Sab Sushi brings artful, elevated sushi to 4th Street in downtown St. Pete

Sab Sushi is taking over the space formerly home to Taste of the Islands at 364 1st Avenue North.

Downtown St. Pete has added another player to its sushi scene with the addition of Sab Sushi. Located at 364 1st Avenue North, Sab Sushi is the latest restaurant concept from the owners of Sab Café, at 111 2nd Avenue Northeast, and Chopstick Express, at 3946 4th Street North.

The restaurant is located at the corner of 4th Street North and 1st Avenue North in a space that was previously home to Taste of the Islands.

Dragon Roll - tempura shrimp and avocado inside topped with broiled eel, eel sauce, masago, and scallion

Head sushi chef and manager of Sab Sushi Mike Boriboun, whose family owns Sab Café, has been handcrafting sushi in Tampa Bay for over 10 years. He has worked across the region at Sab Café and Lemongrass in downtown St. Pete as well as at Kona Grill in Tampa and Seaweed in Belleair Bluffs.

Recently, he was given the opportunity to return to downtown St. Pete and open a sushi restaurant of his own.

Sab Sushi’s focus is on quality and Boriboun hopes to steer clear of mass-produced sushi. “We want to keep sushi as an art,” he says, “When you come in we want you to notice and appreciate the quality of the food.”

In total Sab Sushi will feature ten makimono rolls and 13 house specialty rolls. Nigiri and sashimi are also available.

Two of Boriboun’s favorite menu items include The Central and the Ginger Pop.

The Central includes a snow crab mix, cucumber, avocado, and mango on the inside topped with tempura eel, eel sauce, spicy mayo, masago, and scallion.

The Ginger Pop contains salmon, tuna, avocado, asparagus, ponzu sauce, ginger dressing along with masago and scallions wrapped in cucumber.  

In total Sab Sushi features ten makimono rolls and thirteen house specialty rolls. Nigiri and sashimi are also available.

While you wait for your sushi, enjoy a few appetizers. Snack on some edamame or enjoy an order of tuna chips, dumplings, or krab rangoon.

The restaurant also offers an array of sake including flavored sake and premium options such as Diaginjo, Ginjo and Honjozo. And if sake isn’t your thing, Sab Sushi offers soft drinks, teas, beer, and wine.

Sab Sushi will feature an array of sake options.

Sab Sushi features 24 seats inside, including seating at the bar. Future plans include knocking out a window along 4th Street and adding an outdoor bar with more seating.

Sab Sushi is now open at 364 1st Avenue North. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 4PM to 10PM and Fridays and Saturdays from 4PM to 11PM. Be sure to follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on the latest menu changes and specials.