At ISU, Japanese precision meets Peruvian fire in a refined expression of Nikkei cuisine. Our izakaya-inspired small plates are crafted for the shared table, featuring pristine sushi, seasonal ingredients, and balanced hot and cold compositions. Located beneath our sister restaurant Fortu, ISU offers warm woods, soft amber lighting, and an intimate, modern sanctuary. Specializing in sushi and small plates with bold Peruvian flair, ISU is a standout choice for Asian fusion near you, one of the best new restaurants near you, and a must-visit among restaurants on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida. Make your reservation now.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 10 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 866-4633
Website: http://www.isurestaurants.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
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Isu Restaurant – St. Petersburg, FL – OpenTable
Additional information · Dining style. Casual Dining · Price. $31 to $50 · Cuisines. Sushi, Creative Japanese · Hours of operation. Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm …
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Reviews
Isaac Blanco
Came here to treat myself for a birthday, left with a phenomenal experience. Sat at the bar (don’t generally need reservations for that), watched them prep and make so many dishes. That in itself was a fun experience. Cody served at the bar when I went, and he helped make the experience with his suggestions. The sashimi platter was a fantastic tour for the taste buds, giving me a solid perspective of how they manage to infuse their flavors while still respecting the quality of the fish used. Enjoyed this with a glass of Takimane 17 year (well worth it, it was a nice pairing). Also had the Miso Salmon with an Old Fashioned made using Takimane 8 year (bit sweeter but delicious). Ended with a bourbon espresso martini and an ice cream. Could not have asked for a better spot.
Located under Fortu at thebPonce de Leon Hotel, it’s one of the newer places to dine in St Pete but I have a feeling it’ll be around for a while. Doors open at 5, they’re currently closed Mondays. Can’t wait to go back for another round and try the oxtail. Now to find my card…
… moreLocated under Fortu at thebPonce de Leon Hotel, it’s one of the newer places to dine in St Pete but I have a feeling it’ll be around for a while. Doors open at 5, they’re currently closed Mondays. Can’t wait to go back for another round and try the oxtail. Now to find my card…
Antonio T
Isu may be new, but it already feels like a polished, well-established Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) restaurant. Located beneath Fortu, the space is stylish, warm, and incredibly comfortable- one of the coziest upscale dining rooms I’ve been to.
Service was excellent. The host team set the tone with genuinely warm hospitality, and the entire experience felt welcoming from start to finish.
The food presentation is stunning- elevated and artistic. Highlights included the Wagyu Gyoza, Black Cod (a must-order), the Akami Crudo, and the Gulf Snapper with coconut kinilaw. All beautifully executed and full of flavor.
A couple dishes didn’t resonate with me: the Oxtail Onigiri (a bit too casual for the otherwise refined menu) and the sticky rice dessert, which felt heavy after such a flavorful meal.
Special thanks to Mark, the GM, for checking in on our table. His hospitality experience really shows.
Overall, Isu is an impressive new addition to the city’s dining scene, with exceptional ambiance, great service, and several standout dishes. Highly recommend.
… moreService was excellent. The host team set the tone with genuinely warm hospitality, and the entire experience felt welcoming from start to finish.
The food presentation is stunning- elevated and artistic. Highlights included the Wagyu Gyoza, Black Cod (a must-order), the Akami Crudo, and the Gulf Snapper with coconut kinilaw. All beautifully executed and full of flavor.
A couple dishes didn’t resonate with me: the Oxtail Onigiri (a bit too casual for the otherwise refined menu) and the sticky rice dessert, which felt heavy after such a flavorful meal.
Special thanks to Mark, the GM, for checking in on our table. His hospitality experience really shows.
Overall, Isu is an impressive new addition to the city’s dining scene, with exceptional ambiance, great service, and several standout dishes. Highly recommend.
Joni Buitendag
My husband and I had our Birthday Date night here and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Kaiser did an excellent job going over the menu and made excellent recommendations. Our top 3 picks were the negi toro, A5 Wagu sashimi and the akami crudo and actually add the salmon belly with the truffle and lime zest. The flavors and textures worked so well together. I would without a doubt recommend this to any foodie. For dessert we had the caramel gelato, best dessert I’ve had in a while. It was ultra creamy with the biscoff crumble topped with what I thought to be a sugary sprinkle but turned out to be a delightful lightweight crispy something. We enjoyed it so much we didn’t even get a picture.
… moreJasD
Positive review for the ambiance and the presentation of the food and drinks. We visited to celebrate our anniversary and were seated at the bar. We ordered several items from the menu, including gyoza, the sushi tasting, and a variety of rolls.
