Blue Nami Gives Me a Whole New Impression of Roseville

From our first encounter with Blue Nami Sushi in Roseville, I was impressed, bringing an expert Sake and rice connoisseur with me gave this restaurant far more than the standard once over and I am still surprised with the overall impression. As the Roseville area, by location, is so inland, I was not anticipating the fish quality or sake quality to be anywhere near that of San Francisco; but that is the delightful surprise that I found in the suburban area of Roseville.
Upon entrance the décor was Earthy- vibrant with red, greens and mahogany throughout the room. Embracing all the natural elements, the restaurant also had a full wall covered in a waterfall. Along the back of the venue was a curved bar stocked with some of the best Japanese’s beer on the market including Asahi, Sapporo and Kirn Ichaban and a wealth of sakes from Sake Tenranzan “Sake Romance” Junmai Nigori Sake at 17.95 - very smooth, to Born’s “Dreams Come True” at 399.99 bottle.
If you follow the bar around it curves into the sushi bar where the chefs are quickly and efficiently creating nigiri and sashimi with some of the best ingredients that I have seen in Sacramento outside of Billy Kru’s restaurant. From waitress’s dressed in kimonos, whose service was very traditional and respectful, as well as knowledgeable providing great recommendations, this was a full Japanese experience.
Now on to the main event! The tasting menu designed by the expert sushi chef premiered selections that were only available on request. Featuring an appetizer of Barbequed Albacore tuna in a sweet spicy mayo, the tuna was seared to perfection and very well seasoned. We were then served the entrée “half moon” which was composed of a layered dish including Toro of Ahi tuna, mango, crab meat, avocado, salmon, spicy tuna, pickled seaweed plated with a garnish of pineapple. This unique dish was an excellent display of their superior fish quality as well as it showed the chefs ability to pair flavors that work well separately or come together in a strong and cohesive flavor profile that was exquisite to taste. The second dish was a una maki roll called the Firecracker, was a fabulous meld of flavors set to a flame on a cast iron dish, this unique dish will appeal to all your senses with a spicy jalapeno sauce made with scallops and spicy tuna. The beautifully plated dessert was green tea cheesecake served along side a vanilla wafer cookie creation, drizzled with chocolate sauce and kae-sa- luk otherwise known as Japanese style fruit carving.
Located in The Stone point Plaza off Eureka Road in the, surrounded by Roseville great’s Paul Martin’s American Bistro, Fat’s Dim Sum and across the street from Crush 29 this restaurant is in good company and giving myself and others a whole new impression of the culinary abilities Roseville has to offer.