First Look: Amatsu Sushi & Sake at the Westin Beach Resort, Fort Lauderale

There's been a recent surge in interest in restaurants on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Whether it's lack of space elsewhere, a recovering economy, or restaurateurs realizing that the area could use more options, something is happening.

If you're looking to get away from the average takeout theme, the Westin Beach Resort's Amatsu Sushi & Sake offers healthy Japanese cuisine right across the street from the beach.

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Located on the second floor or mezzanine level of the hotel, Amatsu, which translate to "heavenly" in Japanese offers indoor and poolside tables. It can be accessed through the hotel lobby or the elevated walkway. The small space seats up to 32 guests.

Head Sushi Chef Kon W Lee devised the menu, which features creative, made-to-order sushi; fresh sashimi and nigiri; and other Japanese options. Rolls range from $8 to $25 and include options like the Westin Paradise Roll ($18) a combination of soft-shell crab, frisee, and spicy mayo wrapped in pink soy paper and topped with shrimp or the Spicy Toro Roll ($25) spicy tuna, scallions, tempura flakes, and radish sprouts topped with toro and tobiko.

Appetizers start at $6 and include a number of raw and cooked options. Miso soup ($6) and wakame seaweed salad ($7) are available, as are Amatsu specialties like truffle ahi tartar ($16), a mixture of yellowfin tuna, masago, and micro shiso sprout mixed in a truffle kimchee sauce with lotus root chips.

Hand rolls, nigiri (fish on top of rice), and sashimi are available in a la carte options ranging from the $2.50 veggie nigiri or sashimi to $8 a piece for blue-fin toro.

A selection of hot and cold sakes, as well as various cocktails make up the drink program. Hot sake is available for $8, while cold sakes range from the $14 Moonstone Coconut Lemongrass to the $90 unfiltered Rock "Cloud" or the $90 Junmai Daigingo Rock Sake. Sake cocktails include items like the $13 Rockin' Cucumber, rock sake, vodka, muddle cucumber, fresh lime, and simple syrup, and the $12 Blue Cloud Mojito, Rock Cloud sake, muddled blueberries, and lime juice with a splash of sprite.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

The Westin Beach Resort & Spa is located at 321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-467-1111, or visit westinfortlauderdalebeach.com.

Follow Sara Ventiera on Twitter, @saraventiera.