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Blue Fin Sushi
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Nightlife Bars Lounges Sushi Bars, Japanese, Lounges [Edit]
1814 Clement St(between 19th Ave & 20th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94121
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
(415) 387-2441
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
348 reviews for Blue Fin Sushi
Review Highlights
"I had the romeo and juliet roll and uni."
(in 14 reviews)
"Spicy Crunchy Maki -- Beautiful presentation and yummy."
(in 9 reviews)
"The albacore tataki was awesome for $1."
(in 10 reviews)
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348 reviews in English
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Review from Brenda K.
San Francisco, CA
I came here on a Yelp deal as I hadn't visited in a few years (I usually head to Shimo right down the block...) and was happy to see that not much has changed! The sushi chefs were very friendly, the waitstaff EXTREMELY friendly (likely because he was drunk), the sushi was fresh and delicious. They have innovative rolls and live uni! We drank sake and beer and when we left didn't even care that it was pouring rain and so windy it felt like I was going to blow over.
Rumor has it they have fresh wasabi (not the green paste) but you have to ask for it. This might still be true, but I forgot to ask. Next time!
Yup. I like this place still. A lot. -
Review from Chris D.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011
Review is for dinner, not drinks/happy hour:
Just paid a visit tonight for dinner to help my family blow a $200 gift card that we had to use all in one visit. Parking is pretty troublesome; restaurant decor is modern and the screaming happy hour deals are a sign that patrons aren't exactly rushing in over the quality of the food. All $200 was blown on food so I like to think I've tried a fair sample of what blue fin has to offer.
There were a few memorable dishes; Nama Kaki w/ quail egg and uni - pricy but not bad for 6 oysters on a half shell plus extras. The Seab(r)eam Tataki was also a pretty fair combination of flavors that I enjoyed. Finally the butterfish sashimi was something I've never tried and tasted fresh and clean.
Most items however left a mediocre impression. All nigiri & sashimi (excluding the butterfish) looked (in the display at the sushi bar) and tasted a little old. Some were slightly grainy, some had a tough texture, and all simply did not have a fresh taste. Most disappointing was the uni: the quality was poor; the sacs were destroyed or simply purchased as low quality. The taste was slightly metallic-like and utterly disappointing. December is supposed to be the ideal month isn't it??
The takoyaki was average, not scalding hot as it should be, and scanty on the octopus; the miso scallops were overcooked; the poke salad was poorly balanced, the rolls were just a mush of flavor, etc. etc. you get the idea, the meal came off in the end as mediocre and slightly disappointing- that should earn a place 3 stars. 1 more star off because as I lie here writing this review, my stomach is churning and definitely not happy. Confirms fish not fresh. -
Review from Lawrence L.
Millbrae, CA
12/4/2011 7 photos
My first time at Blue Fin. I remember this used to be a sports bar back in the day, and now it's turned into a nice sushi restaurant / bar and lounge. Came in on a Thursday night with a friend of mine who has been here several times before.
We started out with the tempura (on the house - Thanks Paul), kaki fry (crispy outside and oyster goodness inside - not overdone), hamachi sashimi (fresh buttery goodness), ama ebi (sweet and fresh - fried heads were also good), uni (divine), saba (yum), ikura (nice), and a nice bottle of cold sake to accompany the entire meal (Kikusui - light and slightly sweet). We ended it off with the fried banana and mango ice cream (lightly battered and crispy on the outside, soft sweet bananas inside).
There's a nice mural on one side of the restaurant, and a cool fish tank in the wall when you enter. They have a nice little vibe going on in this place. All the seafood was fresh, and tasty. Servers were nice and attentive. The owner (Paul) was also super friendly. Definitely recommend this spot if you are in the area. -
Review from Angela F.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
It is a good place to hang out with guys and gals- for food, for fun! Pretty nice service. A great place for dinner or just chill around with tasty cocktail in your hand!
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Review from Debbie L.
San Mateo, CA
12/22/2011
Found a deal on http://www.buckslive.com. $2 for $20 voucher. First time here. Awesome butterfish! Will definitely
come back again. -
Review from Boris M.
San Leandro, CA
1/28/2012
I use to come here all the time with my friends..... Great Place !!! Cool Rolls !!! Love that place !!! See u soon !!!
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Review from Thao V.
