elcome to the evolution of Commercial Drive dining. Lime, the latest Commercial Drive entry, offers area dwellers yet another spot to get your Japanese fix. There are so many sushi spots in Vancouver at this point that when we see a new one setting up shop we can't help but wonder what will make it stand out from all the rest. So the question has to be begged; “What sets Lime apart?”

What's the kicker? Well, for starters, Lime features a revolving door of live entertainment acts. Every night at 9pm there is a live show to suck back sashimi to. The room is equipped with an accommodating stage in the back among the modern Japanese sunbrellas where the visiting rock stars can do their thing. Lime’s live music take on sushi creates a refreshing vibe compared to the usual uptight sushi restaurant feel.

Can sedate suburbanites learn to love a little "mojo" with their sushi? So far, it looks like the answers are yes. But the novelty of a rock / sushi bar isn’t kitschy at Lime, however, and doesn’t overpower the impressive cuisine. Head Chef Masaaki Kudo works closely with Raw Bar Chef Atsu and Kitchen Chef Kayo to create fresh Japanese delights. All of the ingredients used are of the freshest stock and the menu items subsequently vary according to the season.

By pairing the kitchen and the raw bar along with the cocktail bar and a tasty dessert card, Lime has something to please, to a certain extent, everyone. Sushi lovers will fawn over the artistic rolls. They look so good it seems a shame to eat them, but the salacious satisfaction in first bite seals the deal.

The lobster roll with mango, avocado and tobiko in a cucumber wrap ($15) is also a crowd-pleaser. For something a bit more off the beaten path there’s the Anago Roll ($9); an interesting cylinder of barbequed saltwater eel, mitsuba, cucumber, rice and gold tobiko in a cooked egg wrap. It looks like a little golden bauble that could be worn to a senior prom…then eaten.