SUSHIKO: 40-09 Bell Blvd., Bayside: 224-2385

CUISINE: Japanese

HOURS: Lunch: Monday - Saturday: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Dinner: Friday & Saturday: 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Closed Sunday with the exception of dinner reservations.

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE: Yes

CREDIT CARDS: All major credit cards

Last Thursday at 7:00 p.m., a new Japanese restaurant opened its huge glass doors on Bell Boulevard, and though the official grand opening has yet to be announced, passerbys can’t miss this latest addition to the boulevard.

In the backyard is a little wooden bridge, taking guests to the other side where tables and chairs await for them to eat, smoke, or just enjoy the small garden and relax while they listen to music and watch the Sushi chef prepare dinner.

Inside, various fish are wrapped and displayed in the sushi bar facing customers who choose to sit at the cherrywood settings, or if they prefer, a number of booths are also available.

Upstairs is a party room which seats roughly 35 guests. On each table sits a rose in a vase, and hanging above are yellow, cylinder- shaped lights, casting a soft glow. In the back, two rooms are set up Japanese-style.

The customer is the king, according to one worker, and chef’s at Sushiko know no boundaries. Any roll offered on the menu, which is still being worked on, can be arranged any way the customer likes.

For the restaurant’s first weekend, House Rolls and Skewers were the delicacies of choice.

The Dragon Roll - broiled eel rolled with rice and avocado ($15.95); the American Dream - fried shrimp, avocado, cucumber, grilled eel and cream cheese ($12.95); and the Spider Roll - soft shell crab in a special sauce ($12.95), were among the favorites.

If something is not on the menu, Sushi chef Mike, with 16 years experience, can more than accommodate.

Every morning, Mike heads to the market and chooses the fish, which Sushiko guarantees is fresh.

Skewers are a house special, and was also a favorite among patrons over the weekend.

Lobster ($8.50), squid, clam, scallop, shrimp, tako (octopus), beef (each $4.50), and chicken ($3.50), are made with vegetables and seasonings, and are ready within minutes, making it perfect for lunch or an appetizer.

The sushi bar ranges from $15.95 to $55.95, depending on your appetite. The regular comes with one tuna roll, and 8 pieces of sushi ($15.95).

Sashimi, (sushi without the rice) also comes in regular, deluxe, and the Sushiko special, offering either 20 pieces for $18.95, 35 pieces for $32.95 or 50 pieces for $48.95.

Many other specials, as well as deserts ranging from cake ($2.95) to ice cream with flavors such as green tea, red bean, ginger and vanilla ($2.95) are also available.

So for great Japanese food, visit Sushiko, where service is given with a smile, the atmosphere is inviting, and the fish is fresh - guaranteed.