Located just west of downtown Denver, Sushi SaSa is a small, hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant with a flare of Zen elegance. The hip, modern decor pair well with the exotic sushi menu and wide selection of delicious sakés. However, all the fine tastes and aesthetics clash with the surprisingly noisy ambience of this cozy little eatery.

Light wood, modern decor, and white table cloths create a very Zen-like atmosphere; and in the back you will find a long sushi bar where several chefs are putting on their own little culinary show.

The menu is full of both new and traditional Japanese cuisines, and from what I've tried so far it's all fantastic. There's also a great selection of wine and saké to pair your meal with. You can get wine almost anywhere though, so I highly suggest having your friendly server recommend a good saké for you.

To top it all off, the prices are much more affordable than the posh look of the restaurant would lead you to believe. The prices are generally comparable to those of Hibachi, but the food and atmosphere make Sushi SaSa much more preferable.

Despite the noise being a distraction to good conversation, the elegance and food still make Sushi SaSa a great place for a date -- or a casual business lunch. If you enjoy sushi, I highly recommend checking out this little gem!