Blue Sea

Located in the Delano’s chic, clublike lobby, this upscale sushi bar (which is, for a change, really a bar — just one long, tall, trendy yet friendly communal table) has always been notable for its differences. Although it is no longer Miami’s only source of ultra-upscale sushi, few others serve oshi — Osaka-style layered and pressed sushi — containing clever fusion combinations such as hamachi, salmon, tuna, and mango jelly. Individual nigiri, usually just pieces of fish plunked on vinegared rice, are minicompositions, one topped with tamari-glazed shiitake, kampyo (calabash squash strips), mayo, and American sturgeon caviar. Even items that sound overwrought (like a jumbo maki of spicy tuna, cooked mahi-mahi, spicy mayo, olives, raisins, and almonds) prove a beautiful balance of heat, sweetness, salt, and savor. And zensai (Japan’s composed small plates) have imaginative touches — like satsumas (mandarin oranges) supplementing a hiyashi wakame seaweed salad — that make them more intriguing than competing sushi spots’ conventional starters. Flavors are enough as is, but it’s fun to overdo things with the tabletop assortment of way-beyond-soy sauces, including Thai peanut, tangy ponzu, Indonesian asam manis (sweet-sour chili ketchup), spicy Korean kim chee, and syrupy eel sauce, plus tamari.

• Cuisine(s): Japanese, Sushi

  Hours: Tue-Thu 7pm-12am, Fri-Sat 7pm-1am

  Price: $$$$

  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards

• Attire: Business casual, Dressy

  Features: Private Party, Vegetarian Friendly

  Serving: Dinner, Late Night

  Entertainment: Live Entertainment

• Alcohol: Full bar

  Reservations: Accepted

  Parking: Valet