Making friends in a communal nook

By Frank Sabatini Jr. | SDUN Food Critic

Harney Sushi in Old Town has transformed a cozy nook in the restaurant into a regal, semi-private dining booth available to groups of two to six by reservation only on the first Tuesday of every month. The space allows for strangers to mingle over various 10-course meals prepared by executive chef Anthony Sinsay.

The meals will feature dishes that are not on Harney’s regular menu, allowing Sinsay to unleash his culinary prowess using seasonal produce.

As for Sinsay’s cooking style, “I’ll be turning classic dishes on their heads,” he says, referring to new preparations of sashimi and odd cuts of red meat that he plans on serving. Those meats, he adds, could include delicacies such as pork necks and calves’ tongue. A host of sustainable seafood will enter into the picture as well.

“I want this to be a completely exclusive, one-of-a-kind dining experience for guests,” Sinsay said while developing the menu for the debut seating on Aug. 2.

At press time, two seats were still available and reservations were being accepted for a second dinner scheduled for Sept. 6.

Most courses at each meal will be paired with crafty cocktails, which are included in the price of $150 per person. The dinners start at 7 p.m.

“It’s a gorgeous booth with fabric pillows and a chandelier above. Depending on demand, I’d love to add a second dinner each month. But I don’t want to jump the gun just yet,” Sinsay said.

Harney Sushi is located at 3964 Harney St. For reservations, call (619) 295-3272, ext. 4.