By the end of the meal, we were still a bit hungry, as the portion sizes were quite small. We asked one of the chefs at the bar to recommend something else to complete our dinner. He suggested the most expensive item on the menu, the Wagyu steak, with the sea bass as a second option. At that point, we decided to ask for the check.
Unfortunately, we don’t think we will return. While the food and sushi were nicely presented, they were not exceptional enough to justify the high prices.
… moreBy the end of the meal, we were still a bit hungry, as the portion sizes were quite small. We asked one of the chefs at the bar to recommend something else to complete our dinner. He suggested the most expensive item on the menu, the Wagyu steak, with the sea bass as a second option. At that point, we decided to ask for the check.
Unfortunately, we don’t think we will return. While the food and sushi were nicely presented, they were not exceptional enough to justify the high prices.
Christina Armenti
First I thought the service was exceptional. Austin was our server and he was amazing! He gave great suggestions, was kind and provided exceptional service.
Ambiance: love the vibe and decor
Presentation of food: was great minus the dessert it needs to be reevaluated.
Food:
The wagyu gyoza was 10/10
Miso cod: 10/10
Sushi/sashimi:
However – the cuts of fish were not the best. The tuna I was surprised had a metallic flavor so it wasn’t the best cut of fish, I felt overall the quality of fish was lacking. I would suggest some improvement on this.
Dessert:
The cheesecake flavor was delicious but the presentation lacked. The delicious tres leches topper was hard to pull on a spoon to the cake because of the ridges in the plate and the plate was too large I feel like changing this presentation would help make it more appealing.
Overall I would give this spot another try.
… moreAmbiance: love the vibe and decor
Presentation of food: was great minus the dessert it needs to be reevaluated.
Food:
The wagyu gyoza was 10/10
Miso cod: 10/10
Sushi/sashimi:
However – the cuts of fish were not the best. The tuna I was surprised had a metallic flavor so it wasn’t the best cut of fish, I felt overall the quality of fish was lacking. I would suggest some improvement on this.
Dessert:
The cheesecake flavor was delicious but the presentation lacked. The delicious tres leches topper was hard to pull on a spoon to the cake because of the ridges in the plate and the plate was too large I feel like changing this presentation would help make it more appealing.
Overall I would give this spot another try.
Katie Nichols
Went here for the Valentine’s Day coursing and everything was top notch… from the food to the drinks to the service. Nicole and Jace kept the vibes immaculate the entire meal, not one dish could’ve been better and that espresso martini is the best in the city. There was a wait with slow service but mind you there was not an empty seat in the restaurant while navigating their first coursed meal dinner. If you’re debating, book the reservation.
… moreDavid Leviev
Just wasn’t really anything that stood out. It’s considered an upscale restaurant which normally justifies an upscale price, however, the food was mediocre and the sushi was not authentic.
The fish was fresh but overall, I wouldn’t come back.
The restaurant is in the basement of their sister restaurant Fortu. They made the best out of a basement experience. Tho, it was a bit loud overall.
The service was fine – but not what you expect from an upscale restaurant in terms of sophistication and attendance. We were missing menus, pairings soy sauce etc.
My wife and I spent around $270 (20% tip & tax within that).
Ceviche – 6/10
Maki Tuna Negiri – 7/10
Miso black cod – 8.5/10
Hamachi Crudo – 7/10
Negiri – 7.5/10
Glad we went. Likely won’t go back. Sorry!
… moreThe fish was fresh but overall, I wouldn’t come back.
The restaurant is in the basement of their sister restaurant Fortu. They made the best out of a basement experience. Tho, it was a bit loud overall.
The service was fine – but not what you expect from an upscale restaurant in terms of sophistication and attendance. We were missing menus, pairings soy sauce etc.
My wife and I spent around $270 (20% tip & tax within that).
Ceviche – 6/10
Maki Tuna Negiri – 7/10
Miso black cod – 8.5/10
Hamachi Crudo – 7/10
Negiri – 7.5/10
Glad we went. Likely won’t go back. Sorry!
Erika Schweitzer
ISU Sushi absolutely blew us away.
We ordered the Rock Shrimp Maki Roll, the Negi Toro, Salmon maki roll and even tried our luck with the uni (sea urchin) and every single bite delivered. All of the sushi was melt in your mouth delicious.
The drinks were just as impressive, thoughtfully crafted and the perfect pairing for sushi night. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere? Stunning. It’s modern, elevated, and still feels welcoming. Definitely ideal for date night.
Hands down some of the best sushi we have had in all of Tampa and downtown St. Pete. ISU is doing it right. We’ll definitely be back!!
