(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The staff at Sushi Wen toyed around with the idea of a slogan for its new West Brighton restaurant.

"Eat at Wen's and always win!" enthused Yoshi, the manager.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Wen Huang, the owner and the restaurant's namesake, opened his first Staten Island sushi den at 856 Castleton Ave. on Monday. Whether it's Madai snapper (seabream), Atlantic salmon or fluke, Wen typically breaks down the fish from its whole state.

For the Madai, Wen fillets the fish, then plucks out the pin bones. He then poaches it first in the kitchen, then brings it back to the sushi counter where it is trimmed to order.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

From left to right, Nigiri sushi is arranged on a bamboo mat for a chef's sampler that includes yellowtail, hamachi, salmon and Madai.

Wen studied for seven years in Japan under a master sushi chef in Tokyo.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

And if it seems as if the spot is an extension of a home, that's because it is -- Wen and his wife, Yumi, live above the restaurant.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Yoshi, left of Wen, takes great pride in the restaurant. He said the renovations took about a year.

"We wanted to be sure everything was to perfection, so our customers would have the right ambiance," said Yoshi.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Construction of the restaurant has been underway for months.

But the awning just went up in late December.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

And the fish has to be perfect, too.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Wen personally shops for the restaurant's seafood.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Yoshi promises only the best, from the avocado to the fish.

"Tuna is from the West Coast,'' said the manager. "Nothing is frozen. We want to give sushi -- good sushi -- at a reasonable price, too." Lunch Bento Boxes, $11 to $13, come with assorted sushi, sashimi, Negimaki, Teriyaki or Tempura Shrimp, Chicken or Veggies accompanied by miso soup, salad and fried shumai, a California roll and white rice. (It's $1 more for brown or hibachi-fried rice.) The Hibachi Lunch runs between $8 and $11 with clear soup, vegetable and choice of rice.

Sushi bar specials run from $9.50 to $14 Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

He hopes the neighborhood appreciates the quality of what Wen offers. He promises excellent customer service as well, with another Yoshi-made catch phrase: "We prioritize community over commodity!"

(Here: Wen slips the knife blade over the Madai skin.)

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Some sushi presentations come with soup and a roll.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

A California roll or spicy tuna roll might also come with a sashimi presentation.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The restaurant features the sushi bar front and center. This small area overlooks the sushi bar.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

From this perch in the secondary dining room, a patron can peer into the dining room proper.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The secondary area is tucked off to the side.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

It features additional seating.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The logo of Sushi Wen features an arcing fish.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The menu also features Asian fusion dishes.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The run-down of sushi or sashimi by-the-piece includes Blue Fin tuna toro, mackerel, an egg omelet known as tamago, sea urchin, striped bass and seasonal catches.

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Soups include Tom Yum, Seafood Soup with shrimp, scallops, fish cake, crabmeat and vegetables, and a similar presentation in Spicy Kimchi, a hot and sour soup.

Seven salads are presented, including a Black Swan version with crispy fried duck, cranberries, walnuts and mixed greens in a house sauce. That duck also makes an appearance in a Crispy Peking Duck Roll offered with with avocado, cucumber and lettuce. Additional appetizers from the kitchen include Sushi Pizza, fried soft shell crabs, tuna gyoza and pan-fried barbecue-style squid.

Sushi Wen's kitchen also serves noodle dishes, like udon in broth, hibachi dishes (prepared in the back kitchen) and Pad Thai.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Sushi Wen delivers within a three mile radius of the restaurant.

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(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Sushi Wen is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays until 11 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m.

It is located at 856 Castleton Ave., West Brighton; 718-816-8279.