Izakaya Den

Izakaya Den Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: Izakaya Den is named for the lively after-work pubs in Japan that dole out both saké and sustenance. Unlike its Sushi Den sibling, however, Izakaya is not all about the raw stuff. Yes, you can partake of sushi, but the globally enterprising menu is a whirlwind around-the-world ticket strutting a slew of sharable dishes.

Food & Drinks: Try the hand roll sampler, a three-pronged combination of spicy tuna, crab and beef that’s a do-it-yourself wrap-and-roll affair, or the roasted halibut, dusted with saffron and paired with white asparagus, akatosaka (seaweed) and a yellow tomato gazpacho. The number of bottled bubbles poured here is longer than some restaurants’ wine lists, and the saké selection, including wooden box saké and several high-end options, is impressive. For those wishing to dine al fresco, the second-story patio, with its retractable roof and own bar, is the ideal respite, plus you can't beat the views overlooking the lively streetscape of South Pearl.