The Draycott Avenue Itsu is another branch with the same revolving menu as the others.

The Venue
Itsu is not a very big place and does get packed out very early. Upstairs is a bar and soft seating whilst downstairs you can sit around the long, narrow, self serving conveyor belt. There are a few tables dotted around downstairs that fill up quickly. Upstairs and downstairs both have a smoked glass chic Chelsea look.

The Atmosphere
The decibel level can be Heathrow-high at times, so this is not the best venue for a first date or an intimate meal. Don’t expect to linger too long as it is self service and you can feel the waitress pacing behind you as you eat. They also do sushi to go (The Omega 3 Salmon supreme is great) and party boxes. Upstairs, however, is a good place for an intimate drink as it is dark and cozy.

The Food
They serve all the usual sushi crowd pleasers like California rolls, tuna and salmon but also have some nice Vietnamese crystal rolls, made out of rice paper and accompanied by a chilli crab dip. Grilled dishes include wonderfully tender eel and teriyaki chicken. The flavours are subtle, except for a delicious, but very garlicky, coconut soup. If it’s sushi morsels you’re after, however, you won’t be disappointed. Itsu sushi tastes fresh enough, although the accompanying pickled ginger is very vinegary. With other sides and puddings like Valrhona chocolate shots, it all quickly adds up to a hefty bill.

The Drink
The drinks list is unremarkable, although they have house sake (hot or chilled) and Japanese beers and the usual cocktails are mixed upstairs. Green tea, anyone?

The Last Word
On a street in Chelsea that’s crammed full of restaurants, Itsu is nice but pricey.

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