Chef Lewis Opens OKO Restaurant April 19th

Social Media Promotion: Feature Article    

OKO Restaurant to Open 

in Westport Connecticut

April 19th

This week we spent Friday evening at Chef Brian Lewis' friends, family, and media preview for his new endeavor, the OKO Restaurant in Westport CT. 

Located on Wilton Road in the former Vigilant Firehouse, the space is cozy, comfortable, with clean lines indicative of the Japanese influences of its cuisine.

OKO Restaurant Menu

Architect Rick Hoag from Frederick William Hoag Architect firm and Interior Designer Megan Zwick from MZ Interiors uncovered the original character of the historic firehouse, built in 1931, to create an enchanting dining space. 

(L) Rick Hoag of  the Frederick William Hoag Architect Firm,
(R) Chef Brian Lewis of OKO Restaurant and The Cottage

Locals are already familiar with Chef Brian Lewis' dedication to the local community and flavorful influences of the artisan farmers and growers in our region by his menu at The Cottage, also in Westport. But Lewis' accolades are far reaching, having been honored in March 2018 as a semi-finalist for the James Beard Awards’ Best Chef: Northeast in the 2018.

OKO Restaurant continues the tradition with a menu that boldly features the Japanese influences that Chef Lewis favors. Here the menu showcases Lewis’ innovative take on traditional Japanese cuisine and sushi, in a lively and charming atmosphere.  

Chef Lewis notes: 

“My team and I are delighted to bring OKO to the community, combining my love for Japanese cooking techniques and culture with fresh, local ingredients from Connecticut, the U.S. and the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.” 

The seasonally driven, Japanese-inspired cuisine is meant to be shared, encouraging the sampling of several styles of Japanese cuisine. In keeping with the communal sharing concept, the open kitchen allows guests to be educated on Japanese cooking methods.

OKO Restaurant - Westport CT

The food menu at OKO is unique as it features several styles of Japanese-influenced cuisine, including Sushi Nigiri, Sashimi and Temaki (hand rolls), as well as vegetable tempura, seasonally inspired salads and vegetable dishes, okonomiyaki (the restaurant's namesake), homemade tofu, hand-cut soba and ramen specialties and meat dishes from the tepinyaki grill.  

OKO Restaurant -  Westport CT

A traditional "Omakase" menu will also be available, offering a spontaneous, multi-course menu of the chef’s choosing, as well as a “Chef’s Selection” offering of Nigiri Sushi, Sashimi or Chirashi Sashimi.  

Dessert offerings will include house-made soft serve ice cream, build-your-own sundaes and crepes filled with matcha crème.

Here are some of the items we sampled at the preview event. Please note that menu portion sizes may differ as these were intended to be a tasting menu of small bite samplings and passed hors d'oeuvres.

OKO Restaurant - Deviled Ramen Egg

OKO Restaurant - Kushii Oyster
Yuzu, Ginger Kosho

OKO Westport - Spinach Ohitashi Goma-ae
Hot Chili Oil, Sesasame Dressing
Box Cut Katsuobushi

OKO Restaurant - Westport CT

OKO Restaurant - Westport CT

OKO Restaurant - Westport CT

OKO Restaurant - Westport CT

OKO Restaurant - Westport CT

OKO Restaurant - Edamame
Garlic Soy Butter, Gomashimo
Shio Kombu

OKO Restaurant - Shishito Peppers
Chick Pea Miso, Lardo,
Shoyu-koji

OKO Restaurant - Sweet Shrimp
Brown Butter Nikiri, Togarashi

OKO Restaurant - Maine Uni Shots
Shiro Dashi, Yuzu
Osetra Caviar

OKO Restaurant - Maine Uni Shots

The beverage program at OKO will also celebrate the Japanese culture with seasonal, local ingredients.  A robust offering of Sake, Japanese Beer, hot and cold iced tea, matcha and wine will be offered.  

OKO Restaurant - Westport CT
Attention to Detail with Everything!

Custom cocktails and Highballs will integrate traditional Japanese ingredients – sake, barley shochu, Japanese craft whiskey and matcha – with spirits including gin, brandy, rye and tequila.

Cocktails at OKO Restaurant

I would be remiss if I didn't pay homage to the unique decor in the post-industrial color scheme of natural ash, concrete grays and black steel. The modern elements are asymmetrically juxtaposed against the symmetry of the building’s brick walls and large windows fronting Wilton Road.  

OKO Restaurant - Interior
(inside, looking out)

Ash wood furniture is custom-made, with slender wood LED lights strategically placed in an irregular pattern on the ceiling. The design is complemented by an ash wood and fiber cement bar that surrounds and invites a full view of the working kitchen.  

OKO Restaurant - Wrap Around Bar

A custom-designed steel and translucent resin structure is suspended above the bar, casting a soft play of light and shadow through its intricate design, inspired by the shapes of traditional Japanese scaffolding. (Rumor has it that staff tested the shelving's strength by doing pull ups!)  

OKO Restaurant - Bar Shelves

The atmosphere created for guests is clean, warm and sophisticated. featuring traditional and banquette-style seating for a cozy thirty-four patrons in the main dining area, as well as fourteen bar seats that wrap around the bar into the open kitchen. In addition, there is a single "tucked-away" high-top table that seats four in its own semi-private nook. 

OKO Restaaurant - Westport CT
Interior 

OKO is open Tuesday-Saturday from 5:00pm to close and in the coming months, will be adding Sunday service.  

The restaurant will also be offering take-out in the coming weeks.

 OKO accepts reservations via OpenTable.com or by contacting the restaurant at 203-557-8404.

Left: One Knight Only:
Kyoto Gin, Lychee, Yuzu Sake, Lemongrass Sho-chu
Right: Loosey Goosey:
Tequila, Dark Rum, Gooseberry

Be sure to visit them soon in Westport Connecticut!

OKO Restaurant

6 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
203-557-8404.
https://okokitchen.com/ 

Follow them on social media at ... 

• Facebook:  OKO Westport
• Instagram:  @OKOWestport
• Twitter:  @OKO_Westport

About Chef Brian Lewis:

Brian Lewis is one of Connecticut’s most celebrated chefs, lauded for his commitment to quality and seasonally driven American cuisine featured at his restaurant, The Cottage, as well as his love for Japanese cuisine at his newest venture, OKO.  

Chef Lewis first received national recognition as the opening Executive Chef of actor Richard Gere’s The Bedford Post Inn, a Relais & Chateaux property that featured two destination restaurants, The Barn and The Farmhouse. He launched his first solo venture in March 2012 with elm, before leaving to focus on launching The Cottage in Connecticut’s Westport neighborhood.  Lewis has had the honor of being invited to cook three dinners at the historic James Beard House in New York City, most recently in January 2017 on behalf of The Cottage.  He has made appearances on “The Martha Stewart Show” and “TODAY.”

About OKO:  

OKO is the heartfelt interpretation from Chef Brian Lewis of Japanese ingredients, cooking methods and cuisine, paired with seasonal, local ingredients from Connecticut, the United States and the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.  Located in Downtown Westport, Connecticut in the historic Vigilant Hose Company Firehouse, OKO showcases Lewis’ innovative take on traditional Japanese cuisine and sushi, encouraging casual, small plate dining meant to be shared, in a lively and charming atmosphere.  Open five days a week for dinner, with brunch service launching in the coming months, the restaurant is located at 6 Wilton Road.  For more information, visit www.okokitchen.com.  

Disclaimer: We were invited to the friends, family, & media preview by members of OKO's management and marketing team, however, the opinions expressed are entirely our own.

©  Home Place 2018