CLEVELAND — Cleveland chef and Parma native Dante Boccuzzi announced he will open his 11th restaurant in Northeast Ohio in the vacant space of Zack Bruell's former Chinato, located at the corner of East 4th and Prospects streets.
The restaurant named Goma, will be a high-energy Japanese Fusion restaurant with a full sushi bar and a hot kitchen offering Shabu-Shabu, fresh noodle entrees, tempura plates and hot clay pot dishes.
“I believe there is a void downtown for the sushi and Japanese concept and this will be a treat for both regular sushi and Japanese cuisine lovers and for those who are trying it for the first time,” Boccuzzi said in a statement.
With the news of restaurants closing on one of the city's most iconic streets, Boccuzzi said it was time to announce his new endeavor after purchasing the former Chinato space in the beginning of the year.
“I believe downtown is hotter and more vital than ever with continued growth and development right in this very area. It’s exploding. Restaurant lovers should be excited and have no worries about the quality and future of extraordinary cuisine here.”
Goma is Boccuzzi’s second sushi restaurant. His first, Ginko, is located adjacent to his signature flagship restaurant DANTE, which he opened in 2007.
Boccuzzi said Goma is twice the size and will have a more “brisk vibe” that will cater to the higher traffic in downtown Cleveland.
“I am on an upswing and laser-focused on my concepts and deliverability. The vitality of downtown has never been stronger and we spend a lot of time researching what people want when they are enjoying Cleveland," he said.
Boccuzzi brings with him years of training and running the world-famous Nobu restaurant in Italy.
There will be a craft cocktail lounge called Giappone located in the lower level of Goma.
This will be Chef Boccuzzi’s first full-service restaurant in downtown Cleveland. His other 10 restaurants include:
- Dante (Tremont
- Ginko (Tremont)
- Dante Next Door (Tremont)
- Coda (Tremont)
- DBA (Akron)
- DC Pasta Co. (Strongsville)
- Dante’s Inferno (Flats)
- Northside Speakeasy (Courtyard by Marriott, Akron)
- Local Brew (Northside Market, Akron)
- Dante’s Inferno (Progressive Field)
Goma, which will have two patios for seasonal enjoyment, is slated to open in June.
Boccuzzi, who has earned two James Beard Foundation Rising Star nominations, has worked in top-notch kitchens in Italy, France England, China and Taiwan.
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