Pensacola’s new Japanese restaurant, Izumi Sushi & Hibachi, has opened its doors at 1240 Airport Blvd., welcoming diners in for all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner, as well as decorative and delicious sushi boats.
Founded in North Dakota, Izumi Sushi & Hibachi has also expanded into Iowa, Nebraska and Mississippi. Pensacola’s location was in the works for about seven months, according to Jason Liu, general manager of the Pensacola restaurant.
Since opening to the public this month, diners have been dazzled by the restaurant’s wow-worthy décor, including sparkling overhead lights, slender circular booths and chic marble tabletops.
The eye for aesthetics extends to the plates that the restaurant curates. When wooden sushi boats come rolling through the restaurant aisles, heads turn to see the colorful rolls laid out inside.
All the action behind the sushi bar is visible from the dining room, so patrons can watch as the experts roll their orders and precisely top them with thinly sliced avocado or drizzle them with eel sauce.
Quality ingredients, such as the restaurants premium Scottish salmon, help Izumi’s dishes deliver on flavor.
While it may not be the most cost-effective way, it’s an element of the restaurant Izumi is unwilling to compromise on. The ingredients are integral to helping customers take in the full experience of Japanese dining, according to Liu.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new Japanese restaurant.
How does Izumi’s all-you-can-eat work?
One of Liu’s hopes for Izumi is that customers are able to experience all that the menu has to offer, and one of the best ways to do that is by taking advantage of the restaurant’s all-you-can-eat options available during lunch and dinnertime.
All-you-can-eat lunch is $21.95 per adult, and dinner is $31.95 per adult, with discounted rates for children ages 3 to 10 and free for children under 3.
This option allows you to sample appetizers, sushi, hibachi, tempura and more to your heart’s content. The restaurant warns customers to only order what they can eat, as there is a small fee for wasted food. The all-you-can-eat portion sizes are smaller than regular portions, allowing diners to save room to try various dishes.
The whole table orders one sheet per round, and diners can order whatever they want.
Both the lunch and dinner all-you-can-eat menus feature options for appetizers such as dumplings, edamame and spring rolls, as well as teriyaki dishes, hibachi dishes, soups, sushi and much more.
Sushi lovers especially may prefer the dinner all-you-can-eat option, which features 40 of the chef’s special rolls, not including classic rolls, sashimi and pieces of plain sushi.
What does Izumi’s weekday lunch special include?
If you aren’t looking to go the full all-you-can-eat route, you can still score a deal with Izumi’s lunch special, offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The special gives diners their choice of entrée such as their sushi, hibachi, teriyaki and curry, served with miso soup, onion soup or salad.
Does Izumi offer alcohol?
The restaurant offers a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, many starring a special citrus yuzu juice imported from Japan. The bar is fully stocked for diners to design a cocktail of their choosing, go with a specialty off the restaurant’s curated menu, buy a bottle of sake or order a beer on draft.
The restaurant’s signature cocktail, the Izumi, offers a strong citrus flavor shaken with vodka and vermouth. For a slightly sweeter, fruitier option, opt for the Tokyo Sunset, which still incorporates yuzu, but sweetens the refreshing vodka-based cocktail with flavors of peach and mango.
What are Izumi’s hours?
Izumi is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Where do I go for more information?
Follow Izumi Sushi & Hibachi on social media for real-time updates and information, or contact the restaurant directly at 850-285-0273.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Izumi opens in Pensacola offering gourmet all-you-can-eat options
Reporting by Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
