When you want to escape the bustle of Fort Lauderdale, enjoy oceanfront views and savor a menu of sushi, sashimi and nigiri, take a trip to the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort & Spa. Inside on the second floor, you will find a contemporary new restaurant called Amatsu — meaning “heavenly” in Japanese — that opened quietly back in December.
Heavenly is what you’ll get when you visit this hidden gem — from the melt-in-your-mouth seafood to the beautiful setting (white walls, tables and chairs and gorgeous views) to the stellar service. Talented Sushi Chef Kon W. Lee. — who brings to Amatsu 17 years of experience — adds to the experience with his innovative menu. Chef has created a menu adding a modern twist to traditional offerings — which brings an exciting variation, but doesn’t mask the flavor.
While Amatsu is known for its signature dishes like the Amatsu Roll (snow crab dynamite, masago, cream cheese, asparagus, tempura flakes, i/o with seared tuna with avocado on top served with a garlic butter eel sauce); and the Westin Paradise Roll (pink soy paper, tempura, soft shell crab, frisee, spicy mayo, avocado and shrimp on top) — it was the Truffle Ahi Tartar that brought me to heaven. This one has been added to my new favorite dishes. The flavors and textures of the fresh yellow-fin tuna masago, micro shiso sprouts and a truffle kimchee sauce blended together for an unusual, but seamless combination. The tuna by itself, with the smooth, firm bits, was fantastic, but the crunch of the lotus root chips added a finishing touch.
Amatsu is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week starting at 11:30 a.m.
Amatsu Sushi & Saki is located at 321 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale; (954) 467-1111.