Misuzu’s

great atmosphere typical Japanese with good quality food at a reasonable price great for a casual night or lunch I always feel at ease here.

Truly amazing ambience the entrance door the Japanese lanterns out front the curtain as you enter as a wind break and once you part the curtain sit at the bar to watch the master chefs cook or grab a table upstairs or downstairs! All seating is great! Great wine list, the pork belly and Tom Katsu melts in your mouth with great steamed rice! Great price and great service I will be back!

Allow the orange glow that dances off the tree branches light the way to this unique, three-​part establishment comprising of Umami, take away tuckshop and Misuzu’s.

Named after co-​owner and sushi chef, Misuzu Kawano, Misuzu’s offers contemporary and innovative cuisine that breaks the mould of traditional Japanese-​style fare and creates curiosity upon first glance of their menu.

However, sushi and sashimi is one of the highlights here, bringing their original ideas to the table. Using only A-​grade sashimi that is delivered fresh every morning, respectfully prepared to order and presented in a way that only a master of their craft can; it’s certainly worth ordering a sample of everything.
And no Japanese meal is complete without washing it all down with a bottle of sake. It’s no mistake that Misuzu’s offers forty give-​or-​take traditional sakes that are unique to its bars. Much time has been spent travelling to villages around Japan in search of these one-​of-​a-​kind flavours to share with its customers, some of which have been brewed in century old kuras.
Such simple, yet intricate pleasures can be lapped up under dim lighting amongst a casual vibe, which makes for an excellent backdrop to this cosy den.

Had lunch here, the food was great! Great atmosphere, speedy service and pretty good value for money. Would recommend!

So disappointing to say this but Misuzus has lost it’s way.
Having eaten here many times our last visit was less than impressive, especially when the price you are paying is not consistent with the quality you’d expect.
The miso was luke warm, the karaage; whilst the tastiest dish of the night, was not the crispy variety we enjoy and the sushi/​sashimi platter was missing beauty, precision and colour composition that are such crucial components of the Japanese dining experience for me.
I hope they can regain their mojo as it can be lovely to sit outside and enjoy a meal here.

I have been such a fan of Misuzu’s for a very long time, having been a local in the area for the past 12 years.
I enjoy dining in at both Umami and Misuzu’s, but mostly I love the variety on the take home menu and in the cabinet. It is always a delight to get my favourite: the entrée platter, and nibble on all the delicious elements.
Unfortunately, last night when I visited the take away section, I experienced the worst service I have ever had at this establishment.
The girl with dyed red hair behind the counter was rude and abrasive. After I made my order, she first tried to convince me that the entrée platter was not available on the dinner take away menu. Even though I pointed at the item on the dinner menu when making my order. When I asked her to check, she put the order through in a huff after confusing both the size and type (non-​veg), but then ignored me and went on to serve the customer behind me (also in a very rude and disinterested manner).
Once the customer had settled the transaction and left, the girl then went on to serve another two gentlemen who had arrived to pick up their order. I asked her if she had intended on putting my order together, and her retort was that the entrée platter takes a long time to put together, so she would serve the other customers first. I responded in saying that the previous customer had ordered about 6 items, so the time it takes to prepare both orders would not be significantly different. She hissed «Well I didn’t know before I took her order, did I?». She went on to say the gentlemen were just picking up their food, and it was right there, so I can just wait.
I was speechless.
The gentlemen, in attempt to diffuse the situation, said to the girl to serve me. She turned around and spat out with hostility «So do you still want your entrée platter?!»
I was shocked and appalled at the utter disrespect and malice, and decided not to proceed with my order. I do not want this horrible experience to scar my otherwise fond memories of the food here.
I do not expect platinum service wherever I go. I frequent «cheap and cheery» restaurants often and when my fellow diners comment on the lack of service, I laugh and point out that when paying $ 10 for a full meal, you would be hard pressed to have excellent service to match. However at an establishment such as Misuzu’s, I think it is not at all unrealistic to expect at least a minimum level of service.
Yesterday’s experience far exceeded my expectations, in the worst way.
This is not what I want to remember Misuzu’s for.

I have never understood why Mizuzu’s is so popular. When I meet people from out of town and they mention a handful of restaurants they have eaten at in Melbourne, they often mention Mizuzus.
It does look lovely — with the gorgeous red lanterns out the front. And it has a good buzzy atmosphere (which might be a bit noisy for some) which is usually a good sign of a good place.
But the service is average and the food is ordinary. I have never been impressed by a dish. The gyoza — ordinary. The chicken katsu — ordinary. I don’t think the food is bad — but I just struggle to understand why the place is so popular. For me, if you are in the area and want to eat good Japanese food, try Eis in Bridport Street. but if you want to eat where everyone else eats, with a lively atmosphere and ok food, then Mizuzus is fine.

Mizuzu’s is something of an Albert Park establishment, serving up hearty rustic Japanese fare to locals and out of towners alike.
Recognisable by the sweet lantern strewn tree out the front, Mizuzu’s is a cozy den of dark wood and oriental screens. The perfect spot for a pre-​dinner drink, the menu offers an extensive list of sake’s, 32 to be precise, with the food being equally impressive. They have some of the best gyoza that I’ve tried outside Tokyo as well as a well stocked sushi and sashimi bar.
Mizuzu’s is the ultimate alternative to the soulless Japanese fast food joints of the city.