Michelin-starred chef Michael Collantes’ entry into the Orlando tourism corridor comes as the team at 86 Hospitality Group announced that Nomikai by Sushi Saint, its “most ambitious concept to date,” will open at Icon Park (8371 International Drive, Orlando) later this summer.
Collantes said the menu will include more Sushi Saint raw preparations, including rolls, hand rolls and large omakase platters.
“The food style is still family-sharing, with some familiar sushi, but mostly large-format dishes like picanha and lobster noodles,” Collantes told the Orlando Sentinel. He anticipates an opening date of late July to early August.
Additionally, additional menu items such as Koji Marinated, Dry Aged Tomahawk and Bone-In Ribeye Steak, Whole Branzino, and Miso King Salmon are sure to impress when brought tableside. Sharing is the focus.
While the sophisticated cocktail program will draw inspiration from Japanese ingredients, Collantes says the space will be as intentional as the food and drink, describing the interior as “Tokyo neo-cyberpunk.” Cool neon hues and original artwork keep the space dark and moody, and the atmosphere is further enhanced by a soundtrack of electronica, house, and lounge music.
Intimacy is key. There will be only 60 seats.
“We’re coming from 10- to 30-seat restaurants,” he said, “this is my big restaurant, but we still want…storytelling.”
As the first project in the Collantes tourist corridor, this is completely new for the company.
“We seem to have a lot of new and repeat guests coming here for conventions and travel,” he says. “We want to showcase our local hospitality and connect tourists and locals from around the region with the great local partners and farmers we have worked with over the past few years.
“Drinking party” means something like a party in Japanese, and is a special social event centered around food, drinks, and friends. Collantes and his team plan to offer this to guests visiting Orlando and introduce them to hosts here in Orlando.
“This is what locals do in tourist areas,” he says.
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