Izakaya Mai

On 2nd Avenue, Izakaya Mai offers a night-time first date built around dishes ordered at an easy pace. The kitchen prepares sashimi to order, rolls and nigiri, but the menu goes beyond sushi to include katsu curry, bento boxes and Japanese small plates. The restaurant describes a low-lit room and a bar, a format that lets two people share a range of flavours without making dinner feel formal.

Standout choices include chirashi don, assorted sashimi over seasoned rice, the chef’s-choice sushi combination, and rolls such as Rainbow or Orange Blossom. Three-item bento boxes give diners a more structured meal. The restaurant opens at six every evening and lists service through midnight, with pickup and delivery also available.

Google comments for this address often value fresh fish, generous portions and the option to eat late; other reviews describe variation in service pace between visits. For a first date, the broad menu helps find common ground when one person wants sushi and the other prefers a hot dish. The bar may appeal to guests who enjoy watching food preparation, while sharing several plates gives the meal a conversational rhythm.

The restaurant is at 212 2nd Avenue, a few blocks from downtown’s commercial core. Its site links directly to a map and confirms pickup and delivery, but does not advertise its own parking; drivers can check public options around the address before setting out. Daily late hours distinguish it from restaurants focused on an earlier dinner service.