Blue Ribbon Sushi Brooklyn   

They have a hand roll of lobster topped with caviar, and that should tell you all you need to know about Blue Ribbon Sushi. No longer do Brooklynites have to cross the river to drop an easy $100 on decadent fatty tuna and raw delicacies, yet those who order wisely can fill up on sashimi here for about $20 a person. The Brooklyn outpost has gentler prices than its Soho cousin, at no detriment to freshness and quality, and the staff is given to random generosity. ("But we didn't order the shrimp." "No, it's a gift from the chef.") If the blonde wood and dojo decor don't exactly fit in Park Slope, the sushi competes with the Slope's other serious raw-fish venues, Tamari and Yamato. Blessed with the franchise name and located directly next door to the unrelentingly popular Blue Ribbon Brooklyn, Blue Ribbon Sushi Brooklyn is crowded and convivial. Daily and seasonal specials augment the menu and all tables have a good view of the sushi chefs busily fanning fish slices on wooden trays. -- Erin Franzman