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Nelson: Eatery promises upscale dining

If the richly appointed decor and beautiful craftsmanship that Kevin and Amy Li put into the interior of Sakura Steak House reflects the quality and attention they will bring to the food at the new Japanese restaurant, customers will be wowed.

The Lis plan to open Sakura, a combination sushi bar and hibachi grill, in the Clarke Crossings shopping center between Academy Sports and Dollar Tree on Feb. 27. The couple opened a smaller version of their sushi/hibachi concept in Tallahassee, Fla., a couple of years ago. A Tallahassee Democrat newspaper food review gave the Sakura Japanese Sushi & Grill four and a half "hats" out of five.

The Athens restaurant is divided into three distinct sections - a central food and drink bar, a sushi dining area and bar and the hibachi grill tables.

Elegant, double wooden front doors with frosted glass panels serve as the entrance, which leads to a wide hallway connecting the food and drink bar with the other two sections. The entire restaurant features a mix of materials which give the place a warm, natural appearance and atmosphere. Even the bathrooms seem upscale.

Bamboo screens, uniquely paneled walls of dark wood, stone flooring, polished black stones covering the front of the bars and marble countertops are just a few of the decorative highlights at Sakura. Small lamps add golden, muted light to the rooms. Over both bar areas, a curved ceiling is punctuated with hundreds of small illuminated holes, giving the look of stars in the sky.

The restaurant's name, Sakura, means cherry blossom in Japanese, and the red blossoms are represented in tasteful murals painted on select spots on the walls. The Lis also added a three-dimensional cherry tree constructed of concrete in the hibachi dining room.

The Lis say their food will more than match the plush setting of their restaurant. Kevin is a professional sushi chef and hibachi chef, who takes a lot of pride not only in how he prepares his food, but how he presents

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