Curtain Going Up on The Underworld
Kazu “Kaz” Hishida is building his restaurant/bar universe from the underground up. On Saturday, he plans to launch The Underworld bar in the basement of the building at 2817 West End Ave. Later this fall, he will debut Globe Bar International on the building's main floor.
After four years at Kazu, an Asian fusion restaurant in Cummins Station started by his father Kazuhira Hishida, Kaz is flying solo in the Vanderbilt corridor. Since closing Kazu this year, his dad has joined the kitchen team at Fuse, the über-glam Vegas-style club at Gaylord Opryland Resort.
Located in the basement of the stately building that once housed The Hanger boutique, The Underworld will take its design cues from the playfully dark drawings of author Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, and will offer a light bar menu of sandwiches, paninis, pizzas and salads. (Hishida expects to have a beer license by the weekend, but The Underworld will not have a liquor permit by Saturday's soft opening.)
When it debuts in late September or October, Globe will offer an international menu with a more refined lounge atmosphere than the “glorified dive bar” downstairs, Hishida said.
Both The Underworld and Globe will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week and will be open to guests 21-and-older in the evenings.
Comments
"Hi" to everyone who's bother to read about my little project! I am working around the clock to make things happen by this weekend... you tend to forget all the little things the closer you get to opening! If we can't get the beer permit by this weekend, we may just invite guests (of the age of course) to bring in their own beverages. This weekend's soft opening (if things go as planned) is more about just getting the doors open and letting people get a glimpse of things to come, maybe get some friendly suggestions, and take a step back to see how far this concept has come (and has to go). So in short, please be patient and continue to offer your kind words and support (I need it!). IF we can't get all the ducks to do as they're told and line up, we'll be shooting for something more noteworthy the weekend of Labor Day!
Posted 08/19/2008 at 06:17:23 PMGood luck with your new restaurant. I hope to come "overthere" soon to visit
you,your"family" and your restaurant.....
take care
Posted 08/26/2008 at 02:06:44 AMBirgitta (Ems mother in Sweden)
Kaz,
Posted 09/03/2008 at 08:42:54 PMGood luck to you! I am sure you will do well.