Why Levels? This was my first question to General Manager Darius Carmino; formerly a wine and champagne ambassador for Brydens, and more recently the manager at Benihana Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Darius wanted to strike out on his own. His vision? An ultra-trendy bar and lounge with a difference; funnily enough that difference has come to define Levels and it is frequently referred to as “the new sushi place”. Yup! Sushi – neither hot wings nor onion rings can be found in this bar, just beautifully crafted, intoxicatingly delicious sushi.

If you tour the restaurant it’s easy to discover what inspired the name. This Ultrabar & Lounge offers you just that, different levels of ambiance, comfort and enjoyment. As you walk in you get that “Ultrabar” feel that is hip but casual with high bar tables and stools. For the connoisseurs and the curious, the sushi bar offers both dinner and a show. There is a small outdoor patio which astonishingly does a fabulous job of juxtaposing the bustling avenue with intimate limingInformation(v) hanging out/socialising in an informal relaxing environment, especially with friends, for example at a party, or on the beach. as it is cleverly blocked from the view of the sidewalk upon which it sits. On the other side, the patio straddles the building’s corner and embraces the view of Ariapita Avenue – so all in all the ground level is a sweet spot for the bar-hoppers and limers.

Go up a level and the mood changes. This is where the “Lounge” part comes in. Both lighting and music are mellow and muted; the art-accented walls lend a cultural vibe, modernizing the 2nd level which is undoubtedly reminiscent of the lovely colonial house the building once was; the couches are wickedly comfortable but there are tables scattered around the perimeter for more formal dining. This level is all about the “mellow-smooth” as any good lounge should be. Served by its own bar, this level feels like you’re in a different place. As we sank into armchairs, sipping on Eye Levels, one of their delicious signature drinks, we thought "life doesn’t get much sweeter" – but Darius proved us wrong.

Up the stairs is the little known 3rd level. A private room which caters to a maximum of 8, this room is defined by sink-into-me couches, plush pillows and our favourite – The Throne – a single couch (or double if you’re feeling friendly) that spins *grin*. It comes with bottle service, but no there’s no minimum so it’s totally user friendly.

So whatever you’re into, it’s a safe bet that you can go get Level-ed with confidence. Feel for a sweet lime al fresco? Hit the deck; like to make friends? You have both the drink and sushi bars to choose from; an intimate tête à tête or a more formal dinner vibe? Just head up the stairs; and of course if you feel like ballin’ in private, call and reserve the nook on the top level.

But Wait!...Pub or Grub?

If you’ve ever passed by Levels during its opening hours on the weekend you know that even though it’s fairly new, the place is happening; but are they drinking or getting in on the grub? Being “the new sushi place”, LizBliz had to know: how have Trinis been responding to this growing trend in Trinidad & Tobago? Trinis seem to love sushi and apparently have a soft spot for cream cheese. He admitted that the newbies tend to stick to the flambéed rolls or smoked salmon but by and large we’re adventurous. I asked about the Levels must-haves; apparently, there are a couple in every category. The menu is categorised by the kind of roll: classic, crunchy, flambéed, sweet and Levels specialty rolls. There are also cold and hot dishes, sashimi for those of us who just love raw fish, and specialties of the Itamae for those who want meat and want it cooked. Thus the menu is built to facilitate palate or as Trinis often say: “well wha’ yuh feel like?” - and it will always be fun to go exploring the menu because Levels and its two core sushi chefs (a father and son team with more than 30 years of experience who hail from Peru) love to experiment! They craft and invent rolls as the vibe takes them, so be sure to look for originals like the Pierre Roll or the Katia Roll, happy expirments we’re so delighted succeeded!

If you love raw fish, and ceviche in particular, the Ceviche Nikkei will make you swoon. The Acevichado sauce is delish and the sweet potato tempura is crunchy and awesome. It’s a great medley of textures and feel free to move “wotless” with finishing off the sauce, it’s encouraged! The Spicy Tuna Roll is also a definite winner. It’s not hard to make decent spicy tuna, but amazing spicy tuna? Levels has it on lock. Go furikake or go home! The Hiroshima Maki is almost too gorgeous to eat…but we did it anyway! With shrimp, scallops, avocado and parmesan cheese, it’s delicious but hell on those hips ladies. The cheese gives it a nice kick but if you’re having a combination of rolls we suggest you have it first as its more subtle flavours may be lost after rolls with a more robust flavour like the Acevichado Roll. Amazing. Seriously. The shrimp-tuna-crab combo makes you sit up and say ¡hola Peru! and the acevichado sauce is a verified party in your mouth.

Darius also recommends the Inferno Gunkan (muy picante!), the Philadelphia Roll (to satisfy that cream cheese craving), the Sweet Plaintain Roll (with its local flair and cream cheese you can’t go wrong) and for the men who want to eat, the Levels Roll is a definite win. The Godzilla is also pretty popular but the underrated Harusame is definitely worth a shot if you’re feeling for a crunch.

LizBliz gives props where it’s due. Levels Ultrabar & Lounge has great food, delicious drinks, a room for every mood and friendly, efficient staff. We will definitely visit again and we don’t even have to plan too far ahead because they’re open every day.

So why Levels? Why not. What’s your Level?

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