CLEVELAND, Ohio - The term gastropub usually connotes a burger and sandwich-type joint. Maybe a few cheese and meat plates, too.

Not so at Lakewood's newest gastropub, Yuzu. This Japanese-flavored locale calls itself an Izakaya-inspired bar. In Japan that translates to a casual after-work bar that also serves food.

In Lakewood, that translates to one of the coolest, most fun new spots in town, where the creativity of the snacks, meat skewers and noodle and rice bowls is only topped by the fantastic cocktail list.

The Japanese accent was apparent from the moment we entered on a recent weekday night. "Godzilla" and "Karate Kid" were playing on the TVs, and funky Asian lanterns and pop art graces the no-frills dining room and bar area. Food is served at the both the bar and separate dining room. Since my 9-year-old was with us, we opted for a window-side table in the dining room. As a bonus, it was right near a large pile of board games diners can pick up and play. A game of Jenga was the perfect time-passer while we waited for the rest of our group.

My daughter was even more impressed with Yuzu's fun kids menu (and the fact that they also have a dog-friendly menu and doggie beer they serve on the patio). A sprite and non-alcoholic blue curacao Kiddie Kocktail ($1.25) was a tasty way to begin the evening. Meanwhile, we adults perused the wildly creative craft cocktail list, finally settling on the kicky Gojira (vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple citrus yuzu juice blend, Midori, Sprite), $7.50; the Brown Sugar Bourbon Smash (bourbon, lemon juice, mint, brown sugar simple syrup), $6.50 and the Menage Trois (vanilla vodka, kyoto umeshu and sparkling pear juice), $8.

The adult treats went well with a shared Last Call Bento Box appetizer, a box of tangy but crisp Yuzu fries with panko, cusabi and chives; tender fried chicken on a skewer, a chocolate-covered toasted marshmallow and a Little Kings beer ($6.50). The irreverent - and tasty - box encapsulates the fun Yuzu has with its menu, while still turning out top-notch casual eats.

The compact entree menu includes yakitori and skewered meats, rice bowls and ramen. Nothing is priced over $7.50, and there are several vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and carnivorous options. All meat is locally sourced from Blue Ribbon, and never frozen. The small plates are ideal for sharing, or just grabbing a quick bite while sampling cocktails or playing a game.

We visited on a Tuesday, aka Teriyaki Tuesday. My daughter opted for the meal of the day, which they describe as "the mall food court classic" (just $3.75 Tuesday). The white meat filets were plump and tender, served over fluffy white rice and topped with a savory, but not too salty, Teriyaki sauce. She's too young to remember the '80s, but I had food court flashbacks - in a good way. Children's options also include PB&J and bananas on a stick ($1.25), and chicken-and-veggies on a stick ($2).

I was in the mood for something spicier, so went for the Little India, with chickpeas, coconut, curry, sweet potato, red pepper and masala ($7.50) over white rice. The rice was a bit goopy, but the flavors were wonderfully balanced. Spicy but not overly hot.

My tablemate's Southern-Style Bourbon Chicken, with red pepper, cayenne and green onion over white rice reached a whole other level of hotness, but retained nice, nuanced flavors despite the heat($7.50).

The other diners in our group chose two of the meatiest and healthiest options on the menu. The Korean beef bowl with "Cheater" bulgogi ground beef, green onion, garlic, ginger root and Korean Sriracha was also nicely nuanced despite the heat ($7.50). The meat was moist and flavorful. The Harmonic bowl with mango, avocado, red pepper, black beans, corn and cusabi was a light, sunny delight. The sweet mango and creamy avocado paired nicely with cauliflower rice (options also included fried or white rice) ($7).

Yuzu carries over their local-sourcing to dessert options, including candy from Lakewood's Fear Confections and ice cream from Ice Cream Joy. The adults passed, but my daughter had been eyeing the S'mores on a Stick since before her meal. "Only if you eat your dinner first!" said the menu, so she waited till the Teriyaki was gone. Just $1.50, the chocolate and graham-cracker covered marshmallows on a skewer were a sweet, fun way end to end our first Izakaya meal.

I was just happy to sit back and sip my Gojira and watch the rest of "Godzilla." With its laid-back pop culture kitsch aesthetic and casual menu, Yuzu may not be fine dining, but it is certainly is fun dining.

Yuzu

Contact: 440-799-8343

Address: 13603 Madison Ave., Lakewood

Online: http://www.yuzulakewood.com/

Hours: 4 p.m. - 2 a.m. Monday - Thursday. Noon to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Prices: All food under $7.50. Kids menu $1.25 - $2. Cocktails, $6.50 - $10.

Reservations: Not necessary.

Credit cards: All major.

Cuisine: Japanese, American, noodles,

Cleanliness: Clean.

Kids: Fun kids menu for food and mocktails.

Quality of service: Very good.

Bar service: Fantastic creative cocktail list and huge beer menu.

Accessibility: Full.

Rating: * *

Also: Yuzu has many fun weekly and monthly specials, such as "Noodle Night Thursday: $5 Ramen All-Night"; "Kids Gone Crazy Happy Hour: Kids Under 10 Eat Free From Kids Menu" from 4 - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday; a dog prom on Oct. 5; and "Catscapades Cat Costume Contest" on Oct. 15. See their website for details.