Hiroshi Seki has been rolling sushi in the Delmar Loop for over 20 years. It was at Seki where many locals got their first taste of both sushi and authentic Japanese cuisine.
Seki's namesake restaurant changed hands yesterday.
A gentleman known to all simply as A.K, the owner of Blue Ocean Sushi, the all-you-can-eat (AYCE) sushi house located on a side street not far from Seki, took over last night, and will convert it into more of a AYCE sushi establishment.
I know what you're thinking and it's not that way at all. The key words here are "more of."
You see, A.K. has had his eye on Seki's since he opened Blue Ocean almost three years ago. He respected the man and the place so much he even helped prep there for the better part of a year. When Seki decided he wanted to move out of state to be with his daughter, he asked A.K. if he was interested in buying the restaurant. Confessed A.K., "I'm not sure Seki realized it, but for me it was a dream come true."
Seki is "true, authentic Japanese," according to A.K. "and what I do is new sushi, bring sushi to the young people. Now we can do both." He intends to keep its menu intact (why not, he knows all the recipes!), sushi and sashimi included, but will also add Blue Ocean's AYCE component to the mix. "I want Seki's spirit to live on," he said, "but also take advantage of what I have learned."
The restaurant will retain the name Seki, at least for a time, and Blue Ocean will continue to do its AYCE thing as well. A.K. sees no conflict, noting: "Our sushi kitchen at Blue Ocean was so small we were not able to keep up, and on weekends had to cancel the all-you-can-eat. This new arrangement should help."
During the transition period, both Seki and A.K. will be on hand to reassure the old customers and welcome the new. Concluded A.K., "Seki is now happy, I am happy, now we need to make sure the customers are still happy."
