Side Street Sushi

This place has a TON of potential but unfortunately is inconsistent — Let’s start with the best parts — the cocktails and the sushi are INCREDIBLE (try the Nirvana roll). Some of their non-​sushi items are only OK, nothing special. But the biggest inconsistency I’ve experienced is the service — sometimes it’s fine (never great) and then there are nights where it is truly horrible. Like last night, where we had to wait forever, fight to get in an order, the kitchen was super slow, and they oversold us on dessert. And it wasn’t like they were that busy. The worst part is that the wait staff didn’t even acknowledge that any of the delays were happening or apologize, much less offer us anything for free.
Still, in my book it’s one of the top 5 restaurants in Pagosa Springs, and could easily be top 3 if they would deal with some of the inconsistencies. If they really want to reach their potential as a business, they’re going to need to up their game with the staff.

Ordered sashimi upon arrival. Took one hour. Ordered 2 rolls to share with my wife, the other two couples did the same. The snotty waitress brought out my friends’ orders, but not ours. I told eveyone to go ahead and eat. Our friends finished, and when I inquired about my order, they hadn’t even begun preparing it! I was told they got real busy (the place was ¹⁄₃ full) and had to fill a huge table’s order before mine. I asked in what world do you bring out one guest’s order an hour after everyone else had finished? The manager actually said, «That’s how it works in all sushi restaurants, whether in a big city or a small town.» Huh? I’ve eaten sushi in more than 10 countries over the past 40 years. That’ not how it is anywhere. Ever. Don’t eat here.

Decided to try this place on NYE… Such a disappointment. Our appitizers came out after the main course… Which was brought out sporadically and not at one time. One main course came out 30 minutes after everyone else’s.
We had to ask repeatedly for water refills and don’t even think about ordering additional drinks from the bar or sushi rolls. Service was slow… food was bland.

Wanted to check it out since I had heard of it from an account. Highly disappointed. I travel 90%of the time for work so I’m eating at all sorts of places. The menu was totally over priced. Ordered the edamame (too much salt) and hibachi shrimp that came with fried rice and veggies. The shrimp and veggies were so badly charred I couldn’t eat it. I took 1 bite. I only ate the scoop of fried rice. I told my server and whomever she spoke with comped my edamame. So basically I paid $ 17 for a scoop of fried rice. I worked in the industry, if someone doesn’t eat or touch their entrée, typically the server asks or they get you something else. Won’t be back their and will not recommend.

So the flavor is great but the $ 17 rolls are way over priced for what you get. A rainbow roll already using fake crab that gets wrapped in fake crab meat and goes up $ 11 is a joke and makes me question the quality of the other fish. Again it is decent sushi but just know it’s fake crab meat.

Wish I could give zero stars and go back in time and not spend 220 at their other restaurants this week. Promise not to ever visit again due to RUDE STAFF. What sushi restaurant doesn’t let a 6 year old kid eat something from another restaurant — my husband and I have never eaten sushi where we didn’t drop over a hundred bucks and we usually eat sushi multiple times a week. We were so excited to have found this place. They sat us with us carrying my daughter’s food in and then after sitting there for 8 minutes without anyone coming to see if we need a drink they drew straws for someone to tell us our daughter, that at this point had two bites left, that we needed to go with outside food. What kind of high faultin’ establishment doesn’t let a kid eat their dinner — after they sat us with it? This group of restaurants lost our business and we are traveling with several couples that were looking forward to giving them all a shot. I would rather pass than visit rude wait staff regardless how good the food may or may not be.

Friends took us to this sushi place while visiting. It is the only sushi place in Pagosa Springs so it really doesn’t jave to be good… but it is! It is fantastic, the food was excellent and the service was great. I was very surprised there wad such a wonderful sushi place in the middle of the mountains,

I was dying to try this place out ever since my mom told me Pagosa had a new sushi bar. My first thought was «Good sushi in Pagosa? No way!», but regardless of the fact that it is in the middle of the mountains, the sushi was fresh and delicious! The Gyoza (potstickers) were amazing and I’m so glad because that and seaweed salad (which was also delicious) are two of my favorite sushi appetizers. We had so many different rolls I can honestly say I don’t remember which ones were my favorite. They were all amazing, some of them with awesome southwestern twists, and I can’t wait to go back the next time I visit my mom. The new uptown location is way better than the downtown location. We called in and made a reservation just to make sure we could get in, considering that the downtown location was always booked. The family that owns side street sushi also owns many of the other upscale restaurants in Pagosa, and none of them are disappointing. If you have a craving for some sushi and don’t wanna go all the way to Durango for it, then I’d definitely recommend this place to get your sushi fix!

Not excellent, but definitely a step up for Pagosa.
Service and atmosphere are accommodating and pleasant.
Food was OK.
Sashimi salmon came on a bed of fresh beets string cut. The salmon didn’t quite have the flavor I’m used to from other places.
The rest of the rolls looked decent enough.
There aren’t many options as far as entrees besides the rolls. Maybe they can expand their menu a little more in the future.

These guys are awesome. Fresh, good quality sushi. Comparable to any place in Denver. Some unique Southwestern twists too!

I couldn’t believe that a mountain town could have such great sushi, but it’s true. YOU HAVE TO GET THERE EARLY!!! This place is literally a hole in the wall. They are moving to a bigger location soon, but until then, make reservations or get there when they open. We had the cowboy from hell roll and a dragon roll. Omg, it was a great way to spend the day after the hot springs. So refreshing! As always, the staff is super friendly. Must make this place a stop before you go.

Meh. For a $ 17 roll it was not great. I gave this place three stars because it’s the only sushi place In Pagosa springs and The staff was awesome! The waitress was very nice and fun to talk to. The head sushi chef was nice and proud of his product and menu. Keep in mind he didn’t make my rolls which was kind of a disappointment and probably why it wasn’t as good. I ordered two rolls and they were equally disappointing. Sucked paying a $ 40 bill for food you didn’t enjoy very much.

Excellent service & cozy classic atmosphere. The presentation was beautiful but it needed to be as it disguised the imitation crab meat and factory chopped spiced tuna. Prices for a hot cowboy roll was 16.00 with chopped spicy tuna and imitation crab meat on the top. Disappointed after hearing the chef boast about have connections to the best fish. Clearly the chopped tuna was a bulk item that filled the cowboy roll. California roll equal to grocery store standards. Disappointed.

We were hungry and could not get a resrevation in the restaurant that wanted to go to, so we tried Side Street Sushi.
The raw fish that we got (yellow tail and salmon) was fresh enough for our liking and in fact better than I was expecting. The edamame had this sauce on it that detracted from the flavor of the edamame. The tempura plate was not good at all. The sauce (probably out of a bottle and too thick and goopy) was not at all what one would wish for. The tempera itself was not light and fluffy, but rather the batter was hard and dense.
This is a fine option for simple nigiri sushi, but I would pass on any associated dishes here until they find better recipes and execution

I’ve eaten sushi all over America. You wouldn’t think you could find great sushi in the midst of the San Juan Mountains, but you couldn’t be anymore wrong. The atmosphere was great and the food was amazing. If we hadn’t been so hungry we would have posted a picture of the pyramid roll. If you go hungry go early. There are only a few tables and seats at the sushi bar.