… moreWe ordered the Rock Shrimp Maki Roll, the Negi Toro, Salmon maki roll and even tried our luck with the uni (sea urchin) and every single bite delivered. All of the sushi was melt in your mouth delicious.
The drinks were just as impressive, thoughtfully crafted and the perfect pairing for sushi night. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere? Stunning. It’s modern, elevated, and still feels welcoming. Definitely ideal for date night.
Hands down some of the best sushi we have had in all of Tampa and downtown St. Pete. ISU is doing it right. We’ll definitely be back!!
Sean Scott
Isu means chair in Japanese and is the strict definition, but it loosely means a place to sit and relax for a while with good food and drink. But close to isu is iso. In Japanese, “iso” (磯) means “rocky shore” or “seashore.” It can also refer to a beach area where there are many rocks and stones. The name “Iso” is often associated with coastal areas, suggesting a connection to nature and the sea.
Isu in St. Petersburg, Florida is exactly both, a place by the shore to relax with good food and drink. It is one of those rare dining experiences that completely recalibrates what you think sushi can be. This is not just a sushi restaurant, it’s a culinary conversation between Japan and Peru, executed with confidence, creativity, and absolute respect for ingredients. From the moment you sit down, you can tell you’re in for something special.
The menu is brilliantly curated, but two dishes in particular deserve to be permanently etched into memory. The Akami Crudo is nothing short of spectacular, elegant, and deeply flavorful, the sauce is a beautiful gastro surprise allowing the quality of the fish to shine while still delivering a layered, modern bite. It’s a perfect example of restraint meeting innovation.
Then there’s the Hokkaido Scallop with ponzu butter, recommended by our culinary guide Cody, (he is awesome, tried to take him home with me but would not fit in my pocket) and I cannot thank him enough for steering us in the scallop direction. My life will not be the same after putting this in my mouth. This dish was transcendent. The scallops were so perfectly prepared, so rich and delicate, with another surprise, it literally gave me chills, goosebumps on my arms, ridiculous! Not an exaggeration. The balance of sweetness, umami, and acidity from the ponzu butter created a moment of silence, the kind that only happens when food is truly exceptional.
A huge part of Isu’s magic comes from the sushi chefs themselves. Watching Frankie and Chris work is like watching artists in their element. Their skill, precision, and intuition are unmistakable, and every dish that leaves the line reflects years of mastery and passion. There’s an effortless confidence in their work that makes you trust them completely, and they reward that trust every single time.
A shout out to Kenji and Derek, the backup singers that make the band work.
Isu isn’t just a great meal; it’s an experience. If you’re in St. Petersburg and care even a little about exceptional food, this place should be at the very top of your list.
… moreIsu in St. Petersburg, Florida is exactly both, a place by the shore to relax with good food and drink. It is one of those rare dining experiences that completely recalibrates what you think sushi can be. This is not just a sushi restaurant, it’s a culinary conversation between Japan and Peru, executed with confidence, creativity, and absolute respect for ingredients. From the moment you sit down, you can tell you’re in for something special.
The menu is brilliantly curated, but two dishes in particular deserve to be permanently etched into memory. The Akami Crudo is nothing short of spectacular, elegant, and deeply flavorful, the sauce is a beautiful gastro surprise allowing the quality of the fish to shine while still delivering a layered, modern bite. It’s a perfect example of restraint meeting innovation.
Then there’s the Hokkaido Scallop with ponzu butter, recommended by our culinary guide Cody, (he is awesome, tried to take him home with me but would not fit in my pocket) and I cannot thank him enough for steering us in the scallop direction. My life will not be the same after putting this in my mouth. This dish was transcendent. The scallops were so perfectly prepared, so rich and delicate, with another surprise, it literally gave me chills, goosebumps on my arms, ridiculous! Not an exaggeration. The balance of sweetness, umami, and acidity from the ponzu butter created a moment of silence, the kind that only happens when food is truly exceptional.
A huge part of Isu’s magic comes from the sushi chefs themselves. Watching Frankie and Chris work is like watching artists in their element. Their skill, precision, and intuition are unmistakable, and every dish that leaves the line reflects years of mastery and passion. There’s an effortless confidence in their work that makes you trust them completely, and they reward that trust every single time.
A shout out to Kenji and Derek, the backup singers that make the band work.
Isu isn’t just a great meal; it’s an experience. If you’re in St. Petersburg and care even a little about exceptional food, this place should be at the very top of your list.
Sam Bartz
Incredibly happy with my experience at Isu. The entire staff was wonderful, but Cody (who primarily tended to me) was terrific. Even with my seafood allergy, I tremendously enjoyed my Maki selections. Would bring a jacket or sweatshirt if you’re prone to chills. Highly recommended!!
… more