As the quarantine restrictions start to lift in Vancouver, more and more restaurants are opening their doors for dine in. There are a number of new rules in place in order to keep customers and staff safe. This makes for a very different dining experience. My first dine-in experience since quarantine was at Raisu Izakaya on West 4th.
Raisu Izakaya on West 4th is a Japanese izakaya serving Japanese fusion food and drinks in an upscale trendy atmosphere. They have an extensive menu covering all manner of fresh seafood, fried bar food and more substantial teishoku (set menu) meals.
Since quarantine started in mid-March, I have only had take out food a few times. My palate has dulled quite a bit because when I cook for myself I don’t use a lot of salt or oil. It’ll definitely take some time to get used to dining out again!
To Start – Bar Snacks
Jumbo Ebi Mayo ($13.00) 
Yuzu Chicken Wings ($10.00)
I started off with their signature Jumbo Ebi Mayo ($13.00). Three jumbo prawns have a tempura batter and covered with chili mayo. It is one of my favourite dishes to eat at an izakaya. These prawns were no joke! They were enormous and the size of my hand. The batter was light and crisp which complemented the meaty prawn perfectly.
Another great bar snack is their Yuzu Chicken Wings ($10.00) for 7 pieces. The wings are marinated in a yuzu kosho sauce that packs a really strong yuzu and chili flavour. This was a solid dish, however not necessarily a must order.
Mains – Fresh Sashimi and Sushi
Omakase Aburi Sushi ($21.00) 
Omakase Aburi Sushi ($21.00)
After whetting our appetite with the bar snacks, we tried one of Raisu’s signature items – Omakase Aburi Sushi ($21.00). This consists of the chef’s choice of seared sushi with original toppings. Each piece is beautifully crafted and the toppings are thoughtfully chosen. My favourite was the one topped with ikura. In addition to being one of my favourite things to eat on its own, the brininess of the fish eggs helped to balance the richness of the mayo.
Blue Fin Tuna Deluxe Seafood Bowl ($45.00) 
Blue Fin Tuna Deluxe Seafood Bowl ($45.00)
This stunning seafood bowl deserves it’s own close up! Raisu is known for their gorgeous seafood don creations. We opted to try their Blue Fin Tuna Deluxe Seafood Bowl ($45.00). This luxurious bowl feature blue fin tuna sashimi, crab meat, scallop, egg, spot prawns and ikura on top of sushi rice. The knife work on the fish was precise and clean. As a result, you can really see a lovely shine on the fish.
Cooked A La Carte Items
Wagyu and Foie Gras Aburi Nigiri Sushi ($16.00) 
Sea Urchin Donabe Rice ($26.00)
In addition to the bar snacks and sashimi, we tried a couple of their cooked items. First up was the luxurious Wagyu and Foie Gras Aburi Nigiri Sushi ($16.00). Wagyu beef and foie gras are front and center in this nigiri. There is a small ball of rice under all that delicious meat to help balance out the overall richness. It was such a sinful bite!
Our final dish of the night was the Sea Urchin Donabe Rice ($26.00). There is a generous amount of mushrooms in this rice dish. The uni, ikura and snow crab really bring this dish to another level. The flavour of the sea pairs so well with the earthiness of the mushrooms.
Overall this was a stunning reentry into dining in. As far as I could see, the staff practiced all the safety rules set out by the government. Every dish was made with care and finesse. The ingredients were fresh and delicious. I absolutely cannot wait to be back!