Already a king in the music and fashion industries, Pharrell Williams is now working on tackling the restaurant world.
According to Hypebeast, the multifaceted artist has partnered with the Launchpad Hospitality group to open two new Japanese restaurants in Miami: Nami Nori, a popular hand roll bar in New York that debuted in town at the end of last year, and Matsuyoi, set to open in the upcoming weeks in the same building as the former eatery.
Both restaurants will take up residence in the Miami Design District at 156 NE 41st Street (Nami Nori is already taking reservations). Matsuyoi, a big more upscale than its counterpart, will take over the upstairs area of the building, serving chef Taka Sakeda's multi-course menu that focuses on temaki rolls (basically, open-style hand rolls).
Hypebeast reports that the restaurant boasts a 10-seat chef's counter set around a cocktail bar with an additional private room and terrace that can seat up to 14 patrons at once.
Right downstairs is Nami Nori, a more casual, albeit just as well-designed, destination that also serves a vast selection of temaki (word to the wise: the simpler you go the better—and don't sleep on the veggie options). A bunch of cold and hot appetizers also pepper the menu—from a very good tuna crudo to must-try furikaké fries and an interesting mushroom dip.
Generally speaking, anything that Pharrell touches turns into gold—and these two new Miami restaurants are no exception. As they say in Italy, buon appetito!