Tomosushi Lessons

Chef Steve runs his Sushi restaurant with his wife Tina Son, the maitre D on the West side of Austin's Parmer Lane. Weary of the gambling temptaition of Vegas, Steve moved to Austin from Las Vegas in search of a family oriented city different from Las Vegas. He found it in Austin, Texas.

Eight years on, he serves Japanese style sushi from in his elegant restaurant on west Parmer Lane. As it is on his website: Tomo Sushi "serves innovative, quality sushi and Japanese food to Austin diners with a comprehensive menu, hot and cold sakes and wines, delectable dessert list, all served in a hip, elegant, and intimate setting." 

I really enjoyed my conversation with Steve for his openness and willingness to share his story, and learned a few useful things.

Lessons:

1. Confidence from working somewhere else

Working for a local sushi restaurant after moving to Austin, and unsure of Austin's receptivity to Japanese cuisine, Steve was pleasantly surprised as he discovered Austinites were rather educated on what they ate, and knew a lot about Japanese dishes. This gave him the confidence to go out on his own when he decided to open up his own.

2. Make the customer's experience more than about food. 

His approach to business is to make his customers to have a great experience---one that goes beyond the menu's offers---while still offering his diners a great assortment of dishes from his own creativity in the kitchen.

Note worthy quotes ( paraphrased):

"The most challenging to this was deciding to do it [ starting the restaurant]. But once we started,[ things took shape.]"

"I learned a lot from unsuccessful restaurants."

"The hardest part of staffing is finding good employees."

Also, for folks looking for counsel on starting a restaurant or notes on Japanese restaurant, Steve is open to enquiries, within reason, however. Feel free to reach out to him. 


Photos (Steve's Bandana is ever-present) of Steve, the restaurant's sign, some dishes, and the interior of the restaurant:

Contact:

www.tomosushiaustin.com
  
Hours and phone (copied from website above) : "Tomo is open for business Monday through Friday from 11:30-2:30 for lunch, and 5:30-10:00 for dinner. Saturdays they open at 12pm and serve until 10pm. They are located at 4101 W. Parmer Ln Ste E Austin, TX 78727 in the Milwood shopping center. For reservations of 5 or more please contact the restaurant directly at 512 821 9472."