Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Denver

An absolute must-try! The speakeasy vibe makes the experience unforgettable. We arrived early for the pre-dinner experience, and it’s worth it. Every piece of sushi was curated with so much love and passion. You can taste the care and craftsmanship in every bite. The cocktails were incredible. We couldn’t stop ordering them! The service is top-notch, casual yet elevated, vibey, and filled with staff who are genuinely passionate about what they do. 100% recommend, just read their emails so you don’t miss a thing!

Honestly, the staff, food, and overall experience were some of the best I’ve ever had in Denver. I’ll definitely be coming back. Jeffery and his brother were incredible and created a birthday experience I’ll never forget. Whether it’s for an anniversary, a birthday, or just a night out, I can’t recommend this place enough. Hands down the best sushi I’ve ever had.

For my fellow food (and anime) connoisseurs and those who seek true depths of flavor, please do yourself a favor and experience everything this place has to offer... First, let's talk about the ambiance and genuine professionalism, kindness, and excellence of the staff. Starting from the first person you meet, ours was the GM Theo, you could tell he embodied attention to detail and was amazing to us. We then got to meet the rest of the chefs, and let me tell you that you can feel the passion exuding from James, Gerson (I didn't quite get the spelling, sorry chef), Peter, and the Liquid chef Max. Have you ever felt, without words, that someone just made their favorite bite by just watching them place a fried garlic chip? Well, go there and you'll see what I mean. James was kind, hilarious, and genuinely my brotha from anotha motha with meticulous cutting skills and attention to detail. We didn't get to talk to Peter much but he had some great stories about cheeseburgers and personally took care of the most mouth watering wagyu bone marrow, hats off to him. Gerson was the main chef and his flavors and what he had prepared for the menu can not be described with words, only photos and the hopes and dreams that these glorious pieces of fish, bone marrow, urchin, wagyu and rice will someday bless your taste palette and change your brain chemistry. The flavors were extraordinary and true unique expressions of sushi that you simply do not expect. My wife's favorite, the cuttlefish, and mine was the eel. My god I've never expected eel to be so umami but effortlessly light at the same time. I honestly cannot commend how astounding the experience was and truly the best dinner my wife and I have ever had and we thank you guys for making the best anniversary finisher as well (7 years!). Some of these dishes with forever live rent free in our brains and will not need a photo for us to remember them. My wife describes it as a truly unique fine dining experience where you feel like you are being hosted by your friends. Luxurious, yet fun. Peep the photos, enjoy food, and converse about some fine anime with these gents 👌

This was incredible, each piece presented was memorable and delicious. It was impossible to decide what was my favorite, the whole experience from beginning to end was one of best dining experience I have ever been fortunate to enjoy. Highly recommend.

Honestly 5 stars isn’t even enough. From the moment me and my girlfriend walked in for a celebration, this was not just one of the best “sushi” experiences we’ve ever had but one of the best DINING in general. Host was super informative and accommodating, bartender made a heck of an old fashioned, canapé service left a memorable impression, and the 17 course omakase left any doubt I had about if it was worth it absolutely shattered. Cannot recommend this place enough, definitely will be back. (Bonus points for the speakeasy atmosphere, was unique)

This was a TOP NOTCH omakase experience with insanely fresh, unique and delicious takes on each bite by the chefs. The whole team provided a great experience from beginning to end. I love sushi and an omakase experience, my wife and I agreed this one of, if not, the best we’ve had (from NYC to Seattle to other Denver spots). We spring for the truffle and caviar upgrade since it was my wife’s birthdays which was good, but increased the already high price tag. Wouldn’t necessarily say it was worth it, but it was good. Based on observing others, Recommend not doing the drink pairing but rather ordering your own beverages. They did serve beer out of a box which was unique though. The cocktails we had were all very tasty. Bartender even went off menu to create a tailored bourbon beverage for another patron and myself. Intimate sushi counter experience and a staff with a keen eye for detail and welcoming demeanor make for a great experience from beginning to end. If you like sushi - you must do this. It’s well worth it!

