Tabu Sushi & Grill hopes to pull in some of the clientele who once only headed for Girard Street after dark to carouse at Jack’s. Three business partners designed Tabu to serve as both a sushi bar and late-night lounge to bring back some of the nightlife. The bar is fully stocked with high-end liquors, wine and beer. The lights dim and music plays until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Live jazz music plays until 9 p.m. on Sundays. Tabu Sushi opened three weeks ago at 7734 Girard Ave., across from Mary Star of the Sea. Owner Andy Sliuman also runs a Tabu Sushi & Grill in El Cajon and Del Mar. “The concept was to make it a cool, modern, hip sushi bar,” said partner Pablo Aguilar. The 27-year-old helped open the Hard Rock Hotel and worked in VIP services at the Ivy Hotel downtown. Aguilar said he and Sliuman sat looking at the plain walls of the Girard location for hours before they decided to decorate the restaurant in contemporary colors of white, gray and black, and then to place a rolling red drapery across the ceiling to add warmth. An immense black glass wall hangs behind the bar seating. The lights change colors to fit the mood. A specialty sushi roll to Tabu is the Kai Roll: tuna, salmon and yellowtail shrimp with two main surprises — spice and a cucumber wrap instead of the ubiquitous seaweed. Executive chef Tony Parker wields his knife like a writer moves a pencil. He moves at an insanely fast pace — slicing into a fresh oyster, carving cucumber into ribbons — and rarely cuts himself after 17 years on the job. Before Tabu, he worked at Benihana. “I grew up in Chula Vista and I love spicy food,” Parker said. “Then I realized that 95 percent of the people love spicy food like I do.” So, Parker weaves jalapeños and habañeros into enough rolls to satisfy others who enjoy spice as much as he does. Aguilar said business is flowing so far, despite little marketing. Tabu Sushi & Grill is open Mondays-Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; and Sundays, 1-9 p.m. Call (858) 456-2020.
