Alexandria, VA – Umiya Sushi will open its doors to the public Friday, August 8, at 11 am for a soft opening. The new restaurant, located at 3000 Duke Street in the building vacated by Generous George’s some years ago, features a new concept in Japanese dining.
Owners Jeff and Kelly Yates have partnered with Aaron and Jason Lin, who own a few Japanese restaurants in Washington DC, Falls Church, and Arlington. They are now taking the all-you-can-eat buffet concept to a higher level, with premium, top choice ingredients. Think wagyu beef, uni, and lobster.
It’s a vision based on the Japanese notion of omakase, or chef’s choice. This interactive approach to the relationship between the chef and the guest means the guest is treated to the chef’s skill and talent to impress and delight.
As Aaron Lin explained, “We already have premium restaurant experience with our other properties, and we wanted to create an all-you-can-eat restaurant with high-end Japanese cuisine.”
People have been very interested in this location, said Lin. He approached Jeff Yates with the idea and promised, “I won’t let you down.” Yates gave him a chance and has been supporting him all the way.
“They’re a family business who work super hard,” said Yates, “and we promised that by working together we’d do everything we could to help them make a positive splash in any way we can!”
Once the lease was signed about a year ago, the challenge was combining a Japanese restaurant with an American style eatery. They took a few months to visualize and design the concept, and then the work began…