Pirata Group is pleased to announce the opening of Honjo, a modern Japanese restaurant, in late-July in the Sheung Wan district. Honjo celebrates the transformation of Japanese cuisine through cultural influences with a menu that showcases an acceptance of novel ingredients and flavours. As Pirata Group’s second Japanese concept, Honjo will be a staggering 120 seat restaurant independent from its cosy street-inspired neighbour, TMK, set to launch a few days prior.
Honjo will be the imaginary backdrop of a typical Japanese person’s dream world, a communal aspiration shared by many. Whether an entrepreneur, a salaryman, a student or a working parent, dreams of a thrilling world are vivid and inspiring. A short reprieve from reality, one enters a fantastical world where he or she lives lavishly in a home resembling a British manor from the 1950’s. Finding joy in traveling the world and being influenced by each vibrant culture visited, the dreamer will craft Honjo’s interior, philosophy and cuisine based on his or her fantasies.
Brought to life by interior designer, Ben McCarthy of Charlie & Rose, Honjo will remind of a modern restaurant set in the 1950’s with a retro futuristic vibe, vibrant colours and intricate details. From stained glass windows that allow greenery to peek through to hanging light fixtures that beautifully illuminate the space, the restaurant’s design will be deliberate and purposeful. The interior of Honjo will be demurely and appropriately extravagant, a dream eclectic and quirky home complete with an expansive collection of New and Old World wines.
From the first step into Honjo, guests will be invited to meander through a series of themed dining rooms and a sushi counter, all designed to provide a versatile layout conducive for intimate and shared dining encounters. Separated into four distinct areas, Honjo will be comprised of the Tin Toys Lobby, Safari Room, Red Armoury and Blue Suite, each offering a unique experience compared to other nooks of the restaurant.
What impresses the Pirata Group team the most about Japanese cuisine is its ability to absorb inspiration and concepts from other countries. It holds fast to its traditional techniques and preferences while delivering new dishes in their own way. Through the team’s intimate knowledge of different types of dishes, Honjo will serve generous platters of high quality sushi, melt-in-your-mouth sashimi, delightfully light and crispy tempura, and hearty hot dishes. Honjo’s menu will pay homage to a combination of Japanese people’s passion for exploring new flavours and their ardent adoration of their Japanese origin. Dishes will be crafted through a Japanese lens with a ready acceptance of different ingredients and new possibilities.
Honjo will signify a new era of Pirata Group restaurants that tastefully indulges and aspires to reach new heights. Boasting seasonality and a delicacy of flavour, the restaurant will show a deep respect for the Japanese culinary art.