Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
A Japanese sushi restaurant specializing in open-style hand rolls is the latest addition to the Atlantic Park development near The Dome entertainment venue. Nami Nori opened in Virginia Beach, the brand’s fifth location, Oct. 11. Music producer and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams, from the Neptune City, is a partner in the brand’s restaurant group and the city’s surf park and shopping complex. Its menu features the signature temaki, or open-style hand rolls: scallop with XO sauce, tobiko (fish eggs) and lemon; tuna poke with crispy shallots; and cucumber black sesame with shiso herb and plum. Items exclusive to the Virginia Beach location include: wagyu sukiyaki temaki, crispy fish temaki, a spicy crab dip and an Orange Crush made with an orange sake twist. And the popular “mochurros” or mochi churros, served with lemon curd dipping sauce, made the dessert list. Florida-based Launchpad Hospitality debuted its first Nami Nori in New York City’s West Village in 2019. The sushi bar and restaurant chain has received accolades over the years, including a two-star rating (very good) from The New York Times. It also has collaborated and hosted events with brands like Louis Vuitton, Mercedes-Benz and Tiffany & Co. Williams, men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton, came on board as an adviser last year ahead of the December opening of Nami Nori Design District in Miami. “Naminori” means “surfing” in Japanese, and fittingly, the local sleek, contemporary restaurant overlooks Atlantic Park’s new Wavegarden-powered lagoon. The 84-seat space has a 12-seat private dining room and tropical plants and flowers on the patio. Ride the wave of new places to dine at the Oceanfront. Rekaya Gibson, 757-295-8809, rekaya.gibson@virginiamedia.com If you go Where: 1892 Pacific Ave., Virginia Beach Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday
