Craig LaBan discovers not all of East Passyunk is Italian and that Izumi provides a great new sushi destination for the neighborhood.

The sushi kitchen is clearly Izumi’s strength, with a focus on standards presented with attention to detail, quality, and value rather than anything especially innovative. And sushi chef Agus Lukito, an Indonesian-born chef trained at Teikoku and most recently at Mikado, does an excellent job.

His fish is superbly fresh, cut with precision, and wrapped around good rice – toothsomely firm and nicely seasoned with kombu-flavored vinegar. This is on full display in the platters, which, at 32 pieces for $50 (and half as many for $25), is a solid quality-value. It featured some less common additions – the sea-savory tang of horse mackerel, the tender snap of rouge-tipped surf clam, sweet white albacore, and a nearly translucent, delicate fluke – to the usual tuna-salmon-yellowtail mainstays.

Izumi [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Izumi [Official Site]

This Sunday Craig LaBan will be visiting the stylish Izumi on East Passyunk. Will the LaBaninator be kind to the Japanese interloper or tell the BYOB to hit the road?

East Passyunk gets a spot that is neither red gravy Italian nor Mexican and that’s reason enough to celebrate. That David Snyder finds Izumi delivers high quality fresh sushi is yet another.

The Fountainhead [City Paper]
Izumi [Official Site]

Yes indeed, sushi has sprung up on Passyunk Avenue. Enjoy Rick Nichols’ look at the “hip sushi cafe” named Izumi.

Sushi comes to East P’unk [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Izumi [Official Site]

Privé has opened in Old City and Table Talk has some details. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Fudge and local dinners are coming to Grays Ferry Avenue. Betty’s Speakeasy is set for a mid-September opening near Grace Tavern. There will be dinners for 6-12 featuring local ingredients at night. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Barristers at 19th and Sansom has been bought by the Pat and Ken of Cavanaugh’s fame and will be christened Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse this September.

According to Icepack’s A. D. Amorosi, Izumi is set to open this week on East Passyunk. [Icepack, City Paper]

The Blue Comet, a Glenside institution has hit hard times. Like they lost their liquor license problems. But they’re still open as a BYOB for the  time being. Doesn’t sound like a long term solution for the rockabilly bar. Here’s hoping this unique spot survives. [Icepack, City Paper]

The Tiki Bob’s space will soon be occupied by Buckhead Saloon, a chain with locations in North Carolina and Pittsburgh. This is an upgrade, right? [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Parc will be officially opening on Bastille Day. Michael Klein has some background on the design of Stephen Starr’s mega-bistro. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Pencil in July 28th for Starr’s opening of Teplitzky’s and Chelsea Prime in Atlantic City at the new non-casino hotel, the Chelsea. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Rejoice East Passyunkers who want something besides tacos and red gravy, Izumi a Japanese BYOB is coming to Passyunk and Tasker this August. [Food and Drinq]

Zento is looking at a second location. This one will bring conteporary Japanese cuisine to 9th and South. [The Clog]

An out of town Rouge in Acela range is planned by owners Maggie and Rob Wasserman. [Dan Gross, Philadelphia Daily News]

2nd Street Annie’s is looking to move its operation from Wildwood to Front and Fairmount and Phoodie is just thrilled. [Phoodie.info]

The rumors had been prevalent for a couple weeks now but Michael Klein has it, Bella Vista’s Molcajete Mixto is no more. On the good side though it is still a Mexican BYOB, Paxia and one of the co-owners is Dionicio Jimenez of Xochitl. [Food and Drinq]

And like Michael Klein, we are very dissapointed to learn that Pita Pocket at 16th and Chancellor has closed. [Food and Drinq]