Soon you won’t have to travel west of County Road 105 when you’re in the mood for five star sushi and high-end Japanese cuisine.
Yuki Mori, a sake connoisseur and the former manager of notable Japanese restaurants in New York City and Japan, is opening Stirling Sake in Greenport. The Main Street restaurant will be a hub for traditional Japanese dishes — such as oden, tempura, ramen and, yes, sushi — and a sake bar, said village resident Rick Takemoto.
Takemoto, who represented Mori at Thursday’s Planning Board meeting where the restaurant’s site plan was approved, said Mori is excited to open a restaurant in Long Island Wine Country.
A native of Japan, Mori is the former manager of sake bar Decibel in New York City. Fellow Japanese native Aki Sou has signed on as chef of the restaurant, Takemoto said.
Stirling Sake will occupy 477 Main Street in Greenport, the former location of specialty olive oil and balsamic vinegar store Vines & Branches, which is re-opening later this spring in a space on nearby Front Street.
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Riverhead-based real estate broker and building owner Richard Israel said he originally envisioned the structure to house a sushi restaurant when it was constructed in 2006. That is becoming a reality now that Mori has inked a deal to lease the space.
“It is a good concept for Greenport,” Israel said.
Mori is currently in Toyko and could not be reached for comment.
