Feb. 17, 2023 By Paul Frangipane
Sushi by Boū hosted a preview of its newly-opened location in Bayside on Thursday night, serving a 12-course menu of delectable sushi in an intimate environment.
As guests walked through Greek restaurant Baraki on Bell Boulevard on Feb. 16, they encountered a sliding door in the back of the dining room, revealing a sushi counter, cocktail bar and disco balls hanging from the ceiling. Sushi by Boū’s first location in Queens is a modern speakeasy-inspired omakase concept with a disco theme.
Guests record Chef Kin Wang preparing their meal at Sushi by Boū’s new location in Bayside on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)
Omakase, the Japanese term for, “I’ll leave it to you,” allows the chef to bring patrons on a Japanese journey as they’re surrounded by vinyl records, posters of Michael Jackson and omnipresent 80’s jams on the speakers.
Whether the O-Toro (fatty tuna), Unagi (BBQ eel) or their signature “surf and turf” Wagyuni, Chef Kin Wang’s menu kept guests entertained with his preparation and satisfied with the variety of distinct flavors in the cuisine.
“We really wanted to take this experience from the city and kind of branch out and get into other boroughs,” said Alexis Carranza of Simple Venue, Sushi by Boū’s parent company. “This is our first one outside of Manhattan in New York City so we’re super excited about it.”
Simple Venue specializes in taking underutilized areas in restaurants, hotels and other spaces and turning them into micro restaurants, hence the speakeasy concept.
Sushi by Boū previews its new speakeasy omakase location in Bayside, its first location in Queens, on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)
“If we meet the right partner, we find the right space that we think we can make work, we’ll turn it into a restaurant,” Carranza said.
Sushi by Boū will also be opening a location in Astoria in the coming months, according to Carranza.
Sushi by Boū previews its new speakeasy omakase location in Bayside, its first location in Queens, on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)
For Queens residents seeking to try out sushi for the first time or dedicated sushi lovers, Sushi by Boū’s modern take on an old-school sushi counter offers a relaxed and exciting environment to dine in the borough. As the weather warms, the restaurant will also host an outdoor patio.
The omakase menu features a standard 12-course menu as well as a 17-course menu with seasonal changes.
Chef Kin Wang prepares his omakase menu at a preview of Sushi by Boū’s newest location in Bayside on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)
Sushi by Boū in Bayside sits in the back of Baraki restaurant at 38-29 Bell Blvd. For more information, visit sushibybou.com.