Coast Sushi Bar
2045 N. Damen

The Basics
Where you’ll find it: 2045 N. Damen, just north of Armitage in Bucktown. (773) 235-5775. www.coastsushibar.com

When it’s open: Monday-Saturday 4 p.m.-midnight, Sunday 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Reservations: They will take them, but they are very hard to get! Call weeks in advance. Otherwise, the majority of guests seem to be walk-ins. The wait can be long, but you can enjoy your bottle of wine, beer, or sake while you wait.

What you’ve heard: Very good sushi. ... Creative menu, BYOB and fun for groups. ... Already been for years and think it is great for groups, a girls’ nights out or just a fun dinner outing any night of the week with great food. ... Long waits! But great sushi and fun atmosphere.

Visual Aids
First impressions: It is a bustling place. ... Everyone is drinking what they brought in the form of BYOB while they’re waiting for a table. ... Good vibe and a fancy dining room compared to a lot of mom-and-pop sushi spots. ... Nice, trendy decor. ... Cozy but not cramped at all.

The atmosphere: High-energy, young crowd. Probably wouldn’t want a first date here, as it might be a little difficult to have a conversation. ... Loud is for sure, but everyone looks to be having fun and enjoying themselves. ... Ecletic. It’s a good-looking crowd. ... Crowd ranges from dates to groups, even a few solos.

The Experience
At your service: The waitstaff offered good suggestions as far as the menu was concerned, and they were helpful without being overbearing. ... On this night, it was good, but it can be quite slow at times when it gets packed, so I try to order an appetizer or even sushi right away. Sometimes it can difficult to hear what they’re saying because it’s so loud. ... Wish they would refill the water more.

Get your drink on: Coast is BYOB, and the best thing is, there is a 7-11 across the street that has a decent wine selection (beer too!) in case you forgot your bottle or need more when you run out, which is bound to happen, and in our case, did.

Menu variety and prices: Appetizers are good — there are many options and specials too. Great sushi. Their signature rolls are excellent (love the white dragon). The signature rolls are more expensive, but they are larger and easy to share. Everything else is pretty reasonable. Most signature maki and sushi entree creations are in the $15-$23 range, and appetizers are $10 and less. For a group, expect to pay in the $25-30 range per person including tax and tip.

Description of what you did decide on: The spicy crab cake appetizer — it was a cool presentation, as the crab cake was wrapped in a wonton wrapper, skewered and then presented in a bowl with a sauce at the bottom — and edamame (boiled soybeans) to start. Then it was time to move on to tons of sushi: two white dragons (shrimp tempura, wasabi tobiko, cream cheese avicado, scallion spicy sauce, wasabi dressing, eel sauce, tempura crumb), crunchy shrimp, volcano (white tuna in hot volcano sauce with tempura crumb), coast crab (king crab, scallion, masago in spicy mayo with tempura crumb, red tobiko), spicy sweet potato (a favorite), and a fresh Philly (smoked salmon, avocado, cream cheese).

Something that caught your eye: The red striped walls and the bench/chair seating options. ... Only one bathroom per for guys and gals is not ideal. ... The crowd has recently been dominated at times by college students, as one of the last times I was at Coast, there was a 21st birthday celebration where they were sake-bombing and singing. I thought I was at a pep rally. ... Someone next to us asked for fresh wasabi, which they brought, and it turns out it was a hit. Something to remember for next time.

What you’ll tell your friends: For less of a wait, try to go during the week, especially early in the week and before the 7 p.m.-9 p.m. crush. ... Great place to go with a group or before a night out in Bucktown. ... Grab your friends and alcohol and get ready to eat some inventive sushi. ... Reservations are hard to come by, but waiting for a table isn’t too bad. Just crack open a bottle and start to enjoy your evening!

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