Sheffield's newest Japanese restaurant aims to bring a "London vibe" to city - with bottomless sushi and hi tech tablet ordering

The couple behind Sheffield’s newest Japanese restaurant and bar want to bring a “London vibe” to the city, writes Ellen Beardmore.
Tsuki Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield
Owners Jason and Monika in the new reataurantTsuki Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield
Owners Jason and Monika in the new reataurant
Tsuki Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield Owners Jason and Monika in the new reataurant

Tsuki has transformed the former U buffet site on West Street with a modern new look and seating where diners can watch chefs create their sushi, sashimi or teppenyaki.

Directors Jason He and Monika Rowczenio – who met while studying business and chemical engineering at university in Surrey – are behind the concept, which includes touchscreen tablets for customers to order from once a host has shown them to their table.

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Jason, whose family have been in the restaurant business for years, said the tablets allowed customers to see images of dishes, personalise them and order faster.

Some of the fresh sushi on offer
TSUKI Restaurant on West Street in SheffieldSome of the fresh sushi on offer
TSUKI Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield
Some of the fresh sushi on offer TSUKI Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield

“It has become very popular in Europe, in the UK it is quite rare. In the Netherlands it works incredibly well and it is a good step up from a paper based menu.”

Monika added: “Sheffield is very up and coming. A lot of new places have opened in the last year, it felt like the right time to bring in a whole new restaurant and vibe.

People love going out in Sheffield and this site was a good opportunity. We wanted to bring a little bit of a London vibe up to Sheffield.”

There is also a little love story behind the venture.

TSUKI Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield
Some of the fresh sushi that can be made in front of diners by the Japanese trained chefsTSUKI Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield
Some of the fresh sushi that can be made in front of diners by the Japanese trained chefs
TSUKI Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield Some of the fresh sushi that can be made in front of diners by the Japanese trained chefs
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Monika added: “Jason has always wanted to do this, it is his family business, and in my industry (chemical engineering) there’s no time off for family or friends, you are always travelling on different projects. I got to the point where I had to decide if I would pursue that career or drop everything I had worked for for you!”

The couple have also created their own take on ‘baikingu’, meaning unlimited. Customers pay £30 and can eat as much of a smaller range of dishes as they like in two hours.

Jason, whose uncle is one of the Japan-trained chefs at the restaurant, added: “Sushi can get very expensive. Even a box of sushi from M&S can cost £9.

“We want people to be able to spend time trying our food. Because we are on West Street we really want to bring entertainment into the restaurant as well, we will have a DJ.”

Jason demonstrates the touchscreen menu tablets 
TSUKI Restaurant on West Street in SheffieldJason demonstrates the touchscreen menu tablets 
TSUKI Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield
Jason demonstrates the touchscreen menu tablets TSUKI Restaurant on West Street in Sheffield
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The second floor of Tsuki has private dining rooms, where the couple – who have relocated to Sheffield and praised how “welcoming” it was - will organise events including sushi masterclasses.

The dining rooms have traditional Japanese decoration, Tatami mats and Horigotatsu style seating, and guests must take their shoes off before entering. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

There is a separate lunch menu with bento boxes, sushi platters and ramen, bound to be popular with Sheffield students, and​​​​​​​ a sake as well as a cocktail menu on offer.

Tsuki is open now.