I am a huge sushi fan and have been for many years. We had our honeymoon in Japan and I dragged myself to Tokyo fish market at 5am to eat some of the finest (and best value) sushi in existence. I miss this. Bristol has next to nothing in the line of decent sushi which makes Yo! Sushi the default choice. The visit for today was at the behest of Boy 2 who decreed it as part of his day (where he gets to choose anything to do within reason) following on from watching X-Men: First Class.
I have been to Yo! Sushi in Cabot Circus several times now, it is not bad, but really it not good either. We arrived at around 2pm and the place was busy but not chaotic and were asked to wait for a table to come free. For some reason the back half of the restaurant was closed and empty, with everyone in the front giving the impression it was busier than it actually was.
The table in front of us was vacated and cleaned. The manager (I presume) ambled over and told us that it would be a few more minutes until somewhere would be available, so I pointed at the table and asked why we could not use that one. He told us that we couldn’t use it as it was not clean. I told him I thought it was a shame he felt that way given that we had watched the lady standing next to him clean it. Thus we were seated.
We had a selection of sushi and hot dishes, which were a study in mediocrity. We had some nigiri, make, a futomaki, gyoza, tempura, miso soup, chicken teriyaki and California rolls. Like I said, not bad, not good either (except the tempura which was horrible). The portions are small and the fish doesn’t seem completely fresh, I always feel mildly uncomfortable with the length of time it sits out on the counter while the sushi is being made. The menu is also incredibly safe, there is none of the more exotic dishes you find in Japan (or indeed even in the USA). There are a number of items which you would not find in Japan as they are definitely made for the British market. Consider it Anglicised fast food, non challenging and somewhat bland.
If you are a sushi virgin you may find the experience somewhat challenging. None of the dishes are labelled and although you are provided with a picture book menu trying to match what you are seeing with a picture in the book is tough going, especially as they keep moving past.
The worst part is always the bill. Yes, the colour coded plates have their pricing prominently displayed, but it always seems to add up to more than you expect for what you have eaten. I can’t complain really but I do feel somewhat ripped off every time I go and generally I only go if I have a discount voucher. Paying full price was uncomfortable.
Yo! Sushi (Cabot Circus), Glass Walk, Bristol, 0117 321 3161
Food: 5
Décor: 4 (think warehouse)
Service: 5
Cost: £65 for 2 adults and 1 child for lunch
Date: 5 May 2011
Naked Lunch 