Kushi Bar Muramoto, the most casual of the three local restaurants of chef Shinji Muramoto, closed at 106 King St. at the end of August, but already the space is being revamped for a new casual Asian-American concept restaurant. The Haze -- named more or less with the intention of evoking the smoke that comes out of a barbecue smoker -- is set to open Tuesday, Oct. 20.
The actual smoker in question , currently being custom made for the restaurant in Prairie du Sac by Simply Manufacturing, will make King Street smell pretty, pretty good in the coming weeks, Daniel Momont, manager of the Muramoto restaurants, assures me.
The restaurant will focus on barbecue styles from around the globe. Diners will pick a meat, choose eastern or western style, and decide on two sides.
Meats will include 1/2 rack and full rack ribs, brisket, chicken, pulled pork, duck or sausage. So ordering "brisket-eastern" will net you a Korean-style plate, while "brisket-western" is a Texas dry rub. Meats will be Wisconsin-sourced, as will seasonal vegetables. Sides appear decidedly more "western" with slaw, beans, fries, potato salad, corn pudding, tomato/broccoli salad, with extras like cornbread, soup and chili.
Lunch specials are sandwiches -- pulled pork, chopped brisket, sausage, or bahn mi made with pulled pork. A handful of salads round out the menu. The beer menu is decidedly populist -- Bud, Schlitz, Pabst, High Life, Lite, Molson and Point.
The Haze is owned by Justin and Cory Carlisle, Daniel Almquist and Shinji Muramoto.