11/3/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Had a good time dining here for a birthday celebration. We had a party of 18 on a friday night so we were seated in the private room they had in the back. The restaurant is pretty small so I would imagine large parties only being able to fit in the room in the back, so reserve ahead of time if you plan to have a large party. The room in the back is separated by curtain blinds so it's not completely closed off from the restaurant which is nice.The decor was very modern and gave us enough privacy so that our loudness wouldn't be disrupting to other diners. They did play top 40 music throughout the night as well and it gets louder later on in the night when more people start coming in for the bar/lounge feel. Our dining room was right by the bar too so you can have the option of ordering your drinks at the table or ordering at the bar separately.
The service was very prompt and the waitresses were really friendly and efficient. Our table was ready by our reservation time, they came in and took our orders shortly after everyone settled in, and the food came out fairly quickly with no mix ups. As far as the food, the food was just okay - nothing to write home about. Pricing is a little higher than standard Japanese restaurants but reasonable. But the place gets four stars because it's a great place to dine with a bunch of friends, has a good variety of drinks from beer, sake, and mixed drinks, and plays music. But beware, parking is a major pain though!Listed in: Seafood Diet
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Review from Michael D.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012
Don't let the Tales From The Cryptkeeper bartender scare you away; Blue Fin is a modestly priced sushi place that'll get you good and full. They don't stray too far away from the CA Roll/Rainbow Roll "safe sushi" zone, but the ambiance is bizarre and interesting enough to warrant multiple visits. Just don't look the bartender in the eyes, she'll steal your soul.
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Review from Christina D.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Food was good but it was terribly overpriced. Totally worth the yell coupon but I won't be coming back here without another deal.
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Review from Justin F.
Santa Cruz, CA
11/12/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
This place was definitely a meh where I had higher hopes given that I had read the menu and I was in shock that a place like this could offer me a delicious yelp deal!
Unfortunately, the second we started eating I knew why. The service was solid, so I'm not docking it there. However, the food platters were either tasting not so fresh or maybe missing the mark on what makes a great sushi roll.
Food, we ordered the monk fish liver, the foie groie roll, and some other rolls...can't remember them all that well although one exceptional roll was the sushi roll with guacamole on it!! Very tasty sir, but the other dishes either tasted like they were pre-made, refrigerated, and just not worth it minus a food deal which is very sad in my opinion.
Thanks for the try, but I don't know if I'm a fan. -
Review from Rebecca L.
Crocker-Amazon, San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
The food was good.
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Review from Jimbo Y.
South San Francisco, CA
1/3/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Nice decor, service and food was good. Prices are a little high compared with the many sushi/Japanese places in the Richmond and Sunset districts. Does have a very extensive menu, especially the appetizers. Lots of unusual combinations for the appetizers that you wouldn't find at other restaurants. First time I tried a pizza at a Japanese place, it was pretty good.
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Review from Michael B.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2011
UPDATED: (Please Read)
Never eat here. I came in a second time and went to wash my hands first thing. When I entered the bathroom the Sushi Chef was peeing in the urinal. As I was washing my hands, I watched him shake his whoopsie and walk out the bathroom without washing his hands, after catching eyes with me as I was washing my hands! Who does that, no less a Chef in front of a Customer?! We caught eyes, and still he was such a gross human being that he went, "Oh well, I'm sure he doesn't mind me touching his raw fish with my penis hands." Absolutely gross. I went back to the table, told my Party immediately, and then told the Waitress that we would not be dining because of what I just saw. The Waitress looked more annoyed with us leaving then apologizing for such a terrible incident. As we walked out, the Waitress went to confront the Chef, who immediately through up his hands like it was no big deal, and that we were overreacting to someone not washing his hands after touching a potential petri dish of STDs, body waste, etc, and not want that on my raw, uncooked food. I will never eat here again. What's worse, the food here was great, until I found out what the special ingredient was.
Original Review:
Sushi is really good here. The toro is pricey, but comes in large delicious portions that are well worth it. The only reason it is not a 5 star rating is that the service is slow. Not bad, just slow. Our waiter decided to talk, joke, and drink two pints of beer before submitting our order 20 mins later. -
Review from Sahzad B.
Pleasanton, CA
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty chill. The sushi is decent and they give you free edamame while you wait. A decent plate will run you $10+ but then again... that shouldn't be much of a surprise.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this place. It didn't knock my "socks off" but I'd definitely consider a second visit.
If you haven't been and are looking for someone to make the call for you, I say "go." I mean how bad could it possibly be? lol... -
Review from Lianna T.
