New Ocean Springs sushi spot is intimate and delicious. Try these specialty rolls.

Hatsukoi Restaurant and Sushi Bar has been around less than a year, but it is already making a name for itself as one of the premier sushi restaurants in South Mississippi.

Tucked away in a mini mall just west of Rouses on Highway 90, in Ocean Springs, the dining room is small, with just a few tables, but it also has a bar and open kitchen that allows you to see what a busy kitchen is like. If you have never watched a master sushi chef at work, this is definitely the place to sit.

Hatsukoi does not have a liquor license, but you are welcome to bring your own wine or sake for a small corking fee.

The menu is well balanced, with a good representation in all categories, from appetizers to soups and salads, rolls, sashimi, fried rice, bento boxes and a kid’s menu.

You know how I feel about small plates and appetizers, and the 16 choices Hatsukoi offers are enticing enough to make it difficult to choose. The best sellers are the calamari, a dish that is hard to get right, boom boom shrimp and the Vietnamese egg rolls made with ground pork, shredded carrots, taro, and onions.

There are almost 30 signature sushi rolls on the menu, making many tempting combinations. Make sure to take your time and check all of them out.

I choose the Flying Dagger roll and it was magnificent. It’s made with a combination of tempura shrimp, red tuna and cucumber, and it topped with more red tuna, jalapenos, spicy mayo and crunchy flakes. It really was delicious, and I highly recommend it.

My lunch partner, David Houston, selected the ell and avocado roll and he was very well pleased as well. I’d also recommend the Black Pearl roll, which has spicy tuna, white tuna, and is topped with red tuna, barbecue eel and a wasabi glaze.

There are also 14 classic rolls that you are sure to recognize. You just can’t go wrong with the California roll, shrimp tempura or the spicy tuna.

I really enjoyed my visit to Hatsukoi. The service was good and it is a family run business, which always ads a nice touch. I love the Japanese style murals on the walls. This place has a distinct Japanese feel to it, but my guess is that the younger generation choose the music, which was classic rock. It was a nice fit.

If you go to Hatsukoi for sushi

Address: 3004 Bienville Boulevard, Ocean Springs

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Phone: 228-300-0609