PLATTSBURGH -- Tommy Zhang, who owns the Koto Japanese Steak House in Burlington, will open a Plattsburgh location this summer.
The new restaurant is under construction at the former site of Della Honda on Upper Cornelia Street. It is being built due to customer demand, Zhang said.
"A lot of people from here go to the restaurant in Burlington. Many Plattsburgh customers have asked me to open in Plattsburgh."
Dan Connolly will be the restaurant manager. He was previously manager of the West Lebanon, N.H., location, which Zhang recently sold.
Connolly said the most popular of three dining options is the restaurant's hibachi tables.
A chef, knives flashing, will prepare dishes such as filets, New York strip steak, crab legs, lobster tails, shrimp, scallops and salmon, along with a variety of vegetables, on a sizzling grill in the middle of the table.
"Hibachi tables are our biggest drawing cards," Connolly said. "Everything on the table is cut to bite-sized pieces. There are no knives for dinner, just forks or chopsticks."
Eight hibachi tables will be set up in the main dining area and four in a smaller function room. Up to eight people can be seated at one hibachi table, or 18 people can be seated if two tables are used together.
"It's a wonderful dining experience," Connolly said. "The chef cooks the food right in front of you. It's a show and a meal."
The smokeless hibachi tables are vented from below. The smoke is sent through ducts concealed within the wall columns.
The second option is dining at the sushi bar. Connolly said the restaurant uses the best-quality seafood from a fish market in New York City.
"It's the main fish market on the whole East Coast," Connolly said. "Plattsburgh's in for a big treat with the sushi."
Zhang said Koto's has been named the best sushi bar on a number of occasions by the Burlington Free Press.
The third option is traditional Japanese cuisine, such as teriyaki and sukiyaki dishes from the kitchen served at a regular dining table.
"We have some really gorgeous house specials. They are the type of things you want to take a picture of before you eat," Connolly said. "The presentations are incredible."
To complete the meal, the variety of desserts includes fried ice cream, fried bananas, green tea ice cream, fried banana ice cream, ginger ice cream and strawberry shortcake. Birthday parties include a free fried ice cream for the honoree.
There will be a full bar, with wine, liquor and beer, as well as Japanese beers and Far Eastern cocktails such as Tokyo Tea. Connolly said that is similar to a Long Island Iced Tea, but also includes Midori, which colors it green.
The decor will be very similar to the Burlington restaurant, Connolly said.
"It will have a pond with a waterfall and koi fish. All Japanese restaurants are beautiful when they are finished," he said.
There will be outside dining on a patio, and plenty of parking is available.
All items on the menu are available for takeout. Reservations are not required but are accepted, Connolly said.
He said every food item will be of the finest quality, no corners cut.
"You will be very satisfied with what you get. I've never had a complaint about the quality of the food," Connolly said.
Zhang said Connolly has worked for him for five or six years and brings many years of business experience to the new restaurant.
For Zhang, the new Koto location brings him full circle.
"He's the original owner of the No. 1 Chinese Restaurant across the street," Connolly said.
The restaurant is open 364 days a year, closed only on Thanksgiving.
"We look forward to serving all the residents of Plattsburgh and the surrounding area," Connolly said.
dheath@pressrepublican.com
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Koto Japanese Steak House plans to open by end of June
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