Restaurateur Stephen Starr (of Steak 954 and Morimoto fame) has opened Makoto at the Bal Harbor Shops, bringing some life and good food to the mall.
The 200-seat indoor/outdoor restaurant will offer modern Japanese cuisine with twists on classic Japanese dishes. Makoto will also ofer sushi, but will focus on hot Japanese dishes. Menu items include foie gras gyoza, steamed black edamame, black cod Karashi Sumiso and frosty Kobe fried rice with foie gras.
Makoto Okuwa was the executive sushi chef for Morimoto in New York and Philadelphia. Stephen Starr realized his potential and grabbed him for his own restaurant, righ here in South Florida.
On a side note, Makoto seems to still be hiring as of this weekend. Several Craigslist posts show the restaurant looking for sushi chefs, servers and bussers. 9700 Collins Avenue Suite 107, Bal Harbour 305-864-8600
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