FIRST LOOK: Alex Oh Sushi & Rolls

After taking a road trip to the east coast and falling in love with the ocean air, friendly people and quality seafood, Alex Oh decided to move his family from Toronto to Halifax and open the restaurant he’d been dreaming of, Alex Oh Sushi & Rolls (1589 Dresden Row). This week, he debuted the re-imagined space (in the former Susie’s Shortbreads) and his personal sushi style, treating his first 100 customers on October 1 and 2 to try a complimentary roll. Talk about a warm welcome.

1.Chef Alex Oh has made sushi in Japan, Thailand, Korea, most recently Toronto’s Yuzu No Hana—where he fed the likes of queen of the world, Beyoncé—and now, we’re lucky enough to have him crafting beautiful dishes in Halifax. He hand-picked his small staff to ensure he is surrounded by people who love food, and love making food.

2. The menu is focused on sushi, sashimi and rolls, but strives to go above and beyond your standard (and sometimes generic) Japanese fare—every sauce used is made from scratch, in-house and there’s a major focus on how your dish looks. Here you’ll get “traditional Japanese dishes mixed with European-style plating,” so chances are your dinner will look like a work of art.

3. Oh’s personal principle is “people before food.” He understands there’s a lot more to enjoying a meal than how it tastes (though that matters the most). “Food is supposed to be eaten with your eyes, nose, mouth…even the general ambience plays a part,” he says, hence the passion for presentation, and the new restaurant’s bright, clean and welcoming vibe.

This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2014.