Back in mid-2017, I wrote a post about ShinBay‘s plans to reopen in Scottsdale in early 2018.
Well, it took a full year longer than expected, but the contemporary Japanese restaurant finally got its doors open over the weekend.
It’s the third time around for the acclaimed eatery, which owner-chef Shinji Kurita launched in Ahwatukee in 2001.
It had a five-year run, was closed for five years, then was resurrected in 2011 as a 30-seat eatery at the Seville Shopping Center in Scottsdale, then closed again in 2016.
Along the way, ShinBay picked up a James Beard Award nomination for Best New Restaurant in 2012 and Kurita for Best Chef Southwest in 2013.
Now ShinBay is back yet again in a 4,000-square-foot building on the southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Second Street in Old Town Scottsdale.
Kurita is collaborating with Sizzle Korean Barbecue owner Hyunwook Lee, who plans to open a second location of his Desert Ridge eatery in the building.
The ShinBay portion of the space is just 13 seats, all at an L-shaped bar. The menu only offers omakase – a chef’s choice meal of six or more courses – for $185 (plus 15% tip) per person.
ShinBay has seatings at 6 and 8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.
