Portland-based Sustainable Restaurant Group (SRG), one of the most innovative and creative hospitality groups in the country, announced today its plans to open its first Bamboo Sushi location in Arizona at Biltmore Fashion Park. The restaurant will feature upscale Japanese food, with all of its menu items meeting extensive sustainability criteria. Situated on the south side of the center between Arhaus and Blanco Tacos + Tequila, the new location is under construction and currently slated to open in December.
“We’re excited to be a part of the Valley’s progressive culinary growth and we’re looking forward to introducing our concept to the Biltmore area,” said founder and CEO Kristofor Lofgren. “As we grow, we want to inspire change in the way people eat and to show that restaurants can use business as a force for good. Phoenix is an ideal market for us to showcase this level of sustainability at an approachable price point.”
Boasting a fresh design and modern Japanese aesthetic, the almost 5,000-square-foot space will feature an indoor-outdoor private dining space in addition to a large 40 by 10-foot art installation unique to the location. The Biltmore and surrounding communities can look forward to approachably priced menu items with sustainably sourced ingredients and innovative flavor combinations. Bamboo Sushi’s mostly gluten-free menu features signature and traditional sushi rolls, high quality nigiri, and vegetarian and vegan options, as well as Japanese-inspired, shareable plates. The restaurant strikes a balance between traditional Omakase experiences at the sushi bar to more modern, creative rolls, rounded out by a selection of plates featuring meat and vegetables. At the bar, guests can look for wines that specialize in organic and biodynamic processes, inspired cocktails that lean on fresh seasonal flavors, and generous sake options including Bamboo Sake, a proprietary variety developed with renowned brewery Kobe Shu-Shin-Kan.
Earlier this year, SRG announced the addition of Christine Barone, CEO of Phoenix-based True Food Kitchen, to the company’s board of directors.
“Christine shares our same commitment to inspiring change and enriching the communities we live in, and her advocacy of sustainable and mindful business practices combined with her invaluable insights will help us accelerate our growth,” said Lofgren. “In fact, we’ve been eyeing the Phoenix market for quite some time but upon joining our board, Christine shared the exciting growth taking place in the market and we’ve been eager to be a part of it ever since.”
The idea for Bamboo Sushi was born when Lofgren initially had the desire to be an environmental lawyer as he understood that sustainability is one of the world’s most pressing issues. After looking at the rise of the farm-to-table movement in the culinary industry, Lofgren decided to conquer what seemed like the impossible by taking the practice to the next level with one of his favorite foods: sushi. Lofgren spent over a decade establishing a supply chain that lowers impact, and Bamboo Sushi became the first restaurant certified as a B corporation — a business that meets the highest verified social and environmental standards.
Bamboo Sushi is located at 2502 East Camelback Road, Suite 119. The restaurant is now hiring; to apply, visit www.srg.careers.
