Golden Gai in Bakery Square will open its doors for dine-in service on October 15, after a successful soft opening with takeout orders over the past few months. It’s the newest addition to the popular Richard DeShantz restaurant group, known for Fish Nor Fowl, Butcher and the Rye, and many of Pittsburgh’s fine dining destinations. Golden Gai’s Executive Chef Michael Taylor was head of the kitchen at Gi-Jin, another DeShantz property.
“It’s definitely been a long process opening Golden Gai,” Richard DeShantz Group representative Casey Hunter said. “It’s taken a while to build the right staff to be successful, and we think we have that now.” Chef Taylor’s menu includes stir fried noodles and savory dishes like charcoal-grilled chicken and fried rock shrimp with red miso sauce, as well as a huge variety of sushi and a curated sake program from the restaurant’s beverage manager. The restaurant has an open kitchen where guests can watch the staff work their magic at the wok station from long, elegant tables in the interior.
Golden Gai, Curated Izakaya from Richard DeShantz Group, Now Open
“We’ve spent the last year curating our sake list and menu, and we’re confident our team will be able to recommend something for everyone,” Hunter said. Part of how Golden Gai has had such a successful takeout launch is its proximity to a number of corporate offices. “People love takeout sushi,” Hunter explained. “Since we’re surrounded by office buildings and tech companies, people can walk right to the takeout window and get a to-go lunch while they work.”
Most of the other businesses in Bakery Square don’t offer as much to-go service, and sushi is a light, healthy midday meal. But at its core, Golden Gai is an izakaya, a Japanese-style pub. Pittsburgh has one traditional izakaya already, Roger Li’s Umami in Lawrenceville. But there isn’t a lot of authentic Japanese food in the city as a whole, and Golden Gai will be a welcome addition to the local food scene. “We hope to bring something different to the Bakery Square area,” Hunter said. Golden Gai is now open for reservations starting on its launch date of October 15. Get them while you can!
Story by Emma Riva / Photo courtesy of Golden Gai
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