Ben Sawyer and his team are ready for their resurrection. They’ve taken the soul of the now-closed Delmar Loop hotspot Blue Ocean and brought it back to life in Oni, a Japanese pub now open for its soft launch at 4370 Manchester Ave. in the Grove. Full hours start on April 1.
The space is immediately bright, full of natural light from windows facing Manchester Avenue and the heart of the Grove. At night, the restaurant is filled with red neon light. Both looks serve an intimate yet energetic experience for guests in the 60-person spot, whether they have a reservation or are looking for walk-in room at the bar or high tops.
The decor is as much a nod to Blue Ocean, a beloved sushi spot formerly found in the Loop, as it is to all things Japan. “We wanted as much connective tissue as possible, right, so people can come in and say ‘Oh, I’m back,’” Sawyer said.
The front room, which houses the bar and high tops for walk-ins, features posters from Blue Ocean, as well as bookshelves full of manga and Japanese records. Eventually, Sawyer envisions a quiet DJ spinning next to the bartender…