U-Yee Sushi brings new option to Lakewood Ranch where Manatee meets Sarasota

U-Yee Sushi & Grill opened this week, bringing a new dining option to the fast-growing intersection of Lorraine Road and University Parkway.

It’s where Waterside, planned for more than 5,000 homes, and Lakewood Ranch Country Club converge, and where The Lake Club is just a few minutes away.

Owner Tony Lan says the 80-seat restaurant at 7349 University Parkway is a Japanese grill and sushi bar, meaning there are lots of sushi and sashimi offerings, and an hibachi grill as well.

U-Yee is located in one of East Manatee’s newer shopping centers, anchored by a Publix supermarket. Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie, which opened opened in November at 8445 Lorraine Road, is on the far side of the shopping center.

Lan decided he wanted to open a restaurant in the shopping center about a year ago, attracted by the neighborhoods and A-rated schools in the area. He is assisted in the business by his wife, Nina Zhang.

This week, most of the first customers to visit U-Yee were ordering takeout, but the 80-seat dining room is open at 50 percent capacity.

So, what’s on the menu? Sushi rolls start at $4.95. There are 25 raw and cooked choices on the a la carte sushi menu.

Entrees from the sushi bar, served with soup and salad, start at $17.95 for eight pieces of sushi and a California roll. The sashimi deluxe is available for $19.95 and includes 14 pieces of assorted raw fish. At the top end of sushi entrees is the Fancy Love Boat, 12 pieces of sushi, 11 pieces of sashimi, one special roll, one California roll and one salmon roll for $65.95.

And that’s just the beginning. There are also 23 U-Yee sushi specials, starting with the Ginza roll (spicy tuna deep fried with a house special sauce, topped with spicy krab, fish eggs and crunchy scallion) for $11.95.

For those who would rather have their food cooked, U-Yee offers a generous selection from its hibachi grill. Hibachi combination meals start at $18.95 for steak and chicken, steak and shrimp, or steak and salmon.

Lunch specials start at $9.50 for hibachi items, $7.50 for vegetable plates, $8.50 for katso, $8.50 for teriyaki, and $11.95 for sushi.

U-Yee also has a childrens menu.

There are plenty of appetizers and fried rice, too.

U-Yee Sushi is open 11 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. -10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information or to order, call 941-358-3996 or visit https://www.uyeesushigrill.com/.