All-you-can-eat sushi restaurant coming to former City Tavern space in Victor

A Canadian restaurant group is planning to open a modern all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant in the former home of City Tavern on Route 96 south of Eastview Mall in Victor.

East Izakaya is owned by Wind Group, an Ontario, Canada company founded by Li Wang and Peter Li. The term “Izakaya” means “pub” in Japanese. The menu features an all-you-can eat menu of more than 160 choices of sushi and grilled items, enabling diners to taste a variety of small portions. It also offers à la carte and take out dishes as well as sake, beer and cocktails.

East Izakaya is also known for employing the latest technology. While the restaurant employs a full wait staff, customers enter their orders on iPad tablets and robots help deliver food to tables.

In total, the Wind Group has seven locations of three different restaurant concepts: East Izakaya; Wind Japanese and Thai; and Ma Chinese Cuisine. East Izakaya was the group’s first restaurant; it opened in St. Catharine’s, Ontario, in 2011. The second East Izakaya opened in Niagara Falls in 2020.

The Wind Group’s first United States location opened just under a year ago in Buffalo. Wind Japanese and Thai is located at 7566 Transit Road. “It was a success so we’re moving on to Rochester,” said Craig McCallum, creative director of Wind Group.

He said the spacious former City Tavern space is “amazing,” and the company is working to adapt it to the concept.

A social media presence for the Victor restaurant will launch soon; the group is hoping for a summer opening.