Flashy James St restaurant undergoes mega makeover

A Japanese restaurant loved by A-listers is set to reopen with a glam new look in its trendy inner Brisbane precinct.

Simon Gloftis and chef Shimpei at their still-under-construction extended restaurant at the Calile Hotel. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

One of Brisbane’s most high profile restaurants, loved by the rich and famous, is set to reopen this Friday after a flashy new makeover four years in the making.

Fortitude Valley’s Sushi Room, at the base of the multi-award-winning Calile hotel, will transform from a 60-seater to 100 seats, with a sexy new outdoor dining area, bar and entry.

The venue, popular with some of the country’s biggest names in business, as well as A-listers including Nigella Lawson, Jackie Chan and Vince Vaughn, has taken over the former site of fashion boutique Artclub x Lucy Folk next door, adding an extra 20sq m to the restaurant which opened in late 2021.

“I was supposed to have this shop originally and then the (previous) tenant changed their mind and decided to stay … so as soon as it became available, I said to the landlords, ‘You’re not giving it to anyone, it’s mine!’ and I gave them no choice,” Sushi Room owner Simon Gloftis said.

Coveted architects Richards and Spence, who designed The Calile and Sushi Room, are behind the renovations, creating footpath dining opening onto Doggett St with upholstered booths, a new, expanded marble bar that will replace the existing one, and a mirrored glass ceiling.

Simon Gloftis and chef Shimpei at their still-under-construction extended restaurant at the Calile Hotel. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

All will be kept separate from the original main dining room, which will have extra booth seating and a few minor tweaks.

“You’ll enter into the main dining room through one of those noren curtains, so it’s got that real sense of arrival and because I want to protect that beautiful space and keep it really private and intimate,” said Mr Gloftis, with guests travelling from across the country to dine at the Japanese eatery, which this year hosted an exclusive pop-up at Melbourne’s Australian Open tennis.

The renovations will also bring an updated food and drink offering, including several new sushi rolls, a wakame salad, plus fresh winter cocktails.

But the biggest reason for the extension is to allow customers to simply come down and have some sushi and a beer without the need to book, or feel like it’s a special occasion.

“You’ll be able to walk in there and feel comfortable having a drink and just something small to eat, you don’t have to have a full meal, but the full menu is available as well,” Mr Gloftis said.

The venue is racing to have all construction completed to reopen to the public this Friday for dinner.