MIAMI, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Benihana Inc.
(NASDAQ: BNHNA; BNHN), the nation's leading operator of Japanese
theme and sushi restaurants, is debuting its newly redesigned sushi
bar and cocktail lounge on the mezzanine level of the Santa Monica
restaurant on 1447 4th Street. To conceptualize and execute the
redesign, Benihana partnered with Innovation & Design in
Architecture (IDA), a full service architectural design firm
comprised of award-winning architects and designers. The Santa
Monica location, which occupies the ground floor in a historic
art-deco building downtown, remained open for business during the
three-month redesign period, but closed the mezzanine until its
public reveal.
The mezzanine level now boasts a contemporary sushi and cocktail
lounge, with seating for 50 in a semi-circular loft overlooking
Benihana's famous teppanyaki tables on the ground floor dining
room. The 844 square-feet space is divided into a full sushi and
lounge area, great for after-work drinks and meeting with friends.
The lounge menu includes an array of wines from around the world,
premium sake, Japanese and domestic beer and Benihana specialty
cocktails such as the Mango Saketini, Benihana Mojito and Blue
Ocean Punch Bowl. Happy Hour is available each Monday through
Thursday from 5-8 pm, with drink
specials plus hand rolls, specialty rolls, nigiri rolls and
Benihana bites starting at $2.
"The Benihana Santa Monica lounge and sushi bar was designed
with the idea of creating an intimate space that would attract,
entice and energize guests," said Joshua
Cool, president of IDA. "The dramatic red sculpted ceiling
above the grand staircase emulates the Benihana safflower petal in
motion. A U-shaped bar indicates an endless journey, while a cherry
blossom graphic wraps the back wall to create an overwhelming
tranquil feeling."
For more information about Benihana or to find a location near
you, visit: www.benihana.com.
About Benihana
Headquartered in Miami,
Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ GS: BNHN, BNHNA) is the nation's leading
operator of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants with 96
restaurants nationwide, including 63 Benihana restaurants, eight
Haru sushi restaurants, and 25 RA Sushi restaurants. In addition,
18 franchised Benihana restaurants are operating in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. To learn more about Benihana Inc.
and its three restaurant concepts, please view the corporate video
at www.benihana.com/about/video.
SOURCE Benihana Inc.