Souzou has now been renamed Sake 23
Souzou Asian Kitchen Imagines, Creates And Inspires
St. Petersburg, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Asian Fusion Gastro Pub
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 4/5
Article updated: January 30, 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
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Souzou Asian Kitchen Zomato rating:
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Souzou Asian Kitchen Zomato rating:
In Memory of Anthony Bourdain
June 25, 1956 - June 8, 2018
I am stunned and very saddened by the loss of
this wonderful chef, who through
Kitchen Confidential inspired me to
think outside the box to ‘Parts Unknown’ and
Explore the real culinary world beyond where I was.
RIP, you will be missed.
Suicide is never the solution. To all
those that feel that it is better to end your life
please seek help at the National Suicide Hotline
1-800-273-TALK
Souzou Executive Chef:
Lan Mai
Souzou is a stylish, modern, yet with a contemporary twist to an Asian restaurant offering Japanese Izakaya style cuisine with other Asian fusion styles plus sushi. With small or large plates you can imagine, taste, and be inspired. With hints of Chinese, Thai, and Korean the bold flavors force you to take in the entire journey of senses and a visually distinctive plus refreshing feel to this modern Japanese pub (izakaya). Souzou Asian Kitchen offers craft beers, wines, and cocktail lists of Japanese whiskey, Pan Pacific style martini’s, modern cocktails of the Orient, and an impressive saké list, plus flights, and infusions. Then to add to the amazingness of food and drink, you can save 50% on bottles of wine and saké every Wednesday.
Menu:
- Soups - Salads
- Small Plates
- Large Plates
- Sea
- Land
- Sushi Rolls - Nigiri / Sashimi / Creative Rolls
- Inspirational Plates
- Trust Me
- Bar Bites
- Desserts
Start your night off with a classic miso soup, or a Japanese summer sunomono salad of octopus, conch, krab, shrimp, and wasabi rice, or my wife and I’s choice of a miso ginger salad mix of cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and lettuce all tossed in a miso ginger emulsion and topped with watermelon radish. A refreshing start with strong ginger opened our senses and prepared us for the feast to come. The second starter we shared was the crispy Brussel sprouts from the small plates menu mixed with sriracha spiced peanuts and a balsamic nitsume sauce made with eel, lobster, and shrimp stock. The Brussels were crispy from the oven versus moist which was a big bonus, slightly spicy from the sriracha, though I’m a big fan of it so others might think it too hot. With stock and seasonings, the all-around texture made this a very enjoyable starter.
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Miso ginger salad |
For drinks, my wife and I ordered two 300 ml saké bottle selections to share starting with the Fudo Myoo Junmai by Saké One. The Fudo Myoo name is based on a form of Japanese Buddhism with tasting notes of cream, hints of banana, coconut, and pineapple, with subtle notes of vanilla and anise. This is a lush and old style saké lightly filtered to retain much of the rice sediment. The second choice was the Yeti / Yuki Otoko saké from the Aoki Brewery, that according to the tasting notes is a classic dry saké inspired by local lore. Yuki Otoko is the big-foot or yeti of Niigata, said to haunt its mountains and occasionally help travelers through the mountain trails. It is an excellent intro to a classic Niigata saké. Rice is Miyama Nishiki milled to 60%, and the water is soft from an underground current originating at Mt. Makihata.
There are thirteen creative rolls on the Souzou menu list from Mr. T, Miss Saigon, Hawaiian, and others. My wife settled on the wicked akamai roll with spiced panko crusted ahi tuna, asparagus, mango, kaiware daikon sprouts, and a beautiful topping of miso bacon beurre blanc. The first bite melted in my mouth with an explosion of flavor. You could taste every piece of the hand-made perfection of the finest ingredients around, making the dish even better.
Under the inspirational plates is the wagyu steak and sunny side up quail egg served over rice and sprinkled with Hawaiian black lava salt, mixed green garnie, and nitsume sauce. The steak was sliced into thin carpaccio style pieces and was so tender it practically came apart with a touch of the chopsticks, though I did switch to a fork to cut the egg. A fantastic flavor, where the strong yolk flavor and softly poached whites were tempered by the rice, and the salt brought out the flavors of the steak tenfold. A very impressive and well thought out dish. A simple yet elegant style plate design and garnish added to the overall experience.
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Steak and egg |
Other selections from the Souzou menu of inspirational plates include an old school poke, sushi pizza, conch ceviche, and blackened hamachi with a seaweed salad. When we come back I wouldn’t mind trying the “trust me” section of the menu with chef’s choice sushi boats and other delights. This was a wonderful and refreshing place to visit in St. Petersburg for Asian fair. The City has many places to offer for this style of cuisine, but remember that Asia is the largest continent on Earth representing more than half of the population of the world and comprises a sum total of 50 countries and territories according to the United Nations Statistics Division. The Asian continent is further subdivided into 6 regions, namely Central Asia (5 countries), Eastern Asia (7 countries), Southeast Asia (11 countries), South Asia (9 countries), and West Asia (18 countries). So when you think of Asian cuisine or modern Asian fusion, the spectrum can be very broad and offer a world of taste beyond a PF Chang’s.
