Sauce Magazine – Japanese restaurant Nobu has closed in University City and will reopen in the Delmar Loop later this year

Japanese restaurant Nobu has closed in University City and will reopen in the Delmar Loop later this year

One of St. Louis’ oldest sushi restaurants is moving to a new location in a few months. Nobu Japanese Restaurant, which was located at 8643 Olive Blvd. in University City from 1990 until next June, will soon reside at 6253 Delmar Blvd. in the Loop in the same building as United Provisions.

The new spot should open at the end of 2021 and will offer a more targeted menu. “We were a restaurant that used all that protein, and there’s a lot to manage and specialize in, so we’re sticking to seafood,” said George Schinichi Kidera, co-owner, chef and operator of Nobu. “Before, we were a family restaurant offering comfort food, but now we focus on sushi, especially sashimi and nigiri.”

A selection of seafood-focused à la carte dishes will also be available upon reopening. On the beverage side, they plan to offer cocktails, spirits, beer, wine, and a selection of sakes.

The restaurant is also getting a makeover. Assisted by interior designer Sasha Malinich, Nobu will have a warm and welcoming vibe, which Kidera describes as “tasteful and relaxed”. The space is smaller at 964 square feet, and Kidera and Malinich try to be efficient and make the most of the space.

Malinich’s talents have already been showcased in St. Louis restaurants such as Edera Italian Restaurant, Winslow’s table and the now closed Sardella. Malinich is hugely inspired by travel and incorporates international design into his work. “The design direction is modern Japanese, lighter woods, earth tones, warm lighting,” Kidera said. “For our family, being Japanese, Sasha really wants to emphasize that when you come to the restaurant, you feel like you are in a unique atmosphere that will really convey the feeling of being in Japan.”

A family-run “mom and pop shop,” Nobu’s loves serving the St. Louis area, according to Kidera. “We kept our doors open, we didn’t close, every possible day, we kept our doors open throughout the pandemic,” he said. “We got through it and are very happy that things are on the road to recovery.”

The restaurant’s initial focus will be primarily on dine-in rather than takeout and delivery during its reopening period, but this may change later depending on demand in the new location. Nobu’s will be open weekdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. It will probably be closed on Mondays and possibly on Sundays as well.