up edamame and salt it, kudos!

The newest sushi place on Las Olas, Sushi Fresh has a great, chill vibe and a casual take-out style. Did I mention that their sushi's great too?

Food:
When I first noticed that there was a new, big red "SUSHI" sign on Las Olas, I was excited. I clearly love me some sliced fish and seaweed wraps, so it was itching to check it out. How thrilled was I when I realized it was a chef I knew from two other now-defunct Las Olas sushi joint. Alex, previously of Louie's Oyster and Shizen, finally got to open his own place. Now I loved the creativity behind a lot of Alex's rolls, he could always make you anything, whether it was on the menu or not. He hasn't let his own shop go to waste.

I got lunch, a simple sashimi and JB roll, but what's great how easy it is pick and choose what you want. You can do a pre-made combo or mix and match one yourself. They offer a standard array of rolls, really cheap too ($2.75 for a spicy tuna roll), as well as some rather creative ones (the Helluva is yellow tail, mayo and scallions and the Barbara is yellow tail, masagao, mayo, cucumber and crunchies, both $8).

Like the name insists, the fish is fresh and well sliced. The sashimi is thick and not stringy, and the rolls are packed tight. One of my favorite things about Sushi Fresh's offerings are their rice. It's not too vinegary and just has that truly authentic Japan taste. Unlike like a lot of sushi rice you find that has no flavor, or, forbid it, too much, this place gets it rice.

I also ordered a platter for New Years, and let me say, wow. I got a boat, now I didn't ask for a boat, but it was given to me. Yes, one of those boats that restaurants bring big orders on. It was the hit of the party: 22 pieces of sushi, a California roll, a Dancing Eel roll, a Mexican roll, a JB roll, a Rainbow roll and a Sunset Strip roll. We ate it all, and it was delicious. The Mexican might have been my favorite, shirmp tempura and avacado, but the Rainbow was a close second. Regardless, all of that for $60, it was great for the party. Just what everyone wanted!

Venue:
Sushi Fresh in on Las Olas, across from Smith & Jones. It's actually at the site of the old Louie To Go, which became a Dairy Queen--the latter of which didn't last long, thank god. There's some outdoor tables, and high tops inside. What's interesting about Sushi Fresh is it almost has a cafeteria feel to it, but not in a bad way. It's a refreshing change from the overly practiced dining experiences that are often found on the Boulevard.

There's no pretense here, you check the board above the cashier and, from the long list of choices, you choose what you want. You can grab a sake or a beer from the refrigerator and take it to your table, where, once your roll's been put through the bamboo mat, is brought to you in the standard sushi take-out carton on a red tray. It's quaint in it's own way, and it doesn't make you feel rushed or dirty. The place is very clean and very personable.

This may be fast food sushi in concept, but this is no grocery store roll. Everything here is of just as high quality as Sushi Rock across the street, but not yet as crowded and not as upscale oriented. If you're looking for a quick place to grab some sushi for lunch, Sushi Fresh is the place for low prices and great fish.