Story by Katherine Hunt
Photo by Luke Nankivell

Around Drake’s campus it seems like there are only a few options on what to eat. Sandwiches, fast food and sushi. That’s right, just across the street from Goodwin-Kirk and in the heart of Drake West Village lies Haiku, a sushi restaurant.

Haiku got its start back in 2011. Once an empty section of West Village, Haiku has become a local hotspot for dates and business lunches. Drake students also find it to hold a plethora of benefits as well. First-year Madeline Meyer finds Haiku to be a wonderful grub location.

“The best part about eating at Haiku is that I don’t have to eat campus food,” Meyer said. “Sushi is a healthy, out of the ordinary alternative than ordering pizza or grabbing a sub sandwich. Also the atmosphere at Haiku is more formal, so it would be a prime place to take a date you wanted to impress or a faculty member for discussion as opposed to say, Paul Revere’s or Jethro’s.”

However there are a few drawbacks when dining at this establishment, the biggest one being the price.

While reasonably priced for a modern sushi restaurant, any restaurant off of Drake’s campus costs money. Meyer also knows the drawbacks of not being able to use flex dollars or Bulldog Bucks.

“Well obviously you have to pay money for Haiku and you can’t use flex dollars. Anytime as a college student I don’t like spending money,” Meyer said.

Of course, the experienced Haiku-goer has his or her own favorites.

“(My favorite dishes are) Leo’s Treat and the classic California roll,” sophomore Raquel Riviera said. “I get this every single time. I have never changed it up. Every time I go there I tell myself I am going to try something different, but it just never happens.”

Haiku seats 130 people and takes on the appeal of an Asian fusion restaurant. With several rolls and sushi options to choose from, Haiku keeps up with demand with a cutting edge sushi bar and serving classic dishes from Chinese, Japanese and Thai cultures.

So the next time you want to eat something besides a Big Mac and fries or a $5 footlong, stop by Haiku. Offering dine-in or carryout, Haiku has operating hours of 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. through 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon through 9:30 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information, menu questions and accommodations, contact Haiku at (515) 277-6704.