Former Sea Saw Chef Nobuo Fukuda to Open New Restaurant

We've been wondering what James Beard Award-winning chef Nubuo Fukuda has been up to since Sea Saw closed earlier this year. Yesterday, AZ Republic restaurant critic Howard Seftel reported that Fukuda is in talks to open a Japanese restaurant in Downtown Phoenix's Heritage Square...

By Wynter Holden

December 2, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

We've been wondering what James Beard Award-winning chef Nubuo Fukuda has been up to since Sea Saw closed earlier this year. Yesterday, AZ Republic restaurant critic Howard Seftel reported that Fukuda is in talks to open a Japanese restaurant in Downtown Phoenix's Heritage Square.

He would take over the historic Teeter House, an 1899 Victorian currently being used as a tea parlor. Out with the doilies, in with the chopsticks. That's bad news for the Ladies Who Lunch crowd, but good news for the downtown economy and for local foodies. The restaurant's projected opening date would be in spring 2010, assuming no unforeseen kinks in the process.

We'll wait to hear if Fukuda is able to sign the lease as expected, by the end of the year. In the meantime, if you can afford him Fukuda is available for private parties through his website.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.