Fish for compliments

Sarah Stead • Published 27 Jan 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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THE phrase 'conveyor belt food' might, to the uninitiated, conjure up images of dull, mass produced, processed dishes or a factory canteen. But that couldn't be farther from the truth at YO! Sushi.

The atmosphere of this restaurant set at the back of House Of Fraser's ground floor in The Oracle hit me straight away.

It was bright and open and, with cool music playing and laughing customers all around, the tone for the meal was set.

Tables radiate from the sushi-go-round which runs the length of the restaurant, and have water taps (one still, one fizzy) and a help button set into them.

A friendly waiter took our orders for green teas, hot katsu (crispy fried prawns and chicken in Japanese breadcrumbs) and salmon teriyaki as cold dishes floated past us on the conveyor belt.

I grabbed a plate of edamame beans as it approached us. The novelty of mobile food did not wear off.

Nigiri (rice with topping), maki (rice filled rolls wrapped in seaweed), salads, deserts and much more lapped the room on brightly coloured round plates, covered with clear plastic domes.

The colour of the plate denotes the price - ranging from £1.70 to £5 - and empty plates are totted up at the end of the meal.

What struck me was how easy it would be to eat at YO! Sushi without ever touching meat, let alone raw fish.

I have no such dietary requirements and my favourite salmon sashimi (a few slabs of essentially raw salmon) was exquisite. But the range of vegetarian and thoroughly cooked options was large.

From the yummy pumpkin korroke (warm crispy pumpkin croquettes) to vegetable firecracker rice, to chicken yakisoba (noodles), tamago (sweet omelette) dishes and even seared beef, there is plenty for those who shrink from the thought of raw or nearly-raw fish.

However, I would highly recommend it. The fish is of such high quality - it is all delivered to the restaurant within 72 hours of being harvested and there are deliveries 6 days a week - and it tastes fantastic.

All dishes, apart from being very healthy, come with free feel-good factor too: all seafood is from sustainable fisheries, and the tuna is line caught, dolphin friendly yellowfin tuna.

And not a factory canteen in sight.

Take advantage of YO! Sushi's sale - download a 40% off voucher from www.yosushi.com

The vouchers are valid until Thursday, February 4.

Location: House Of Fraser, The Oracle, Reading, RG1 2AS.

Phone: 0118 914 4630

Open: Mon-Sat, noon-11pm. Sun, noon-10.30pm

Parking: The Oracle Riverside or Holybrook carparks

Average prices: Dishes range from £1.70-£5. Drinks are from £1-6. Unlimited miso soup is £1, unlimited green tea is £1.25

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 21 Jan 10

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