After months of waiting, Chef Makoto Okuwa of “Iron Chef” fame will finally open his new Japanese restaurant in Madisonville.
Suzu, Okuwa’s latest concept, will open at Madison Square on 5392 Medpace Way — right next door to fellow celebrity chef Fabio Viviani’s Italian restaurant Zingaro — on Oct. 13.
The restaurant will feature plenty of Japanese classics and an extensive sushi menu, alongside its 10-seat Edo-style omakase called “Suzuné.” For those unfamiliar, omakase is roughly translated from Japanese to “I’ll leave it up to you,” meaning the menu is hand-selected by the chef every night and prepared right in front of guests, who have no idea what they’ll be eating until they sit down.
“I first learned to cook the way so many of us do—from the people I love,” Okuwa said in a statement. “Some of my most cherished food memories are of watching my mother turn everyday ingredients into something delicious and comforting, and helping my grandmother at the cooking school she ran. Americans have experienced Japanese cuisine in many different ways, but with Suzu, I’m excited to introduce Cincinnati to the kind of Japanese neighborhood dining that shaped me.”
Previously, Suzu planned to open in July. No reason was provided for why the restaurant’s launch took months longer than expected.
Okuwa began his culinary career in his hometown of Nagoya, Japan, and began an apprenticeship with legendary sushi chef Shinichi Takegasa at just 15 years old before achieving worldwide television fame while working under “Iron Chef” alum Masaharu Morimoto.
The celebrity chef has garnered plenty of awards over the years; his D.C. restaurant Love, Makoto has been recognized by the Washington Post, New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler and the Michelin Guide as one of the best of the region. With his latest restaurant here in Cincinnati, Okuwa is paying tribute to the region that gave him his start.
“Growing up, my mother and grandmother showed me how much care goes into preparing food for others,” Okuwa said. “That spirit lives in every dish we’ll serve at Suzu. We want each guest who walks through the doors to feel that sense of warmth, intention and respect for ingredients and leave feeling that they’ve shared a remarkable experience with our chefs, staff and the people they dined with.”
For more information on Suzu, including how to make a reservation, visit the restaurant’s official website.
