NEW: Oto Sushi to open late October

Former Harley's will be a sustainable sushi bar

Oto Sushi is set to take over in late October in the old “Harley” space at Glenneyre and Mermaid.

If you’ll remember, we had Harley’s until former Chef Greg Daniels left us for Nashville … sob. For you old-timers, that space before Harley was 370 Common Kitchen (the great Chef Ryan Adams) and, prior to that was Sorrento Grill, which was originally established by one of North America’s top restaurateurs, David Wilhelm way back in 1989.

Clearly, this space is one of those magical places as it has housed some of the most successful concepts AND finest menus around. 

So, Ash - Ashley - Cintas is our new restaurateur of Oto Sushi and I think it’s quite an honor that she chose Laguna Beach for her restaurant. Ash was born in Palm Springs, grew up on the East Coast and then worked her way back to LA and the OC with several stops along the way. She’s been a premier hospitality exec for 15 years, establishing concepts and scaling operations for large sustainable restaurant groups and the ACE Hotel brands all over the country. 

When Ash was most recently in Portland, Oregon, she first oversaw the build of a hotel in downtown Portland, and then began working with a family-owned sustainable sushi company, Bamboo Sushi, to help them scale their operations. 

It was there that she met Chef Connor Mathison, who had his own storied sushi background … and now the two are business partners in Oto Sushi here in Laguna. 

Why the name OTO Sushi?

Ash told me that she took a trip to Japan for “inspirational purposes” and spent a few days in Kyoto. The beauty of the land and the hospitality in its people really made an impact on her, so she thought she’d carry that Kyoto feeling forward with “OTO”

Ash has wanted to create her own restaurant concept for a few years now, and she’s been in plenty of places that would have gladly received her. 

She chose Laguna, though, because she wanted an “amazing location, an amazing building and a beach community … but not just any beach community … she says she honed in on looking for a town of residents who enjoy a thriving local cultural scene AND have a real consciousness to the sustainability and care of our ocean. 

She told me, “I chose Laguna Beach for my sustainable sushi restaurant because it’s a community that truly values the environment and embraces a lifestyle centered around conscious living. Laguna has a vibrant coastal energy and commitment to sustainability and it felt like the perfect place to introduce a menu that not only celebrates fresh, responsibly sourced seafood but also supports the health of our oceans.

“It’s more than just a restaurant – it’s about being part of a movement that aligns with the values of the people here,” she said.

Ash says she was surprised at the response when she hoisted the “Help Wanted” flag for applicants - she received 159 applications in just a matter of a couple days. She begins interviewing the second week of October and plans to open at that month’s end.

P.S. Feel free to follow updates on my Instagram @BestofLagunaBeach