Spotting a celebrity in the wild in New York City is practically a daily occurrence–but in Atlanta…maybe not so much. That is, unless, you’ve scored a table at Umi.
The upscale Japanese restaurant has built a reputation as a go-to for Hollywood A-listers since opening back in 2013. And now it’s bringing that same buzz to New York City.
Set to open at 63 Madison Avenue near Madison Square Park, Umi marks the next chapter for restaurateurs Farshid Arshid and Charlie Hendon, who’ve spent over a decade turning their Atlanta flagship into a celebrity favorite dining destination.
Leading the NYC outpost is chef Kazuo Yoshida, a Nagasaki native already well known to New Yorkers. He’s previously held roles at Juku in Chinatown, 1 or 8 in Brooklyn, and Jewel Bako in the East Village–helping shape the city’s modern omakase scene along the way.
He’ll be joined by chef Todd Dae Kulper, a longtime member of the Umi team who has spent the past decade developing the restaurant’s signature dishes.
Once open, the sprawling 5,000-square-foot space will feature a main dining room, sushi bar, private dining room, and a more intimate omakase counter. The interiors are being designed by Gilles & Boissier–whose portfolio includes the nearby Baccarat Hotel–so expect a sleek, design-forward setting.
Unlike many of NYC’s ultra pricey omakase counters, Umi is aiming to strike a balance.
While the experience will lean upscale, it won’t exclusively cater to the $500+ tasting menu crowd. Instead, diners can expect both a refined sushi experience and a broader menu of standout dishes that helped define the brand in Atlanta.
That includes favorites like lobster toban-yaki, wagyu steak, and uni risotto–alongside an expanded beverage program. Thanks to New York’s broader distribution, the restaurant will also have access to a wider selection of sake than its Southern counterpart.
As for reservations? The team says they’re not trying to create another impossible-to-book hotspot. But in a city where buzzy openings tend to book out instantly, we’ll believe it when we see it.
Umi is expected to open this summer–and if Atlanta is any indication, it won’t stay under the radar for long.
