Given that it's been in business for nearly a decade, the team at Mizu must be doing something right. That was my train of thought when deciding to pay them a visit recently, and happily, it was a winner.

Mizu is an unassuming restaurant; so much so that you're likely to blink and miss it as you drive down Macquarie St in Teneriffe. It's a few minutes' walk from the main bar and restaurant hub, which makes it feel a little more out of the way than you'd expect from a Teneriffe address. The understated style of the restaurant's exterior continues inside with minimalistic decor and simple furniture.

Mizu really begins to shine when you get to the food. The menu, which is designed for sharing, encompasses sashimi, small snack-style dishes, larger plates and salads, as well as some options for kids. Highlights include the salmon ponzu (melt-in-the-mouth salmon sashimi with avocado and ponzu jelly, $9.80), takoyaki (fried octopus balls, $9.80), wagyu slices with sukiyaki garlic butter sauce, fried eggplant and zucchini ($29.80), and teriyaki salmon with sautéed potato and asian greens ($27.50). Of course, it would be terribly remiss not to mention everybody's favourite pan fried pork gyoza, on the menu for $9.80.

If you need something sweet to finish your evening, a handful of desserts are available, including azuki banana chocolate (spring roll filled with banana, azuki beans and melting chocolate, $9.80) and house-made kurogoma (black sesame) cake with strawberry sauce ($11.80).

While some of the pricier dishes are up around the $30 mark, the range of plate sizes and prices means dinner at Mizu won't do too much damage to your wallet – especially when dining in a group. Add to that the fact that you can BYO wine ($3 corkage per person), and you've got a well priced evening on your hands. The house policy is one bill per table, so remember to take some cash with you.

Scared to venture over from the South side? Never fear, Mizu has recently opened a second restaurant in West End.