We were hungry for sushi, and for a change of pace, wanted to eat some in Omaha at a place we had never been to before.

So we headed to Blue, the 3-year-old sushi bar located in a strip mall in northwest Omaha.

When we were done, and heading back to Lincoln, we were very glad we had made the trip.

The sushi was wonderful, especially the one called “Itchy Seabass,” which was one of the cooked selections found among the specialty rolls. It featured two pieces of baked seabass combined with spicy crab, jalapeno and cilantro.

I had heard a lot of good things about Blue — about the cool decor, the martinis and, of course, the great sushi.

People told me I wouldn’t feel like I was eating at a typical Nebraska restaurant when I was there.

They were right.

Owned by Nick Hogan, Tom Allisma and Tom Buder, Blue purposely steered clear of the traditional Japanese decor in favor a slick, contemporary look.

As you enter, a bar runs along the right side of the restaurant. The dining area is divided into two sections. The front of the house is for couples, with a large blue bench facing four boxlike tables and chairs. The back of the house has several pine-colored tables.

Blue reminded me of a sushi bar I dined at in Los Angeles.

“We wanted an island or Los Angeles or San Francisco feel,” general manage Jimi DiPrima said. “At the same time, our menu is very creative and inventive. We use a lot of sauces on our sushi rolls.”

For those not sure about sushi, DiPrima recommends trying the house special, “Crunchy Blue.” The eight-piece roll features a mildly spiced crab and cilantro in a homemade eel sauce and rolled in Panko bread crumbs.

“We like to bring (Crunchy Blue) to people who have never been here before or never had sushi before,” DiPrima said. “Everybody always comes away impressed.”

Blue is known for its sushi, but the restaurant also has a full kitchen menu with appetizers, salads and steak, chicken and seafood entrees. The entrees range from $14 to $25.

We ordered an appetizer, however, we were on a mission for sushi, and focused our attention on the fresh fish and specialty rolls.

We started with some seaweed salad ($3.50) and coconut chicken strips ($4) from the tempura menu. We highly recommend both.

Next came the sushi. We tried a variety of selections, ranging from the two-piece yellowtail ($5.50) to the “spider maki” roll ($12), which featured baked softshell crab, masago, avocado and cucumber. Large portions of wasabi and ginger complement your sushi choices.

We also recommend the rainbow roll ($10), which had tuna, salmon, shrimp and white fish. Very tasty. Very good.

Blue is popular on Friday and Saturday nights and takes reservations for any number on both days. Tuesdays also are busy because of the restaurant’s $30 per person,“all-you-can-eat-sushi” special.

You might want to check out the restaurant’s happy hour (4-6:30 p.m.). It’s when selected rolls are $3.50 and appetizers are half price. Beer also is half price and martinis are just $4.50.

Blue, by the way, is known as much for its extensive martini menu as it is for its sushi. My companion had one ($7.75), and she was just as happy with the martini as she was with the food.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.

Dining out

Blue

14450 Eagle Run Drive

Omaha

Atmosphere: Casual

Specialty: Sushi

Payment: Cash, checks, credit cards

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5-9 p.m. Sunday

Phone: (402) 445-2583

Web site: bluesushisakegrill.com

Note: Parking, alcohol, takeout, all-you-can-eat Tuesdays

Directions: Blue is located just southwest of the intersection of 144th and Maple streets.