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Popular Japanese Village Reinvents
Itself As Shizen Japanese Cuisine A few months ago, one of the great restaurants on Las Olas, the Japanese Village at 716 ELO, reinvented itself. Opened in 1988 when dining on Las Olas was an afterthought, the restaurant was a welcome addition to dining on the boulevard. At that time, it was a family type restaurant seating about 40 people inside and outside, capitalizing on the popularity of sushi. While most of the fish was local, they did import some fish from Japan. Tempura, which is deep fried breaded shrimp and vegetables was also part of the menu, as was teriyaki, grilled and marinated beef, chicken, shrimp and scallops. Sashimi, raw thin sliced tuna, salmon and hamachi, a Japanese Yellow Tail rounded out the authentic Japanese fare. The waitresses wore traditional kimono’s. In 1996, an adjacent space that housed an art gallery closed and became available. The restaurant was expanded to its current size, seating about 120 people and maintaining the same ambiance. With the added space, six teppa grills were added, offering the then popular cooking at the table, with the chefs wearing happi coats. With business booming, another opportunity opened up in 2001 where the owners were able to open a second restaurant a few blocks west which they named the Japanese Village Steak House, where the menu featured steaks, chicken and seafood. Last year, the original Japanese Village went through one more metamorphous with a complete refurbishing and a name change. It is now called Shizen Japanese Cuisine, Shizen meaning natural. Six tatami booths were installed … that’s where you sit on cushions on the floor; as was a new sushi bar that seats about six people comfortably and a sake bar serving 12 to 15 different types of sake. Some of the standards being served include Hatsumago, Kaori and Pure Rice Komedakeno sake. Over the past few years, the menu has gone decidedly upscale with better cuts of meat like tenderloin and filet mignon and tuna bluefin and real crab meat. Keeping up with the times while reflecting age-old Japanese traditions in food and food service is proving a timely … and timeless … success formula. The lunch menu at Shizen changes from week to week, but guests have a choice of about a half dozen entrees, each served with choice of soup or salad ranging in price from $9.00 to $15.00. Shizen is open from noon to 2:00 a.m. Monday thru Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Saturday and 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday. For information, call (954) 763-8163. The Japanese Steak House is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For information, call (954) 525-8386. By: Kevin Lane Las Olas Association: Contact: Chris Gaus (954) 523-5001 Kevin Lane (954) 480-4894 |
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