Gaijin Sushi coming to the Park Harvey

[tuck]

Though close together as the crow flies, the locations seem distant in market appeal. The 11th and Walker shop is in an emerging restaurant row and should attract plenty of happy hour and evening trade while the Park Harvey location is totally downtown and much more of a nooner. From strickly a competition stand point, not terribly different than Mickey Mantle’s in Bricktown and Red on Automobile Alley . . . both dinner only places with Red getting the watering hole honors.

Of course, time will provide the answer. I hope both Gaijins do well, just as I have only best wishes for success at Mickey Mantle and Red.

Speaking as an operator, I think it is a mistake to have 2 locations so close together. As a customer, we would love our favorite restaurant within walking distance. I just see it as doubling the expenses without much change in revenue. He could do the same amount of revenue out of the Midtown store with 1/2 the expenses. It is very hard to make a good living on a 20-seat restaurant...the math just doesn't work. I do think they will do great in Midtown; really nice fit.

[BDP]

Lotus had good sashimi, of course they are now defunct. I have yet to try sashimi from Sushi Neko.

They have a new "appetizer" that is supposed to be hamachi in a citrus soy sauce. I was so excited when I saw it, but it was horrible. The fish was actually tough and even if the fish was good, the sauce didn't thrill me at all. They didn't charge me for it and said that was not how it is supposed to be, but I'm gun shy now and don't know if I'll try it again. That is, unless I can get the money back guarantee up front.

[MrZ]

I had lunch at the Norman location yesterday and they said they were moving to the new building being built to the East of them along the frontage road. They said it would be 1/4 of the building and would be about 4 times the size of the current store.

[HOT ROD]

Tuck, I hear ya and agree; but I think it could survive given the cbd location would probably have different hours and possibly ONLY a sushi/sashimi menu whereas I'd bet the MidTown location would be larger, open longer, and possibly have a more expanded menu.

Im sure downtowners in the CBD will appreciate having a true sushi joint right in the office district (vs. having to go to Midtown) whereas the new MidTowners and inner city urbanites (ie those who live in the inner city) will appreciate the Midtown location (with some sort of parking I assume).

I think it could work, like I said - provided that the stores are a little different (if nothing else, in hours open).

But like I said, I am excited about sushi/sashimi hole in the wall in the cbd, I hope more comes as the downtown workforce improves so we can get some good competition (ie, good prices and quality!!!).

[solitude]

Hey JBrown, How do you like living in the Park Harvey? What type of people are living there? What about amenities? Would you mind posting a short pros and cons list of the PH?

[Dave Cook]

tuck....

You say you are an 'operator'.......you mean in the business of selling sushi?

Question.....what is it that makes sushi in Oklahoma City and cities in this area so damned expensive? The expense of having it shipped in? I've been to a few area sushi places and have been really surprised to see the final tabs.....considering the often subpar quality of sushi.

I'm convinced so much of the sushi craze is simply that...'craze'. It's the 'look at me' meal of the moment. Any evening at Musashi's or Sushi Neko will prove that point.

But our old, hole-in-the-wall carousel sushi shops in Tokyo served much better fish at half the cost. And the chefs actually knew what 'chutoro' meant.

Sorry to sound pretentious.....just curious.

[tuck]

By operator, I mean I am a restaurant owner/operator...not a sushi expert. I do know that the check averages at our local Sushi/Japanese restaurants are tremendously lower than larger markets. Seafood is expensive, sushi-grade costs even more. Also, OKC is sure not flooded with excellent sushi chefs...these are special people, expensive people.

[tuck]

tuck....


But our old, hole-in-the-wall carousel sushi shops in Tokyo served much better fish at half the cost. And the chefs actually knew what 'chutoro' meant.

Sorry to sound pretentious.....just curious.

Well, expensive doesn't always translate into better. I love hole-in-the-wall spots but usually return to more NON hole-in-the-wal joints mainly because of superior service and atmosphere....which costs money.

[FritterGirl]

I noticed the awnings are up on the corner of Park and Main. They're black with blue and green lettering. Looks like they've done a significant amount of interior work, as well.

Anyone have an update on when they'll be opening, or whether they'll do lunch as well as dinner?

It's exciting to see new street-level developments - especially restaurants - in this part of town.

[jbrown84]

Hey JBrown, How do you like living in the Park Harvey? What type of people are living there? What about amenities? Would you mind posting a short pros and cons list of the PH?

Did I not answer this? Oops.

