Writing at Louisville Business First, Michael L. Jones brings us up to date on Ensō (1756 Frankfort Ave. in Clifton) as the restaurant nears reopening after a fire last autumn (upstairs in the same building, not in the restaurant itself).
Ensō to reopen with expanded menu after fire
A Clifton restaurant blending cuisine from Japan and the Southern United States is scheduled to reopen soon after a fire forced the business to close in October…Ensō chef and co-owner Lawrence Weeks said the ownership group is hoping to have Ensō back in business by early April.
Weeks tells Jones that tie-ups with insurance took longer than expected, and credits the non-profit organization Apron Inc. for helping with grants to employees as the restaurant’s owners dealt with the situation. The desired timeline for reopening is mid-March to April, although there’s no firm date.
Ensō is focused on Southern cuisine with Japanese influences in ingredients and techniques. The restaurant has seen its share of accolades since its opening. This summer Ensō was named to Yelp’s ‘Best New Restaurants in the South’ list and was named one of the top 45 black-owned businesses in the country by EBONY magazine.
According to Jones, Weeks “decided to use the forced time off to reimagine the restaurant and its menu.”
“We’re gonna make a couple aesthetic changes up front, and then the menu is gonna have some of the classics, some of the things that people love, but a lot of new things…we’re gonna do a little bit more large-format dishes. So, it might be something for two people or for the table. There will be a couple of more entrees, but we’re going to stick with our format of handmade Soba noodles, handmade Udon skewers and raw fish.”
From Ensō at Facebook:
The text:
As many of you know, we had to close our doors after an unfortunate kitchen fire. We’re incredibly grateful the damage wasn’t worse, but that doesn’t mean it came at a small price. The past few months have been filled with countless hurdles—dealing with insurance, remodeling, updating infrastructure, and the financial strain of it all. It’s been a tough journey, but one we’ve been able to push through thanks to the unwavering support from our community. We’re beyond thankful for each and every one of you who has sent kind words, encouragement, and motivation during this time. It truly helped us keep going. We’re thrilled to say that the dust is finally starting to settle (mostly), and soon enough, our doors will be open again. This process hasn’t been easy, but it’s given us the chance to refocus on what matters most—our community, our team, and all of you who continue to support us. Thank you for sticking with us through this journey. We can’t wait to serve you again soon. Stay tuned for updates, and we’ll see you at Enso early spring!
