This article was updated at 9:00 a.m. Feb. 20 with new information and quotes from an interview with chef/owner Leonard Yu.
Four years after opening as a pop-up in Buckhead, Omakase Table is returning to the community.
In a Feb. 12 news release, the Japanese/sushi restaurant announced it’s moving from west Midtown to Buckhead and will open March 12.
“Omakase Table originated as a pop-up in Buckhead, so this neighborhood is where it all started and is very special to me,” chef Leonard Yu, the owner, said in the release. “The new space represents how far we’ve come.”
The Japanese “Omakase” translates into “I leave it up to you,” so Omakase Table serves a 20-course meal for $255 per person. In October, it was one of several Atlanta-area restaurants to earn Michelin Guide status for fine dining, getting one star.
The restaurant’s current location, at 788 W. Marietta St., closes March 2. The new location will be at 3300 Piedmont Road in the Buckhead Landing shopping center. But the old location isn’t closing. It’s being transformed into Neko (Japanese for “cat”), a new entry-level omakase dining experience with fewer courses. Neko is set to open in April.
Regarding Omakase Table, in addition to the full bar featuring distinct Japanese beers, wines, sake and signature cocktails, the restaurant is working to add a cocktail pairing, and it will be available in April.
According to the release, the biggest difference between the west Midtown and Buckhead location is the added space. The Buckhead location will span 2,000 square feet and have two rooms with 18 seats in total, with the option for private events. There will also be a cocktail bar with 10 seats with Japanese beers, wines, sake, and cocktails available. The 20-course tasting menu format will remain the same.
In an interview, Yu said the west Midtown location opened in November 2022 and is 1,500 square feet. “This is very exciting, but it’s scary because it’s way bigger than what I have now,” he said of the new Buckhead location. “A lot of moving parts. It’s going to be scary, but I’m excited.” Yu said the Buckhead location will take into account more than just his own perspective. “My restaurant in west Midtown, I decided myself in my point of view as a chef,” he said. “I signed [the contract] as a convenience. How’s the customer experience? How’s the seating? How’s the noise? These are a lot more things I would consider as the chef only.”
Omakase Table is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 8:30 p.m., and reservations are required. For more information visit omakasetableatl.com.
