An insiders' small essential list of food and drink venues in Cambridge 2011

Another big chain arrives in Cambridge.

Other people’s food always looks better. How many times have you sat in a restaurant, ordered and then and wanted to eat the food a passing waiter is taking to another table. This fantasy is a reality in YO! Sushi. If you have not chanced upon one of the almost 60 restaurants dotted around the country, (a large chunk of which are in London) then you are missing a real experience. It is totally immersive, almost surreal inside.

You plonk yourself down in a self service work bench where there is still and sparking water on tap. In front of you is a conveyor belt travelling at a blistering 8cm per second carrying a selection of 'Japanese inspired' dishes which you can grab at any time. There is also a menu where you can order other items. You simply press the big red button for assistance and you are served almost immediately.

There are near 80 items to choose from, so there is generally something for everyone.

Each dish that whizzes around is on a colour coded plate (for price), and is covered with a domed perspex top. Like a squadron of flying saucers.

The building itself used to be River Island, and has literally been transformed inside.

According to this article-

"Yo! Sushi has signed 15 year lease for a 1,915 sq ft ground floor unit with basement at Lion Yard shopping Centre, Cambridge, a base rent of £130,000 plus turnover"

That is a lot of sushi! Looks like they will be around for quite some time.

YO! Sushi serve over 3.5 million customers a year (that includes their places outside the UK). This sushi thing is big business.

Verdict

A great addition to Cambridge. As you probably guessed from my bill I was not alone. We got through 10 dishes very quickly, and it soon adds up. The food was good, and exactly like my other experiences of the chain. Quality surroundings, and a wacky buzz. A great fun novelty place, but not somewhere I would go to fill my stomach up on a budget.

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