Westwood’s latest Japanese restaurant, It Zushi, should find sushi lovers ““ as well as their more traditionally palated friends ““ rejoicing.
Billing itself as a fusion restaurant, It Zushi has the feel of Japanese elegance with an American twist: Large brown booths lined with traditional Japanese table settings sit amid walls lined with plasma televisions and Christmas lights.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the loud Dixie Chicks song that was playing as we were seated.
Those looking for a more authentic experience may find this distracting, but I felt right at home.
Unlike some sushi places that ask customers to select items off a moving belt, It Zushi is pretty typical of American sushi restaurants in nature: Servers bring food to the tables and refill drinks.
Considering its inconspicuous storefront ““ located between Fatburger and a construction site by Parking Lot 32 ““ I was surprised to see how big the restaurant is.
It could easily accommodate large groups, although my friend and I were the only guests there when we showed up just after it opened for dinner at 5 p.m.
It Zushi’s menu is large: They offer a plentiful selection of sushi and other Asian favorites. They have a $10.99 lunch deal that includes an entree with a choice of sides and soup or salad.
Customers may also be enticed by It Zushi’s 99 cent sake deal, which can be served at the tables or at a bar in the back of the restaurant.
However, if you’re going in a group, get there early ““ the restaurant’s been known to run out of cups when the crowds start pouring in. In that case, you can always order a pitcher of the warm drink for about $10.
I ordered a teriyaki dinner combo that included soup, a small salad and several sides. At $13, unlike previous sushi restaurants I’ve been to, I left full without dropping a bundle of cash.
The miso soup was small and consisted of mainly broth and was served without a spoon in traditional Japanese fashion. The main course, though, was large and consisted of several kinds of authentic vegetable and seafood tempura served with special sauce.
The teriyaki chicken was rough but flavorful.
Rice, salad, pot stickers and an orange slice rounded the dinner out well.
The sticky rice ““ not too dry and just clumpy enough to eat easily with chopsticks ““ was perfect.
The service at It Zushi was friendly, professional and prompt, and the dining atmosphere was very clean and hospitable.
It Zushi is open for lunch and dinner on weekdays and dinner on Saturday.