San Francisco, CA
12/11/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Bomb(dot)com, but too far from central SF for the price. I used a Yelp deal and the $30 we spent to eat $60 of sushi was well worth it. However, without the deal, it would be hard to rationalize a trip back. Would be 4 stars if it were not on the other side of the equator.
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Review from MLovely R.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2011
I love their happy hour prices. I have been meeting up with friends on Happy Hour Fridays and they love it too!
The place gets trendier later in the night. I was delightfully surprised.
An older couple who are regulars at the bar recommended going before 7pm to order 3-4 drinks at happy hour prices, order food from the regular menu and they will pace serving your drinks. -
Review from Darryl P.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2011
I consider myself a Sushi connoisseur, although I have not had it Japan I have had it in Seattle, Maui, New York, Los Angele's, San Diego and San Francisco. Blue Fin has always been up there with the best for me.
They have now hired a new sushi chef from one of the Iron chef restaurants, his name is George. This guy now puts out the best Sushi I have had in my life. Blue Fin Is great cause I really like my Martini's with my Sushi. Thank you Blue Fin! I am so happy that you are there -
Review from Rich W.
San Francisco, CA
10/26/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 1 Check-in Here
We purchased a Yelp Deal for Blue Fin Sushi and redeemed it last week. This was our 1st time there. Parking on Clement street on a Thursday evening 7pm was a pain.
The wait staff was friendly, dining room was smaller than I imagined. The crowd that evening was mostly Asian (HK). The World Series was on all the flat screens bar/restaurant.
The sushi was fresh, the cooked food was tasty (Cali roll, spider roll, Dragon roll, Spicy Tuna, Curry Katsu, ..). The only downside, we asked the busboy to wrap-up our unagi dombori - he disappeared for 15mins. -
Review from Jennifer O.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
So I came in with a Yelp! deal and I was impressed: Excellent sashimi, tasty hot appetizers and personable chefs. And to round it out, a solid deal.
I almost never order hot items from a sushi restaurant (why?) but I had to try the miso scallops. They were perfect; not too done or underdone with sliced scallions and a healthy dose of tasty garlic.
Then, I had a yummy 10-piece plate of sashimi and it was so good. The white toro with tiny bits of crisped garlic was to die for and the blue fin and hamachi, fresh and delicious. The slices of sashimi were generous and it was super-fresh. Heaven.
I finished with (yet another, so unusual) hot appetizer of the "mushroom stuffy" (portabellini mushrooms stuffed with snow crab and what was on top? tabiko?.. it tasted and looked like caviar so perhaps).
Everything was terrific. I couldn't find a single flaw.
Dining alone, I burned off the rest of my Yelp deal with an order of "to-go" beef shortribs and vegetables. The owners were fearful it wouldn't translate the next day but I had them prepare the beef "very rare" so I could pan-sear it without over-cooking it.
Even if I myself ruin that dish, I'm sure it'll be a stand-out.
Yes, Blue Fin delivers.. but only up to Divisadero, no exceptions (sob). So if you live somewhere between Clement and 18th and Divis and whatever cross street, you're in luck. West of their location, I can't speak to that but give 'em a call to see.
And I'm sure delivery will be great and dine-in...
PERFECTION.
Thank you Yelp! for turning me on to a great new restaurant find. I'll be back again.. and again. -
Review from Annie L.
9/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable Purchased a Yelp Deal 5 Check-ins Here
I am definitely a Blue Fin fan! :) I love that they have sushi and Japanese fusion food (LOVE LOVE FUSION!) They are also pretty reasonable priced and I love that they are open late! This place is also a great place to have some sake and beer with friends! 5 stars for Stanley!
What I recommend:
Albacore Tataki
Ahi Tuna Salad
Spicy Crunchy Maki (favorite roll there!)
Grasshopper Roll
Spider Roll
Yaki-Udon Chicken (the seafood one was okay)
Asian Style Duck Breast (nom nom nom)
What I did not like that much:
Sashimi Salad
Dragon Roll
Raider Roll -
Review from yoshie k.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
this place is ok, the sushi is is sure not fresh tho, i don't think they get quality seafood, and for that quality, it's overpriced. if your here with a bunch of friends i guess it's a perfect spot but you could get a better quality sushi for the same price or even less at elsewhere. good thing i had a coupon when i went here, i don't think i would like to come back here unless someone else is paying for me. service here is o-k, i didn't have any trouble with the servers but they could have been more attentive. if your looking for good sushi, don't go here.
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Review from Angelica V.
