When my friends raved about the sake bomb at Sushi O Sushi, I imagined a dingy hole-in-the-wall with drunken karaoke-ers wailing in the background. Fortunately, I have an overactive imagination.

Sushi O Sushi is a hole-in-the-wall, but uses that to its benefit. The sushi eatery occupies a tiny basement and patio, providing an intimate, candle-lit atmosphere great for dates or late-night drinks. The sake bomb is its claim to fame: a shot of warm sake teetering on a pair of chopsticks over a cold beer. Slam the table, it falls in, and chug.

For such a low-key place, the carefully plated sushi is a huge plus. Its "special maki" ranges from $8 to $14 and includes the Lincoln Park Maki, made of smoked salmon, avocado and crab sticks. Otherwise, the pleasantly extensive menu includes the usual noodle dishes, as well as chirashi, katsu, sukiyaki, donburi and many other items. Most entrees range from $8 to $19, but there is a 20 percent lunchtime discount on weekdays.

Hip without being showy, Sushi O Sushi is popular with the younger crowd; there are often large parties that come in on weekend nights. Drop in for a quiet bite during the week, but over the weekend, reservations at this tiny eatery are recommended.

Average cost: $21-$30

Centerstage Reviewer: Steph Yiu