Aozora

AOZORA
407 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Aozoramontclair.com; 973-233-9400

Hours: Mon–Thurs, noon–10 pm; Fri, noon–10:30 pm; Sat, 2:30–10:30 pm; Sun, noon–10 pm.

Price: $$/$$$

Style: Contemporary decor with dramatic backlit wall. Chic, casual vibe suits the Euro-fusion and sushi menu.

Don’t Miss: Spicy miso soup ($3) kicks up the classic with a hit of red-pepper flakes. Maguro taru taru ($6.50) combines fresh raw tuna with avocado and caviar for a delicious tartare served on crunchy wontons. The lengthy sushi and sashimi menu is always supplemented by specials. Excellent rolls include the Aozora ($16) with asparagus, salmon, tuna, scallion, scallop and tempura; the 407 Bloomfield ($16) with lightly battered salmon and asparagus and a heady sauce made from Bailey’s Irish Cream and Grand Marnier; and the Filet Mignon ($14) with avocado and teriyaki sauce. Grazers and the undecided will appreciate the Aozora signature platter ($28), which brings you the chef’s daily choice of sushi and sashimi. Meat lovers, don’t despair. Choose from tender lamb chops ($32) with roasted-garlic mashed potatoes or beef sashimi ($12.50), pairing seared filet mignon with a tangy, house-made ponzu sauce.

Heads Up: Servers are friendly and accommodating. Though many of the dishes are assembled rather than cooked, courses tend to arrive slowly. It’s BYO, so settle in and pour your tablemates a drink. Sake, anyone?

The Scoop: Aozora was purchased from longtime owner Nelson Yip last year by Ben and Amy Chen, who previously owned eateries in Springfield and Caldwell. The Chens have retained Aozora’s tried-and-true menu while adding new dishes such as sushi dumplings, Hawaii tuna tartar and the fire dragon roll.