The Venue Sushi Bar & Sake Lounge

went last night when we walked in EVERYONE was outside and they were trying to encourage us to go outside but we like sitting at the bar so we did and there wasn’t the traditional sushi chefs that we see there (we’ve been going 3 – 4 years now). All the food we ordered was coming out really fast from the back not from the «chefs». The food was still delicious, but you could tell that it had been in the fridge in the back not fresh. When you sit at the sushi bars you expect to get the sushi handed to you from the chefs.

Boring and somewhat snobby. Even when it’s completely empty they hassle you about having a reservation (every time), which starts things off making you feel like an intruder, which is not awesome. When thinking about it, it’s kind of like in Pretty Woman, when Vivian was hassled shopping on Rodeo. Although they’re selling fancy duds, in reality the person dissing Viv, is still doing nothing more than selling clothes. Most of the employees are actually cool, but a couple (mainly the hostess) give off a weird feeling.
The food is very good and the Chef/​Owner is very talented. His offerings are inventive and interesting and if you go, you should definitely chose a night when he is at the Sushi Bar. Make sure you call ahead and make reservations, otherwise the vibe might just not groove you.
Maybe we’re the only people that don’t love this place, but it seems overrated and you might politely say… いいえ、結構です

This is my second time to the Venue and it’s been wonderful both times! The atmosphere is modern and sleek with chic music. The staff is very attentive and gracious. The sushi itself is incredibly fresh and delicious. I really like the menu because the simple ingredients don’t overpower the fresh sushi. Anyone who wants a fun evening out with friends or a good date spot will love the Venue!

Great sushi, great service. The carpaccio or sashimi is always excellent. The dragonroll is my favorite. Prices are a bit high, but who wants to eat cheap raw fish?

I’ll get the caveat out right up front: This isn’t traditional sushi, but…
It is so delicious, so fresh, so innovative that it’s the best sushi in the desert. I really couldn’t recommend it any more. Even people who don’t like seafood will find something to enjoy (that’s not yaki or whatever other sushi places offer). Maybe try the prosciutto roll, or kobe beef roll.
They also have a great beer selection.

Amazing service, since you cross the door to the end.
We got a really good Server, it was my husbands birthday and he sent us champagne to celebrate, as a courtesy.
I don’t have anything bad to say about the food, the chef is really good, and the cooks are the best, excellent job from everybody, next time we will let the chef to send anything he wants, nothing can be bad.
Fresh sea food, great presentation, amazing service, every dollar was worth it.

Excellent sushi and what cool décor.
This is an extremely modern, chic, sleek sushi and sake lounge located on El Paseo.
I ordered a Sushi Sampler with 16 pcs, California roll, 8 pieces of nigiri ($ 35), Salad, Edamame, and Green Tea Crème Brulee, pot of Green Tea. The total bill was around $ 70-​$ 80, but every bite was well worth it.
It is one thing to have very fresh sushi, but also to balance the taste and aesthetics on the plate. I would highly recommend the sushi platter. The restaurant did a good job in choosing the types of nigiri (salmon, tako, shrimp, tuna, ahi, etc). I really wished they did have a unagi nigiri though, was really craving it.
The green tea crème brûlée was divine! What a great fusion dish.
There is also an outdoor patio that is heated. The servers were very attentive and knowledgable. We managed to get the recipe for the delicious salad dressing. Great take on the sesame ginger dressing!
Nothing to complain about other than the fact that the other diners were kind of obnoxious (it’s El Paseo, what do you expect though). I had to sit through an hour of listening to this pretentious guy complaining how the restaurant did not serve fugu (pufferfish) and how Tokyo’s sushi was so much cooler.

I gave this 2 stars because the sushi chef LICKED his fingers after every order and touched his nose. When we were sitting at the sushi bar this was highly disturbing. We had to ask him twice to wash his hands! The sushi was good but I will not be back since I can’t get those unclean pictures out of my head.

The most greatest service and amazing sushi !! The best sushi & terrific suggestions! Thank you Lucky!

Unique flavor! Beautiful presentation! Definitely now my favorite place to dine for sushi in the desert!

Fantastic.
I use Unilocal to filter good experiences, from not so good as I travel the US. I don’t often review, but this this time I wanted to post something.
I was in the mood for sushi, but wanted to filter out the cheap conveyor sushi. Unilocal help helped me do this by price… if you travel you know what this means.
For the food, I ordered Sashimi and the signature roll. I was pleasantly surprised with a nice ponzu sauce on the sashimi. It was very fresh, but the light sauce was nice, and a welcome personal touch.
I had the signature ‘Venue Roll’ also. Again, this was delivered with taste and style.
The atmosphere was typical upscale sushi bar appropriate. Not a sports bar, but 2 TVs on current games kept this highly traveled traveler interested.

