Tag: Japanese food

Koshu Club, the 46-seat Japanese restaurant from the team behind Mujo, will make its debut April 14 on West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead. A place where Japanese cuisine steps outside the confines of omakase, Koshu Club will serve a concise menu of items inspired by both washoku (Japanese) and yōshoku (Western) traditions.

Leonard Yu, the chef-restaurateur who has been synonymous with omakase excellence, is preparing to launch a bold new wave of restaurants. In the fall, Yu will partner with Niki Pattharaskositkul of 26 Thai, Pink Lotus, and Blackjack Bar Tapas to debut Table 6, an izakaya and sushi spot in Midtown. Come March, he’ll launch Nori Me, a handroll bar, across from Fellini’s in Decatur. At the same time, Yu is creating an Argentinian steakhouse in West Midtown.

For 50 years, Nakato has been more than a fixture on legendary Cheshire Bridge Road. It has been a quiet anchor in the city’s culinary landscape. After a $2.4 million renovation, I wondered if it would change what makes Nakato special. The refresh was more like a respectful polish than a complete redo: brighter, more modern, and more comfortable, yet still completely Nakato at its core.

Located in the new Ninetynine West Paces apartment building, Koshu Club will serve a concise, a la carte menu featuring charcoal-grilled seafood and meats, as well as small plates and sashimi. Wine, sake, and Japanese cocktails will also play a large role. It’s slated to open in February.

After three months of offering takeout and delivery only, Nakato Japanese Restaurant is back open, following a $2.4 million renovation that sought to modernize the 50-year-old business. Along with a complete remodel, Nakato launched new wine and cocktail offerings and seasonal food specials.

Ryokou, a new kappo-style restaurant in Adair Park is owned by chef Leonard Yu who also owns Omakase Table. The restaurant builds its identity by sharing its passion for knowledge and exploration. It doesn’t try to outdo its peers, and it is not about chef worship. It’s more like hanging out with a friend who is a total nerd about Japanese food and wants to tell you about it while feeding you.

Located less than a five-minute drive from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a mixed-use development called Abrams Fixtures promises lofts, offices, and of course, restaurants. One of the first eateries to be announced is Ryokou Omakase, slated to open this summer. Ryokou means journey or trip in Japanese, and that is exactly what chef Paul Gutting wants diners to do when they visit.

Brian Kim’s family has been in the restaurant business for 35 years. His father and uncles own and operate seven locations of hibachi and sushi restaurant Mikata in Georgia and Alabama. Now, Kim is looking to modernize the Japanese restaurant, starting with a new Dunwoody location in the State Farm building.

Umi has long been Buckhead’s go-to spot for special-occasion sushi. Its new omakase counter, M by Tasuku Murakami, is designed for extra-special occasions. Situated a floor above the main dining room, the eight-seat space has a serious following: In the two days after it was announced, it received more than 3,000 reservations. That’s saying something, especially when each seat costs $295.

Sozou and Omakase by Ito are expected to open in Midtown's Spring Quarter development next fall. Led by chef Fuyuhiko Ito, formerly of Umi and MF Buckhead, Sozou will be a modern Japanese restaurant with a robata grill and a sushi counter. An extension of Sozou designed for private dining, Omakase by Ito will offer reservation-only, 15-course, chef-driven meals.