PROS
-downtown, urban
-walking distance to Civic Center, Skirvin, OKCMOA, Bricktown, etc
-GREAT staff
-feels completely safe
-young crowd--almost feels like a dorm
-flat rate on utilities
-not as expensive as Legacy, Deep Deuce, Classen, Montgomery
-huge walk in closet, plus a coat closet
-business center and clubhouse room
-monthly socials at downtown restaurants

CONS
-no w/d in unit--large coin op laundry room on 2nd floor
-no outgoing mailbox (bizarre, I know)
-2 bedrooms are not designed for roommates--its more of a master bed & study
-elevators have been subject to ongoing problems. Nothing major. they work
-not a lot of kitchen storage space (in the studio at least)
-parking is not provided, but most park on the street w/out problems


Overall, I like it a lot. The laundry thing is the only real con for me, but I will probably move when my lease is up because I will have a roommate.

[dismayed]

Just curious how guests come to visit... do they have to buzz in on a speaker phone or something like that?

[metro]

visit the sushi place? it has an outdoor entrance.

[mecarr]

visit the sushi place? it has an outdoor entrance.

I think he meant how to visit the apartments.

[jbrown84]

Just curious how guests come to visit... do they have to buzz in on a speaker phone or something like that?

In the day time (business hours), it is open. At night, there is a box that allows you to buzz residents. It actually just calls your phone, and then you press a number to open the door for them.

[solitude]

Did I not answer this? Oops.

PROS
-downtown, urban
-walking distance to Civic Center, Skirvin, OKCMOA, Bricktown, etc
-GREAT staff
-feels completely safe
-young crowd--almost feels like a dorm
-flat rate on utilities
-not as expensive as Legacy, Deep Deuce, Classen, Montgomery
-huge walk in closet, plus a coat closet
-business center and clubhouse room
-monthly socials at downtown restaurants

CONS
-no w/d in unit--large coin op laundry room on 2nd floor
-no outgoing mailbox (bizarre, I know)
-2 bedrooms are not designed for roommates--its more of a master bed & study
-elevators have been subject to ongoing problems. Nothing major. they work
-not a lot of kitchen storage space (in the studio at least)
-parking is not provided, but most park on the street w/out problems


Overall, I like it a lot. The laundry thing is the only real con for me, but I will probably move when my lease is up because I will have a roommate.

Thanks - good overview! It's okay you missed my question. Sometimes it's hard to keep up around this place. Park Harvey sounds nice and pretty well-managed.

[metro]

Gaijin Sushi @ Park Harvey 2/22/08

[Mr. K]

I have lived off and on in Japan and Hawaii for almost the last 10 years but I am from OK. The thought of sushi there seems strange to me since it is not close to an ocean or anything. Gajiin means foreigner which is also an odd name for a sushi place I guess.

[kevinpate]

I suppose they coulda just called it
Da Bait Bucket

color me as he who takes a pass on this particular craze.

[John]

I have lived off and on in Japan and Hawaii for almost the last 10 years but I am from OK. The thought of sushi there seems strange to me since it is not close to an ocean or anything. Gajiin means foreigner which is also an odd name for a sushi place I guess.

Distance to the ocean doesn't mean sushi is any fresher on the 'coasts'.

[Mr. K]

Tell that to the Japanese

[John]

I was referring to America.

[Dave Cook]

Oh no!!! Resident white guy turn Nipponophile!

""But it goes beyond just food, all white people either have/will/or wished they had taught English in Japan. It is a dream for them to go over seas and actually live in Japan. This helps them not only because it fills their need to travel, it will enable them to gain important leverage over other white people at Sushi restaurants where they can say “this place is pretty good, but living in Japan really spoiled me. I’ve had such a hard time finding a really authentic place.” ""

#58 Japan « Stuff White People Like

Now...having made fun of ourselves....Mr. K is correct. The sushi offered at all these local spots is way over-priced ($5 for two pieces of Nigiri sushi???) and the quality is nowhere what you'd find at a hole-in-the-wall carousel sushi bar in Asakusa.

[dismayed]

I think it would help if we had a big airport hub... I really think being one jump off effects sushi freshness.

On the other hand, we have several Asian supermarkets around town that have live fish that they will kill on the spot and scale for you. I don't know why local sushi restaurants don't just take this approach.

[Mr. K]

I was in the military at the time, not teaching English. Japan was great though!

[Dave Cook]

That's a good point.

Oklahoma City really suffers with the fact we don't have a permanent Japanese community here. Our ethnic restaurants our generally really good and authentic (Korean, Mexican, Indian, Vietnamese, etc) but our Japanese restaurants are all owned by white guys who are looking to make money off a fad.

Please, please......bring shabu-shabu to Oklahoma City.