Sozo Sushi Lounge: A Fish-Cutting Powerhouse

Photos: Ulisses Garcia

by Jacquari Harris
| September 7, 2016 2:21 pm CDT

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Deriving from the influential lands of the Far East, a combination of raw seafood, tropical fruits and vegetables have created a culinary delicacy that has impacted cities across the globe for generations. Fresh sushi and sashimi have led the way in the popularity of Japanese restaurants with a bite size attraction that culturalists, foodies and ladies who need a nibble before a big date have come to appreciate.

But sushi is much more than beautiful colors and an excuse to play with chopsticks. When it comes down to it, sushi is about flavors, presentation and artful fish cutting. Precision is key when it comes to slicing into an imported a piece of Toro or salmon, and Sozo Sushi Lounge has taken the reigns as a sushi serving dominant, only minutes away from The Galleria.

Located at 1700 Post Oak Boulevard, Sozo opened at the end of August on the second level of the BLVD Place complex, and it debuted not only with the philosophy of traditional Japanese cooking, or just with its stylish décor, but with years of experience under its belt. The owners of Shogun Japanese Grill & Sushi are the masterminds behind Sozo, but Sozo is a bit different than what the proprietors have done before.

“Sozo is a bit more upscale than Shogun,” said General Manager Phillip Wimer. “Sozo has a simple traditional Japanese menu with a forward-thinking bar menu.”

And forward-thinking it is. But before we get to the bar, let’s check out the food.

Kiri

Sozo offers a well-orchestrated menu that required consultants from New York to help pinpoint the dishes that would make the final cut. When dining in the restaurant, guests will find that Sozo offers some of the most exotic fish that you can find. With fish flying in daily from Japan (with the exception of Sundays), specialty menu items can include live uni, giant clams and French albacore tuna.

Smokey Old Fashioned

The multi-page menu has something for everyone, with signature rolls such as the Orange Dragon, which is made with spicy tuna rolled in fresh salmon and avocado. For beef lovers, the Steak Teriyaki is a must-try with grilled ribeye steak and teriyaki sauce. And if you hate eating alone and decide to bring, let’s say, four, five, or 10 of your closets friends, the Kiri dish just might be for you. Listed under the Sushi Chef’s Special, the Kiri puts the “p” in presentation with a large, yet colorful assortment of 10 pieces of sushi, nine pieces of sashimi and a Sozo roll.

Of course, with details being so important at Sozo, the bar was just as well-planned as the food. The restaurant offers a cocktail menu with only eight specialty drinks. One of the standouts on the bar menu is the Smokey Old Fashioned. This classic drink is Sozo-fied with Mathilde Peach Liqueur and is lightly smoked when served. Sozo also offers a rare Japanese sake called Watari Bune, making it one of the few restaurants in Texas to carry it.

Sozo opened with style, value and tradition merging as one so that it could give its guests the ultimate dining experience. Whether it’s the Dom Pérignon by the glass, or their handpicked staff of waiters and mixologists, Sozo is here and is ready to meet you soon.