Dessert:
Though we didn’t have any dessert on this trip, selections from the Souzou menu include western style classics like chocolate cake, key lime tart, crème brûlée, and a fried banana cheesecake with five spice caramel sauce topping. Now if they would have had some items like daifuku, Mizu yokan, hato sabure butter cookies, or some namagashi with herbal green tea, I would have thought twice about skipping.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy Gastro Pubs, Sushi, and Asian + Fusion Articles and Restaurants similar to Souzou Asian Kitchen:
5A5 Steak Lounge Modern Japanese steakhouse with chic design in San Francisco, California
6th Street Pier Steak and Seafood Grill Eclectic eatery with sushi and raw bar in Griffin, Georgia
Ambrosia Japanese restaurant & saké bar with sushi in Key West, Florida
Basil Asian Bistro Pan-Asian favorites from China to Vietnam with sushi specials in Canton, Ohio
Edison Food + Drink Lab Eclectic and innovative gastropub using molecular gastronomy in Tampa, Florida
Holeman and Finch Public House Modern gastropub and whole animal cookery in Atlanta, Georgia
Junsui An eclectic taste and fusion of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Level 11 Rooftop artisan fusion bistro at the Grand Plaza Hotel, in St. Pete Beach, Florida
Signature Restaurant Contemporary and elegant eclectic eatery in Sandton, South Africa
Table Six Kitchen + Bar Casual American gastropub and elevated comfort foods in Canton, Ohio
The Lemon Grass Casual fusion of Thai and Japanese with tapas portions in St Petersburg, Florida
Two Oceans Restaurant Seafood and sushi with panorama views in Cape Point, South Africa
Zuma Contemporary Japanese restaurant, sushi, and cocktail mixology in Dubai, UAE
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St. Petersburg restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
|
Casual Swiss Fondue restaurant chain
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Casual British cuisine and some Scottish favorites
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
American Cuisine at Marina Cove
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A Few Florida Favorites:
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Florida style waterfront dining with Gulf-to-Table concepts
Bradenton Beach, Florida, USA
|
Stylish chophouse chain with surf ’n’ turf
Brandon, Florida USA
|
Vibrant spot for classic Spanish dishes & tapas
Carrollwood, Florida USA
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Souzou Asian Kitchen a 4 out of 5 stars, meaning that they not only exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants, and were outstanding.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Souzou Asian Kitchen
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Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
11
|
11
|
0
|
Food quality
|
11
|
9
|
2
|
Plate presentation
|
10
|
10
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0
|
Customer service
|
11
|
8
|
3
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
Total regular points awarded
|
53
|
46
|
7
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.867924528301887
| ||
“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0.0188679245283019
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.886792452830189
| ||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
|
0 - 5
|
4
|
**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
4 of 5 Stars:
87% Rating with a 1 point “wow” bonus
An Outstanding Dining Experience
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Souzou Asian Kitchen Wine rating:
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5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Germany, Italy, Portugal
New World selections:
Argentina, California, Japan, New Zealand, Oregon,
|
Corkage fees:
|
This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
|
Cuisine Style:
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Asian, Asian-fusion, Chinese, Gastropub, Japanese, Korean, and Thai
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten-free, Local, Low Carb, Organic, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian Options
|
Reservations:
|
Not Required, but Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
Dress code:
|
Smart casual or Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
|
Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
|
Experiences:
|
Place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Trendy, Lounge, Business parties, Romantic, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, and a Neighborhood Gem.
|
Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
|
Parking:
|
Souzou asian Kitchen has a public lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
|
Noise level:
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Low to Medium
|
Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant, and nonsmoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
££
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€€
|
Alcohol prices:
$66.00 USD
Souzou Asian Kitchen:
435 5th Ave N
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
| |
Maître d or host:
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+1 727 823 4050
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Online reservations
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Email contact:
| |
Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
|
Sun-Wed
11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Thur-Sat
11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Happy Hour: daily
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
| |
****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Modern Australian haute cuisine
Sydney, Australia
|
Charming French Bistro with movie filmed terrace
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
|
Authentic churrascaria-style dining
Palm Island, Dubai, UAE
|
Other Souzou Asian Kitchen Pictures:
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Poke |
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Dining room |
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Sushi Station |
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Bar |
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Yuki Otoko saké |
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Fudo Myoo saké |
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Crispy Brussel sprouts |
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Wicked akamai roll |
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| Souzou Asian Kitchen / Steak and egg 2 |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