It was a very unique place. In total, we had 16 pieces of sushi, and each one tasted different from the others. I really liked it and would love to visit again sometime.

If I could give 10 stars I would this is an amazing EXPERIENCE! Reservation only, can only make a reservation online up to 48 hrs in advanced. Max 8 people. Entrance is in Larimer Square. Unassuming, speak easy like. Taking an elevator down to the basement. Now...the food! Man the food! Omakazes can vary in how many courses but this one was 16 courses of single-bite amazing ness. The chefs were all amazing, fun sense of humor and beautiful explanation of each bite. You may think 16 bites ain't enough but oddly, was pretty full at the end. I'd suggest going in with a "I could eat" belly, not an "I'm starving" belly. The price point is high but so worth it for the experience. A once in a while treat.

Incredible experience from start to finish! We showed up 1/2 an hour before for our welcome appetizers and drinks. I wish I had a written list of everything we had because I can't remember it all!! You take the elevator to the basement and there's a chef preparing the first bites and a hostess to check you in. A small candle lit bar area set the scene for an incredible meal. For our appetizers and drinks we had a tomato &sake shot with a guacamole mousse. It was topped with peppers and some other things I can't remember. We also had a gin yuzu cocktail as a palate cleanser between appetizers. We had something in a seaweed cup, a shrimp dish with tofu foam and crisped rice and to finish off the appetizer bites was an egg custard with Waygu crisps. Then we were moved into the dining room. With only 10 people it felt very intimate and such an exciting experience. There were 3 chefs and a "liquid chef" mixing up drinks. They were all so great. The two chefs to the side would cut up the fish and portion the rice, while the chef in the middle handled all the fine details. We had 17 courses and each bite kept getting better. There was a board behind them of everything we were eating but again I wish I had a list because all the details get lost in my brain. The hamachi, salmon, shima aji, mash and bonito were my favorites. We used our hands, there were no chopsticks. There was a frozen matcha ice cream bite over a coconut cookie and some hot tea to finish the meal. This was a truly unique culinary experience for me and my husband!

10/10 one of the best dinners and experiences I've ever had. Super cool location, kind of a speakeasy below a dope burger place NADC and it's so intimate that you get to know the chefs and servers so well. It's 18 courses but you also get a few courses before being sat at the sushi bar too + a complimentary cocktail. You can buy cocktails or sake pairings when you sit and the Bees Japanese was unreal. I can't wait to go back for a special occasion!!

Bravo! Truly superb service and care throughout the experience. You will receive access details by email prior to your reservation. The location is below NADC Burger, taking the elevator down. Join the group 30 minutes early for the complimentary welcome experience, where you are met with small bites and a cocktail. Then the entire group is relocated to the next seating around the chefs. I dined solo, but never felt alone. The seating and small group promotes good conversation if you're open for it. There was an option for beer, cocktail, or sake flights to accompany the $190pp omakase. With the cocktail flight, I certainly didn't leave with the same faculties I walked in with but the experience was divine.

Great experience. It was about $400 with the sake pairing. It was a fun night and the fish was fresh. Speak easy vibe and staff was fun!

What an awesome experience. You show up at a burger joint and get brought thru the kitchen and to the basement to a hidden restaurant. If you arrive 30 minutes early, you get to enjoy some complimentary drinks and apps. It was amazing from the beginning to end. At the end, he asked if anyone wanted to purchase one more bite and we said yes, it was one of my favorite bites of the evening. Our group was fun and chatty, happy about that! The chefs were friendly and I loved the mixologist too. I opted for non alcoholic drinks and had some of the best mocktails of my life. My husband got the alcoholic beverages and enjoyed them. Here are each course. What an amazing experience and amazing food.

Came here with my sister to celebrate her birthday in July, and this was one of our best evenings together. The fresh and tasty seafood and meat courses, entertaining service and decor were all stellar. The exit via a grimy alley was a bit of a letdown after the amazing experience, but this still deserves the full 5 stars.

