Hapa Izakaya poised for another opener
By MIA STAINSBY 7 JAN 2011 COMMENTS(1) WORD OF MOUTH
This is a press release from the folks at Hapa Izakaya and their plans for their first upscale number, in the former Metro Restaurant and Lounge setting:
Hapa Izakaya Restaurant Group to Open Hapa Umi by March 2011
(Vancouver, BC) January 7, 2010 – Lea and Justin Ault of Vancouver’s hip Hapa Izakaya restaurant group will open a new restaurant, Hapa Umi, by early March 2011. Construction is already under way at 200 Burrard, at the former Metro Restaurant & Lounge location, across the street from the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Umi means ocean in Japanese, and with the restaurant’s prime downtown waterfront location the Aults seized the opportunity to launch a concept they’ve been developing for some time.
“Hapa Umi will offer a more sophisticated and upscale version of the Hapa Izakaya experience with a sustainable seafood forward menu, sushi bar, and more refined service standards.”
Leading the kitchen brigade will be long-time Hapa chef Tomoki Yamasaki. He’ll be joined by new recruit Tetsuya Shimizu, a kaiseki trained chef who was most recently sous chef at Blue Water Cafe's raw bar. At the front of the house, Justin will be joined by recently appointed general manager, Kevin Banno. Kevin brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as a general manager in the Cactus Club Café organization; he was most recently their Yaletown GM.
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http://communities.canada.com/vancou...er-opener.aspx