A pearl in the making: Raw Bar to open in South Laguna
Empire Oyster plans Q1 2025 opening
Empire Oyster is opening a RAW BAR in South Laguna … and not just a Raw oyster bar but a RAW BAR Omaksse style … in SoLag, my friends. This drops into the long-empty space that used to be our little Thai neighborhood restaurant, which sits just a half block down and on the other side from the OTHER dark horse that took our South Laguna by storm, AHBA.
This Raw Bar – it isn’t just any “oh let’s throw an oyster bar together and call it good.” Starting about 20 years ago, these folks created an indy empire in Charleston, South Carolina … I mean, MOVIES are being made about these folks as the world’s only combo Omakase Raw Bar around … and now Kevin Joseph and his crew have found their way to their next vortex, Laguna Beach.
So allow me to spool this for you a bit. As you probably know because of our newly Michelin starred restaurant, Rebel Omakase in downtown Laguna Beach, “Omakase” is literally translated as “I leave the details up to you.” In an omakase setting, you never look at a menu - the entire evening’s fare is up to the chef. These, then, are prix fixe menus - you know, it’s a set menu that everyone receives in that seating and it’s just one amazing delicacy after another.
Now Omakase is typically known as a sushi-based menu. That’s why Kevin was so different with his concept of fresh fish, mollusks (that’s oysters) and shell fish.
Kevin says he’ll be following a similar design style for the RAW bar in SoLag … about 10-12 people at a bar with an ice moat … an ice moat … of crushed ice between the chef and the diners so that every one of the evening’s menu - minus the hot dishes of course – is served up right there in front of you.
And yes, while each evening’s service revolves around what Kevin calls the “ultra premium oyster - treated 6 different ways” including a rather dramatic show of smoking oysters, he’ll be offering items such as Gluten free Lobster bisque, ceviche, salmon belly in a tartare and more.
If all goes according to plan, the Raw Bar is going to be opening early first quarter 2025.
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