Openings, Closings, Remodelings, Oh My!

Akashisushi.com

Akashi, a city in Japan known for its seafood, means "bright stone"

Chi's focusing on the Grove and on his flagship restaurant of 16 years in South Miami, which will close for remodeling on June 20 for three and a half weeks, to give it "a more modern feel, with better lighting and ambiance."  And in a new venture, Akashi is now doing sushi outdoors at the River Lounge in the Epic Hotel (270 Biscayne Blvd. Way, Miami; (305) 424-5226) on Thursday and Friday -- with Wednesday service rumored to start up in the near future. Here the menu will change about every month or so with a limited offering (there's just an outdoor sushi bar, no kitchen) of about 5 to 6 rolls as well as fresh nigiri and sashimi. 

In other news... 

Mr. Chu's Hong Kong Cuisine, formerly at 890 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, is now re-opening at 2728 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables on Thursday, June 4.

Further north, American Czech-Slovak Cultural Club restaurant will be temporarily closed during July and August. The bar will continue normal operation during the period -- opening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as usual, at 5:00 PM with free Czech-style appetizers during Happy Hour.