Side Dishes: Williston to gain Asian-fusion eatery
A colossal Asian-fusion restaurant is slated to open next month in the Williston space that used to house East Orchid.
Douzo, at 2033 Essex Road, will be a Japanese steakhouse, Thai eatery, martini bar and sushi bar rolled into one, according to owner Sammy Chompupong, who also owns Hàna Japanese Hibachi Steak House & Sushi Bar in Stowe.
Hàna fans will find a similar scene at Douzo, sans actual hibachi grills: nigiri sushi and maki rolls, Japanese-style marinated and grilled steaks and meats. But, unlike Hàna, the new restaurant will give Thai food a starring role on the menu.
One room of the new eatery will be decorated in Thai style, while an adjacent space will emulate a Japanese steakhouse, complete with a sushi bar along one side, says Chompupong.
On a recent afternoon, the inside of the restaurant looked as if it was being gutted. Workers were busy framing and hammering away at the sushi bar; nearby, another put the finishing touches on a black wooden sign. “We hope to open by the 10th or 15th of May,” says Chompupong.