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New Restaurants Add To The Appeal Of South Norwalk

NORWALK, Conn. -- Business activity remained brisk in the past few months in South Norwalk with the addition of new dining destinations, the start of an apartment project and the addition of a creative arts outlet.

Chefs in the sushi bar at Oishi, a new restaurant on Washington Street in South Norwalk, work on a dish.

Chefs in the sushi bar at Oishi, a new restaurant on Washington Street in South Norwalk, work on a dish.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner
Oishi, a Japanese pub, recently opened in South Norwalk.

Oishi, a Japanese pub, recently opened in South Norwalk.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner
A look at the fresh fish at the sushi bar at Oishi in South Norwalk.

A look at the fresh fish at the sushi bar at Oishi in South Norwalk.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner
Muse Paintbar opened at 55 Main St. in Norwalk. Guests can paint their own pictures and enjoy drinks and light far at the new creative destination.

Muse Paintbar opened at 55 Main St. in Norwalk. Guests can paint their own pictures and enjoy drinks and light far at the new creative destination.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner
Jax & Co., a "Low Country Kitchen," also opened recently on Main Street in South Norwalk.

Jax & Co., a "Low Country Kitchen," also opened recently on Main Street in South Norwalk.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner

Last week, the Japanese Pub Oishi opened at 124 Washington St. At the nearby Ironworks plaza, The Stand, a juice bar, moved into a new location from Wall Street. Saraswati’s Yoga Joint also recently opened in the Ironworks Plaza, which saw the restaurant Harlan Publick open in summer.

On North Main Street, Jax & Co. opened last week with its “Low Country Kitchen” offerings, and Muse Paintbar, an innovative mix of creative space, opened at 55 North Main St. in the summer.

The newest restaurant addition is Oishi and opened after a four-month renovation, according to manager Chris Chen. The restaurant is a modern Japanese restaurant/pub that offers unique tapas (small plates) at a reasonable price. The menu has Japanese and other Pan-Asian dishes. The theme is similar to an Irish Pub, except with Japanese fare.

“It’s not a new idea,’’ Chen said. “They’re very popular in Japan and in New York. But we are the only one of its kind around here because we serve primarily Japanese food.”

Chen and his remodelers created a party area for small groups, and the sushi bar. The name is officially Oishi Sushi and Izakaya, with the latter a Japanese word meaning a type of drinking establishment that serves food to accompany drinks.

The Stand moved from Wall Street and was closed for about a week. It planned to open early this week with its fresh, organic mix of drinks, smoothies and sandwiches and salads.

Jax & Co. will be a welcome eatery for people on the go. Commuters heading to the nearby train station can grab a quick breakfast sandwich before boarding for the train to the city. And workers in the area will enjoy the grab and go sandwiches and the mix of creative and tasty made-to-order sandwiches, including some vegetarian choices.

Muse Paintbar offers the chance for people to attend a paint class and purchase wine, beer and a few bites. Muse, which has five other locations, is the second in Connecticut. It’s a perfect choice for fundraisers, bachelorette and birthday parties, girl’s nights, date nights, kid’s birthdays and after-school classes. All of the classes are led by an instructor.

The new businesses will soon have some new visitors. Besides the apartments at Ironworks, which opened earlier this year, ground was broken in June for The Pearl, a 66-unit apartment complex with valet parking that is scheduled to open in May 2015.

For a complete guide on South Norwalk, visit the SoNo Design District website.

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