Oza Downtown will bring omakases and izakaya eats to Mills 50

Omakase houses and tasting menu concepts have been on the rise and there's no question these high-dollar, multicourse meals are reshaping the culinary landscape of this city .

The latest restaurateur to get into the game is Tim Liu, the man behind neighborhood joints Mikado Sushi in MetroWest and Boku Sushi & Grill in Maitland. Next month, Liu will open Oza Izakaya , inspired by the sunsets over Mount Fuji and styled after Kyoto's post-work haunts, in the Williamsburg neighborhood near International Drive and Central Florida Parkway.

But while Liu preps for Oza Izakaya's opening, he's already working on his next project — Oza Downtown, in the heart of Mills 50. The stylish restaurant, whose design is influenced by a tidal wave (think Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave ), is slated to open early next year at 1821 E. Colonial Drive near Altaloma Avenue.

The restaurant will house a 10-seat sushi bar where omakases will be presented by a chef Liu is bringing in from Japan. The 120-seat restaurant will also offer a menu of less formal Japanese fare that will be served in what Liu describes as three "modern tatami rooms" as well as a sunroom and an outdoor lounge.

Oza Downtown will also have a full bar.

Liu anticipates construction to commence mid-July for a January 2025 opening. As part of the building's design, an animated wave will greet passers-by on East Colonial Drive — a fitting symbol, given the swell of high-end Japanese restaurants flooding the city.

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