After nearly 10 years of operation, the urban Japanese gastropub, Izzy Pub & Sushi, has closed for good.
A white paper taped to the door with red letters reads, “Izzy has permanently closed. Thanks for 10 great years!”
A look at Tallahassee restaurants that have shut down in 2026
1 of 21
Tallahassee Crumbl Cookie on West Tennessee Street closed for good. (Kyla Sanford/Tallahassee Democrat)
Located in the heart of Midtown next door to indie bookstore Midtown Reader, the pub and sushi bar was a popular destination when it opened in 2017. The sushi spot fused authenticity, flavor and plate presentations at an affordable price.
“A lot of customers have said we have that big city sushi feel without the big city prices,” Izzy Pub & Sushi owner Viet Vu said in a previous interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.
Vu is a Tallahassee native and first-generation American, born to Vietnamese immigrant parents. With more than 30 years in the hospitality industry, the founder and executive chef of RendezVu Hospitality Group has introduced a variety of concepts to the capital city, many alongside his brother and business partner, Nam Vu.
Their other ventures include MoBi, a food truck known for its international street fare, as well as the now-closed Arepana Latin Grill and Taco Republik. This former Midtown restaurant operated for more than a decade and is now home to El Rey’s Tacos & Beer. Taco Republik served tacos, quesadillas, burritos and other Tex-Mex-style fare.
For the “little slice of fish paradise,” as former arts and entertainment editor Mark Hinson described it in his 2017 article, Viet Vu joined forces with chef Xinzheng “Alex” Fang to create the chill, Japanese-style gastro pub. Diners devoured arrays of sushi, sashimi and small plates for lunch and dinner.
Vu most recently served as food and beverage manager at 1876 Bar & Grille, which Google listings show is now shuttered.
Izzy’s Pub & Sushi on Thomasville Road is now closed for good after nearly ten years of operation.
Kyla A Sanford covers dining and entertainment for the Tallahassee Democrat. New restaurant opening up, special deals, or events coming up? Let me know at ksanford@tallahassee.com. You can also email your suggestions for a future TLH Eats restaurant profile.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Midtown Tallahassee’s Izzy Pub & Sushi closes after nearly 10 years