First and foremost, the sushi served here is impeccably and consistently FRESH! Just absolutely delicious food. Die-​hard sushi fans will be happy ordering very traditional and classic styles of sushi, but there are also remarkably creative variations on the theme that will keep your mouth watering.
Serving such wonderful Japanese cuisine is a talented and cheerful team who clearly take pride in what they do. Everyone is highly attentive and eager to please should you have any particular dietary restrictions. In particular, Sergio will warmly great you, remember your face and is always so excited to have you try something special.
Those like me who love sushi but aren’t big fans of sake will be thrilled to see such a great selection of craft beers, including local microbrews. There is also a very large and impressive wine selection, and they will be happy to make recommendations of what will pair best with your dish.
I only discovered The Venue Sushi Bar a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday was only my second time there, but Sergio welcomed me back like an old regular. Just writing this review reminds me that my experience yesterday was so wonderful, I think I might just go back tonight!

Very pleasant experience. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel right at home. The décor inside is GORGEOUS! Looks fancy, yet very inviting.
We told our waiter we wanted something spicy and he recommended the spicy tuna tostadas for an appetizer… WOW. I’ve never had sushi on a tostada; it was very unique and delicious (we had the chef add avocado & jalapeños). Then we had «The Experiment» sushi roll. It wasn’t as spicy as we thought it would be but it was still good. The «mango, cream cheese & avocado» roll was REALLY good. We asked for it extra spicy and the chef certainly delivered!
The specialty drinks are pretty good too. I had the Flor Dulce (champagne with an edible hibiscus flower).
As we were leaving, our waiter, Sergio, opened the door for us and walked us out. Our experience would not have been the same had it not been for him. He was very attentive, informative, accommodating, and gave great recommendations. We’ll definitely come back to try some of their other sushi rolls if we’re ever back in town. :)

Excellent food
Excellent service
Excellent atmosphere
So pleased! Will be back! Highly recommend!

Can’t get enough of this place. The ambience is very contemporary with a unique menu to match. If you can appreciate a modern spin on classic sushi cuisine; this is your sushi restaurant. Everything on the menu is a delectable Symphony. I suggest the fried Avacado served with crab and spicy tuna. It goes well with the lemongrass coconut sake. Wear a helmet people, this place will blow your mind!

It doesn’t get any better then Venue! Enjoy what the Chef prepares… all perfect samples of sushi. Excellent quality and beautifully presented!

Sushi in the desert?
Probably not ideal, but when the craving hits, sometimes you have to suck it up and cross your fingers for fresh fish!
The Venue is on the pricey side but in return, you get a pleasant, upscale and modern atmosphere, creative rolls, and plenty of drink options…
My party of four enjoyed the Venue roll, the Scandanavian roll, the KoKo roll, and the Experiment. None of these are standard or simple, so only go in this direction if you’re feeling more adventurous!
Lucky was our server… yes, that’s his real name. He was not overly friendly, but he was attentive enough.
My friend used Open Table to make our reservation and we were given complimentary champagne as a result… nice touch!

The Venue has upped the sushi game in the desert, hands down the best of the best. I’m hesitant to write a glowing review because I don’t want The Venue to become the crowded hard to get into El Paseo hot spot.
That said the dining experience was amazing from beginning to end. The staff is very attentive and the food is out of this world. Chef Engin has hit a home run!
Our waiter Sergio let us know what the popular dishes were and then explained the omakase option which is where the chef will prepare your full experience, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy. I’m going for the Omakase on my next visit.
The hit of the night for me was the spicy tuna tostada appetizer, I want more and I want it now. I’m not an fan of the avocado, but the stuffed avocado appetizer was delicious. We also did the 16 piece Venu Sampler, again a great dish of a roll and 8 pieces from the nigiri options.

This is really is «The Place» to go if you looking for a good sushi + good service. Chief Engin Onural has rally outstanding crations. Everything in the menu is very original and tasty. My all time favotite is «The Venue Roll» But everythime when I go there I find something new that i like very much.
And the service in here is always top notch. Lucky and Sergio are cool guys and they always take good care of me.
And the ambience is wonderful. It feels very cozy and upscale. And most importanly it is the cleanest sushi bar in the desert.
It’s always packed in the weekends and busy dinner hours. That is why I go there before the dinner rush or after to avid the long wait. If you going with a big group call in advance for a reservation.

This is by far my favorite place to get sashimi in the desert. While I’ve had better quality sashimi at Kiyosaku, the overall ambiance and service make it more enjoyable at Venue. Every time I come here I order the sashimi platter and house Rosè. You must try the escolar! For appetizers, I like the agedashi tofu and spicy tuna cocktail. The addition of bonito flakes on top of the agedashi tofu adds a nice smoky element to the dish. While beautiful to the eye, I found the dragon fruit pitaya poke to be mediocre and slightly bland.
My one con would be the small table size and oversized wooden menus. One night, my group of four was seated at a small square table inside… I thought we were going to poke each other in the eye while deciding what to order. The menus are really large and awkward. Other than that, great space for dinner with friends or date night.