So just when, several Fat City readers have asked us, is the new Drunken Fish Sushi Restaurant and Lounge opening in the former Bice Bistro space in the Power & Light District?
"It's very close, just a couple of weeks away," says Allison Schiller, spokeswoman for the St. Louis-based restaurant group. (It's too early to really call the company a chain: There are three locations in St. Louis; Kansas City will be the fourth and the first outside the River City.)
Fat City's Jonathan Bender initially reported that Drunken Fish had leased the two-story Bice location last August.
When completed, it will be the largest venue in the 7-year-old restaurant group, and Schiller thinks the space -- which will be transformed to reflect what she calls the "high energy, untraditional, trendy and upscale" concept of Drunken Fish -- will be a draw for the P&L District's younger, cocktail-swilling demographic.
"We'll offer happy hour three times a day, every day," she says. "We'll have food and drink specials each day from 11 a.m. to noon, 5 to 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. until we close. We'll have select menu items at half-price."
Although sushi is the restaurant's primary draw, the menu features stir-fry dishes, soups and a dozen dinner entrees that are all, you know, cooked.
The name of the restaurant was created by owner Muksok So, who is of Korean heritage but a native of St. Louis. I asked Schiller if her boss had been eating in any Kansas City restaurants during his visits to Kansas City, preparing for the mid-February opening of Drunken Fish.
"He has, but he hasn't said too much about them," she says."Oh, except a dim sum place on the Plaza. He liked that."
Oh yeah, that place.
The Kansas City restaurant will also kick off with the new Drunken Fish drink menu: six pages of sophisticated cocktails -- martinis are a big seller at the other locations -- and a greatly expanded saki list.
"It's not just about eating sushi," Schiller says. "It's about the experience."
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I've always wanted to start my own sushi restaurant in Kansas City, but the more sushi restaurants I see popping up, the more I don't want to start one. I've always wanted have a restaurant in Westport, since that's always been my scene. It's intimidating when the likes of The Drunken Fish and RA Sushi come in with loads of money and create an atmosphere that people just soak up. They're obviously doing something right if people keep coming back.... so I'm not bashing on them at all. I'm sure the P&L crowd will be pleased to spend their money on what DF has to offer.
I wish them luck. I'll never try them though....I'm Hispanic....I wear baggie pants...and I won't spend a dime in the power and white district. But good luck though.
Yeah, because no trendsters go to Harry's or the Velvet Dog! Unfortunately, most businesses have to market to trendsters to survive these days, because most people are sheep. That's why KC has so few places with character or originality. True, P&L doesn't have any "soul", but it's a hell of a lot better than that bomb crater we called a downtown five years ago. Having it there has gotten me more excited about going out in KC, and now I get to all the districts more than I used to. I even went to the Velvet Dog last week! (but I quickly got bored and went to the Record Bar).
Well if the thought of eating at an overpriced chain at P&L excites you, then I guess I'll just have to miss out on all the fun and excitement you bring to the table
I dont see many "trendsters" in Pl give me a break. There is no soul to Pl just commercial bars and restaurants. Thats why many so called "trendsters" stay away. Its a good place to go maybe two three times a year take off before midnight then head over to the Velvet Dog or Harrys Bar and Tables for a real drink.
i don't see much of a crossover between Kobe and Drunken Fish's clientele. Kobe is mostly business type people, not trendsters.
Wow Abe, maybe we can hang out sometime... or not because you sound like a miserable turd.
Just what we need, another sushi place for all the johnson county girls to spend their parent's money at.
I'll give it 14 months before it closes down. No business sense among the people running P&L, so even if it's popular, it'll go out of business.
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