thePULSEBy Linnea Sheldon
There’s a new sushi bar in town, but this one is putting a different spin on what Worcester has come to expect from a sushi restaurant. Haiku, located at 258 Park Avenue, serves sushi as well as other Asian inspired dishes, all with a little bit of a French influence. It bills itself as Worcester’s first complete fusion menu.
Owner George Sakhat is also the owner of the trio of El Basha restaurants along with his brothers Jean and Eli Sakhat. He runs the location at 256 Park Avenue, so when the former On the Rocks spot opened up he decided to take advantage. “We wanted to do something different,” he explained.
Sakhat’s first move was to ask Sushi Chef Kenzo Phan to be a part of the restaurant. Phan had previously created a sushi menu at Willy’s Steakhouse in Shrewsbury and had helped found and name Zipango on Shrewsbury Street, where he also created the menu. Phan was working in Maine when Sakhat contacted him, and is now the head of operations at Haiku.
“He’s so significant for the city,” Sakhat said. “He’s always served the people of the city, and his skills are amazing.”
Haiku has comfortable booth and table seating as well as a full bar and full sushi bar, all of which combined seat up to 75 people. There is also a full kitchen menu aside from the sushi. Plenty of parking is available, as is complimentary valet service.
The restaurant opened on November 22, which, according to Sakhat, came as a bit of a surprise. “There are more permits and inspections involved with this sort of food,” he said. “Construction and permits had been day to day, so when it was all set we decided to just open.”
The restaurant also has a plasma TV, so even people who are just looking to go out for a cocktail can stop in and feel comfortable. Haiku is open seven days a week; Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, and Saturday and Sunday just for dinner.
Sakhat said Haiku has already enjoyed a good crowd, thanks in large part to Phan’s following of devoted sushi lovers. “It’s been a great success so far,” Sahkat said. “The feedback has been great, and we already have some regulars.”
I have not tried the sushi there yet but I did meet kenzo at the Best Chef competition. I thought he was arrogant and walked around like he was some gangster. In general I thought he had a poor charecter and he totally turned me off of trying Haiku.
I’m sorry that your impressions of Kenzo turned you off to the point where you would not consider testing his skills. All of my family members are long time, dedicated followers of Kenzo from Willie’s to Zypango and we look forward to going to Haiku this weekend. I have traveled across the country and tried sushi in many other parts of the world including Hawaii, England, India and Mexico and I can assure you that you will find few chefs as skilled and passionate as Kenzo. Don’t confuse Kenzo’s pride with arrogance. He is good at what he does and proud of it. He also has a great sense of humor which is why my children love him.
If you like sushi, go to Haiku…I guarantee you will leave with a very different attitude, you will return and many of Kenzo’s loyal followers will be there as well.
Terri’s comments are unfortunate for several reasons. First, because her opinion is based upon such a limted experience. Terry “lacks knowledge” of Kenzo. (See “Ignorant” in dictionary). Second, Terri must have gone to the “Best” function to judge everyone based upon her superficial observations. A terrible way to live life.
Kenzo will never win the “Mother Theresa Humanitarian Award”… Niether will Terri. But, Kenzo is the most talented sushi chef I have ever met.
My wife and I have been dining with Kenzo almost every week for 7 years. We are amazed that after all that time he continues to present us with a new delicious serving every week. We don’t usually order, but leave the selections of sushi to Kenzo. We have never been disappointed. I strongly recommend Haiku to anyone who loves sushi or wants to find out what it’s all about. Ask for Kenzo and tell him what your experience with sushi is and let him treat you. If you have spending limits let him know. Enjoy.
Kenzo is the most talented and fabulous sushi chef. He is GREAT at what he does. Terri has no clue what he/she is talking about. Give him another try. Promise he will deliver.
Kenzo is the best sushi chef. I tried many sushi restraunt in RI,MA and CT. I never met good sushi chef except Kenzo. His sushi close Japanese very much. He is much creative for his menu and I like that style.
KENZO – JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! ALL SUSHI CHEFS/OWNERS NEED TO WATCH THE CHARGE, WE KNOW THE VALUE IS THERE, BUT BE CARFUL THE WORD IS SPREADING ABOUT THE THE BREAKING OF THE WALLET…. TEAM UP WITH WILSON!! OPEN YOUR OWN TOGETHER AND RULE!!! ALSO LOOK INTO THE SPRINGFIELD MA AREA…
Kenzo was also involved with Yama Zakura in Northborough for a short time but they parted ways. Anna who owns it is doing a fabulous job and it is the best suhsi/sashimi in the area and we have been everywhere including Haiku, Fugakyu, Oni… Haiku is good and if you are in the city or west go there – but if you want amazingly interesting, unique and high grade sushi/sashimi and particularly if you are east fo Worcester – look for Yama Zakura in the plaza next tot eh Steakloft in Northborough…
I dined for the first time at Haiku last night, and it will be the first of many, many visits. This was, bar none, some of the finest, freshest sushi I have ever tasted. Kenzo Sensei was happy to substitute seaweed for rice in one of his own creations to make it specifically what I wanted. He did so with grace, and checked on me promptly to make sure I enjoyed the offering. Thanks to Haiku for keeping the plasma TV with the volume off! I liked being able to glance up to see how the Sox were doing, but I am rarely in the mood for TV sets blaring all over the place, which seems to be a New England specialty!
Haiku is amazing! TIGER EYE! Must try it!!! So good! Kenzo is amazing, great personality and presents himself very professionally!