Sushi, anyone?

A black ceiling, white walls, paper lanterns and hand-painted fish decorate the newly opened Wasabi's Sushi & Asian Bistro at Minden Village.

Ernesto Trujillo, who owns the restaurant and bar along with Armando Martinez and Lori Baxter, says he's proud of the decor and extensive Asian menu they have to offer. Since they opened their doors, he said customer response has been positive.

"We've been busy since May 18," said Trujillo. "Every day we have new people in here. We have a lot of support from our customers. We're proud of it."

All three owners are residents of Carson Valley, which makes it nice, according to Trujillo, who said they are happy when they are able to become friends with the people they serve.

"The good thing about this is a lot of our customers became our friends," said Trujillo.

"We've been getting customers from Carson City, Reno and Tahoe, too. You get to know a lot of people from all over."

Trujillo and Martinez have been working in the restaurant business for 10 years, including at a sushi bar in Reno, where Trujillo said they met many of their customers.

"We want to stick with the same food," said Trujillo. "That's why we have a lot of following."

Wasabi's serves a variety of different plates from Asia, including specialities, such as chicken teriyaki, green curry chicken, beef satay and macadamia nut sauce and Wasabi's salmon. About 40 varieties of sushi are offered at the restaurant or are available to-go. Other menu items are soups, noodle and rice bowls, appetizers, salads and desserts. A full bar is available, including several varieties of wine, beer, sake and specialty drinks.

Popular with customers are the teppanyaki tables, said Trujillo.

In the future, Trujillo said they may add live music.

"We want to improve every year," he said.

The three owners met when Trujillo and Martinez came to work at Baxter's Minden restaurant, The Daily Scoop.

While working there, they served a customer, Annie Reavey, who offered to paint designs on the walls of the new restaurant before it opened.

Reavey, who painted designs on clothing for Elton John, designed several paintings of fish over the sushi bar at Wasabi's.

Wasabi's was named after the green sauce used as a dip for sushi, made of horseradish mixed with crushed wasabi plant.

"We wanted a name people could connect with," said Trujillo, adding that they also chose the white wasabi flower for the restaurant logo.

The restaurant and bar has 32 employees. It is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 5-9 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday.

Wasabi's Sushi & Asian Bistro is located at 1657 Lucerne St., Building D. For more information, call the restaurant at 783-3210.



-- Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 213.

Details:

Business: Wasabi's Sushi & Asian Bistro

What's staying: an extensive Asian menu Ernesto Trujillo and Armando Martinez created while working at other restaurants

Amenities: Sushi bar, teppanyaki tables and a full bar

Owners may add: Live music

Location: 1657 Lucerne St., Building D, in Minden Village

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 5-9 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday

Info: 783-3210