San Francisco, CA
10/30/2011
Went there last weekend and thought the service and music were very good!
I'm not giving 5 stars because the edamame wasn't fresh but everything else was very good and tasty!.. -
Review from alvin l.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
On a friday nite, Blue Fin was hopping and noisy, but that's because the interior is mostly hard surfaces reflecting all the loud conversations. On to the good stuff.
The food terrific. Their hamachi sashimi has a good flavor and buttery taste better
that other restaurants I've tried. The Romeo and Juliet roll also very tasty. We also
had the grilled lamb chops, absolutely loved 'em. Nicely breaded and grilled on the outside and perfectly pink medium rare inside. Tasted tender, juicy and fabulous, my only wish is that there were per order. Last item we had (I can't remember the name) an item i"ve seen only at Blue Fin, snow crab wrapped in avocado and salmon with tobiko on top, another tasty combination we really liked. Parking is complementary with your meal. Just pay at the lot on 18th ave. then present your
receipt to your server and they deduct it from your bill. I will definitely go back again. -
Review from Jessica J.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I was not completely impressed but this place. The sushi was decent and there were a few creative rolls but in a city with several top-notch sushi restaurants, this one doesn't stand out. It is a bit overpriced for the portion size and quality. All in all this place is kinda run-of-the-mill and there are other (better) local options.
I don't think that I will return here. -
Review from Alex Y.
South San Francisco, CA
12/22/2011
wow... first time there.. excellent food .. its hard to find a place combining good food and bar ..
...also help that I found a $20 voucher for 2 bucks at BucksLive! hahaha -
Review from Andrew Y.
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
prices are pretty average. Service was fast and pleasant. The fish tasted okay to me. Definitely a place to go if you're in a pinch. There is a lounge right next door. We had 6 people, it was about $120. They don't take Discover.
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Review from M C.
San Francisco, CA
I don't know how this place got 3+ stars. We came here because of a Groupon special. So we made the reservations and ordered away. The place looks nice but the menu was hard to decided. Everything was really overpriced, but we still ordered a bunch of food to try.
We ordered a few sushi, the pizza, couple of the rice and even a salad to name a few. The sushi was nothing special. The fish wan't that fresh because it was a bit on the tasteless and watery side. The salad was much the same, a few vegetables with some chunks of watery tuna. The unagi fried rice was OK. The curry rice from Volcano tasted better and is half their price, with their overcooked chicken. The pizza was the worst. It was like eating a fish sandwich, most of the flavors came from a sauce they drizzled on top.
What made things worst was a group of people that apparently knew the owners. These people were loud, I swear they were screaming like someone was trying to kill them.
Would never return here. -
Review from John D.
San Francisco, CA
12/8/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Eclectic decor inside and decent sushi menu, although in no way would I describe it as authentic Japanese sushi. I also thought prices were too high, although the yelp deal I purchased made the price more palatable
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Review from K F.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 12/7/2011 1 photo
They have a paper-bowl shabu that is super cool and delicious. The beef was very tender, the broth tasty, and the service was very good.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/21/2011
I've been here 3 times, and every time it has been great. The albacore sashimi appetizer is… Read more »
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Review from Alisha T.
Daly City, CA
12/14/2011
I came to Blue Fin, for the first time, just a few nights ago with 2 other people. The service was decent and the food was better than I expected. The atmosphere was great. I loved the decor of the restaurant. We ordered the fresh oysters, stuffed mushrooms, volcano rolls, dragon rolls, lady finger rolls and the teriyaki chicken with rice and veggies. Everything was good, but the volcano rolls were my favorite. The prices weren't bad and we were all full. We all agreed that we'd come back and eat there again. Yay!
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Review from Jen K.
San Francisco, CA
12/1/2011
My fiance and I had a fantastic dinner here. We arrived at about 6:30 on Saturday night and were seated right away. The waitress was very attentive and refilled our happy hour drinks and let us know when it was about to end. They had a large selection of special sushi rolls. The 49'ers roll and Grasshopper roll were both fresh and delicious. We will definitely be returning for happy hour again.
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Review from Robyn S.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I decided to try this place out because they had a great Groupon deal: $30 for $60. It turned out to be a really fun time and the drinks are awesome. I love Lychee martinis and they have a frozen one that is one of the best i've had (and I've had quite a few!). The sushi was up there as sushi goes, the service was good but the price was definitely right.
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Review from Brett P.
