435 5th Ave North
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701
727-823-4050
The secret is out! Downtown St. Pete’s thriving restaurant scene has reached a new level with the opening of Souzou. Souzou translates to “equally meaning creation and imagination.” After just a glance at their mouthwatering menu, one can see why this name is fitting. Souzou’s masterful creations are most certainly imaginative!
While we familiarized ourselves with the menu. I took a look around the Souzou restaurant’s unique space. Souzou falls into the Asian fusion category with sushi and many Asian fusion style dishes. Resembling bamboo, the black wooden interior design enhanced this modern, trendy restaurant in Downtown St Pete. The crisp, clean, and sleek furniture coupled with the industrial-style ceiling details were inviting for all guests alike. The staff wore black shirts and dark blue jeans which highlighted the modern and fresh, yet elegant, style of the restaurant.
There were many seating options depending on whether you were looking for a romantic, quiet dinner in a super comfortable booth (the booths were amazing), wanting to enjoy a seat at the bar, or feeling like meeting new friends by grabbing a chair at one of the communal tables. The bar was full, but not overly crowded. There was a TV at the bar to catch the latest sports game or news program. The main bar also extended through the restaurant as a sushi bar for those who wanted a front row seat for the sushi rolling action.
Our server, Heather, steered us in the right direction based on our tastes and preferences. Also, she encouraged us to try something new and we were so glad she did! We really love it when a server tells us definitively to get this and not that!
Drinks:
Ginger-Cucumber and “Angry” Asian tequila cocktail–Souzou’s take on a margarita. Daniel totally digged the smoked salt on the rim!
Lychee Martini and Elderflower cocktails both had a bubbly-spritzer feel and were delicious, strong, and not too sweet! Katie Lu approved!
Food:
Everglades Roll and Category 5 Roll…Souzou takes pride in having the highest quality ingredients, and the sushi is no exception. Rolls included real snow crab and house made wasabi. We were in awe of the amount of fish and flavor from both of the rolls. The flavors really came through…unbelievable! If you like sushi, then order this!
Gomasio Tomatoes…Fried green tomatoes with fried Japanese basil leaf…Our server recommended that we create a little tower with the basil, sauce, and tomato in order to get all of the flavors into each bite. Very crunchy and flavorful with a southern influence.
Ebi Katsu Kimchi Pancake with shrimp–Wow! Really different and a perfect appetizer for sharing! The shrimp had an amazing sauce with a little kick.
Chahan Japanese Fried Rice: Nicely presented with a quail’s egg on top. The flavors were good, but we thought it was a bit too salty. Lots of crunchy, fresh vegetables added to the texture.
Sesame Seared Tuna with jasmine rice and a gorgeous fruit salsa…This piece of Big Eye tuna was the best tuna that either of us could remember…it completely melted in our mouths. We could tell it was perfectly fresh…not fishy at all. Hands down, the favorite entree of the night.
Fish Yakitori with green tea soba noodles…the fish changes every night. We had salmon. It was delicious! Great sauces, perfectly cooked. The green tea noodles gave it the Asian fusion flavors we were hoping for.
Our dinner entrees were large and plentiful. Without hesitation, Souzou impressed us beyond words. The attention to detail, house-made wasabi, and use of strictly the purest and freshest ingredients made everything we ordered stand out. It takes a lot to impress us, and we were wowed at just about every bite! On top of that, the attentive staff and experienced management made the entire experience nothing but enjoyable.
Conclusion:
Located a few minutes from Beach Drive, Souzou has plenty of parking and is well worth the short drive from the main strip. The level of quality surpasses almost everything we have seen in St Pete thus far. Plus, as huge fans of Asian Fusion, we can honestly say Souzou is one of the best. The chic ambiance mixed with outstanding food is a perfect recipe for success in the growing downtown St. Petersburg restaurant scene. We are looking forward to going back for their great drinks, sushi, and imaginative, creative dishes.
Also, Souzou has a separate room for private events. Future plans include a weekend brunch and lunch specials. We are excited to check out the new menus!
4 Stars… Exceeded Expectations!
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