In the latest restaurant news:
Itameshi, the area’s first Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant, from the owners of the two-location Tanpopo Ramen & Sake Bar and Pastina in Delmar, is due to open Friday, Aug. 22, in downtown Albany, the principals said in a Facebook announcement.
Reservations are available through the Resy platform, which indicates seating from 4 to 8:45 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday. The name is the Japanese word for both Italian food and Japanese-Italian fusion, a style of cuisine popularized in Japan starting in the early 1990s. Among the items on a preliminary menu for Itameshi:
- Calamari with spicy miso crema and agrodolce
- Wagyu meatballs, ricotta, miso-tomato sauce, Parmigiano Reggiano, furikake
- Cacio e pepe gyoza, cherry-pepper sugo
- Italian sushi roll, prosciutto, tomato, basil, mozzarella, balsamic glaze
- Squid-ink spaghettini, uni sauce, Parmigiano Reggiano, caviar, chive
- Grilled prime New York strip steak, porcini-furikake rub, wasabi mashed potato, hibachi mustard sauce
- Pork chop katsu, crispy Parmigiano Reggiano panko, mozzarella, tomato sauce
The State Liquor Authority database shows the restaurant has a full liquor license, but the beverage program has not been made public yet…