Chef Fuyuhiko Ito has worked in kitchens around the world, studying French and American culinary techniques, as well as his native Japanese. But he’s most known for his delicate, high-end sushi, as evidenced by his previous work as executive chef of Umi. Now he’s opening not one but three restaurants in Midtown: a 16-seat omakase spot called Ishin by Ito, a rooftop cocktail lounge named Celestia, and a modern Japanese eatery dubbed Sozou.

Ishin by Ito and Celestia are soft-open now; Sozou will follow early next year. Located in the new Ten Twenty Spring building at Spring Quarter, Ishin by Ito seats 16 guests around a chef’s counter, where they get a front-row seat to the action. Fish is flown in fresh from Japan five days a week.

“The way we preserve the fish is different,” Ito says. “A

See Full Page