Below street level on Beach Drive, ISU presents a dining format centered on sushi, small plates, and sharing. The St. Petersburg restaurant combines Japanese cuisine with Peruvian accents, bringing maki, nigiri, sashimi, and hot and cold dishes into one menu.
Rather than describing dinner as a fixed progression of courses, ISU introduces its food as an izakaya-inspired selection meant to be explored together. That approach gives the shared table a central role in the restaurant’s identity.
Japanese Cuisine With Peruvian Accents
ISU describes its culinary direction as Japanese precision elevated by subtle Peruvian accents. Its About page connects that Nikkei influence with sushi and composed small plates, keeping Japanese cuisine at the center of the concept.
The current menu provides concrete examples of that direction. Akami Crudo pairs tuna with aji amarillo, blood orange, charred garlic, and quinoa. Negi Toro combines bluefin tuna belly with chives, miso aioli, and rocoto oil. These combinations show how the restaurant incorporates its stated influences through individual preparations.
For diners, looking at the ingredients offers a useful way to understand the menu. Familiar categories such as rolls and nigiri sit alongside dishes whose sauces, garnishes, and accompaniments introduce another dimension to the meal.
Four Sections, Several Ways to Build a Table
ISU organizes its menu into Maki, Cold, Signature Nigiri & Sashimi, and Hot. The structure lets a group browse different preparations before deciding what to share.
The maki selection includes Shiba Zuke, made with pickled eggplant, daikon, cucumber, and wasabi avocado. Signature offerings include A5 Wagyu with scallion relish. The hot section lists Wagyu Gyozas with shiitake mushroom and brown butter ponzu, alongside Crispy Rock Shrimp and Karaage Chicken.
Those sections give guests a starting point for discussing preferences. A table can compare rolls, individual pieces, cold compositions, and hot dishes without assuming everyone wants the same type of meal. The current menu remains the reference for available selections, and guests with dietary questions can discuss ingredients directly with the restaurant.
A Setting That Reflects the Dining Format
ISU occupies the lower level beneath its sister restaurant, Fortu. Its About page describes warm woods and amber lighting, while the homepage emphasizes an intimate room and an unhurried mood. Together, those details establish a setting consistent with the restaurant’s focus on lingering over a shared meal.
The distinction between the two restaurants matters: ISU has its own menu and culinary identity. Its location beneath Fortu describes the setting and relationship, rather than making their offerings interchangeable.
Planning an Evening at ISU
ISU’s official location page places the restaurant at 10 Beach Drive in St. Petersburg. Guests can review the menu, check current hours, and access reservations through its website.
For diners considering a shared meal, ISU’s identity is straightforward: sushi at the center, Japanese cuisine with Peruvian accents, and hot and cold plates that invite exploration across the table.
