Brentwood’s Imari, an upscale Japanese concept from restaurateur Philip Camino, will open for full service on Wednesday, August 25 after a successful two months of offering its bento boxes for delivery and take out, according to a press release from the restaurant. It will serve dinner on Wednesday through Saturday nights from 5 to 10 P.M.
“Following the success and demand of our bento boxes, we’re thrilled to bring the full Imari experience to the Los Angeles community,” Camino said in a statement.
Imari specializes in traditional Japanese cuisine, or washoku. It’s helmed by two highly-regarded chefs: Executive Chef David Schlosser, a Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador and head of Michelin-starred Shibumi in Downtown Los Angeles, and Chef de Cuisine Derek Wilcox, a sushi chef renown for his work at New York City’s Shoji. Both are experts in Japanese cuisine.
For its new dine-in experience, Imari will offer small and shared plates from a seasonal menu that includes all the trappings of a traditional Japanese feast: starters (zensai), sides (fukusai), entrees (shusai), hand rolls (temaki), rice and soup (gohan and shiru), and dessert (mizumono). Its summer menu includes items like Japanese Wagyu steak with fresh wasabi and sea salt; a chopped shrimp hand roll with with mentaiko, a spicy cod roe; shima-aji, or striped jack sashimi, served with ponzu jelly and shaved red onion; and red sorbet flavored with shiso, a Japanese herb, and coated with raspberries. Imari will continue to serve its bento boxes for takeout or delivery only.
All seafood is imported directly from Japan, while other ingredients are sourced locally. Imari will also offer a sake menu curated by Chef Schlosser and a wine list crafted by sommelier Scott Lester of Camino Industries, Camino’s hospitality group.
Imari began its soft opening on June 11. It occupies the former location of Nagao Sushi at 13050 San Vicente Boulevard.
