Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market

Once you step inside Dragonfly, the third location for the Gainesville-based ownership group, it's easy to see why the place is packed even at 10 p.m. There's a veritable wonderland of Asian bric-a-brac. A regiment of gilded cats stands guard over the open kitchen, the creatures' unflinching eyes gazing across the space. A vintage pachinko machine sits just before the threshold of the restrooms. Point your attention to a concise list of fish offered as sashimi or nigiri. The kitchen shows off a deft hand with hot fish preparations, which is especially obvious in the shio saba. A plentiful salted mackerel fillet is cooked until juicy, highlighting the assertive, slightly oily flavor.