Octo Sushi Has Eight Arms to Feed You

Last week Octo Sushi opened up in the 12th Avenue space where dearly departed Crave used to be.  Actually, the restaurant is larger than the Linke Building's former occupant, taking up both the front windowed area, as well as the room behind. It's a smart idea (that front section is both tiny and prone to getting hot in the summer), but while the back section is cool (and well-designed with wood paneling), it's also dark and maybe too large for the amount of business the restaurant is getting thus far.

I was there for a Thursday dinner in which the front section was completely empty and the back room only had a few tables with customers during what should be its prime dinner hours (6:30 till 8:30 or so). But as a result, the service was attendant and the food arrived in no time. The kitchen is up front, while the sushi chef is busy cutting in the back. And yet somehow, my order initially arrived with sashimi instead of nigiri, and I overheard another table have a similar issue with a roll. Also for the record, if you bring me the wrong item of food, I will gladly eat that while you prepare the correct one. Just sayin'.

The food was decent and certainly cheap enough to warrant multiple visits. I'm not a big fan of calamari in ring form (the only thing worse? calamari fries), but I made do. I've also never had a tuna roll where the sauce was applied to the roll instead of being mixed into the tuna, but again, no harm, no foul. The menu has a big selection of both nigiri a la carte as well as rolls, and the rolls aren't so big that they dislodge your jaw. So I'll be back at Octo for sure--it's a good addition to the neighborhood, as you can never have too much inexpensive sushi. I'm just looking forward to the inevitable introduction of a happy hour.