Izakaya Japanese pub ‘Noble Rice’ now open

Tampa residents can enjoy a whole new experience with the soft opening of Noble Rice, an izakaya or Japanese style pub in South Tampa on Platt Street. These pubs normally serve Japanese appetizers and beer/sake wine to customers in an intimate setting used for socializing or meetings.

The restaurant is aiming for a traditional Japanese environment and menu with some inspiration from the south. Head Chef and Co-Owner, Eric Fralick, feels “southern comfort food and Japanese comfort food are so compatible, they were meant to be together”.

Fusion dishes include Sake Ribs utilizing Japanese sake to kick up a southern favorite and Tan Tan Men Wings inspired by buffalo wings. Many of the traditional dishes also incorporate fusion elements into them.

Traditional Japanese izakaya finds include yakitori (meat and vegetable skewers), takoyaki (octopus balls), gyoza (pan-fried dumplings), yamakake (grated yam), and a number of nigiri/sushi options. Ramen lovers will also find a variety of Shoyu ramen soups (soy-sauce base).

It wouldn’t be a true izakaya if we were not also discussing the drink selections. Sake lovers can find a wide-selection of rice wine. Noble Rice serves a Japanese distilled spirit, called shochu, which is derived from a variety of ingredients including sweet potato, barley, buckwheat, and sugar cane. Popular local craft beer will also be available on tap.

Here is a current list of beer/wine (7/21/16):

Shochu

• Satsuma Shiranami – Sweet Potato
• Hakutake Shiro Kome -Rice
• Chiyonosono 8,000 Generation – Rice
• Kintaro – Roasted Barley

Sake

• Ama No To Heavens Door
• Junmai
• Kikusui Blue Junmai
• Southern Beauty
• Born Gold Konteki Pearls of Simplicity
• Tozai Snow Maiden Nigori
• Hiko’s Reserve Junmai
• Eiko Fuji BanRyu
• Sword of the Sun

Wine

• Cabernet Savignon – Grayson Cellars
• Pinot Noir – Block Nine
• Chardonnay -Annabella
• Sparkling – Francois Montand Brut

Beer on Tap (rotating to local companies)

• Big Storm – Wavemaker
• Coppertail – Free Dive
• Coppertail – Unholy Tripple
• 3 Daughters- Beach Blonde
• Darwin- Parata Pils

Bottled Beer

• Duchesse de Bourgogne
• Nest Red Rice Ale
• Seadog Blue Paw
• Stella Artois
• Woodchuck Granny Smith Cider
• Motorworks – V Twin

Here are some photos via Noble Rice Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NobleRiceCo/

Noble Rice. 807 W Platt St, Tampa, FL 33606. (813) 284-7423 noblericeco.com