PJ's has bottomed out, The Steer has been slaughtered and Molly's has been exhausted. But don't worry too much - the monotony of these places has killed the excitement of Main Street at night. A change of scenery is in order.
Osaka Sushi Bar and Blu Lounge is the cure for stagnation. Located at 3112 Main Street, this joint establishment offers a different kind of atmosphere.
"I come here to escape the clones," said Douglas Grayson, a senior psychology major. "The people at Blu are actually worth talking to and nothing beats a late-night menu."
From 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., Osaka Sushi Bar specializes in authentic Japanese delights. The main attraction amongst a plentiful menu is the sushi rolls. Each order, which remains affordably under 10 dollars, comes with six to nine rolls. Be forewarned: one order is a meal in itself. A few personal favorites are the shrimp rolls, the eel and cucumber rolls and the California rolls.
"Every time I eat here I always take a few extra orders to go," said Andrew Gurski, a senior media studies major and University Heights resident.
Every sushi roll has its own specific accompanying ingredients. A decision might take a minute, but finding an appealing taste should not be a problem. Preparation is also relatively quick; the wait-time is only about fifteen minutes. Be sure to spend that time munching on the parsley chips, which come highly recommended by Osaka employees.
When your belly is full, just venture next door to Blu Lounge. There's no cover, so take a seat at the bar or one of the various tables. You'll be pleasantly greeted by nothing but feel-good music - the type that always puts a smile on your face and consequently, makes you want to have a drink. However, Blu doesn't serve liquor - just beer and sake. Be careful with it. This Japanese drink comes hot or chilled, but the result is all the same - you will be messed up and in very little time.
The pocketbook won't suffer much, either. A pint of New Castle on tap is only $2 and straight sake is around $4.
"I get tired of having the same drinks when I go out," said Laura Willis, a UB student, "rum and coke, cranberry and vodka . . . and I'm broke when I go home. Blu Lounge is a good change of pace."
The best part of Blu Lounge is definitely the clientele. The diversity of people is refreshing, especially in a world cluttered by the MTV influence. Better yet, everyone seems to get along. This may be due to the ambience created by the turntablists that Blu features - the music is upbeat and positive, thanks to individuals like DJ Lopro, who spins his wax every Friday all night long.
When asked how he keeps everyone's heads bopping, Lopro modestly replied, "I try my best."
3112 Main Street sits on a goldmine: a bar of good vibes, good people and an adjacent sushi bar with a menu to wet the appetite. Osaka and Blu Lounge kill two birds with one stone with their convenient service. The popularity of this establishment simply comes from being different. If everything were the same, what fun would that be?