San Francisco, CA
9/25/2011
Just went there last night with my fiancée and it was a pretty good experience. The nice ambiance and the place felt clean and open. The service was pretty good. Not great, but definitely not bad.
The fish itself tasted extremely fresh and tastey, but I feel like the nigri lacked the proper amount of rice to go with it.
We got a couple of rolls as well. I think they were the Dragon roll and the Crunchy Spicy Maki. Both were very good but not mind blowing.
Overall, this is a solid sushi joint that I would definitely go back to again. -
Review from Holly Rose F.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2011
Great things about this place:
1. Happy hour every day from 5pm - 7pm. Who wouldn't be happy for a $4.50 glass of wine that is filled to the top?
2. Very tasty rolls. Some of them are pretty unique which keeps things interesting.
3. They deliver! Makes the lazy person in my happy.
4. They have flat screen televisions in the bar area and the dining area. Now I never have to miss a Giants game while I eat.
Things that are not too great:
1. Some of the rolls are a bit overpriced for the amount of the ingredients that are in them.
2. If you go with a large party, they are not as attentive (based on my experience).
I've been numerous times and will continue to keep on going! -
Review from Jen P.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
The food was so amazing - my husband and I got two rolls (Romeo and Juliet and Ice-land) and the sashimi chef's platter. It was soooo good. The fish was fresh, delicious and just the perfect amount of firm and very generous portions. The shiro-maguro and the walu were the stars of the evening, but everything was great.
The rolls were also very good. Usually my husband and I just stick to sashimi or nigiri, but rolls looked so creative. Also everything was very affordable - we walked out completely fit to burst for about half of what it cost us at our usual haunts. The prices weren't any different, but the portions were much larger.
The only downside to the place was the lounge next door. I don't think this would usually be a problem, but OMG the 49's were winning and the people in the lounge were pretty loud.
Great night, highly recommend. -
Review from Andrey P.
San Rafael, CA
11/10/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I am re-reviewing this place. I have been coming here for 7 years since they opened. After the first 2 years the went down hill. I bought the yelp deals they offered because I knew the place and it was a good deal.
The yelp deals reintroduced me to this place. Wow am I glad!!!
They have the best specials and super fresh fish. The staff is very helpful and the chiefs are very nice.
They have a full bar and great for a couple, quick snack and large group.
Cant wait to go back!!!! -
Review from Jay V.
San Francisco, CA
6/30/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 2 Check-ins Here
I really wanted to like this place since it is so close to my apartment, but unfortunately it fell flat. The food was actually pretty decent but the 45 minute wait for 3 sushi rolls was ridiculous. My wife ordered the salmon teriyaki which came out in about 10 mins, but apparently raw sushi rolls take longer to prepare. 35 minutes longer....
I went right after they ran their Yelp deal and maybe they weren't ready for the rush of business, but c'mon 45 minutes for sushi rolls on a Wednesday?? They seated us in a side room adjacent to the bar so we thought maybe they forgot we were back here...make sure to sit in the front dining area. Also, if you've purchased a Yelp deal make sure you print it out, I had to go back and forth with the manager since I only had the code on my phone (which should be all they need). I'm going to order takeout or just drink at the bar with my next deal.... -
Review from Adam L.
San Francisco, CA
9/15/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
They have a great saltwater aquarium! Love it! Oh, really good sushi too. I would definitely come back here again.
We ordered a bunch of stuff - Tempura app, Yaki-Udon, and 3 of their House Special Rolls. My wife and I could not finish everything so we took the noodles home and they were just as delicious the next day.
One issue - we ordered a roll with shiso leaf but it was not included in the roll. We mentioned this and got a leaf on the side.
All in all, great experience, wait staff is very friendly and attentive. -
Review from Christa Y.
Chicago, IL
6/28/2011
REALLY love this place. It really is the most innovative sushi place in terms of taste and presentation as well as everything else on their menu.
For instance, they have unagi fried rice. Who would have thought of that? And it tastes amazing! Their rolls are extremely creative as well. And their sake selection is well thought out.
Everything I've tried here is out of this world, and it's very nicely put together in terms of decor.
I go to Blue Fin when I know I want to treat myself to a top notch sushi/contemporary Japanese fusion dinner. -
Review from Chris G.
San Francisco, CA
11/18/2011
Went here a couple time with my coworkers and boss, the service is good. The stuff are a bit pricey but the food are delicious, there is also a bar section in this restrauant. My favorite has to be their Fried rice. The Orange design for dessert is so good!
