Jeremy Poon swings open the doors to SanSu Japanese Steakhouse today. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
It’s been a long 120 days for Jeremy Poon.
Each one was spent next door to his Chinese restaurant, No. 1 Chinese, overseeing a complete overhaul of the former Bayshore Charlie’s Fishery on River Road in Fair Haven as workers transformed the space from seafood supplier to what it is now: SanSu Japanese Steakhouse, which opens its doors today.
There’s just one little problem.
“Every day we’ve had customers coming in, saying, when are you guys going to be open? I want to be the first one,” Poon said. “A lot of them want to be the first customer. We’re still trying to figure out how to work that out.”
He and his staff have worked out everything else in the meantime, and the name of the game is authenticity, Poon said.
The decor, featuring two three-plate glass windows with depictions of the zodiac, Japanese sun and Mount Fuji, as well as dark wood paneling and specially-made marble tile, can’t be found anywhere else in New Jersey, Poon said. His employees, he said, have an average of eight years experience working in Japanese restaurants.
On the menu: about two dozen sushi rolls, naruto maki, a number of steak-and-seafood combinations, plus hibachi. The food will live up to the expectations, Poon said. He’s already booked holiday parties, “and they haven’t even tried the food yet,” he said.
SanSu’s opening is the latest in business churn in Fair Haven. Across River Road from the steakhouse is a new women’s designer consignment shop, All Things Consignment, owner Ann Marie Elia’s second location. Her other store is in West Long Branch.
There’s also a new candy shop, at 799 River Road, called Lollie’s, which officially opened about a month ago.
And over on 770 River Road, Fairwinds Deli is renovating in preps for its move from its longtime location at 798 River Road. While that work is being done, Fair Haven Yoga has relocated to a larger space in the back of the existing Fairwinds building.
