Tag: craft cocktails

I’ll admit that I’m not the most adventurous with food, and that I need a little push from my fellow Burgh B&B blogger. I like to think I’m worldly but when it comes to food, I’m simple. On the contrary, my partner in crime is quite the foodie and enjoys taking me to new places to try new things. After months of requesting to visit this not-so-new-anymore restaurant located downtown on Wood St (between Third and Forbes), I finally obliged and I am SURE happy that I did. Yuzu is easy to miss as there is lots of construction going on nearby. However, it’s worth seeking out. This place is a gem offering good food, good cocktails, and an even better happy hour at an inviting space.

what’s it like inside?

Upon entering, it might take your eyes a couple of moments to adjust. It’s a little on the dark side, however, it is wildly welcoming. Fake (or are they?) flowers cascade from the ceiling and beautiful adornments hang from the walls. A large wooden bar frames the space, and naturally we elected to sit there to chat quietly with the bartender and other guests. If the bar isn’t your scene, there are live edge wooden tables for any party size. Sitting at Yuzu sort of transports you to an outdoor garden, with a fantastic kitchen and bar ready to serve your needs!

It was a relatively quiet afternoon at Yuzu, so we don’t have any crazy stories. This place gets PACKED for lunch, though, so don’t take this as an invitation that you can just stop by between the hours of 11 AM -1 PM. Although quiet for happy hour, it was by no means empty. Groups, couples, and individuals were seated throughout the restaurant at tables with large, and I mean LARGE, bowls of food. In my mind, they’re chowing down on wonton ramen which is truly something special.

For us, we opted for the happy hour menu as that’s kinda what we do here at Burgh BnB. With happy hour from 4:30 – 6:30 PM it’s a great spot for post work drinks and bao. Speaking of bao, this stuff is good. It was my first time trying this dish (pls don’t judge me guys, I’m growing), and I honestly dream about it at night now. Accompanying the bao in my dreams is the spicy karaage; a japanese frying technique that literally means “to tang fry.” Now we aren’t experts by any means, but we could get behind this for literally any type of food, because who doesn’t love fried stuff? Served on a bed of lettuce and served with sauce, I had a lot of trouble sharing this dish. So much so that I almost had to visit my old kindergarten classroom cause I alone and unabashedly downed these. Oops.

During happy hour, these dishes, along with a few select others are all 1/2 off. HALF. OFF. I know this is a relatively common theme among happy hours, but I will never not be excited about a bar or restaurant that offers food on happy hour, especially a fabulous deal like 1/2 off. So, props to Yuzu (did you see what I did there?). After inhaling spicy kaarage, I washed down these dishes with a cocktail that surpassed any expectation that I had. I love a craft cocktail – what millennial wanna-be doesn’t?

Yuzu offers $6 craft cocktails for those on a budget during happy hour. This allowed us to try a couple different options! Any more we would have been sleeping there. This seems as good a time as any to remind you to happy hour responsibly. These drinks were strong, flavorful, and prepared right before our eyes by a cool, hip and friendly bar tender. One look at their drink menu will have you deep diving into a rabbit hole of spirits and garnishes. The Sage Gin & Tonic gives those looking for a more of a classic but adding an appropriate twist with the hint of sage. For those looking for a bit more adventure, there are options such as the Far East Side which boasts flavors including junmai sake, tequila, elder flower, lemon, shiso, and yuzu. QUITE the ingredient list, wouldn’t you say? That being said, their cocktail list changes frequently, and there’s a good chance there’s something new every time you stop by. While I’m not adventurous when it comes to food, I am always willing to take the plunge into an exciting cocktail!

Have you tried any of the ones we mentioned above? What about the food? Leave us some comments below so we (and your fellow happy hour goers) can read your thoughts and feels! Overall, this was a very positive experience at Yuzu Kitchen and I can’t imagine a world where we don’t return. That’s right, unless Elon is taking us to Mars, we’ll be back!