Sushi by Scratch is an incredible omakase experience tucked away in the basement of NADC downtown. Finding parking took some time (valet is available at Ocean Prime), and unfortunately, we missed the complimentary drink and appetizers offered 30 minutes before the reservation. The entrance is a bit hidden--you can use the door next to NADC or go through NADC itself, as they are owned by the same company. Once inside, the dimly lit, intimate setting makes for a perfect date night. You wait in a cozy lounge area before being seated at the U-shaped bar, which accommodates only 12 guests. Reservations are a must! The experience is well-orchestrated, with three chefs and a bartender ensuring everything runs smoothly. A thoughtful touch was having the menu on the back of the seating area so you could follow along with each course. The 17-course nigiri omakase was exceptional. Every piece was carefully crafted and meant to be eaten as is--no soy sauce needed. I loved that they grated fresh wasabi in front of us, and the side of pickled cucumbers acted as a refreshing palate cleanser. My favorite bites were the toro, which melted like butter, the salmon, yellowtail, and uni--all incredibly fresh and flavorful. The dry-aged akami, is tuna shoulder which had a deeper red color and rich taste, and the eel, torched with bone marrow fat, was the best I've ever had. Even the jellyfish, a new experience for me, was a delightful surprise. Mackerel is usually too fishy for my taste, but here, it was well-balanced and enjoyable. They ended the meal with dessert and tea, which I absolutely loved--I wish they sold that tea because I'd drink it daily! The only downside was leaving still hungry. For the price, I expected to feel more satisfied. Adding a few more exotic or seasonal fish options, like jellyfish, would elevate the experience even more. Also, exiting through the kitchen into the alley and paying there felt a bit odd. Overall, Sushi by Scratch is one of the best omakase experiences in Denver, and I would definitely recommend it. Just make sure to arrive early to enjoy the pre-dinner drinks and apps, and be prepared for a smaller portioned but unforgettable meal!

This speakeasy style sushi tasting experience left our entire group of 8 in awe! The attention to detail, the welcoming service, and the entire night was a hit! Pricey but well worth it!

Sushi by scratch was an incredible omakase experience from beginning to end! They literally make almost everything from scratch (they educate you on each bite and was so fascinated by all the processes to prep for our dinner). I highly recommend this for special occasions and worth having this experience in an intimate setting with up to 10 people in attendance. The restaurant itself is cozy and has such a relaxing vibe with the dark underground aspect, the burning candles, and dim lighting. The service was phenomenal and I cannot wait to try this experience again and try some other locations too! Thank you chefs for making this an unforgettable dinner, by far some of the best sushi I've ever had!

Great service! Delicious fresh sushi! Best sushi in Colorado hands down! It's a smaller resturaunt so spots get booked very far in advanced.

What a fun omakase experience! Sushi by Scratch is not quite your traditional omakase. The chef is not afraid to take traditional concepts and liven them up with modern takes and even French culinary influence. From a micro brûlée atop your nigiri to torch-rendered bone marrow to elevate your eel, the surprises never end! I also don't love the taste of alcohol and they were glad to accommodate a 50% NA, 50% original version of the welcome shot -- which not only was the first edible shot I've taken (with mussel, uni, and avocado puree), but the only shot I've actually liked! That says a lot! This is such a great spot to celebrate a special occasion as they make sure to highlight your day and even send you home with a signed menu and Polaroid of your experience to capture all the memories. Sushi by Scratch may be a chain and may not be the cheapest omakase in town but it's certainly one of the most fun and most cute/aesthetic and memorable experiences! Props to all the chefs who were so kind and had the best energy! Epic fish but not at all a stuffy formal experience, although you won't be out of place either if you want to dress up. 10/10!

Best restaurant in Denver. The fish is flown in fresh from Japan. Incredible quality and experience. Don't want to give too much away about the experience, just go check it out!