Yoso Modern Japanese: Fancy, but not too fancy 

“We’re fancy, but not too fancy.” That’s what Bailey Thompson says about the new Yoso Modern Japanese restaurant in Bettendorf. The new restaurant that opened in mid December at 1591 Grant St., Suite 101, has gotten off to a fast start with a unique and big menu, a modern atmosphere and is already developing a […]

“We’re fancy, but not too fancy.” That’s what Bailey Thompson says about the new Yoso Modern Japanese restaurant in Bettendorf. The new restaurant that opened in mid December at 1591 Grant St., Suite 101, has gotten off to a fast start with a unique and big menu, a modern atmosphere and is already developing a loyal fan base.  “We’re loving it. The menu is incredible. This is something that has been missing in the Quad Cities. We are happy to bring it to people,” said Ms. Thompson, who is the director of social media and branding for the Michael DeWitte-owned restaurants in the area that includes Yoso. (The other restaurants include the Foundery Food +Tap and Mio Russo.)

Ms. Thompson added that Yoso is bringing in customers who love the interior look of the restaurant. She describes the restaurant’s atmosphere as “more modern, more big city where you can pop in for sushi at lunch.” The interior is bright with light-colored wooden tables and bright, circular light fixtures. The restaurant’s downtown Bettendof location also helps. Ms. Thompson said that since Yoso is near the new Interstate 74 bridge, customers from Illinois know that it’s just a quick trip on the bridge to the restaurant. But the real star of the Yoso show is the menu. It includes a wide variety of sushi, maki rolls, sake, cocktails, wines and much more. Some of the favorites include:

• Crunchy garlic tuna roll – with seasonal tuna, avocado, cucumber, serrano peppers and garlic sauce.
• Kiss of fire – with spicy tuna, cucumber, salmon, albacore tuna, serrano pepper, sriracha and wasabi tobiko.
• California roll – with crab, cucumber and avocado.
• Black diamond roll – with shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado, crab salad and black tobiko.
• The restaurant also offers grilled seafood, such as sweet soy glaze Norwegian salmon, grilled scallops, and miso-cured black cod.

Not a fan of sushi? Don’t worry. There’s a lot more on the menu. “Our steaks are phenomenal. … We've got something for everybody,” said Ms. Thompson.

The steaks include a bone-in ribeye, prime filet, prime New York strip and American wagyu New York strip. There are also burgers on the lunch menu. They include: takoyaki bacon burger, that includes takoyaki sauce (a Japanese BBQ), thick cut bacon and Japanese slaw; a Yoso burger that includes spicy Japanese mayo and candied bacon; and wild mushroom and swiss burger that includes wild mushrooms, swiss cheese and smoked Japanese aioli. But there is more on the table for the new Yoso Modern Japanese restaurant. Ms. Thompson said here are some of the goals and features for the new business:

• Get more customers in the door to try what Yoso has to offer. The restaurant, which seats about 80 people, is open 11 a.m. to midnight  on Wednesday through Sunday. To attract more people, it is now open to walk-in customers most days and times. It still requires reserves on Friday and Saturday nights. The phone number is 563-551-6507.
• There will be holiday specials. The restaurant had a big, crowded and special night on New Year’s Eve and Ms. Thompson said she is planning the menu for a special Valentine’s Day at Yoso.
• The restaurant is looking forward to some outside dining when the weather gets warmer. It has a patio area for those spring and summer dining experiences.
• There is also an indoor private room that can seat up to 20 people.

The new restaurant is also looking for more employees. Yoso currently has about 60 employees. “We are looking for sushi experience specifically, but have front and back of house positions available,” Ms. Thompson added. For more information on the restaurant, see its website at https://yosomodernjapanese.com/