Sushi Tango Restaurant

By Lynda Pham and Janet Frausto

Sushi Tango is a restaurant currently located in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota that serves a wide variety of Japanese sushi and hibachi on their menu. They first moved to this space for a larger area to accommodate more space for customers and a new interior in the summer of 2009. According to Sean Moore Designs, who was contracted to do the interiors, Sushi Tango's concept was a wonderful fusion of contemporary sushi and hibachi restaurant with a warm contemporary urban feel.

Walls

Black Granite Countertops with Metal Vine Sculptures (Photo from Sean Moore Design’s website)

The use of red ceramic tiles in the sushi bar and glass tiles in the entryway was one of the goals of the project from RSP Architect was fairly interesting when they wanted to give "solid and light impressions" This idea actually creates a transition from bright to slow warm which does not give a shock to the eyes of people walking into a dimmed-warm space. The red tiles in the sushi bar makes it pop out as a focal point of the space especially when light is directly above it. The only feature that might seem to be a problem is the lighting that bounces off the walls. It seems that the lighting is a little strong which might be too bright for the customers while they are looking up or watching the chefs make sushi. Maybe making the lighting at the top wall a little dimmer would give a warm feeling that will connect to the space.

Concrete Flooring and Carpets

Lighting Fixtures and Concrete Flooring (Photo from RSP Architect website)

The idea of floor just brings the color grey to our minds, but the used of Stained concrete floors is a different impression. RSP Architect wanted to provide a contemporary, urban-loft like feel which is really effective. From a picture view, it really looks like a granite-like material was used for the flooring or more like a golden marble was used. The golden color it emitted seem to guide customers into the space while blending into the walls which were close to the same color. The concrete flooring then ended with the start of carpets probably meaning that the destination has been reached. The materials used for the carpet was not available, but the designs was exciting because of the zigzags of neutral grey, brown, and copper that zig-zagged around the curved concrete. This created more energy to be pulled into the space.

Counter Tops and Vine Sculptures
Sushi Bar with red ceramic tiles (Photo from RSP Architect website)

Sean Moore Designs used black granite counter on the half curved wall that separated the sushi bar from the main bar in which they placed metal vine sculptures to divide but still keep the place connected through the crystallographic effect. The granite countertop would be very ideal because of the durability of the materials and the maintenance would be low since it rarely should come into contact with acids. The metal vine seems give an urban feel to it, but once light enters the space, the sculptures seems to blend and disappear into the space which really takes out the purpose of dividing. Maybe opting for different material for the sculpture would have made it a little bit better.

Panels

RSP Architects embedded transparent panels made of bamboo and grass for the windows throughout the space. The use of sustainable products in the space is a plus, and letting just enough light in order to light up the space while still keeping it warm with the lighting above in order to create an open and cozy space another plus.

Hibachi Table
Hibachi Tables and Panels (Photo from RSP Architect website)

A hibachi table is a modern cooking grill used for live grills that usually involve entertaining customers with a show of the cooking routine with amazing tricks. For these tables, it seems that black granite was used for the table around the grill which makes the silver grill and the white-uniformed chef the central focus automatically. Maintenance of the table would be low but the exposure to acid is not limited since food is served on these tables.

Decorating Pieces

Metal Sculpture “School of Fishes” with four red-glazed decor vases on the wall in the back

Sean Moore Designs placed 4 red-glazed vases on the walls to create a connection of the space to the sushi bar as well as create as a little guide to the sushi bar. The vase actually creates a sea-level for the metal fishes that are placed below the vases. In a sense, it kind has created a space of the sea which sushi's main ingredient is from. The fishes seem to bring more movement to the curvy space by going the opposite direction of the main stream.

Lighting Fixtures

The large, round lighting fixture actually seems to bring elegance to the space with the warm lighting that sheers through droplets of crystals, however, the exposed ceiling turns the elegance to another direction which does not give an appealing feel to it. More like a sense of juxtaposition but not quite up to par. If the ceiling was solid then maybe the elegance aura would have spread throughout the space rather than dissipating away.

Overall the space is very vibrant but at the same time is warm and cozy while being intriguing and exciting. The products used in the space were successful with some parts that could actually do better. The part that is very appealing is actually the flooring which looks very much like a golden marble. To me, I think it actually creates a cozy and exciting place to eat except the ceiling part.