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Review content:
At first glance, I wondered if Vi Bacchus had a bit of an identity problem - a posh Japanese restaurant, sporting a Greek name, housed in a former Italian restaurant, playing French electro-jazz, with both Japanese and American waitstaff, all of whom I think are bi-lingual, speaking back and forth to each other in both languages. What's going on here? (rhetorical question)
What's going on here is the true share-and-share-alike spirit of an izakaya - a place to unwind, a steady parade of food, a generous helping of drinks, and a river of conversation. If you've never been to an izakaya, a Japanese-style pub, the idea is to partake in a bit of everything. I've found that the spirit of Vi Bacchus is in nudging diners to try something new. If you're looking for value, the bargain prices will urge you towards the traditional izakaya foods, and if you're looking for sushi, you'll find bursting rolls that are wild, original creations. If you're curious about what all these strange dishes are about, simply ask the waitstaff; I've been talked into all sorts of crazy tastes I never would've tried (okonomiyaki! shochu! the Dynamite! takoyaki!).
The head chef is from the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and the kitchen staff churns out perfect plates endlessly. If you're willing to stray from the "house sake" standby, Vi Bacchus has an extensive menu of choices, and they were willing and eager to give me a personalized sake lesson to help me pick the perfect drink.
When it's slow, this is a great date place, but can also accomodate large groups. On some of the busy nights, I've found the clientle split pretty evenly between Americans and Japanese, heard excited conversations in both English and Japanese floating in the air, and a rising tide of energy as the workday is left behind. This might be the most resounding endorsement: if the Japanese themselves are heading to Vi Bacchus, maybe the rest of us should follow their lead. Kanpai!
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