SARASOTA – At the Univer
sity Town Center mall just off Interstate 75 is the first location of a popular British chain, Yo Sushi. The idea of the restaurant is that you get to sit, and the different types of sushi, each in color-coded bowls, runs past you on a circular conveyor belt that runs through the restaurant. The cold food is on the belt; hot food still comes from a waiter.
The novelty is a sort of mix between a sushi bar and a hipster cafeteria, all channeled through London, and not Tokyo. They carry a wide assortment of sushis, as well some chicken curry dishes that seem much more Indian London than Japan.
The staff, all in Yo tees, are unfailingly enthusiastic, including our own waiter, Austin, who described which things come off the belt, which things need to be ordered, and what items are filling. He also helped us take a group picture, offering up both regular and square, for Instagram. Music is club London stuff; the clip below has a rather interesting remix of Dame Shirley Bassey and the Brasilian Bruno E Sextet.
Cost is variable, though if you are really hungry, in an American sort of way, it is not the place. But you can be economical; The cheapest six-sushi dish is something like the wrapped avocado for $3; the more expensive dishes go up to $6. So with careful ordering, you will be fine.
