Stroll down State Street and you’re greeted by a variety of quick, inexpensive dining establishments serving pizza, wings, brats and burgers. True, there are a few higher-end ethnic eateries, but these are all separated from the hustle, bustle and general debauchery of State Street by some curtains.

However, at Sushi Hut, the tiny sushi restaurant that opened last week, tables seem to sit right up against the street. Situated in the 500 block of State Street across from Pipefitter, the new restaurant’s location is odd considering its signature cuisine is often associated with sophistication and a hefty price tag. With only seven tables and an atmosphere that’s far from sophisticated, Sushi Hut on a good day could make raw fish and seaweed approachable and affordable.

The menu at Sushi Hut offers a wide selection of reasonably priced lunch and dinner specials, appetizers, nigiri sushi and sashimi. Diners can also choose from over two dozen different sushi rolls. Some are simple standards, but others just seem too complicated, with so many ingredients that they sound muddled instead of creative or unique. Does anyone really want to eat tuna, salmon, yellowtail, white fish, asparagus and avocado all in the same bite? The signature sushi rolls are also heavy on the cream cheese — it’s an ingredient in at least half of the 12 signature rolls.

On its opening day, Sushi Hut was crowded and hectic, with a line spilling out the door. It seemed like everyone in Madison just had to try “that new sushi place.”

For lunch, I chose a seaweed salad and also decided to share four sushi rolls: a salmon avocado roll, a spicy tuna roll, a spicy scallop roll and a California roll.

But when I smelled the sizzling salmon hibachi lunch special — a reasonable deal at $8.50 plus $2 for fried rice — I immediately regretted my decision and was overcome by food envy. The hibachi lunch specials looked like the most popular and most appetizing choices on the menu. Hibachi is like a Japanese barbecue technique, and for this special, which is served with vegetables and rice, diners can choose from proteins including chicken, steak, salmon, snapper, shrimp and scallop.

Despite the delicious smells wafting from the open kitchen, my lunch suggested Sushi Hut wasn’t quite ready for business. The presentation of my sushi rolls was unappealing and distracting — they were mixed together instead of being served separately. The pieces stuck together and ingredients fell out as I ate, as if they weren’t rolled tightly enough. The California and salmon avocado rolls were the best tasting and also the least expensive, but the spicy tuna and spicy scallop rolls weren’t spicy at all. In addition, the seaweed salad could not be served because the staff was unsure of its quality.

Almost a week later, however, Sushi Hut had worked out many of its opening day kinks. The salmon hibachi lunch special tastes as good as it smells. The dish is served piping hot with a combination of squash, zucchini, red pepper, cabbage, onions and broccoli and a steaming plate of egg fried rice flavored with carrots and onions. The seaweed salad was also ready to go, and it’s a decent size portion for $2.99. The salmon spring roll, one of the cream cheese-free signature sushi rolls, tastes fresh and delicious. For the price, the fish at Sushi Hut seems to be of good quality. Service was fast and friendly, and presentation was more appealing.

Sushi Hut may have gotten off to a rocky start, but it improved dramatically in its first week of business. If you like sushi and aren’t particularly concerned with atmosphere, give Sushi Hut a try. The lime green walls, orange accents and close proximity of fellow diners don’t lend themselves to an intimate dining experience — Sushi Hut may be better suited to a quick lunch between classes. However, as long as it can avoid those same first-day pitfalls even when things get busy, the restaurant will be a good place to satisfy your sushi cravings at a relatively reasonable price and within walking distance of campus.

Sushi Hut is located at 505 State St. Call (608) 467-7770 for more information.